<div><br clear="all">caros colegas</div>
<div>A pouco e pouco vamo-nos vendo livre dessa praga. aqui um "report" final dos resultados dos "trials" em Austin.</div>
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<div>73 de CT4RK</div>
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<div dir="ltr">The BPL trial by the City and Austin Energy, in east Austin, has<br>ended. Mr. Pete Collins, CEO of the City Telecommunications<br>Department, reported that BPL test did not meet the City's expectation
<br>and there are no plans deploy it on the AE grid. The test produced<br>disappointing results in the areas of data throughput,<br>installation/maintenance complexity and cost benefit when compared to<br>both RF and fiber networks.
<br><br>In his report to the City Telecommunications and Emerging Technology<br>Commission, Pete stated that BPL test network demonstrated:<br><br>• "speed fluctuated from 250 KB/s to 750 KB/s"<br><br>• "download function performed at the lower rate when competing
<br>network resources existed."<br><br>• "Limited network speeds if expanding to provide multiple products &<br>services"<br><br>• "Network reliability & availability questionable."<br><br>
• "Internet telephony either failed completely (no dial tone) or<br>performed poorly when competing network resources existed."<br><br>• "Participant surveys indicated low satisfaction from a user's<br>
perspective for both Internet and telephony services."<br><br>• "Real time design provided only limited reporting.<br><br>• "Does not provide for Utility required cyber security nor<br>customization."
<br><br>• "Limited network monitoring & management tools and advanced<br>applications."<br><br>• "Expensive in comparison w/other available technologies."<br><br>• "Deployment costs high compared to other technologies."
<br><br>• "BPL network maintenance costs high."<br><br>At an "overall cost $300,000", the test system consisted of only 5<br>water meters, 5 electric meters, 3 IP phones, 4 computers, 2 TV<br>cameras and 1 home security system. An average cost of $20,000 per
<br>connection. <br><br>Collins stated he would be monitoring BPL, but has no plans to deploy<br>the technology.<br><br>As verified by testing in my presence, the BPL Network:<br><br>• Operated within FCC regulations w/optional filters added @ 5 MHz &
<br>10 MHz WWV <br><br>• Ham band filtering remained operational after power loss and power up.<br><br>• Identified RF noise filtered at a 40db level (standard is 30db)<br>virtually disappeared.<br><br>The Austin test has demonstrated two important facts about BPL technology:
<br><br>• BPL is not the high capability technology that industry advocates<br>have claimed.<br><br>• BPL systems can be operated without the kind harmful interference<br>experienced in places like Manassas, VA, Cottonwood AZ and Briarcliff, NY.
<br><br>During my last visit to the east Austin test area, the BPL equipment<br>was still in operation. Pete Collins plans to decommission the<br>equipment and turn off the system during January.<br><br>Both Pete Collins of the City and Jerry Hernandez of Austin Energy
<br>were extremely cooperative and helpful during the course of the test.<br>They demonstrated a high level of professionalism, technical<br>knowledge and concern for our BPL issues. <br><br>PowerGrid and Corinex, the BPL folks, were also very cooperative
<br>despite their contrary interests to ours.<br><br>Special thanks go to Gene Preston, K5GP and Bob Morgan, WB5AOH for<br>their work in support of the BPL effort.<br><br>Ed Hare, the ARRL Lab Manager, and BPL guru provided invaluable
<br>support and resources from the League.<br><br>The BPL787 Group will remain active for a while. "In building" BPL<br>is still a potential challenge and is being depolyed in many locations.<br><br> </div><br>--
<br>Best 73 from:<br>regards from:<br>CT4RK<br>Carlos Mourato<br>Sines <br><br>Antes de imprimir este e-mail, pense que estará a gastar papel e tinta. Proteja o ambiente<br><br>-----------------------------------------------------------
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