BPL fear harms amateur radio

The ongoing serious discussion about the problematic broadband over powerlines technology appears to be discouraging some people from becoming radio amateurs.

Central Goldfields Amateur Radio Club President, Peter Rafferty VK3CC, tells of potential recruits to amateur radio referring to reports that BPL will render HF radio useless.

They're telling him it appears a waste of time to take up amateur radio. Not so!

The clear message is that, while BPL has demonstrated it can pollute the spectrum, this does not mean HF radio communications have a use-by date.

The military, aviation and broadcasting continue to have confidence in the future of HF radio.

Radio amateurs rely on the HF spectrum too, and through the IARU and its member societies such as the WIA remains strongly opposed to BPL emissions that can cause harmful interference.

While BPL is not a dead parrot yet, to borrow a phrase, it does continue to squawk but not consistently loud enough these days.

We can't afford to be complacent about BPL - true - but it's a situation of being alert but not alarmed, and certainly no justification for turning away from amateur radio.

Jim Linton VK3PC

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia