Are Hams qualified to talk about BPL issues?
Hams are licensed by the FCC in the United States and various governing bodies in most every country in the world. Most countries have several classes of licenses. In the United States and most countries, one must pass written tests on electronic theory, communications protocol, and regulatory material. While becoming a licensed Ham isn’t equivalent to an Electrical Engineering degree, many hams have formal educations in electrical engineering. The experience and knowledge of Hams can vary greatly, and like any hobby or profession, there are hams who speak before thinking. Occasionally you will find an ex-ham dismissing Ham Radio as being dead, or an inexperienced Ham who only uses VHF bands who could care less about the HF bands that are threatened by BPL. Most active hams though are rather knowledgeable. Their decades of experience on radio give them an understanding about interference that is unmatched in any arena.
