most areas find it's not cost effective to use BPL and don't use it. I know 
they played with it in my area for the big shots in the power company and 
they said they'd take it no further. A lot of the area agrees.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Kenyon" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 10:01 AM
Subject: Re: BAND conditions


> Hi there, I think that BPL will be the  biggest threat, and the antenna
> issue.  I know that in Virginia the BPL I think is in use, but I don't
> know if it has started up for sure or not.  Does anyone know where this is
> going to expand to next with regard to BPL?
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, 30 May 2006, Colin McDonald wrote:
>
>> personally i don't think it has much to do with echolink or IRLP...since
>> there aren't a whole lot of HF privvallaged folks on there anyway.
>> Its probably got more to do with the fact that most people in our day and
>> age don't have as much time for persuing their radio hobby as they once 
>> did.
>> Also, with the american operators becoming more and more restricted as to
>> antennas in housing developments, with hams who previously operated HF, 
>> now
>> having to stick to 2M and 70CM because they can only use a mobile set up.
>> I think echolink and IRLP are pretty much the least of the issues out 
>> there
>> that are causing us to hear less and less folks on the HF bands.
>> Lets not forget that many many hams simply aren't bothering to get on the
>> air because they do not like to deal with unstable conditions and are
>> waiting for conditions to get more stable, if not necesarily better.
>> the threat of BPL has also thrown a shadow over many, and their plans for
>> antennas and so on have been put on hold until plans are finalized one 
>> way
>> or the other for BPL projects...no point in putting in an expensive 
>> antenna
>> system when it will prove useless when BPL goes through in your area 
>> right?
>> I think another big problem, especially right now, is that there are less
>> and less US hams that are getting HF privallages because the regulations 
>> are
>> still quite stringent.  You will hear many many more hams from Canada and
>> other countries who have relaxed the code requirements on the HF bands 
>> now
>> compared with a year ago.
>> These are surprisingly very good operators and I personally have seen
>> nothing but good come out of relaxing the code requirement here.
>> 73
>> Colin, V A6BKX
>>
>
>