Len:

The BPL modems I have seen go from the bottom of low audio freqs up to
~300Khz. I don't know where anyone ever got the idea this range was even
going to go into the am broadcast band! At some of those freqs, a full
wavelength can be measured in miles... and, the "transmission line"
becomes a few small wavelengths...

I think they are doing, REALLY, what they say they are doing, they are now
simply in the process of TESTING it, what the final results of all this
are/"will be" ???

I am just stating amateurs and the interference it MAY pose to their HOBBY
is NOT ANY REASON(S) to be given ANY consideration what-so-ever, it is not
the majority--the greatest good for the greatest number...

John

On Tue, 09 Aug 2005 17:31:46 -0700, LenAnderson wrote:

From: John Smith on Tues 9 Aug 2005 10:41

To all:

The majority of people who communicate use the internet (well, phones and
cell phones too.) Email, Instant Messaging, blogs, newsgroups, webpages,
IRC chat, etc, etc... and these communications take place on a worldwide
scale and virtually touch the life of every citizen in first AND second
world countries.

Close but not quite the cigar.

Since BPL would be a MAJOR GAIN to the majority of people communicating
(using the internet) it would be one MAJOR MISTAKE to allow a handful of
hams, an insignificant number of the people using communications (and
then, theirs is only a hobby communication) to control the destiny of BPL
simply because it interferes with an insignificant number of hobby users.

Tsk, what started out nice became a Trollcast.

BPL is just another way to access the Internet. It has yet to
be proven "anywhere" for the simple reason that electric power
lines were NEVER characterized as HF-VHF signal transmission
lines nor was the electric power distribution gred. The
variability in characteristic impedance and an almost-random
set of discontinuities along any electric power distribution
installation makes it a strong - and unstandardizable - RF
EM wave launching area in many, many, many places along that
electric power grid.

Radio amateurs are NOT the only users of the HF and low-VHF
EM spectrum in the USA. To see who are, go into the NTIA and
NTIS Reports that were released in 2004. With a little searching
you can find the Access BPL Comments on the FCC website.

It will be nothing short of a crime to allow this insignificant number to
influence BPL at all. The FCC and any public official(s) found doing so,
and being so influenced, should be reprimanded harshly!

Not quite. [way too much exaggeration for Trollcast copy]

What the FCC actually did was "allow" A NEW DATA DISTRIBUTION
system to EXIST IN THE FCC REGULATIONS. It's under the
"unintentional radiators" in the OET jargon...but it is ALSO
cognizant of the measured FACT that every "test" installation
of BPL HAS RADIATED RF in HF through low-VHF.

OK, first the FCC *recognized* that BPL exists, legally and
in public. [turns on a spotlight, pretty or not] Second,
the FCC has NOT ALLOWED EXCESS RADIATION BEYOND THE EXISTING
SPECIFICATIONS for unintentional radiators. That is muy
importante...the BPL folks just haven't got as free a hand
as they thought at first. Third, the FCC (and the BPL folks)
have a difficult mutual problem: An HF measurement method
that is ACCEPTIBLE to all parties for "near-field" HF
radiated power levels. That's most important to avoid years
and years of legal wrangling for any particular RFI case.

Actually, the FCC, while POLITICALLY approving Access BPL
as to its existance, has also (courtesy of the OET) STUCK
the BPL providers with a lot of *required* controls and
record-keeping and having to actually shut down part of the
BPL data spectrum if there are enough interference reports.

How this self-serving bunch of closed-membership hams even hope to stop
tens of millions (hundreds of millions?) from these benefits, all so they
can set and enjoy their little hobby, staggers the mind and leads one to
doubt the sanity of those who would participate in this scam!

John, have you been getting your peyote from Gilroy, CA? :-)

Internet access providers range from POTS (Plain Old Telephone
System) through "high-speed" DSL through TV cable providers'
two-way data paths to "Wi-Fax" low microwave links. BPL is
a newcomer and NOT a dependable one for data transmission
everywhere.

Amateur policy needs to get rid of its' self-serving element and
demonstrate they have good judgment and will hold their self-serving
interests above the interests and benefits of the hundreds of millions of
american citizens. It the stark light of reality amateur radio is seen in
the perverted state it has fallen into. This has happened by allowing men
and women of question character to control the destiny of amateur radios'
course--this needs to change direction and restore the dignity to this
hobby which it once held, decades ago.

[yup, Gilroy for sure!]

If there is not a clear rule, regulation or tradition in amateur radio
which directs its members (licensees) to always behave in a manner which
holds the interests, benefits and well being of the citizens of the united
states in paramount importance, one SHOULD be placed there.

It's been in existance since before 1928 and "The Amateur's Code"
as propagated by the ARRL out of Newington.

However, it
seems a natural principle educated men or worth, intelligence and caliber
would hold to... and here, upon this simple test, you can weed the chaff
from the grain...

If any reader wonders, the grinding noise you hear is the bust
of Thomas Jefferson slowly shaking his head from side to side
up on Mount Rushmore. Tsk, John, he gonna give you some o'
dem oratory lessons!

tom abe