Tasmanian BPL update

On the 20th May this year, the WIA wrote to Aurora Energy in Hobart Tasmania, advising that local radio amateurs were willing to co-operate in the evaluation of their planned BPL trial.

In the spirit of co-operation, the WIA asked Aurora to supply information regarding the trial location and the type of equipment used.

The WIA received a letter from Aurora dated 8th June, thanking the WIA for the offer of cooperation but declining to give the trial location on the grounds that the location information is commercial-in-confidence.

Aurora Energy did confirm that the equipment used will be the newly released Mitsubishi DS2 Wisconsin chipset.

We have subsequently learnt that the Hobart trial will occur in postcode areas 7007 and 7008, incorporating the Hobart suburbs of Newtown, Mount Nelson, and others.

Martin Luther VK7GN has already performed background noise measurements in the area using Owen Duffy's FSM software and Owen is currently analysing that data.

Martin will return to the trial location after BPL activation and repeat the FSM measurements in order to compare the pre-trial background noise with the interference level after the trial commences.

In their letter, Aurora Energy state they would be interested to hear of amateurs who feel they may have been adversely impacted by the BPL trial.

We believe affected radio amateurs should contact the WIA immediately with a view to lodging an effective interference complaint with the ACMA as soon as possible.

Aurora suggest that during the initial demonstration of BPL technology in Hobart last year, some radio amateurs were less than co operative, a claim hotly contested by those who attended the meeting and who claim they were simply asking the 'difficult questions' and plainly stating their position.

Phil Wait VK2DKN for the WIA.

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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