Posted by Wayne Parham [ 66.137.59.97 ] on May 24, 2004 at 01:06:04:
Hey guys, check out the post in the Tower about BPL Communications. It has a brief description and link to some more information about the proposed technology. Basically, it's DSL over the power lines. Sounds like a real neat idea but the problem is that it disrupts so much radio, being a spectrum that spans from 1-80Mhz. All shortwave radio could be affected, which would kill a lot of useful stuff.
I see some folks talking about power line conditions and from the topics discussed, sometimes it looks like they believe in magic. I mean, equipment needs good power, but some obsessive types do things that just don't make a whole lot of sense to me. A great deal of AC power line noise is filtered automatically by built-in power suplies. But BPL is purpose-placed "noise" that makes power conditioning a whole new subject. This may merit some discussion, and solutions to the problems it brings may be required.
Think about the HAM broadcast or the CB'er on his linear amp bursting through the little church PA system on Sunday morning. Think about that kind of interference when you think of BPL. And think of it sounding like chainsaws and jackhammers. It's potentially pretty significant. This isn't your regular super-cable or "isolated circuit breaker" discussion. This is real.
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