Hello to all,
It's quite obvious that we cannot go around and intentionally interfere
with another service. However, if, in the the course of our normal
operating practices, we do disrupt the normal functioning of BPL systems
(and from what I've been told it wouldn't take much), then we are not
violating any regulations.
This is a potentially disasterous situation for ham radio as we know it.
I had to chuckle a bit when I read the attached email that stated that
intentionally interfering with communications could result in hefty
fines....etc...Isn't that what BPL is going to do? The directors of the
power companies have been prewarned, haven't they? If so, this is
intentional interference to licensed services. Or are we talking in
tongues here?
What could conceivably hurt us is the apathy of the ham community.
Just a thought.
73,
Art., N2KA..
.
Bill KB9IV wrote:
Hello All,
I believe the part for intentionally interfering or causing
interference to a FCC authorized
communication will result in hefty fines, incarceration.
Even planning or
organizing it is a crime.
I'd drop it if I were you...............lets stick to Ten
Tec.
Best 73,
Bill KB9IV
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stuart Rohre" <rohre@arlut.utexas.edu>
To: <WCARC@yahoogroups.com>;
<antenna-discussion@antennex.com>;
<TCARES_packet@yahoogroups.com>; <wc-ares@yahoogroups.com>;
<glowbugs@piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu>;
<qrp-l@mailman.qth.net>; "QRPp International Membership"
<membership@QRPp-I.com>; <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 5:15 PM
Subject: [TenTec] Re: [WCARC] BPL Rollout A PLAN of ACTION
Folks,
I have hit upon a way to derail BPL, if we all, as hams,
work together. I
followed the links to the BPL "Computerworld" news story
and then the links
to the companies involved and some of the computer web
magazines and printed
versions that are hyping BPL. In short order, I had reams
of info and
places to watch BPL RFI develop!
I suggest we all get on the air, and contact hams with
directional CQs in
the trial areas. Get them to go to the trial
neighborhoods with 100 watt
mobiles and carry on normal communications and listen for
BPL RFI. Then
see if they find reports in the press of BPL failures.
Write their local
paper about the potential threat to Disaster and Homeland
Security, (FEMA)
communications. Monitor and record BPL test
transmissions in the
neighborhood before transmitting; so that you know you are
near a BPL user.
We HAVE to have operational tests, and BPL must cease if
it interferes with
licensed services, that is us, and Public Safety, FM
broadcast, Coast Guard,
etc. Document what you find and report to Ed Hare at
ARRL. FCC has
already affirmed that BPL must play by the part 15 rules
to cease operating,
if it causes RFI.
Copy your Congressmen and Senators with a BPL protest and
fact sheet of its
hazards to Homeland Security, Public Safety Comms., Coast
Guard Short wave,
MARS, FM broadcasts, etc.
Contact these Computer trade mags and papers and point out
the downfalls of
BPL they have not mentioned, (RFI to and from). I have
identified even a
user of a trial in the Cincinnati neighborhood, Hyde Park.
"Go park in
front of her house", tell your Ohio ham friends, "and do
some mobile
transmitting." Fern Hofstetter and 100 others are in the
Hyde Park trial.
She has not had RFI up to the time of the news story.
In the next Six Mos., in Cincinnati neighborhoods of
Wyoming, Delhi, and
Terrace Park, more roll out BPL will be installed. Also,
the power co.
there serves Oh, IN and parts of Kentucky and plans BPL
there. As hams
here, we could aim beams that way and possibly record BPL
RFI, Refer to
ARRL web site sound files for samples. Report that to FCC
and Ed Hare at
ARRL. You will need good filters and sensitive receiving,
but I would
hazard a guess that once that genie is out of the bottle
of the power line,
it will propagate well if conditions are ripe.
Also, hams in Cincinnati should contact Brian Hamrick of
Ch. 5 TV there who
did a favorable BPL story and give him a sample of the BPL
RFI sound file
and the downside of the BPL roll out. Point out the
disaster comms
effects, and show him the ARRL video on BPL.
In Ossining NY, contact Police Chief Ken Donato, who has a
trial BPL
connection at the PD. He, of all people, should
appreciate the downsides
to Homeland Security. Also, hams in Westchester Co. NY
should look around
for the BPL homes there, and try to find the users and see
if mobiling in
front of their locations affects BPL.
Other power companies besides Consolidated Edison in NY,
(above), who are
rolling out BPL trials are Pepco in Washington DC, Ameren
in St. Louis MO.
and Penn. Power and Light. Southern Telecom and Ambient
in Alabama are
going to try BPL, and Main.net in Atlanta GA.
We should contact "Network World Fusion" with numerous
accounts of how BPL
can interfere and get our ARRL reps to do likewise. It
only took me about
5 minutes to find user name, companies involved, towns and
even
neighborhoods by the news stories on the web. The
Internet can be a
powerful ally in fighting BPL, if we all surf a bit and
stay on top of these
trials, and get ARRL to do likewise. If enough buzz is
made about the BPL
problems potential, it will get reasonable investors and
technocrats
concerned that maybe this is not viable after all.
Good Luck and 73,
Stuart
K5KVH
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