ARLA/CLUSTER: Luta internacional contra o BPL/PLC na Europa e EUA.

[João Gonçalves Costa]

[http://www.n9vxq.org/nobpl.gif]
Broadband over Power Lines - a DXer responds to earlier comments

Radio Netherlands Worldwide's Andy Sennitt writes:

UK-based DXer Mike Barraclough thought I was being unfair to the DX Clubs when I wrote that "The traditional DX clubs have been very slow to latch on to the threat posed by this technology" in reference to Broadband over Power Lines (BPL)<http://www.southgatearc.org/news/july2008/ukqrm_group.htm>, and Power Line Communications (PLC).

Mike regarded this comment as a "sweeping generalisation". In fact, a number of DX clubs have been doing a lot of important work in this area, so I am happy to let Mike set the record straight. On reading his response, I agree that I was not being fair, and I apologise. Mike writes:

Members of several DX clubs have been aware of the problems of this technology for quite some time. Both UK broadcast DX clubs have carried articles about it and there have been talks about the technology at inter-club meetings. Both are publicising and supporting the UKQRM group. Their email lists publicise Glenn Hauser's DX Listening Digest where the subject has been dealt with extensively for many years.

The website of the German shortwave listeners association the ADDX has extensive information on PLC including statements from the EU Commission. The EU recognises that equipment should not cause undue interference and these devices carry a CE certificate. However there is a self-certification policy, on July 10 The Register reported that 76% of radio equipment tested in 2003 failed to come up to EU specifications, a figure which rose to 88% in 2006.

In June 2003 the North American Shortwave Association submitted an 18 page filing to the FCC in response to their inquiry into Broadband Over Power Line devices, followed that up with further filings and attended a meeting in Washington together with other users of the shortwave spectrum who had expressed their concern about interference. Among much other material they quoted two ITU regulations:

ITU Regulation 4.11: Member states recognise that among frequencies which have long-distance propagation characteristics, those in the bands between 5 and 30 Mhz are particularly useful for long-distance communications; they agree to make every possible effort to reserve these bands for such communications. Whenever frequencies in these bands are used for short-range or medium-distance communications, the minimum power necessary shall be employed."

ITU Radio Regulation 15.12:
"Administrations shall take all practicable and necessary steps to ensure that the operation of electrical apparatus or installations of any kind, including power and telecommunication distribution networks, but excluding equipment used for industrial, scientific and medical applications, does not cause harmful interference to a radio communication service and, in particular, to a radio navigation or any other safety service operating in accordance with the provision of these regulations."

ITU regulations allocate certain frequencies between 2 and 26 Mhz for the exclusive use of international broadcasts, both analogue and digital. They are an authorised service and listeners have a right to hear them.

The vast majority of shortwave listeners however are not members of DX Clubs. DX Clubs themselves have limited resources and personnel, who are unpaid volunteers.

Most shortwave listeners use portable receivers inside the house with whip antennas. The interference could be much stronger than a radio amateur with an outside antenna might receive. In the main they are not as technically astute as radio amateurs. They switch on the radio, key in the frequency, adjust the volume and listen to the broadcast. They might only listen to one particular shortwave station. When they get interference they won't know where it's coming from or if and how they can complain about it. In the US the FCC has placed the burden of identifying and reporting interference from these devices onto the individual listener; the same seems to be happening in the UK.

Iran, Cuba and China jam broadcasts from overseas. The UK is a Western democracy and its citizens have a right to listen to broadcasts from overseas without interference, including those from the three countries mentioned.

International broadcasters are cutting down or cancelling analogue shortwave broadcasts to the developed world. However most are members of the DRM consortium and the HFCC. Peter Senger, the then DRM chairman, approached the EU about BPL some years ago. I would suggest a fresh approach be made particularly since their headquarters are now at BBC World Service. It may also be worthwhile for BPL to be on the agenda of the next HFCC meeting; it has been discussed there before.

Related story:
UKQRM Yahoo! Group formed to fight against BPL<http://www.southgatearc.org/news/july2008/ukqrm_group.htm>

Fonte: Media Network
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