CISPR to start from scratch on PLT

The CISPR PLT Project Team reached the end of their mandate period of five years, without producing a useful document which would guarantee the ongoing protection of radio services.

This means that work done during the past ten years has not been fruitful. CISPR will have to start from zero.

In the interim workgroup 6 of the SABS Technical Committees 73 and 80 which is chaired by the SARL representative, Hans van de Groenendaal, met during the past week and reviewed the draft regulations that were prepared with the workgroup's input by ICASA (South Africa's regulator). Some minor enhancements were proposed.

As part of the regulations, companies intending to install PLT systems have to register all details on a publicly available data base.

The SARL (South African Radio League) is keeping a close watch on developments.
While our wishes to have all amateur frequencies notched were not accepted, there is a clear understanding by the vendors of PLT equipment that taking care of notching of Amateur frequencies is a prerequisite for a successful network.
The interference mitigation process included in the draft regulations provide for fast remedial action should interference on HF be experienced.

Limits used in the draft regulation are the same as in CISPR 22. These limits were the reason why the PLT Project Team could not reach agreement as the majority of the CISPR members were not prepared to lower the limits as demanded by the PLT industry.

South Africa's representative at CISPR, Eric Winter, did a sterling job putting all his efforts into ensuring that sanity prevailed in favour of protection of HF. Thanks Eric.

The South African Radio League

CISPR is the Special International Committee on Radio Interference of the International Electro technical Commission, IEC, with central office in Geneva, Switzerland. It is concerned with the development of standards regarding electromagnetic interference and most of these standards are adopted by the European Union and many other countries.

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