In article , "Phil Kane"
writes:

On 20 Jul 2003 08:43:52 -0700, Rob Kemp wrote:

DSL can work out to about ~ 16,000 feet from the central office. BPL
can only go 2,000 feet from the BPL equivalent of a DSLAM, then BPL
needs an expensive repeater installed by a linesman trained to work
with 11,000 volt cables.

All utility repair maintainers ("linesmen") must be trained and
qualified to work with primary voltages (11,000 V in your example).
There are special tools ("hot sticks") which they use daily to work
such open lines live, and they have no hesitation to pull the fuses
and work them "cold" if need be. Even after they pull the fuses and
ground the lines, they still use the "hot sticks" which are designed
specifically for the hardware in use.

Transmission voltages (34 KV and up) are something else. Those are
never worked hot.

No? Never? Not even in metal mesh suits, suspended from a
helicopter?

Gosh, I'd better write the IEEE SPECTRUM real quick...a few years ago
they had a big article with photos on how those MHV lines ARE
worked hot.

Thanks for the heads up.

(As the Portland General Electric channel on my scanner chatters in
the background.)

But you are 100% on point as to what is needed and what the
utilities are liable to do.

Bzzp, bzzp...