Here comes the BPL Monster again! ATT Project AirGig

[Joe Leikhim]

The pictures and videos ATT shows for AirGig are misleading. They first 
show a cluster of microwave antennas on a pole. Ok nothing special, then 
a seemingly unpowered plastic pod on a pole at a 45 degree transition of 
the power lines. Is that a dielectric lens? I find another picture of 
some sort of "launcher attached to a piece of electrical cable and fed 
with coaxial cable. Then another of some twin lead leaving a similar 
launcher.

Digging further the ATT patents are all over the place on this scheme. I 
doubt any of it is novel, rather a lot of prior art and for some reason 
a lot of FDM microwave mixing. They seem to claim that they are using 
microwave  "surface waves" directly on existing insulated and insulated 
power conductors. This is a lot like the G-Line transmission line scheme 
that is well known, little utilized.

The problem is that to attach something to or mount in close proximity 
to a transmission line will require cooperation of the power companies 
(Don't they have their own BPL interests?) and will pose electrical 
safety concerns.

What is needed is some sort of optical to microwave chip set which is 
entirely powered from fiber optics. This could be attached directly to 
the ground or neutral return conductor in the form of a G-Line launcher 
cone. There would still be a lot of attachments, wherever a distribution 
node is required. Then again, why not simply run fiber cable the whole 
route?


-- 
Joe Leikhim


Leikhim and Associates

Communications Consultants

Oviedo, Florida

JLeikhim at Leikhim.com

407-982-0446

WWW.LEIKHIM.COM