SA Amateurs urged to report PLC testing

At SATCON 2004 held at the University of KwaZulu Natal,
SA AMSAT President Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, urged amateurs and shortwave listeners to report any unusual, consistent interference to the SARL and to be vigilant about any PLC testing (also known as BPL) taking place in their neighbourhood.

Following Pretoria's example, several other metros have shown an interest and may soon be starting trials.

Heading up the SARL PLC team he said that PLC interference could affect satellite and VHF weak signal communication, mainly as a result of cross modulation of PLC signals with signals from strong local radio and TV transmitters. "The AC mains reticulation system is far from a perfect RF carrier, it more resembles a long wire antenna", he said.

Please report PLC interference and information about local testing to plc@sarl.org.za.

Courtesy of The South African Radio League

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