QST QST QST

 

Calling all Amateur Radio Operators!

Interference is possibly on its way to Chambersburg!

 

Chambersburg Borough Council is considering BPL in the borough. They have hired the Shpigler Group to perform a feasibility study on BPL deployment at a cost of $17,000.00 plus expenses. Borough Manager, Eric Oyer, and Borough Solicitor Tom Finucane, have been quoted in The Gazette News saying, “The Borough would not provide the Internet service itself, but would act as a “landlord” for the lines over which the service would move.”

Broadband over Power Line ("Access BPL") feeds broadband digital signals onto

power lines using high-frequency RF from 1.7 to 80 MHz -- right on top of 160 meters, 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters and every other popular ham band all the way up to and including 6 meters. These BPL signals could transform HF from a quiet haven that hams enjoy to a noisy industry wasteland, changing ham radio forever. It's already hard enough to maintain a regular schedule with your friends, hear weak DX signals, or copy a maritime ham in distress. Imagine trying to do that through several S-units up to 20 db over 9 of broadband garbage. Imagine not even being able to throw your rig in the car and escape it through mobile operation -- power lines are everywhere! This technology is already currently known to interfere both "in-band" and "out of band" with many other applications within the 1.7-80 MHz spectrum. According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, aircraft flying below 20,000 feet could also experience interference within 8 miles of a deployment area.

 

It is time for all of us to step up to the plate and make the Chambersburg Council aware of the “smoke and mirrors” of BPL technology in its present state. There are about 90 Amateur Radio operators in Chambersburg, together let us raise our voices and educate non hams about interference to Fire, Police, EMS and other services that all citizens count on! (Please find a list showing a few of those services on page two.)

 

Walter Cronkite said it best when he said “Ham radio is the best backup communication system in the world.”  Let’s protect it!

 

The Chambersburg Council will meet again on Monday the 23^rd of August at 7:00 PM.

Join us, Cumberland Valley Amateur Radio Club, at the meeting. Our numbers will show the Council that BPL is a serious concern for the welfare of Amateur Radio as well as all Chambersburg citizens.

 

N3GH@ARRL.NET

 

 

 

Here is a partial list of local Services in danger of the interference

 

FREQUENCY	DESCRIPTION
45.2000	GUILFORD TOWNSHIP OF; FRANKLIN COUNTY OF
45.2200	SOUND COMMUNICATIONS INC; GREENCASTLE BOROUGH OF
45.4000	SOUND COMMUNICATIONS INC; BEAR VALLEY WATER AUTHORITY
45.4600	GREENE TOWNSHIP OF
45.5200	SOUND COMM INC; CHAMBERSBURG BOROUGH OF
45.6000	FRANKLIN COUNTY OF; SAINT THOMAS TOWNSHIP OF
45.6200	FRANKLIN COUNTY OF
45.6400	FRANKLIN COUNTY OF; GREENE TOWNSHIP OF; GUILFORD TOWNSHIP OF
45.7200	FRANKLIN COUNTY OF
45.7600	SOUND COMMUNICATIONS INC; SHIPPENSBURG TOWNSHIP OF; BUSINESS RADIO LICENSING
46.0600	FRANKLIN COUNTY FIRE CIVIL DEFENSE COMMISSION
46.0800	CHAMBERSBURG CITY OF FIREEMS DEPARTMENT; COM PROS INC; CHAMBERSBURG CITY OF; FRANKLIN COUNTY PA
46.1000	FRANKLIN COUNTY OF; CHAMBERSBURG CITY OF FIREEMS DEPARTMENT; COM PROS INC; CHAMBERSBURG CITY OF
46.1600	FRANKLIN COUNTY OF; CHAMBERSBURG CITY OF FIRE EMS DEPARTMENT; SOUND COMMUNICATIONS INC; WEST SHORE BUREAU OF FIRE; FRANKLIN COUNTY FIRE CIVIL DEFENSE COMMISSION; COM PROS INC; CHAMBERSBURG CITY OF
46.2200	SOUND COMMUNICATIONS INC; BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN VOL FIRE CO 1
46.2400	CHAMBERSBURG CITY OF FIREEMS DEPARTMENT; FRANKLIN COUNTY OF
46.3600	FRANKLIN COUNTY OF; CHAMBERSBURG CITY OF FIREEMS DEPARTMENT; COM PROS INC; CHAMBERSBURG CITY OF
46.4000	CHAMBERSBURG FIRE POLICE ASSOCIATION
46.4200	CHAMBERSBURG CITY OF FIREEMS DEPARTMENT; FRANKLIN COUNTY PA
46.4600	CHAMBERSBURG CITY OF FIREEMS DEPARTMENT; FRANKLIN COUNTY PA