Field day and BPL

[kb7vvd]

To really give the system a shake down, your local field day activities this year should be located near your local BPL test site. #Just far enough away to avoid most of the hash but close enough to hammer the BPL traffic. Legal power levels of course . http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif #Little bit of 24/7 CW operation should do the trick. # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[N7BWB]

Now you're talkin, KB7VVD. Full legal limits on the fringes of the neighborhoods. If the FCC thinks that BPL and HF traffic can co-exist, "A very BPL Field Day" should either prove their point or see it all come crashing down. My money's on the latter.

N7BWB

[k9kjm]

Sounds like a good idea, BUT I get the distinct impression that these BPL "tests" are being done on
a pretty much "top secret" basis until after the "test" is
over with. (And I suspect that the so called "tests"
avoid any neighborhood that has ham operators in it)
When no serious interference is noted, The local power company then will go full speed ahead to finish the entire area with BPL......... # #
I hope all hams keep a good line of communications open with your local power company, To be able to fill them in on the drawbacks of BPL, And so we can be aware of just where these "tests" are taking place.....

[w8ob]

Kinda sounds like with that level of QRM predicted, hams are going to have to have more emergency setup tests instead of just a couple a year. I also suspect that the BPL boys and girls are screening areas to test. Make sure they don't see any antennas around and bet you anything they are using lower levels than the finished product will. Don't rush out and buy BPL stock, you know the saying " A fool and his money are soon parted".

[n0ov]

Hey, it's getting close to field day.

Any side contests to see how many power company trucks will be roling during this 24 hour period? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[n0ov]

Seriously,

This is going to be one of the first field days where mulitple parts of the country will have BPL deployed in several areas.

Would be very interesting to see (and document) what clubs in this area are experiencing over the 72 hour period.

When the data is bounced against trouble reports, it may yield some very interesting information

-- How BPL actually impacts HF bands during high traffic periods (like those that would be found in an emergency)

-- How reliable BPL internet solutions would be in an emergency when there is a noted increase volume of HF traffic.

How about settingup two similar operating setups, one inside the BPL area, and one outside. Just attempting to listen to the same stations at the same time might provide some interesting data.

On a side note, BPL is not in my area yet, but our club is in a large city, and sets up in a different park each year. If there were BPL test areas in areas of the city, this would definitely limit our operating choices.