ARLA/CLUSTER: BPL/PLC

[Carlos Mourato]

caros colegas
A pouco e pouco vamo-nos vendo livre dessa praga. aqui um "report" final dos
resultados dos "trials" em Austin.

73 de CT4RK



 The BPL trial by the City and Austin Energy, in east Austin, has
ended. Mr. Pete Collins, CEO of the City Telecommunications
Department, reported that BPL test did not meet the City's expectation
and there are no plans deploy it on the AE grid. The test produced
disappointing results in the areas of data throughput,
installation/maintenance complexity and cost benefit when compared to
both RF and fiber networks.

In his report to the City Telecommunications and Emerging Technology
Commission, Pete stated that BPL test network demonstrated:

• "speed fluctuated from 250 KB/s to 750 KB/s"

• "download function performed at the lower rate when competing
network resources existed."

• "Limited network speeds if expanding to provide multiple products &
services"

• "Network reliability & availability questionable."

• "Internet telephony either failed completely (no dial tone) or
performed poorly when competing network resources existed."

• "Participant surveys indicated low satisfaction from a user's
perspective for both Internet and telephony services."

• "Real time design provided only limited reporting.

• "Does not provide for Utility required cyber security nor
customization."

• "Limited network monitoring & management tools and advanced
applications."

• "Expensive in comparison w/other available technologies."

• "Deployment costs high compared to other technologies."

• "BPL network maintenance costs high."

At an "overall cost $300,000", the test system consisted of only 5
water meters, 5 electric meters, 3 IP phones, 4 computers, 2 TV
cameras and 1 home security system. An average cost of $20,000 per
connection.

Collins stated he would be monitoring BPL, but has no plans to deploy
the technology.

As verified by testing in my presence, the BPL Network:

• Operated within FCC regulations w/optional filters added @ 5 MHz &
10 MHz WWV

• Ham band filtering remained operational after power loss and power up.

• Identified RF noise filtered at a 40db level (standard is 30db)
virtually disappeared.

The Austin test has demonstrated two important facts about BPL technology:

• BPL is not the high capability technology that industry advocates
have claimed.

• BPL systems can be operated without the kind harmful interference
experienced in places like Manassas, VA, Cottonwood AZ and Briarcliff, NY.

During my last visit to the east Austin test area, the BPL equipment
was still in operation. Pete Collins plans to decommission the
equipment and turn off the system during January.

Both Pete Collins of the City and Jerry Hernandez of Austin Energy
were extremely cooperative and helpful during the course of the test.
They demonstrated a high level of professionalism, technical
knowledge and concern for our BPL issues.

PowerGrid and Corinex, the BPL folks, were also very cooperative
despite their contrary interests to ours.

Special thanks go to Gene Preston, K5GP and Bob Morgan, WB5AOH for
their work in support of the BPL effort.

Ed Hare, the ARRL Lab Manager, and BPL guru provided invaluable
support and resources from the League.

The BPL787 Group will remain active for a while. "In building" BPL
is still a potential challenge and is being depolyed in many locations.



-- 
Best 73 from:
regards from:
CT4RK
Carlos Mourato
Sines

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