W1RFI
join:2003-05-12
Burlington, CT | I agree with the general premise that BPL will be a useful tool to accomplish utility applications. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that we need a smarter electric grid, and that data communications are a critical part of that. But we all need to differentiate in our minds between those applications and the medium used to accomplish them. BPL is the medium, not the application. Although there may be value in using the electric wires to develop the smart grid, using the grid to control the grid has its technical risk, as the control system will fail at the same time the grid fails, during the time it may need to be controlled the most.
The new technology creates interference too. The difference is that the present generation does a better job at the techniques it uses to address or prevent interference. For example, in five BPL areas I have tested lately, "notching" was in place for all of the Amateur bands, and it was generally effective. Although it is probable that some small problem areas may exist for the Amateur bands, the systems generally did not create harmful interference for Amateur Radio, and any remaining problems could be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
Ed Hare
ARRL Laboratory Manager
225 Main St
Newington, CT 06111
Tel: 860-594-0318
Email: W1RFI@arrl.org
Internet: »www.arrl.org/bpl |
