We're Safe from BPL
At least for the time being, and I think time is on our side with this technology. Here is what Baltimore Gas
and Electric had to say (from the Baltimore Sun on November 10th): "Several utilities have looked at [BPL]
and have some misgivings about it from a market perspective," McGrath said. "They're not giving up on it,
but they're saying, 'Gee, I just don't know how this technology will be competitive with other broadband
technologies.' A lot of the juicy parts of the market are already taken." Baltimore-based Constellation
Energy Group, parent of utility Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., is taking a cautious approach. "We've seen
other energy companies enter the telecom market, and they've failed," said Robert Gould, a Constellation spokesman. "If the technology and the economics of the system makes sense, and we can leverage that
new technology, then we might consider it. Right now, our plan is to stay focused on our core energy
business." Indeed, say analysts, BPL faces a tough fight against entrenched competitors. "In a North
American marketplace, broadband over power lines really has a lot stacked against it," said Nicole Klein,
an analyst with Yankee Group. For one thing, utilities have seen a backlash from investors haunted by the
dot.com and telecom blowup. Also, "We tend to look at the (BPL) technology as being where DSL and
cable were four or five years ago, moving ahead toward a standard," she said. But "BPL is entering a
market that is 80 percent served by DSL and cable. They're late to market. We think it is a big challenge."
Klein said she sees far more potential for the technology internationally. "We're more positive about the technology...in areas that are not yet served by either cable or DSL," she said. "There's an opportunity for
that technology to take hold." [NEMARC, sent by Grant, KA3CEA]
Donald M. "Don" Johnson, WA0EPX, SK
ARRL has learned that Don Johnson, WA0EPX, of Lewiston, Minnesota, died July 14. He was 69. Johnson
was a founding member of Handihams and described as "an extraordinarily active guy who enjoyed ham
radio and was a true 'Renaissance Man.'" He also was a member of the US Army Military Affiliate Radio
System (MARS) and of the ARRL A-1 Operator Club.. A storekeeper in Fremont, he was inducted into the
Winona County Fair Hall of Fame in 1989. In addition to Amateur Radio, he also enjoyed chess. Survivors
include his mother, a brother and a sister. A service was held July 18.
UK's First 'Store and Forward' Voice Relay Operational
The UK's first unattended 'store and forward' single frequency voice relay was switched on at 1330UTC
on Saturday 16 October. It operates on 70.4375MHz using the callsign MB7FM, with a maximum 'store'
time of 120 seconds. The installation is on an elevated site in the Chiltern Hills at locator IO91PS, with
10dBW ERP from a dipole antenna at 32 metres above ground. Please send signal reports etc by e-mail
to mb7fm@77hz.com [GB2RS]
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
WIA Director Phil Wait sent us this one,, a story of a TV set emitting a distress signal! An Oregon USA
man has discovered that his year-old Toshiba Corporation flat-screen TV was emitting an international
distress signal which was picked up by a satellite, leading a search and rescue operation to his
apartment south of Portland. Authorities had expected to find a boat or small plane with a malfunctioning
transponder, the usual culprit in such incidents, emitting the 121.5 MHz frequency of the distress signal
used internationally. But here's a kicker! He was told to keep his TV off to avoid paying a $10,000 fine
for "willingly broadcasting a false distress signal." Toshiba has offered to provide him with a replacement
set for free. (RFI mailing list via Phil Waite) [WIA QNEWS]
We thank the FISTS club downunders newsletter for this 'lil gem'.
A guy on 80 metres recently was heard saying that he thought the CW filter in his new rig was useless
because it, and I quote, "didn't get rid of the "Morse interference" to the net I was in!" [WIA QNEWS]
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