Radio interference from internet over mains units

The horrendous radio interference problems caused by devices providing an Internet connection over the household electrical mains has become a 'hot topic' recently with a petition being started on the Government website to get the devices banned.

A number of companies are selling products that enable people to link their computers or TV set-top boxes to the Internet via the household mains. Such devices are even being supplied to consumers by British Telecom (BT) as part of their BT Vision product.

In a recent posting on the DRM-L Yahoo group Mike Barraclough provided some links demonstrating the interference these devices cause across the radio bands. Mike wrote:

BT are supplying two Comtrend DH10-PF adaptors, they are being used to communicate from the BT Home Hub by the computer to the BT Vision V-Box by the television.

The interference affects all bands, there is limited, but not particularly effective, notching in the amateur bands.

Here are some WAV files recorded two weeks ago by Alan Roe in Teddington whose neighbours have these devices, Alan is a long time shortwave broadcast band listener and editor for the World DX Club.

For each file, you'll hear Alan stepping through the range in 5 kHz steps:

BT Vision is installed in 282,000 UK homes, the adaptors are supplied as standard and the install guide says customers should use them.

There are alternatives to this technology, wired or wireless solutions. Ofcom are logging complaints as spectrum abuse and it's known that in three cases the adaptors have been removed by BT following complaints to Ofcom.

However a complaints based system does not solve the problem, BT Vision has been targeted so far at current BT Broadband users, they are shortly to be advertising the system nationally.

For much more information - please go to the UKQRM website at: http://www.mikeandsniffy.co.uk/UKQRM/

and join the Yahoo Group at:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/UKQRM/

and if you are a British citizen (including ex-pats) or resident sign the petition at:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveShortwave/

Mike

DRM-L Yahoo Group
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/DRM-L

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