Re: [RFI] Bush and BPL

[dj2001@mn.rr.com]

I guess I posted the same time you did.  I checked and the name of 
the box is Metricom, I did a quick search and came up with this 
http://news.com.com/2100-1033-269362.html?legacy=cnet

The other box you discribe is mounted on a pole about three hundred 
feet from the Metricom box.  That box looks much bigger and is what 
looks to be fairly heavy steel.  It has a Larsen antenna mounted 
along with about a 5 element yagi pointing South.  I took digital pix 
of both boxes.  The power company tech told me the switching ps their 
box can produce a lot of noise if they go bad.

Dale





> Dale es Group,
>
> I went with the vanity call a few years ago (7-8?) .... it's faster in
> contest exchanges!
>
> The meter reading system uses (at least) two differently sized boxes. The
> smaller ones use whip antennas - the larger ones typically use  whip antenna
> and an external Yagi. The original company that made this cell-based
> equipment got into serious financial problems, but was later acquired by
> another firm, and, last I heard, was in the process of being sold to another
> corporation. The meters don't need much of an antenna to go a couple of
> blocks.
>
> I am not aware of this system causing RFI problems - now days, that's
> something to be grateful for!
>
> 73,
>
> John  W0DC
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <dj2001@mn.rr.com>
> To: "John" <jlockj@earthlink.net>; <rfi@contesting.com>
> Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2004 11:27 AM
> Subject: Re: [RFI] Bush and BPL
>
>
> >  Hi John, dident recognize you with the new/old call.
> >
> >  The boxes according to the power company guys I talked to are not the
> >  same ones for reading the meters.  They are bigger square metal units
> >  mounted on power poles, these are small white things hanging from the
> >  light standards with antennas hanging under them, unless I was fed
> >  some incorrect information.  I should take my binoculars out and read
> >  the lable underneath and take a picture too.  By the way how do the
> >  meters get the signal to the receivers?  I don't see an antenna
> >  anywhere on my meter.
> >
> >  Dale
> >
> >
> >
> >  >Hi Dale -
> >  >
> >  >I believe the boxes you are referring to are very much in use for their
> >  >designed purpose - remote reading of utility meters.
> >  >
> >  >73,
> >  >
> >  >John  W0DC
> >  >
> >  >----- Original Message -----
> >  >From: <dj2001@mn.rr.com>
> >  >To: <rfi@contesting.com>
> >  >Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2004 3:52 AM
> >  >Subject: RE: [RFI] Bush and BPL
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >>     only
> >  >>  >they will involve broadband wireless access points and future
> >  >>  >technology.  I  don't believe this is showing up on anyone's radar
> >  >>  >screen yet.
> >  >>
> >  >>  They tried that around here and the company went BR.  The boxes with
> >  >>  the little antennas are still hanging on the light standards.  i
> >  >>  should get a pix and post it just for fun.
> >  >>

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