What do you think of PCL, or Power Line Communications?

Question

also called BPL, or broadband over power lines. Will it ever catch on? Will it be cheaper than cable and DSL? Thoughts?

JIM - I've heard of some "low volt" option to limit ham radio inteference. Is this true?

Answer 1

BPL can deliver wire-line bandwidth in places where DSL-capable phone lines or Cable TV lines don't exist, because the power line infrastructure is already there. Innovation is a good thing. The frequencies they use to accomplish should be sufficiently high, and with enough repeaters close enough together that they need virtually no power. With these two provisions interference could be minimized. Ham Radio is not the only radio service potentially effected by the interference. You sure don't want your paramedic saying "I can't hear the doctor, there's a noise on the frequency!" This is why we have frequency coordination, and laws that prohibit the interference. As long as BPL plays by the rules, and as long as the rules are sufficient, yes it can work. Any company manufacturuing BPL devices should definitely design the devices from the very beginnning to never radiate at any time on any frequency that is in use by any form of public safety or emergency communications, and especially ham radio which is the United States of America's only civil defense communication that works.

Answer 2

This will cause "all kinds of problems"

Ask any of the Ham Radio guys!
It will take out the emergency com.system also.

Answer 3

http://www.pctoolmag.com/58/computer-software.html