BPL: The Internet's Fools Gold

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Fred_Vobbe
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BPL: The Internet's Fools Gold

Post by Fred_Vobbe » 05-18-2005 08:56 PM

This article and the links at SlashDOT are worth looking at ...

sid=05/05/17/2224208&tid=230&tid=95&tid=103
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Post by Linnea » 05-19-2005 12:37 AM

Thanks for the article, Fred. I'll get back here to read it soon, I hope. Looks interesting.

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Post by mudwoman » 05-19-2005 12:56 AM

Thanks Fred, the link you gave leads to: SID International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition.

This is the correct link: http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/17/2224208

Or you can read the whole article at News Forge:
http://internet.newsforge.com/article.p ... d=13&tid=3

Sandy

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Post by Fred_Vobbe » 06-02-2005 04:27 PM

(via: Amateur Radio Newsline 6/1/2005)

THE BPL FIGHT: A BIG HAM RADIO WIN IN TEXAS

Back here in the U-S-A, hams in the Lone Star State can take comfort in knowing that they have beaten back an attempt by a politician to get B-P-L turned on -- just about everywhere. Amateur Radio Newsline's Charlie Kosman, WB2NQV, tells us how a group of radio amateurs took on the Texas state political system -- and won:

--

BPL is dead in Texas. Well at least for now.

Last April first, Texas Senator Troy Fraser introduced a bill to allow and encourage the implementation of Broadband over Powerlines in the State of Texas. Senate Bill 1748 originally would have allowed power utilities to install BPL anywhere in the state. The Bill drew criticism in its initial draft, because it favored TXU, the major power supplier in the state, and other industry providers by letting the companies pass hefty costs of upgrades to their customers while pooling profits.".

In spite of a concerted effort from the Amateur radio community the bill passed the Senate around May 13th using a number of political slight of hand maneuvers. Such as Back on April 21st Senator Fraser added SB 1748 to a previously posted hearing notice , offering known opponents the minimum possible notice of the public hearing.

The committee, which he chairs, passed the bill out of committee that morning. Those who disagreed with this bill, and made phone calls, sent letters, or E-mail, or who made personal visits with the staff members or the Senators themselves were substantially ignored. One amateur who filled out a witness card in opposition to the bill, and personally appeared when it was originally published on the committee agenda, was not even listed - - unlike the witnesses representing the BPL lobby.

Subsequently the passed senate bill, 1748 was sent on to the house of representatives where it was destined to become law.

However thanks to the efforts of newly elected north Texas section manager, Tom Blackwell, N5GAR, Bill Lawless, W5WRL from the west Texas section and south Texas State Government Liaison Jim Robinson, K5PNV, the BPL bill was relegated to the last slot on the calendar. Additionally, if it did make it to the floor, a series of amendments were ready to scuttle it. As of last Saturday at midnight the time for new bills in the house expired and so did this disastrous piece of legislation.

From Wichita Falls, Texas this is Charlie Kosman, WB2NQV For Newsline.

--

Charlie says it was what he termed as the outragous conduct of the state officials in pushing the BPL measure that galvanized the states ham radio community against it, and lead its the defeat. (WB2NQV, ARNewslineT)

**

THE BPL FIGHT: MOTOROLA INTRODUCES MINIMAL INTERFERENCE ACCESS BPL SYSTEM

Still with BPL news,. the ARRL Letter reports that Motorola is getting into the Access BPL equipment supply business with a system designed to minimize the potential for interference to radio communications. According to the League, Motorola's newly announced Powerline L-V system avoids using medium-voltage power lines. Instead, it introduces broadband signals only on the low-voltage side of the local neighborhood power distribution transformer. This is believed to greatly reduce the systems potential to cause interference to near-by radio receiving gear. During product development, Motorola invited ARRL's suggestions and welcomed its input. More information about Motorola's Powerline L-V system on the company's website at http://www.motorola.com (ARRL)
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Post by Fred_Vobbe » 06-20-2005 07:54 AM

(via: CGC Communicator Newsletter)

SAN DIEGO BPL TESTS - GETTING CLOSER

Word from San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) is that they are still more than 30 days from lighting up the first BPL public test bed. We are told that the location of that test bed has already been determined, and may be released later today.

Sometime this month or next month, expect one or two BPL generators to be lit up at SDG&E's training center off Friars Road between the ballpark and Highway 163, but that operation will be incidental compared to the public demonstrations that lie ahead.

So far, ARRL, XETV, CGC and a number of public safety agencies plan to make interference tests. If you have a legitimate need to make tests or measurements, contact Bob Gonsett @ CGC for the name and number of the person within SDG&E who needs to know who your team consists of, and who will serve as the official spokesman for your group. That information should probably be finalized and submitted to SDG&E in written form this week. Bob can be reached at (760) 723-2700. No e-mail please.

Remember, once the BPL tests are over, they are done. There is only one bite at this apple.
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Post by Fred_Vobbe » 06-27-2005 08:33 AM

Update from CGC Communicator, 24 June 2005.

SDG&E did not disclose the location of its first public BPL test bed last week after all (CGC #693). Apparently SDG&E has yet to sign a contract with its first BPL equipment vendor and has chosen to withhold specific location information until all of its ducks are in a row.

A few more commercial parties have contacted CGC asking how they can become involved in the interference tests, and we have referred them to a specific party at SDG&E. If you know of other commercial or public safety operators who may want to become involved in the tests (e.g. TV broadcasters on Channels 2-5, FEMA etc.), have them contact CGC's Bob Gonsett at (760) 723-2700. No e-mails please.

One Communicator reader wrote, "Most body wires [for police surveillance] run very low power and are susceptible to broadband interference." Keep in mind, however, that the official BPL band runs from only 1.7 to 80 MHz, and we understand that few BPL systems transmit much power above about 50 MHz. While that may sound reassuring, there is still the concern of spurs, harmonics and intermodulation products that can extend well beyond 80 MHz, so nothing can be taken for granted.

Several amateur radio operators have called CGC asking how they can become a part of ARRL's interference tests. According to Tuck Miller, the person to contact is ARRL Section Manager Pat Bunsold, WA6MHZ.

Pat can be reached at mailto:[email protected].
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Post by Fred_Vobbe » 07-06-2005 06:19 AM

Public Invited To Review Draft FCC "STRATEGIC PLAN"

In large part, it is as if the Federal Communications Commission is becoming the Federal Broadband Commission....
not necessarily a bad thing and a trend that we've certainly seen coming, but a trend worth fully contemplating....

http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily ... 9814A1.doc

via: CGC Communicator 7/6/05
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Post by Fred_Vobbe » 07-14-2005 12:39 PM

THE BPL FIGHT: BPL GETS A $100 MILLION BOOST
(Via: Amateur Radio Newsline)

BPL has been handed a major infusion of cash to get it to into the homes of the American public. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has more:

--

The Google search engine folks, Goldman Sachs Corporation and the Hearst Corporation have announced an investment of $100 million into promoting Broadband Over Powerline technology. This by putting their trust with the Current Communications Group in the hope of rapidly expanding the reach of broadband throughout the country.

Current Communications is a Germantown, Maryland based company providing Broadband Over Powerline Internet. A spokesman for the company says that the infusion of capital will help Current to roll out BPL services more quickly to provide voice, video and data services.

Several market watchers have expressed opinions that the Google, Goldman and Hearst investment of $100 million to the technology means that interest in BPL is likely to gain quick momentum. This they say is especially true in rural areas where DSL and cable service are not available alternatives. Ham radio operators say that this is not good news for the hobby.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the Newsline studios in Los Angeles.

--

There is one flaw with this theory. The real money to be made by BPL providers is in big cities with highly concentrated population in need of broadband a d not in the hinterlands where customers will be few and far inbetween.

(Published reports)
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Post by Mosby's Raiders » 07-28-2005 09:25 PM

hello everybody , first let me introduce myself, my call is k4wtw . i hope bpl does not try to come into my area . from all the articles i have read , audio i have heard and from art bells show , it should never have been approved in the first place.

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Post by Linnea » 07-29-2005 12:23 AM

Hiya, Mosby's Raiders. Welcome to Fantastic Forum. Just wanted to say hello and welcome. Yah - this BPL issue looms larger each day. Seems the FCC is an extension of the Dept of Commerce these days.

Fred probably would have dropped a post in here to say hello, but I think he is out celebrating his birthday. ;)

If you are around after 10pm PT - there are many listening to Coast to Coast AM and posting 'almost live' in the Ship's Radio Room.

Again - welcome!

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Post by Gotrox » 07-29-2005 01:58 AM

It's really just big brother trying to get into every home---it will come no matter how much we fight it. But interference works both ways ;) I see a nice triple beam in my future :p

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Post by Fred_Vobbe » 07-29-2005 09:03 AM

For anyone in Pittsburgh PA, the power company is close to staring tests soon. If you're a ham operator, be sure to carefully document the interference and forward it to the ARRL.
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Post by palosheights » 08-04-2005 08:04 AM

i heard on wbbm radio in chicago a news story about how bpl is now up and running somewhere in illinois, didnt catch exactly where, and the power company president saying all the problems have been worked out and its working great.

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Post by Fred_Vobbe » 08-04-2005 01:53 PM

There are more and more places trying it out. I'm surprised they are still wacking at it. It's not that good of a backbone. Anyone who knows anything about Carrier Current AM can tell you.
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Post by Fred_Vobbe » 08-04-2005 01:59 PM

From the CGC Communicator ....


SAN DIEGO BASELINE BPL TESTS ARE HISTORY

San Diego Gas & Electric Company ("SDG&E") is installing its first test BPL system in Zip Code 92123. It's a small system, and 92123 happens to be the Zip Code of Ham Radio Outlet, although we do not know if the BPL equipment will illuminate HRO's store which would make an interesting test bed. (ARRL's local representative is Jim Stevenson, W6YI.)

Official SDG&E BPL RFI observers were invited to make baseline RF measurements and observe spectrum tests on Wednesday, July 27, 2005, before the first BPL equipment was installed.
The system is scheduled to become operational on August 31, 2005 and could be left on for a year.

Technical questions remain as to the efficacy of SDG&E's upcoming tests because they involve a small geographic area and only about 10 SDG&E employees will use the system to "monitor electric-grid conditions and control equipment in the Kearny Mesa area" according to SignOnSanDiego. So, it is reasonable to ask if there will be enough BPL activity to simulate a fully loaded Internet-connected system with many hungry users. If not, the RFI results will be questionable at best.

For further information on SDG&E's BPL tests, these links are
available:

SDG&E Media Press Release
http://tinyurl.com/9uvaz

SDG&E Public Data "In Accordance With FCC Requirements"
http://www.sdge.com/bpl/

SBE Chapter 36 BPL Story by Gary Stigall
http://sbe36.org/2005/08_bpl_pilot.html

SignOnSanDiego Story (link will expire soon)
http://tinyurl.com/dtaqe
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