BPL: Broadband over Power Lines?

Interesting one this, DN.

Most global power companies have been experimenting with using their transmission line for a wide range of data transfer.

In France, my new "computerised" meter is turned to cheap rate at midnight and off at 07.00AM by a pulse sent down the line.

One area the companies are looking seriously at, is remote reading of their meters: think of the cash they will save!

In the UK, some carriers are already using their lines for multi-plexed landline and data.

Privacy? Solved by the correct layers of encryption. Spurious emission of RF? Well, high frequency high voltage mains transmission systems already emit RF interference.

With the spectrum flooded by all sorts of stuff already, can't see how this could make much difference!

3G mobile phones are the biggest future problem: particularly for those who seem to always have one glued to their ear!

Brains will be fried in months!

Paq

Interesting this, Al.

My esteemed, "The Doc" (PhD in Engineering - electronics engineer, Programme Manager, mad as a hatter!) used to build mains transceivers back in the 50s.

Got the idea from my late uncle, also another hugely bright but nutty engineer.

Apparently during WW II, Radio Hams were banned from playing: so they turned to mains transmission instead! Can't keep a good guy down! This was, of course, not needing any license, as it was NOT free radiating RF.

I was involved in one UK project which was pioneered by a major electrical wiring component manufacturer. Intended to offer remote control over most in-house functions using FM digital signalling, using the mains wiring.

Personal safety (even at our more grunty 230V A.C. ) is ensured, by using an isolating transformer. (Induces an identical voltage, but is isolated from the current! No grunt!).

One point: if you transmit beyond YOUR phase, anyone on another, cannot receive your signal. So a person on the other side of the road might be on a different phase and not be able to receive. Bearing in mind that Step-Down Transformers are used by the power company, when they, locally change higher volts, Three Phase, to equally loaded single phaae, for most domestic consumers: except in France!).

I know! I played with FM mains intercoms in the early 80s'. My neighbour (line of site: 25 yards) could not receive, since they were on another phase.

However, I gather that things have improved since then!

Interference can be type-specific screened out. This is one prob. they must solve. Fairly simple, today.

Paq

Sadly, DN, it is now a whole awful mess!

Mulder and GB will accuse me of being negative, however, I cannot fathom out how any modern economy can operate, effectively, with hugely sub-standard communications infrastructure.

Owing to almost total lack of investment for 30 odd years and tricky plans to part-privatise, it is dreadful!

I last worked in the City in early 1980.

We now live circa 44 miles as the crow flies from the center of London: it takes Mrs P one and one half hours each way!
And costs a bundle....................................

I used to love being in and working in London.

Not the same city anymore, sadly.

I have to go up for a meeting next week: frankly, I'm dreading the travel.

Hang onto your dreams!

Paq

Originally posted by gbrumb:
AlbertB.............It all has to do with presentation. Stating it as a problem perceived and request discussion and debate is one thing. Presenting it as a forgone conclusion, hand wringing "woe is me" is another. Posts here tend to be much more of the latter then the former.
A first time reader here would think that the US (and to a certain extant England) was about to descend into political riots with a collapse of the economy and a slide off into the ocean!

Click to expand...

GB

I remain personally positive. Which is why, I am taking on the new challenge of CFO of a new Wave Media company (spinning out from a London University) at my tender age!

However, trying to operate a modern business, compete against the rest of the World, create wealth, retain and create jobs, becomes harder, day-by-day, owing to the idiocy of such as Teflon Tony and Gordon Brown.

Funny that, I have just realised that HIS initials are the same as yours!

You aint no kissin' kin, are yu brother? He's a dang blasted lawyer, too!

Get a life? Yes, I would agree, in some cases.
Personally, particularly lately, I post rarely, since I am just far too busy! Anyway, it beats watching the crap on TV, which is even more depressing than the apparently negative posts you critique here at TSG CivDeb!

I do not wish to depress anyone! As you and I have agreed before, the secret with money, is to predict the trends.

That's all I do....................................

If I rant off about my society, it's because it IS going backwards at a rapid rate.

Not my fault. Not my doing. I do regret it, however, very much!

That's why I have bought the house in France and plan to retire (or semi-retire!) there in just a few more years.

BTW, most of my analysis of the US economy, comes from US sources!

So blame them!

On a more important note, have you managed to find any decent Continental lager for the Lager and Limes, yet?

Paq

Originally posted by gbrumb:
Is that what the British are calling old now?

Still working on an acceptable lager, will report back.

So you are taking on the responsibility of a new enterprise which by necessity means you see bright prospects for both the company and you.

Why not bring a little (or more) of that attitude here? :up:

Click to expand...

GB

It is a VERY exciting opportunity!

More on this one anon, I'm sure. Our CEO is presently in the USA (LA) at a media convention.

All I do on the CivDeb board, is to react to stimuli.

I calls 'em as I see's 'em! Mainly, 'cos that's what I am, mainly, I am an analyst, thus I tend to try and determine trends from current data.

Perhaps it is wise to remember that: "All improvement necessarily requires change - all change is not necessarily improvement."

One of my self-penned aphorisms, from about ten years ago...........

Lager: have I recommended Groslche, Dutch lager? needs to be the genuine brewed in Holland one though: green curly bottle, with a flip stopper. Good stuff!

Paq

Our mob are big in Content Creation. The CEO is a noted movie producer and director and the Production Director has made many superb "shorts" which have won awards. We won the Macromedia Award last year and are the only Apple Center of Excellence of its type in the UK.

www.tlmh.co.uk Surf our new web site.

Interested on your view of the Groslche. I have actually been to the area in Holland where it is brewed and drunk it locally. Always seems to taste better! That was on a Rotary visit when my club twinned with a Dutch club.

We took over a small barrel of English bitter, brewed in a local brewery set-up by two enthusiasts. I managed to buy it direct from the brewery.

One of our members took it over with strict instructions for the barrel to be left standing for AT LEAST 12 hours before serving.

So, the waiters moved it, shaking the sediment up: it was cloudy, to say the least!

However, our Dutch friends loved it, but I worried for days after, about their bowel movements the next day!

All the best.

Paq