[TowerTalk] [CQ-Contest] Bad news for BPL = Good news for us

[Milt, N5IA]

On the contrary Jim.

I have been directly involved with telecommunications AND electric power 
distribution in a very rural area for nearly 40 years.

I have successfully deployed wireless Internet delivery across a 5,000 
square mile area with just over 50 Access Points serving nearly 2,000 
subscribers.

It would take 10 times the investment to do the same via BPL on our power 
lines, and then still not deliver to every potential subscriber because of 
the remoteness of some locations.  With electric kWh meter density at near 5 
per mile (that includes water wells, barns, and other locations which are 
not permanent human dwellings) there would be more BPL repeaters than 
subscribers.

And my electric meters per mile ratio is somewhat higher than many, many 
other RURAL areas of the country which have densisties of TWO to THREE kWh 
METERS per MILE.

IMHO, wireless IS the solution for most rural areas that I am acquainted 
with.

Milt, N5IA
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Lux" <jimlux at earthlink.net>

> I've always thought that BPL is more a clever way to keep a few hundred
> folks employed than any serious attempt to bring broadband to the rural
> masses.
>
> Jim, W6RMK