[TenTec] BPL Update

[John Clifford]

Okay, I read the FCC Notice.  As a ham I am also concerned about possible
interference and I believe Ed Hare and others when they say that BPL as it's
implemented now causes massive across-the-band interference well above Part
15 limits.

But the FCC Notice says that BPL will be required to abide by Part 15.  If
BPL causes interference to licensed services (including us hams) then it has
to come up with a way to cease interfering and if this can only be done by
ceasing operation then so be it.

So, this gives the BPL implementors motivation to come up with a way to
reduce interference to a point that it doesn't affect us.  There seem to be
several methods, but the obvious one (and provided/called for by the Notice)
is for them to lock out frequencies that are causing interference.  If they
don't transmit anything below 30 Mhz or notch out all of the amateur freqs
as well as freqs that would cause problems from harmonics, then interference
to HF amateur radio should be impossible... right?

If BPL is implemented so that it doesn't interferere with ham radio, then
why should we as hams give a fig about it?  Having more options for
broadband access is a good thing as long as no problems occur (I agree with
the FCC on this).  If it DOES interfere, then under Part 15 the BPL provider
is required to fix it.

It looks like the future will see widespread rollout of BPL.  I wonder if
there will be reason for widespread complaints filed by amateurs, and how
quickly the response to correct the problems will be (and that quickness is
a real problem because if they only have to be as responsive as they are
concerning ordinary power line interference then we're in trouble).

Finally... seems to me that it would be more cost-effective for the power
line providers to set up neighborhood Wi-Fi nodes every 1/4 mile or so and
then charge for that.  The equipment is out there, no interference problems,
and Wi-Fi is being built-in to more and more equipment.  Maybe the cell
phone companies will beat them to the punch.

 - jgc

John Clifford KD7KGX

Heathkit HW-9 WARC/HFT-9/HM-9
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