The TRUTH about BPL! Manassas, VA

[k4kyv]

Imagine if your phone service depended on BPL, and would stop working each
time you or someone else transmitted. Lets go a step further, what if it was an
emergency, while using a BPL phone, the call couldn't get through or was disconnected?

BPL's key weakness is it's uncontrollable susceptibility to external RF means!

BPL data transfer stopped had to be restarted. (http://www.k4gvt.com/bpl/bplweakness.html)

[ky5u]

Excellent info! Thanks very much for providing.

[N2RJ]

If ever BPL comes here, I think I'll be doing a LOT of legal limit SSTV and RTTY.

[kc7gnm]

Very interesting article. Guess they are not Part 15 compliant since it states that it must accept all interference.

[K0RGR]

Yes - however this seems to be dependent on the vendor/system involved.

When they tested the Main.net system here, we found very similar results. Also, CB radios in the neighborhood had similar effects. We found that it was particularly sensitive to 17 meter RF. I was planning to gear up to try to work 17 meter DXCC at the bottom of the sunspot cycle, but the local government pulled the plug on the Main.net system.

Other systems, however, have proved to be less susceptible to RF ingress. One of our club members has been involved in evaluations of systems in other parts of the country on behalf of our local power company, and at least one system he tested was able to adapt rapidly to any single-frequency RFI. The BPL simply shifted frequencies. He also reported that interference on the HF bands from this system was very minimal, whereas the Main.net system, under load, generated S9+ RF across most of the HF spectrum - that was in the notched bands. It was much higher in the unfiltered bands.

[KA4DPO]

I get really irritated every time I hear about the Manassas BPL system. This is the system that got the FCC all fired up on BPL only because the FCC director (at thet time) and one of the principals in the BPL provider company were buddies.

They, the FCC, made grand and glorious gestures about how wonderful BPL was even though everyone knew it was a pig in a poke. It was a classic case of no one wanting to tell the king he had no clothes and now the FCC has to keep the lie alive or collectively look like fools.

I urge every ham in Northern VA with a mobile rig to consider my original plan for a Manassas mobile roundup contest. The contest could last for a couple of months and extra points are awared based on your power output.

There were a bunch of "oh you can't do that" types when I mentioned it several years ago. All I can say is if their system is that sensitive to RF interference then maybe they shut it down and try something else.

[WA3KYY]

Quote[/b] (KA4DPO @ June 04 2007,13:58)]I urge every ham in Northern VA with a mobile rig to consider my original plan for a Manassas mobile roundup contest. #The contest could last for a couple of months and extra points are awared based on your power output.
This might just be the incentive I need to finish my mobile HF setup. I've always wanted to drive out and visit the Civil War battlefields in Manasass and some 40M mobiling while doing so sounds like fun.

73,
Mike WA3KYY

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (WA3KYY @ June 04 2007,13:08)]Quote[/b] (KA4DPO @ June 04 2007,13:58)]I urge every ham in Northern VA with a mobile rig to consider my original plan for a Manassas mobile roundup contest. The contest could last for a couple of months and extra points are awared based on your power output.
This might just be the incentive I need to finish my mobile HF setup. I've always wanted to drive out and visit the Civil War battlefields in Manasass and some 40M mobiling while doing so sounds like fun.

73,
Mike WA3KYY
I suddenly want to put an amp in my car and drive out to manassas.

[K4KWH]

Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ June 04 2007,11:17)]Quote[/b] (WA3KYY @ June 04 2007,13:08)]Quote[/b] (KA4DPO @ June 04 2007,13:58)]I urge every ham in Northern VA with a mobile rig to consider my original plan for a Manassas mobile roundup contest. #The contest could last for a couple of months and extra points are awared based on your power output.
This might just be the incentive I need to finish my mobile HF setup. #I've always wanted to drive out and visit the Civil War battlefields in Manasass and some 40M mobiling while doing so sounds like fun.

73,
Mike WA3KYY
I suddenly want to put an amp in my car and drive out to manassas.


I LOVE it! I would certainly be tempted to do this myself! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif # However, not to throw water on your campfire, leave us not be hasty lest we open up a can of worms we are not prepared to eat! #Yes! #The law IS on our side. YES! #Part 15 devices and protocols MUST not create interference and they must ACCEPT #interference from licensed services. #However, it should be clear that something IS fishy about this and it almost seems too obvious that somebody has been paid off in FCC to further this flawed technology. It would, seem, too, that LONG standing precedent would stand us well in court should ARRL challenge BPL in court. #I hope they DO!

The one thing we have to be careful of is, those BPL people are awash with money--the same money they, perhaps, spread around certain places in order to get this crap accepted. #They already KNOW what their BPL sh(censored) does to licensed radio services. #With all that being said, we don't want to cause Part 15 or Part 97 Rules to be changed to restrict us or force us to accept noise from BPL. #To go out and begin "accidently" on purpose knocking off internet and phones with contests, deliberate carriers, sitting under power lines running CW, etc. might backfire. #Not only would that get the BPL providers mad, but you would have irate customers from which there might ensue that old adage about certain matter flowing downhill to US! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif The public is not going to understand about "them geeky hams out 'ere a-messin' up my internet!" #Given a backlash from that, the only thing we have is that LONG- accepted precedent in law, and even THAT may not protect us from an overwhelming combination of public sentiment and loads of BPL dollars!!!! Thus, we might need to proceed slowly and consider the possible consequences of our going out and knocking off BPL! I think that is what ARRL itself is doing, IMHO--proceeding deliberately and using the flaws both in the current law and the system itself to eventually bring this issue into court! #

I would like nothing BETTER than to get even with these people. With what little I do know (and that is only from reading about it where I found long ago that BPL could be "booted" with RF), I believe we will prevail! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #I don't think it can really compete with WiFi, DSL, HiSpeed, and satellite. Eventually, EVERY house in "hickville" will get some sort of satellite access, so BPL might be like a Model T! #Let's hope so!

(This is simply opinion, so no flames, OK?)


http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif


73

J

[N0WVA]

The problem is not BPL, its the other spectrum uses, mainly us hams who keep showing up and throwing a monkeywrench into the big money grab.

Better to just get rid of us all together, then they can splatter away without any flack from us "obsolete" services.

Maybe thats the FCC's whole point, hmm?

[kb2vxa]

Weul, whai nowt teul alluh dose see beers abawt da KEYDOWN in Molasses an' let dems tak da heat? Ah-hilk!

[K4KWH]

Quote[/b] (kb2vxa @ June 04 2007,17:55)]Weul, whai nowt teul alluh dose see beers abawt da KEYDOWN in Molasses an' let dems tak da heat? Ah-hilk!
I had to read that 4 times to "translate" it! #Hmm! Now that would be something. Let dem CEE BEE-UH'S git the blame! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

73

[K5FH]

Quote[/b] (K4KWH @ June 04 2007,13:47)]The one thing we have to be careful of is, those BPL people are awash with money--the same money they, perhaps, spread around certain places in order to get this crap accepted. #They already KNOW what their BPL sh(censored) does to licensed radio services. #With all that being said, we don't want to cause Part 15 or Part 97 Rules to be changed to restrict us or force us to accept noise from BPL.
That scenario is quite possible.

Money talks and bushwah walks, as they say. #The BPL people have many cubic yards of money behind them and we have the ARRL.

Remember the ECPA? #It mandated that receivers sold in the U.S. be "blocked" from receiving on cellular frequencies. #This was nothing more than a piece of feel-good legislation, bought and paid for by the Electronic Industries Association, so the EIA could promise cellular customers that their calls would be "private."

I can see something similar at work here. #Like you said, the BPL people know damn well that their system is a broad-spectrum noise generator. #But, as soon as hams start raising hell with BPL systems there will be a big push (pushed by a lot of $$$ from the BPL supporters) to restrict ham transmissions. #This could take the form of "quiet zones," lower output power limits, restrictions on antennas or the outright loss of certain frequencies, possibly an unhappy combination of all these and more. #Just so BPL can "guarantee" uninterrupted service to their customers.

I'm afraid amateur radio will come out on the losing end of this "war," simply because of the Golden Rule: the guy with the most gold makes the rules.

[KB1KIX]

Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ June 04 2007,14:17)]Quote[/b] (WA3KYY @ June 04 2007,13:08)]Quote[/b] (KA4DPO @ June 04 2007,13:58)]I urge every ham in Northern VA with a mobile rig to consider my original plan for a Manassas mobile roundup contest. The contest could last for a couple of months and extra points are awared based on your power output.
This might just be the incentive I need to finish my mobile HF setup. I've always wanted to drive out and visit the Civil War battlefields in Manasass and some 40M mobiling while doing so sounds like fun.

73,
Mike WA3KYY
I suddenly want to put an amp in my car and drive out to manassas.
I have some vacation time left.

I think we can have a neat operating event here!

I've been wantin' to see some of that civil war history myself!

Jonathan

[ka5piu]

Hello.

I got to thinking.
Early cable TV was open wire.
People soon figured out that if they pointed an antenna directly at the open wire they could get the signal.
Now, with that in mind, how does this system work?
Can a 100 milliwatt signal coupled directly across the household supply work?
If one can intercept the signal there would be clear violations of the law going on, ECPA and the like.
How complex is the transmitter on the subscribers end?
But, remember, DSL works in much the same manner and nobody is upset so far.
The trick that the phone company has is that the lines are balanced.
If the power line were balanced just right there is the chance that this might work.
Perhaps that is the theory behind this and the real world lines are not balanced?
Remember, in some places this would never work.
http://www.ruralpower.org/
I need more information on this BPL, why it does what it does.
Perhaps there is a solution, something that will keep Amateurs as well as the power companies happy.

[KA4DPO]

Quote[/b] (ka5piu @ June 04 2007,23:02)]Hello.

I got to thinking.
Early cable TV was open wire.
People soon figured out that if they pointed an antenna directly at the open wire they could get the signal.
Now, with that in mind, how does this system work?
Can a 100 milliwatt signal coupled directly across the household supply work?
If one can intercept the signal there would be clear violations of the law going on, ECPA and the like.
How complex is the transmitter on the subscribers end?
But, remember, DSL works in much the same manner and nobody is upset so far.
The trick that the phone company has is that the lines are balanced.
If the power line were balanced just right there is the chance that this might work.
Perhaps that is the theory behind this and the real world lines are not balanced?
Remember, in some places this would never work.
http://www.ruralpower.org/
I need more information on this BPL, why it does what it does.
Perhaps there is a solution, something that will keep Amateurs as well as the power companies happy.
Power Line Carrier systems are not balanced systems. #This is due to the nature of power lines which are also not balanced because to do so would be virtually and economically impossible.

PLC simply uses the power line as a conductor and the return path is via neutral (ground), this is why they radiate. #PLC uses frequencies from between 2.5 and 55 MHZ and generate broad spectrum noise.

There are PLC systems that do not generate radio interference but they don't seem to be favored by industry, probably due to the cost.

So even with 40 plus MHZ of bandwidth I don't see these as commercially viable data carriers. #Nearby radio transmissions can cause problems with these systems as can lightning strikes and downed power lines.

All of the technical drawbacks not withstanding, the FCC lied their collective butts off, promoted, and gave BPL an unfair advantage in spite of public law.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (KB1KIX @ June 04 2007,22:43)]Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ June 04 2007,14:17)]Quote[/b] (WA3KYY @ June 04 2007,13:08)]Quote[/b] (KA4DPO @ June 04 2007,13:58)]I urge every ham in Northern VA with a mobile rig to consider my original plan for a Manassas mobile roundup contest. The contest could last for a couple of months and extra points are awared based on your power output.
This might just be the incentive I need to finish my mobile HF setup. I've always wanted to drive out and visit the Civil War battlefields in Manasass and some 40M mobiling while doing so sounds like fun.

73,
Mike WA3KYY
I suddenly want to put an amp in my car and drive out to manassas.
I have some vacation time left.

I think we can have a neat operating event here!

I've been wantin' to see some of that civil war history myself!

Jonathan
Yeah and I'll even sponsor the QSLs!

Perhaps a protest special event station!

[K4GUN]

Hmmm... Where is the Manassas club going to set up for Field Day? I'm only about 10 miles from Manassas and I know they have a pretty active club. Wouldn't it be fun for them to sit right next to some power lines?

[WA3KYY]

Quote[/b] (KB1KIX @ June 04 2007,23:43)]Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ June 04 2007,14:17)]Quote[/b] (WA3KYY @ June 04 2007,13:08)]Quote[/b] (KA4DPO @ June 04 2007,13:58)]I urge every ham in Northern VA with a mobile rig to consider my original plan for a Manassas mobile roundup contest. #The contest could last for a couple of months and extra points are awared based on your power output.
This might just be the incentive I need to finish my mobile HF setup. #I've always wanted to drive out and visit the Civil War battlefields in Manasass and some 40M mobiling while doing so sounds like fun.

73,
Mike WA3KYY
I suddenly want to put an amp in my car and drive out to manassas.
I have some vacation time left.

I think we can have a neat operating event here!

I've been wantin' to see some of that civil war history myself!

Jonathan
Hmm, there's an idea. The Manassas Civil War Battlefields Tour Net on 40M http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[ac3p]

Drat! I was going to go to the Manassas Hamfest Sunday but stayed home on account to the rain.

[WA3KYY]

Quote[/b] (ac3p @ June 05 2007,15:37)]Drat! I was going to go to the Manassas Hamfest Sunday but stayed home on account to the rain.
You missed a good one despite the rain. My friend went with a load of stuff from his shack to sell and came home with a mostly empty car and a full wallet. He even found the last few items he needed to finish his antenna stack for the VHF contest this weekend.

73,
Mike WA3KYY

[NN3W]

It was decent, unfortunately the rain came at exactly the WRONG time and drove off a lot of prospective tailgaters...

[KB1KIX]

OK, we can have a 40M Mobile event......

We have QSL's set.

We already have some ops......

Date? Manassas QSO Party?

Jonathan

[K0RGR]

A lot's going to depend on the outcome of ARRL's lawsuit, I suspect. If the courts rule that FCC overstepped their authority, and that their decision was, in fact, capricious, then they'll have to go back to the drawing board.

It's a little hard to predict how this will come out. On the one hand, we have the FCC denying the laws of physics in order to bend the rules to favor BPL. The question is whether or not the politicians and monied interests pushing it have enough power to bend the laws of physics.

At least, so far, in most parts of the country, this brand of snake oil doesn't seem to be making any inroads. But, they've also managed to hold back the development of wireless and other Internet alternatives, to keep the door open for this monstrosity. They keep trying to sell the plan that this will somehow replace cable TV, and there's always some fantastic technical breakthrough right around the corner that will allow multi-gigabit throughput over rural power lines. Snake oil, vaporware, and plain old hokum...

[KA4DPO]

No doubt that the FCC and commercial interests are ignoring the facts. The fact that the Manassas system causes interference has been brought before the commision several times and they didn't even pay it lip service.

If a large contingent of mobile operators were to drive through Manassas on a regular basis and cause sufficient interference by operating on as many different frequencies as possible I think the subscribers would simply switch. After all, they have all of the ISP options available in any metropolitan area, so why waste money on one that's not reliable.

I'm sure the provider would scream bloody murder about those ^%$ hams but there really isn't much they can do about it. Last time I checked it's legal to operate mobile on city streets.

[KD6NIG]

I wonder if the keydowners of CB fame have ever considered having a meet in Manassas either?

Sure the FCC could tell ham ops not to operate, but I bet you some good old boy with a 'dave made' whatever would cause some major hurt to subscribers in the area....

The irony is amazing.

[KB1KIX]

Ohhh, it is.

But the point is to have an operating event, complete with a publicity display so people understand the protest.

Allow them to understand how it interferes - show them what it sounds like.

Combine all of this so it's more of a publicity program - which it is.

We don't want it to look malicious and such - that won't win any votes in our favor!

Jonathan

[n0ov]

Besides -- it will give the FCC the opportunity to put some "conditional modifications" on licenses involved in the event.

After all, those bad amateurs operating legally should NOT be allowed to interfere with the BPL revenue machine.....................

[K4KWH]

PLEASE do not do that!!! NO matter what you think of ARRL, give them (and others)a chance to use the facts of BPL and bring them to bear. To act hastily could backfire on us. #There is, no doubt, some BIG money riding on this, and we have NO chance of beating them unless we let the FACTS work for us---NOT by using "vigilante" tactics!

73

[K8MHZ]

Quote[/b] (K4KWH @ June 06 2007,13:46)]PLEASE do not do that!!! NO matter what you think of ARRL, give them (and others)a chance to use the facts of BPL and bring them to bear. To act hastily could backfire on us. #There is, no doubt, some BIG money riding on this, and we have NO chance of beating them unless we let the FACTS work for us---NOT by using "vigilante" tactics!

73
You mean like keying up over truckers on 28.085?

You don't consider that to be vigilante tactics?

[KA4DPO]

As far as I know operating a mobile rig is perfectly legal. It's not my fault if someone put a half A$$ed system that's susceptable to RFI in a town where I just happen to be operating.

I don't see any problem here. If their system is that weak then I guess they need to go out of business....

[K4GUN]

I'm serious guys... Field Day could make this interesting. The Manassas club will be just South of town. I don't know how close they will be to one of the BPL spots. I'll be curious to see how that works out.

[k4kyv]

Better still would be for hams who have a home station with high power and good antennas, located in the middle of a heavily populated BPL area, to simply operate normally on HF, as they have been doing for years. No-one could accuse them of going out of their way for the purpose of maliciously jamming the BPL system.

Their justification for repeated, long drawn out CQ's would be that they heard no replies, due to all the noise that was wiping out the band.

Case closed.

[K4KWH]

Quote[/b] (k8mhz @ June 06 2007,18:50)]73
You mean like keying up over truckers on 28.085?

You don't consider that to be vigilante tactics?[/QUOTE]


Once again, I did not make the recent interpretation of the rule; Riley H did! #And that ruling states that the rule applies to LEGAL stations vs LEGAL stations. #Illegal stations have NO status because they are violating the law by their very stinkin' presence!!!!! #BPL is violating the law, too; they just greased some palms to get FCC to ignore what they already KNOW is gross interference. #One difference here is, the HUGE money and the the public relations forces the providers can bring to bear. #Articles in the news about how a bunch of 'geeky' out-of-date hams with worn pocket protectors have been sitting under the power lines knocking off internet service would not serve our interests well. # Let ARRL, like them or no, proceed with this.

As with the truckers, yeah, #THEY are violating the law by being on our bands. #The best way to combat this is with what I have been advocating for years with little result. #DON'T say a word to them. #DON'T deliberately fire up on top of them (Sure is tempting to jam the hades out of 'em, tho), but don't refrain from operating simply because they are there, either. Under Riley's interpretation, you CAN! They are not going to cite you so long as you aren't maliciously interferring with another legal station.#YOU have privileges there; the truckers DON'T!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif #The idea that I would have to stand by, yield, or otherwise refrain from using what I earned via licensure makes me furious AND, IMHO, is utterly STUPID! # But we CAN quietly document, record and send their truck info to rholling@fcc.gov while saying nothing! #Those with mobiles drive to work, vacations, etc. Listen or scan the 10 Meter band!

By conversations with Riley, here's what happens according to him if I understood correctly. #Remember that little blurb about "you are requested (it means you durn well BETTER! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ) to call me at your earliest convenience to discuss this matter"? Well, if I understand this correctly, the company is then, first, scolded, then told that they are to get those cussed "10 Meter 'Amateur' radios O-U-T of of their trucks. #Then they are advised to put out a policy that states that such equipment is PROHIBITED in their fleet and one is found, the driver is subject to termination. #The companies are VERY cooperative; they don't want trouble with the Feds. I have a copy of FedEx's policy letter, BTW. #They, after all, have better things to do and no vested interest in letting drivers violate any laws, so they just tell the employees to get those radios OUT! #Sure, it's tempting to screw up the truckers' conversations, but THIS is much more effective.

On the ARRL Enforcement Log, there's a trucking company that got nailed called "Sferra Metals". The amusing thing is, it turns out the company owner is an

Extra Class Amateur! Being a busy man, he did not know his drivers were doing this, but I was told that when he heard it, he went thru the roof!!!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif #Can you imagine what the driver went through when he was called into the office? # WHEW! #Betcha his sit-down device was dragging when he went out of there! #HA!

Another company was caught by one of us not far from Concord, NC. #He saw the ham writing down his info and turned around to mouth at him, run his mouth on 28.085 AM about how there wasn't nothing the hams could do,and gave the famous one-finger salute. #This ham was close to his home, so he used the 800 number and called this guy's supervisor. #The supervisor was WAITING for him when he drove in the lot! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif # Mr BIG BAD trucker wasn't so "big" after all!!! Not sure he even WORKS for that company anymore!!

So instead of playing "one upmanship" on QRZ, engaging in moral equivilency arguments, feeling superior with zingers and one-liners on HERE at one another, we NEED to be doing some positive to rid us of the bandits that plague us.

So, does this mean that the next CW contest will be postponed so we can stand by for the truckers? Heaven forbid we 'interfere" with lawbreakers and chicken banders who have NO business on our frequencies! TAN FER THAR, AN' WE JIST GOT DOWN (THAR!) http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[KA4DPO]

Quote[/b] (K4KWH @ June 07 2007,10:59)]Quote[/b] (k8mhz @ June 06 2007,18:50)]73
You mean like keying up over truckers on 28.085?

You don't consider that to be vigilante tactics?


Once again, I did not make the recent interpretation of the rule; Riley H did! #And that ruling states that the rule applies to LEGAL stations vs LEGAL stations. #Illegal stations have NO status because they are violating the law by their very stinkin' presence!!!!! #BPL is violating the law, too; they just greased some palms to get FCC to ignore what they already KNOW is gross interference. #One difference here is, the HUGE money and the the public relations forces the providers can bring to bear. #Articles in the news about how a bunch of 'geeky' out-of-date hams with worn pocket protectors have been sitting under the power lines knocking off internet service would not serve our interests well. # Let ARRL, like them or no, proceed with this.

As with the truckers, yeah, #THEY are violating the law by being on our bands. #The best way to combat this is with what I have been advocating for years with little result. #DON'T say a word to them. #DON'T deliberately fire up on top of them (Sure is tempting to jam the hades out of 'em, tho), but don't refrain from operating simply because they are there, either. Under Riley's interpretation, you CAN! They are not going to cite you so long as you aren't maliciously interferring with another legal station.#YOU have privileges there; the truckers DON'T!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif #The idea that I would have to stand by, yield, or otherwise refrain from using what I earned via licensure makes me furious AND, IMHO, is utterly STUPID! # But we CAN quietly document, record and send their truck info to rholling@fcc.gov while saying nothing! #Those with mobiles drive to work, vacations, etc. Listen or scan the 10 Meter band!

By conversations with Riley, here's what happens according to him if I understood correctly. #Remember that little blurb about "you are requested (it means you durn well BETTER! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ) to call me at your earliest convenience to discuss this matter"? Well, if I understand this correctly, the company is then, first, scolded, then told that they are to get those cussed "10 Meter 'Amateur' radios O-U-T of of their trucks. #Then they are advised to put out a policy that states that such equipment is PROHIBITED in their fleet and one is found, the driver is subject to termination. #The companies are VERY cooperative; they don't want trouble with the Feds. I have a copy of FedEx's policy letter, BTW. #They, after all, have better things to do and no vested interest in letting drivers violate any laws, so they just tell the employees to get those radios OUT! #Sure, it's tempting to screw up the truckers' conversations, but THIS is much more effective.

On the ARRL Enforcement Log, there's a trucking company that got nailed called "Sferra Metals". The amusing thing is, it turns out the company owner is an

Extra Class Amateur! Being a busy man, he did not know his drivers were doing this, but I was told that when he heard it, he went thru the roof!!!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif #Can you imagine what the driver went through when he was called into the office? # WHEW! #Betcha his sit-down device was dragging when he went out of there! #HA!

Another company was caught by one of us not far from Concord, NC. #He saw the ham writing down his info and turned around to mouth at him, run his mouth on 28.085 AM about how there wasn't nothing the hams could do,and gave the famous one-finger salute. #This ham was close to his home, so he used the 800 number and called this guy's supervisor. #The supervisor was WAITING for him when he drove in the lot! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif # Mr BIG BAD trucker wasn't so "big" after all!!! Not sure he even WORKS for that company anymore!!

So instead of playing "one upmanship" on QRZ, engaging in moral equivilency arguments, feeling superior with zingers and one-liners on HERE at one another, we NEED to be doing some positive to rid us of the bandits that plague us.

So, does this mean that the next CW contest will be postponed so we can stand by for the truckers? Heaven forbid we 'interfere" with lawbreakers and chicken banders who have NO business on our frequencies! TAN FER THAR, AN' WE JIST GOT DOWN (THAR!) http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif[/quote]
Wow great points KWH, not sure what any of that has to do with BPL but great.

The question of whether or not BPL is operating legally or illegally is not our concern, that's up to the FCC and the courts. #The question of interference is our concern. #I am licensed to operate a legal amateur radio station anywhere in the United States with one or two very special exceptions.

If I choose to operate a legal amateur radio in Manassas or any other city I can. #If it causes interference to any part 15 device then it must be a poor design and must accept the interference.

Because BPL systems are adaptive, they can shift frequency to mitigate some interference so one or two amateur stations aren'y going to cause a problem. #On the other hand, a couple of hundred amateur stations spread across 75 through 10 meters will likely bring the system down. #Tsk Tsk, poor BPL, can dish it out but can't take it. #As a consumer I'd switch to cable..