Broadband over Power line and its effect on emergency services

1. Broadband over Power lineand its effect onemergency services Ron LaPedis, CBCP, CISSP, ISSMP, ISSAPRadio Amateur Extra N6QGK When All Else Fails . . . Amateur Radio

2. Attribution • The material in this presentation comes from USA and Canadian sources. However, BPL is being proposed with similar specifications in many countries. • Radio waves do not stop at city, state, provincial, nor country boundaries. Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

3. Background • Hertz – Basic unit of frequency in cycles per second – Humans can hear frequencies from 20-20,000 Hertz • MHz – 1 million Hertz • High Frequency (HF) – 3-30 MHz • Very High Frequency (VHF) – 30-300 MHz • Ultra High Frequency (UHF) – 300-3000 MHz • Wavelength (λ) – The distance between one peak of a wave and the next. • λ = c / f where c = 299792458 m/s (speed of light in a vacuum) Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

4. Background • The lower the frequency, the longer the antenna needed to send and receive it • All things being equal, lower frequencies (longer wavelengths) travel longer distances but do not penetrate buildings as well as higher frequencies. • HF needs little infrastructure for extended distance communications • It is also easier to transmit lower frequencies at higher power Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

5. Background • Radio amateurs talk about ‘frequency bands’ by wavelength, not by frequency, hence 20 meter band, 40 meter band and so on. • F = (299792458 m/s)/20m = 14.9 MHz • Actual is 14.0-14.35 MHz Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

6. One cycleOne λ One Second = 4 Hertz Background Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

7. Background • Many public safety radios use VHF • Trunking radios use UHF (800 MHz) • California Highway Patrol uses HF (29 MHz) • Aeronautics/Marine use HF + VHF • ‘Shortwave radio’ uses HF • HF communication makes use of the most important property of the frequencies between 2MHz and 30MHz; the ability to establish and maintain communications over great distances without any intervening man made infrastructure. Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

8. Background • Don’t power companies send data over power lines already? • Yes, Power Line Carrier (PLC) is used for command and control but it is narrow-band low frequency (100 to 180 kHz) and low speed. • Current BPL is wide-band and uses 2.46 to 38 MHz. It offers 1-3 mBits/sec to the end point. Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

9. Broadband over Powerline diagram Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

10. Broadband over Powerline interference paths Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

11. BPL INTERFERENCE PATHS • Near field component • Less than 10 wavelength distance (~70-1200 m) • Can only be reduced by shielding • Radiated component • More than 10 wavelength distance • Can be reduced by good transmission line technique (but power distribution lines are NOT good transmission lines). Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

12. RADIATED FIELD Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

13. HF/VHF Users Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

14. HF Users Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

15. Broadcast Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

16. Aviation Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

17. Amateur Radio Service Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

18. Marine and Land Mobile Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

19. FCC Notice of Inquiry • On April 28, 2003, the FCC released an NOI requesting comments and reply comments on primarily technical issues regarding BPL. The FCC sought information and data on the relevant technology. • In addition, the FCC sought comment on whether it should change the part 15 rules, 47 CFR § 15, to allow for the legal and feasible deployment of BPL. Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

20. American Public Power Association • ‘Given the tremendous potential of BPL to provide an advanced technology that utilizes additional facilities based mechanisms for providing services the burden should be imposed on challengers to BPL to demonstrate interference in a fact based, empirical proof.’ Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

21. APPA (cont.) • Further, to the extent that interference is demonstrated, there should be an attempt to accommodate BPL, even if it means that existing communications providers may have to share or transfer bandwidth.' Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

22. BPL Is Regulated by FCC Part 15 • Carrier-current must meet limits for intentional emitters • Non-interference stipulated in part 15 • Manufacturer responsible for FCC authorization and maximum limits • Operator responsible for harmful interference • Both are important to mitigate possible harmful interference Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

23. Harmful Interference • Defined as the repeated disruption of radio communications or any disruption of certain emergency communications services • From broadband device (BPL) will interfere with entire band(s)! • Will occur for entire length of line in areas where access BPL is deployed! Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

24. Potential Spectrum Loss Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

25. Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

26. Emergency management National Guard US Coast Guard U.S. Military Fire Departments Law Enforcement CAP FAA FEMA NASA Voice of America TV stations Low Power FM Broadcast Stations BPL Could Interfere With: Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

27. BPL Could Also Interfere With: • Radio astronomy • Amateur Radio services • Disaster communication networks • Land, fixed, mobile services • Military Affiliate Radio Systems (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force) • Citizens band Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

28. A power line and an antenna Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

29. Worldwide Problem • BPL was extensively studied in Japan and rejected • Trials continue in Europe • Multiple interference complaints have been documented Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

30. Organizations Voicing Concern About BPL Interference • US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) • US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) • National short-wave listener associations • Short-wave broadcasters • Electronic-equipment manufacturers • GE Medical • Aeronautical Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

31. The Consumer • Consumers probably will not be aware of the documented interference potential • Early subscribers may be subjected to needless system problems due to the deployment of technology that has yet to be properly tested • Hams and emergency communications at risk Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

32. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Comment “Notwithstanding BPL’S Potential Benefits, The Commission Must Ensure That Other Communications Services, Especially Federal Government Operations, Are Adequately Protected From Unacceptable Interference.”

33. NTIA’s Latest Filings • Rejects the idea of BPL ID • Excludes some freqs for aeronautics • Coastal station exclusion zones • Coordination areas around National Radio Quiet Zones • No other protections are mentioned! Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

34. Canadian Magazine TCA Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

35. BPL Interference compared to other Broadband access technologies • DSL: Tightly-coupled differential transmission line minimizes radiation. • Coax: Fully shielded transmission line minimizes radiation, • Fiber: Completely optical, ZERO radiation • Wireless: Uses dedicated microwave frequencies not shared with other licensed services—interference minimal Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

36. Future of BPL • Limited bandwidth, further constrained by chopping out slices due to interference • The spectrum is what it is, can’t grow more spectrum. Power lines will not sustain microwave transmission, so BPL has finite, limited BW • Cable, wireless and particularly fiber have far greater bandwidth growth opportunity, without interference to other licensed services. • Interference both IN and OUT will lead to a lot of unpredictable service calls Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

37. How you Can Help • If you are a radio amateur • Join your country’s radio society if you are not currently a member • If you are a public safety official • Make contact with your national disaster management and radio licensing commissions Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

38. Radio Amateurs (hams) help recovery efforts • 9/11 • Hurricanes • Tsunamis • Earthquakes • Chemical leaks • Train derailments • Blackouts Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

39. How hard is it to get a ham license? Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

40. What can hams do? • Communications relating to • Health and Welfare • Property • We cannot communicate about anything relating to business Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

41. What can hams do? • Business • Turn your security radios over to the business and fill in with amateurs • Public safety • Augment your communications with amateurs • Many PS systems are not interoperable • Infrastructure could be down • Hospitals, shelters, other deployments Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

42. More Information • http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/ • http://www.rac.ca/regulatory/plc.htm • http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/part15.html Ron LaPedis, N6QGK

43. Video Ed Hare is the Lab Manager for the ARRL. Ed drove to BPL trial areas in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia to document possible interference from BPL. This video is available on the ARRL web site. Ron LaPedis, N6QGK