ARLA/CLUSTER: Impossível existir Compatibilidade Electromagnética com sistemas BPL/PLC.

[João Gonçalves Costa]

Why BPL is bad for EMC 

Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) technology is fundamentally incapable of meeting vital electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements, according to a paper by a UK EMC specialist. 

Although published in 2005, the paper written by Tim Williams of UK firm Elmac has resurfaced as the BPL 'standards' debate continues and the timeline for BPL proponents to agree to an EMC standard is pushed ever-further into the future.

The paper draws conclusions that remain valid today, including: 

1) The technology has the capability to create widespread interference therefore amounting to a denial of use to users of the HF radio spectrum (including aviation, maritime, broadcasting, commercial communications and radio amateurs). 

2) The interference potential is inherent in the technology because its signalling method sends RF down the mains wiring. 

3) Technical fixes such as frequency notching have limitations. 

4) Developing compromise radiated emission standards are doomed to failure, due to the 50-60 dB difference between what BPL systems need and what HF spectrum users require. 

For views on this paper and a report on the very latest country set to trial the flawed technology BPL, visit the news section of the Amateur Radio Victoria website www.amateurradio.com.au