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BPL BPL Broadband over PowerlinesBroadband over Powerlines
Jory McIntosh, KJ5RMJory McIntosh, KJ5RMARRL Assistant Director ARRL Assistant Director
West Gulf BPL Task ForceWest Gulf BPL Task Force
[email protected]@KJ5RM.NET
HTTP://WWW.TEXASBPL.COMHTTP://WWW.TEXASBPL.COM
TXU/Current Technologies BPL TXU/Current Technologies BPL Information Information
What is BPL?What is BPL?
BPL: Broadband over Power Lines – Designed to BPL: Broadband over Power Lines – Designed to turn power grid into high-speed network and turn power grid into high-speed network and internet access.internet access.
Power Companies also use BPL for “Smart Grid”Power Companies also use BPL for “Smart Grid” Uses power lines to transmit data using RF from 2 Uses power lines to transmit data using RF from 2
to 80 MHzto 80 MHz Throughput speeds per line 200Mb/ 3Mb per userThroughput speeds per line 200Mb/ 3Mb per user Uses 802.11b/g or direct connection to get signal Uses 802.11b/g or direct connection to get signal
from pole to user.from pole to user.
The Technology of BPLThe Technology of BPL
Three Parts of BPLThree Parts of BPL– Internet connection to Injector 802.11b/ethernetInternet connection to Injector 802.11b/ethernet– Injector “injects” data onto lineInjector “injects” data onto line– Repeater , every 1200 feet boosts signalRepeater , every 1200 feet boosts signal– Connection box. 802.11b/g, or Ethernet, Connection box. 802.11b/g, or Ethernet,
HomePlugHomePlug
Our ConcernsOur Concerns
Power lines are long unshielded wires.Power lines are long unshielded wires. What is your antenna made of? Wire…What is your antenna made of? Wire… What happens when you inject a RF signal What happens when you inject a RF signal
on a wire? It becomes an antenna!!on a wire? It becomes an antenna!! Look around you and see how many Look around you and see how many
powerlines there are. powerlines there are. Remember they are using 2-80Mhz from Remember they are using 2-80Mhz from
75M thru 6M75M thru 6M
Past DealingsPast DealingsIrving, TXIrving, TX
System AmperionSystem AmperionResults from test In Results from test In
Irving using Yeasu FT-Irving using Yeasu FT-100, Full DSP, 2.4 Khz 100, Full DSP, 2.4 Khz Filter ATAS-100 Filter ATAS-100 Antenna, 150 feet from 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
Houston, TXHouston, TXSystem AmperionSystem Amperion
Preliminary Results from test in Preliminary Results from test in HoustonHouston
Freq Control BPL
14.000 S0 S30+
14.100 S1 S9
Current TechnologyCurrent Technology
Based out of Germantown, MdBased out of Germantown, Md Provides high speed broadband serviceProvides high speed broadband service Provides powerful Intelligence for electrical Provides powerful Intelligence for electrical
distribution networksdistribution networks Electrical distribution network securityElectrical distribution network security Currently installing system in Cincinnati, OHCurrently installing system in Cincinnati, OH
TXU and CurrentTXU and Current
New partnership announced 12/19/2005New partnership announced 12/19/2005 Current to implement on 70% of Grid in Current to implement on 70% of Grid in
Dallas and Fort WorthDallas and Fort Worth 2 million homes to be passed.2 million homes to be passed. TXU to use “network” for “SmartGrid”TXU to use “network” for “SmartGrid” Internet gravyInternet gravy
The SystemThe SystemSpecsSpecs
High Voltage Lines – 31 to 48 MhzHigh Voltage Lines – 31 to 48 Mhz Ability to notch frequencies or ranges of Ability to notch frequencies or ranges of
frequenciesfrequencies Home Plug for house/business sideHome Plug for house/business side 4 to 30 Mhz4 to 30 Mhz 30 Db notch on all ham bands but 60 meters30 Db notch on all ham bands but 60 meters Quite operations – Transmits only when neededQuite operations – Transmits only when needed New technology to fix 60/add movable notchesNew technology to fix 60/add movable notches
Cincinnati InstallCincinnati Install
5,000 Homes passed working on 50,0005,000 Homes passed working on 50,000 Hams have installs in their homes for testing.Hams have installs in their homes for testing. No interference complaints filedNo interference complaints filed Test shows minimal interference to amateur radio Test shows minimal interference to amateur radio
bandsbands Interference confined to within 200 feet of home.Interference confined to within 200 feet of home. Slight increase in background noiseSlight increase in background noise Squawks and short burst of noise heardSquawks and short burst of noise heard Shortwave bands more heavily affected.Shortwave bands more heavily affected.
What to expect???What to expect???TheoreticallyTheoretically
Increase in background noise HF ham Increase in background noise HF ham bandsbands
60 Meters S9 + when active possible60 Meters S9 + when active possible Other HF Bands - Increased background Other HF Bands - Increased background
noise and some momentary noisesnoise and some momentary noises Shortwave bands S9 + when activeShortwave bands S9 + when active 31 to 48 Mhz S9 + 31 to 48 Mhz S9 + No interference to system from HamsNo interference to system from Hams
What you will seeWhat you will see
What you will seeWhat you will see
What you will seeWhat you will see
Addresses and LinksAddresses and Links
ARRL BPL information PageARRL BPL information Page http://www.arrl.net/BPL/http://www.arrl.net/BPL/TEXAS BPL InformationTEXAS BPL Information http://http://www.texasbpl.comwww.texasbpl.comHomePlugHomePlug http://www.homeplug.orghttp://www.homeplug.orgCurrent TechnologiesCurrent Technologies http://www.currenttechnologies.comhttp://www.currenttechnologies.com
Closing and DiscussionClosing and Discussion
We are not against BPL just the We are not against BPL just the harmful interference it producesharmful interference it produces
