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Baseline Measurements Reporting Form:

 To better assess the impact of BPL in a neighborhood, ARRL is soliciting baseline measurements of the present levels of man-made noise at amateur stations. This form can also be used to document BPL interference. 

Please send the following information to ARRL HQ, Attn: Ed Hare, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111, w1rfi@arrl.org.

  

Band and/or Specific Frequency:

Date:

Time:

Station Call:

Station Location:

Coordinates (optional):

Name and call sign of the operator making measurements:

Is BPL being heard at the time these measurements are being made?: (Y/N)

Receiver:

Mode/bandwidth (use SSB if possible, about 2500 Hz bandwidth):

Preamp: (on/off)

Antenna type or gain:

Antenna height:

Feed line length/type or known loss:

Distance of antenna from any house electrical wiring

 and/or drop line (own house or neighbors) :

Distance of antenna from any part of the electrical distribution wiring:

Is the electrical wiring overhead or underground near antenna?

S meter readings per band (fractional S units, if possible):

S meter in the "quiet" parts of the band:

  

-Note any discernable specific man-made noise and the S meter reading of same 

-Ignore any very temporary noises, such as a 1-minute burst from a hair dryer, etc. 

-More is generally better, but poring over the bands trying to catch every birdie may be time consuming, so even less than 100% complete data is still useful. It is best to make these measurements when the atmospheric noise levels (QRN from lightning storms) is low. If that is not practical, ensure that the S meter levels provided represent the reading between discernable lightning crashes.