BPL BPL Broadband over PowerlinesBroadband over Powerlines

Jory McIntosh, KJ5RMJory McIntosh, KJ5RMARRL Assistant Section Manager ARRL Assistant Section Manager

KJ5RM@KJ5RM.NETKJ5RM@KJ5RM.NETHTTP://WWW.TEXASBPL.COMHTTP://WWW.TEXASBPL.COM

BPL Interference and FCC BPL Interference and FCC RegulationsRegulations

Who am I?Who am I?

ARRL (American Radio Relay League) ARRL (American Radio Relay League) Assistant Section Manger for North TexasAssistant Section Manger for North Texas

Ham Operator for 13 Years, in radio for 15 Ham Operator for 13 Years, in radio for 15 years.years.

Computer and Network programmer by Computer and Network programmer by trade.trade.

Does it interfere?Does it interfere?

Power lines are made of long unshielded Power lines are made of long unshielded wires.wires.

BPL is a Radio Frequency signal.BPL is a Radio Frequency signal. When you load a RF signal on wires it When you load a RF signal on wires it

resonates.resonates. BPL operates from 2 through 80 MhzBPL operates from 2 through 80 Mhz Does it Interfere? Big Time!Does it Interfere? Big Time!

Irving, TXIrving, TX

Results from test In Irving using Yaesu Results from test In Irving using Yaesu FT-100, Full DSP, 2.4 Khz Filter FT-100, Full DSP, 2.4 Khz Filter ATAS-100 Antenna, 150 feet from ATAS-100 Antenna, 150 feet from BPL Unit.BPL Unit.

Freq Control BPL

7.208 S3 S20+

10.105 S1 S20+

14.273 S3 S20+

21.074 S1 S60

28.342 S0 S20+

50.132 S1 S20+

144.340 S0 S9

Irving RecordingsIrving Recordings

Before the BPL was installed: 21.074 MhzBefore the BPL was installed: 21.074 Mhz

After BPL was installed:After BPL was installed:

How about ¼ mile away? 17 meters….How about ¼ mile away? 17 meters….

That was with a very inefficient antenna! That was with a very inefficient antenna!

Burnet, TXBurnet, TX

Results from test In Irving using Icom Results from test In Irving using Icom IC-706, ICOM Ah-4 antenna tuner, IC-706, ICOM Ah-4 antenna tuner, 11 foot whip11 foot whip Freq Control BPL

7.200 S7 S20+

10.116 S6 S10+

14.200 S6 S9

18.130 S4 S9

21.204 S4 S60+

Interference to BPL?Interference to BPL?

In Irving a 50 watt transmitter 100 foot from In Irving a 50 watt transmitter 100 foot from the system shut it down for the duration of the system shut it down for the duration of transmission + 5 secondstransmission + 5 seconds

Reports from the PUC test in North Carolina Reports from the PUC test in North Carolina found similar results.found similar results.

Any HF transmitter within 100 foot can affect Any HF transmitter within 100 foot can affect the data passed on this system.the data passed on this system.

NotchingNotching

What is notching? Intermodulational What is notching? Intermodulational Distortion (Intermod).Distortion (Intermod).

Cottonwood, AZ found notching ineffective Cottonwood, AZ found notching ineffective due to Intermod issuedue to Intermod issue

Omaha, NB found notching ineffectiveOmaha, NB found notching ineffective

FCC RegulationsFCC Regulations

Part 15.5BPart 15.5BOperation of an intentional, unintentional, or Operation of an intentional, unintentional, or

incidental radiator is subject that no harmful incidental radiator is subject that no harmful interference is caused and that interference interference is caused and that interference must be accepted that my be caused by must be accepted that my be caused by authorized radio station, another intentional authorized radio station, another intentional or unintentional radiator, by industrial, or unintentional radiator, by industrial, scientific, and Medical equipment, or by an scientific, and Medical equipment, or by an incidental radiator.incidental radiator.

FCC RegulationsFCC Regulations

Part 15.5CPart 15.5C

The operator of a radio frequency device shall The operator of a radio frequency device shall be required to cease operating the device be required to cease operating the device upon notification by a Commission upon notification by a Commission representative that the devise is causing representative that the devise is causing harmful interference.harmful interference.

FCC Regulations on Harmful FCC Regulations on Harmful InterferenceInterference

Part 97.3(23)Part 97.3(23)

Harmful interference. Interference which Harmful interference. Interference which endangers the functioning of a endangers the functioning of a radionavigation server or of other safety radionavigation server or of other safety services or seriously degrades obstructs or services or seriously degrades obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a radiocommunication repeatedly interrupts a radiocommunication service operating in accordance with Radio service operating in accordance with Radio Regulations.Regulations.

AlternativesAlternatives

WiMax – 802.16 – 268 Mbs!WiMax – 802.16 – 268 Mbs! 802.11B/G/A Up to 108Mbs!802.11B/G/A Up to 108Mbs! Cellular – 3 Mbs +Cellular – 3 Mbs + DSL and Cable 3 to 5 MbsDSL and Cable 3 to 5 Mbs Fiber – 100Mb+ Video+PhoneFiber – 100Mb+ Video+Phone

No Interference and complies with part 15!!!No Interference and complies with part 15!!!

You can’t change the Laws of You can’t change the Laws of Physics Jim!Physics Jim!

RF injection on a power line will and does resonate.RF injection on a power line will and does resonate. Powerlines become antenna and pickup signals that can Powerlines become antenna and pickup signals that can

and do cause BPL system to malfunction.and do cause BPL system to malfunction. Notching hasn’t work due to Intermodulation issues.Notching hasn’t work due to Intermodulation issues. FCC Regulations forbid harmful interferenceFCC Regulations forbid harmful interference BPL at Irving and Burnet violates part 15.5bBPL at Irving and Burnet violates part 15.5b There are alternatives that don’t have these issues at There are alternatives that don’t have these issues at

similar prices!similar prices! Don’t waste $300,000 tax dollars on flawed technology!Don’t waste $300,000 tax dollars on flawed technology!

Links and Questions….Links and Questions….

GoBPL – GoBPL – www.gobpl.comwww.gobpl.com ARRL BPL Page – ARRL BPL Page – www.arrl.org/bpl/www.arrl.org/bpl/ WiMax – WiMax – www.wimaxforum.orgwww.wimaxforum.org