| |
VK3ZWI > AMRVIC 30.09.05 14:11l 94 Lines 4121 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 61518_VK3DSE
Read: GUEST
Subj: ABC TV exposes BPL interference issue
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0SIF<DB0IDN<DB0MW<DB0ZDF<DB0GE<DB0LJ<DB0RES<ON0BEL<
VK7AX<VK3AVE<VK3AYM<VK3AC<VK3ATM<VK3DSE
Sent: 050929/0925Z @:VK3DSE.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC #:61518 [Narre Warren] FBB7.00g25
From: VK3ZWI@VK3DSE.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC
To : AMRVIC@WW
ABC TV exposes BPL interference issue
-------------------------------------
Tasmanian power company Aurora Energy has again dismissed the issue of BPL
interference and now claims to have reached an agreement with safety
authorities who use HF radio.
ABC TV's Tasmanian Stateline program has revisited the subject of
broadband over powerlines in response to serious concerns it received
after airing its initial all positive story about the technology.
Aurora Energy's spokesman Peiro Peroni in answer to question on the program
said, "We received notification from one radio hobbiest in Mount Nelson
saying that they had experienced interference.
"We went on site and found no evidence of the interference. So, ah...
there's nothing we can do at this stage."
When further asked about BPL interference he claimed that potential
problems can be mitigated.
Mr Peroni told the program, "We've actually been speaking to the safety
authorities that are on our frequency spectrum that BPL is utilising.
"We've had very constructive discussions and we've both agreed that we
can coexist. And the trial will be utilised to validate what we've
discussed."
The obvious question to be answered is “who are these safety authorities?"
An of course what is their view of the existence of an agreement that their
radio systems and BPL can co-exist.
The Radio and Electronics Association of South Tasmania through Justin
Giles-Clarke VK7TW expressed the concerns of the amateur radio community.
The program described him as one of 500 ham radio operators in Tasmania who
engaged in the hobby which has a more serious side to it.
Justin VK7TW said, "There is an emergency back-up type role that we have
as amateurs and a classic example is what's going on in New Orelans right
at the moment.
"Amateurs are actually providing the communication infrastructure in the
Gulf States in the United States" because the communication
infrastructure no longer exists."
Stateline report Fiona Blackwood commented that operators are worried
their ability to keep their lines of communications open is under threat.
Justin VK7TW said, "This particular technology has a real potential to
create substantial interference for us, and for not only us, but for other
spectrum users, to the point where we can no longer operate."
He then played a taperecording of the interference experienced by Conrad
Kley VK7HCK located in the area where the Aurora trial is underway in the
Hobart suburbs of Tolmans Hill and Mount Nelson.
The Aurora BPL trial will be monitored by the Australian Communications and
Media Authority (ACMA).
Its spokesman Hugh Milloy said, "We'll be looking at the strength of the
signal that's coming from the powerlines, to see what the potential is for
that signal to interfere with other communications systems."
The ACMA has received over 200 submissions on a discussion paper on the
management of interference from BPL applications and those responses will
decide how tightly BPL should be regulated.
Mr Milloy said, "There are a number of...potential people who could be
affected by these signals."
Mr Peroni said, "It's important for the Australian utilities to continue
to invest in BPL, that we also have a stable regulatory environment that
allows us to invest and allows us to compete at the same level with other
communication providers.
Justin VK7TW said, "There is bound to be better technology, less
interference causing technology available, and it's available now."
The ABC TV program also had telecommunications consultant Paul Budde
talking up BPL which he described as "true broadband which allows for
video-based services and applications, and lot of the ADSL services is
not of that sort of a quality."
The report is the first true exposure in the Australian media of BPL
interference and the concerns held by so many about it. Other media
outlets are now known to be looking at the program to see if they can
take the negative aspects of BPL further.
- Jim Linton VK3PC
www.amateurradio.com.au.
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
