ARRLWeb: Pennsylvania Utility Cites Unfavorable Economics in Ending BPL Trial
PPL, citing lack of expected profitability, has terminated its BPL trial in Lehigh Valley. I am sure this is a relief to area hams who were experiencing interference from the system.
I have the MFJ9015 in the truck today, and when I went out at lunch did a quick tune through the band, mostly to confirm that 15 is still dead, and it was. So I listened to music on the FM for a while instead.
But something kept nagging me to try 15 again, so I turned it back on. Near 21015 I heard VE6KG calling CQ, coming in very loud but with QSB. That was interesting, so I tuned around some more. Heard faint signals near the band edge, indicating a pile-up in progress. Apparently a band opening was starting up.
Tuned some more, looking up near 21060 to see if any F.I.S.T.S. folk were on, but heard nothing. I went back down to the low end, and heard Eduardo, CO8LY calling CQ and very loud, like he was in the car next to me. I called him once and he came right back with a 599 report. I also gave him a 599, but that was understating it. It was a quick turnaround, he was looking for numbers today, so no long QSO.
When I entered the exchange in my log, I was shocked to see that one year plus two days had elapsed since my last log entry. I truly did not realize I had been off for such a long time.
But 15 is my favorite band, and I smoked the DSW but good last time I tried to fix it, so no 20 anymore until I can get my 718. So I will be watching for these short openings on 15 to catch whatever I can.
To follow up on a previous entry, I did have success on eBay and picked up a nice MFJ-564B paddle, the black base model. I will update this with a picture as soon as I can get one.
Or look at http://www.mfjenterprises.com/pictures/MFJ-564B.jpg if you are too impatient.
Or, that's it it the background, somewhat faded, but so is its owner.
ARRLWeb: ARRL Calls on FCC to Shut Down Virginia BPL System
Key statement: 'none of which has resulted "in any action or even interest" on the part of the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) staff'.
If only we could get them TO DO THEIR DAMN JOBS, there would not be any problems.
This picture shows why BPL is such a crappy system to be foisted off on us:bpl_install_3.jpg (JPEG Image, 2560x1920 pixels).
Notice, if you will, all the dangling wires going from the modem to the power lines, and remember that all these lines are "hot" with HF.
Is it any wonder that these things radiate like a cheap microwave oven?
If that is representative of their installation standards, it's a wonder they work at all.
Even with the solar flux at 78, there are openings every day on 15 meters now. I can hope the bottom has been reached and it's all up from here. I have plans for this spring, involving an Icom IC718 and homebrewing a Moxon antenna or maybe three.
In this article, ARRL Objects to Limits on Licensee Access to BPL Interference Resolution Site, the ARRL objects to the use of zip codes as the sole search criteria for locating BPL installations for possible interference. The BPL database is located at BPL Database.
Why not test drive it for yourself? The zip code for Manassas, Virginia, government offices is 20110. Manassas is the poster child site for BPL. Try running a search on 20110 at the BPL database.
I don't really have to tell you the result, do I?
There are no BPL operations in your area. If you believe that you have received this message in error, please contact the United Power Line Council and provide written details concerning the nature of the interference and your licensed operations, including the location (complete address and coordinates), frequency(ies) of operation, the type of operation (mobile or fixed) and a brief description of the interference. Note that the FCC rules define harmful interference as:
Any emission, radiation or induction that endanger the functioning of a radio navigation service or of other safety services or seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a radiocommunications service operating in accordance with this chapter
The BPL industry has no intention whatsoever of complying with the rules, and the FCC doesn't give a damn if they do or not.
I will happily admit I am wrong when the FCC acts on the Manassas interference complaints. Of course, they have done NOTHING in two years, so I feel pretty safe.
The standard response to an interference complaint letter to the FCC OET is a form letter replying that they have forwarded your complaint to the BPL operator, even if your letter states clearly that you have tried resolving the complaint with the operator without success. And that is the total extent of the FCC "action". This has been documented by the ARRL in the Manassas case.
Am I wrong? Make me wrong, FCC. DO YOUR DAMN JOBS!
Here is a little good news for a change: ARRLWeb: New ARRL Petition Seeks to Resolve BPL Standoff.
Responsible manufacturers of access BPL equipment have been working with the ARRL to demonstrate equipment that can successfully coexist with amateur radio spectrum, and the League is asking the FCC to refine its rules to recognize that this is possible. Non-conformant systems (Main.net is a big example) would have to make some modifications to comply.
The big downer in all this is the ongoing total disinclination of the FCC to enforce even their liberalized Part 15 rules for BPL.
Look up GS-11, GS-12, and GS-13 salaries in the federal pay tables sometime. That is how much we are paying OET engineers to sit on their butts and ignore BPL interference complaints. GS-11 is the most likely journeyman engineer/technician level in OET; GS-12 is a staff lead/manager; GS-13 is a section chief. The $$ add up quick when you consider that they are apparently sitting behind a desk and reading comics all day instead of doing effective enforcement of BPL interference.
Effective? Hell, ANY enforcement would be a welcome change. Especially when you consider that an enforcement letter to the BPL operator would probably be all that would be required in most cases. These operators are ignoring interference complaints because they know the FCC is ignoring the complaints. If they get any sign that FCC is going to start enforcing the rules, they will clean up their act. But as things are, they don't have any incentive to do so.
FCC, do your damn jobs.
I found this on technorati today: isen.blog: BPL, RIP
I wonder what the BPL geniuses will do if CB radio comes back strong like it was in the 70's, with gain antennas and amplifiers all over the place? Since BPL (at least in the comtek, main.net versions and some others) is so very susceptible to external RF interference from relatively low-powered transmitters, that would be a nightmare scenario for them.
And, of course, explains why I am going QRO (sort of) with my next radio.
Called CQ on 15 this afternoon and Ray, WA7ZBL in Bend, Oregon, came right back. QSB was a constant problem but we has a nice QSO in spite of it.
Band conditions have been fair lately, with openings into Europe and Africa from about 11:00 to 12:30 and openings into South America around 4:30 to 5:30 or so. During one of those I worked Rick, PY2HL, although conditions were dicey on his end.
Opinion seems to be that this cycle has reached bottom, probably a couple of months ago, and is headed back up. Fingers are crossed for some good openings in the upcoming days.
