"Not amusing anymore"
The unofficial, and satirical, EDXC web site has been closed.
"Some people were taking the matter far too seriously", explains EDXC teaser Enrico Oliva to HCDX, adding:
"It was not amusing anymore."
The big commotion started when Oliva tried to comment on "the attitude of the new officials to release an enormous amount of interviews", as well as the new EDXC plans on "standardization of logs, reception report forms and QSL's", comments that were barred from the EDXC mailing list.
"I found all this simply ridicolous", says Oliva.
As a protest, and to show that opinions cannot be stopped in these Internet days, the satirical EDXC web site was created.
After a short brohaha, all this is now part of European DX history. At least for the time being.
hcdx news desk, February 6, 2001



Final blow to shortwave listening?
Plans on using shortwave frequencies for in-house data communications are moving on fast in Germany, in spite of protests from radio listeners, broadcasters and official agencies.
Studies by the Radiocommunications Agency, responsible for the supervision of the British radio spectrum, shows that "broadband data access methods over existing telephone or mains wiring will cause unintentional RF emissions which may adversely affect the established radio noise floor".
The Smith Group Limited adds that "it is clear that the [noise] levels produced by the real-life systems are very significant".
Still, German power companies continues to push for Powerline Communications, planning to use frequencies between 9 kHz and 30 MHz.
"If allowed to go ahead as proposed, Powerline Communications will be a new and unwelcome source of potential interference to the shortwave broadcasts", warns Andy Sennitt of Radio Netherlands.
He urge all users of the radio spectrum in Germany, especially shortwave listeners and broadcasters to file protests to the German he regulatory authority.
"The German bureaucrats would love it if nobody bothered to register their concerns or objections," adds Sennitt.
"That would make their job easier, and ensure that the interests of SWL's and DXers do not have to be taken into account when calculating permitted field strengths etc."

More PLC info on the Internet:
Official info from RWE Powerline, Germany
White paper from Ilevo, Sweden [PDF]
EDN Magazine background
Nein zu Powerline
Keine PLC
hcdx news desk, January 30, 2001

Please don't bother the EDXC
I was concerned about this, and hoped to involve the European DX Council.
Therefore I sent a message to the EDXC mailing list, asking if the EDXC wants to take a position on this.
The reply:
"Your message has been deemed inappropriate by the moderator."
This sounds unbelievable to me.
Enrico Oliva, Italy, hcdx list, January 30, 2001

EDXC: We have to investigate
After lots of requests for action against the planned introduction of PLC systems, the new EDXC Secretary General Luigi Cobisi has come forward with an answer:
"This requires the Council to get more information on the scientific side", says Cobisi.
The EDXC Secretary General has asked for help from professor Filippo Giannetti at the University of Pisa, Italy, "to produce a document about possible interference of PLC techninques on radio listening".
This information is expected at the end of February.
One major problem here is that German regulatory authority has set February 16 as deadline for presenting views on Germany's plans for PLC systems.
Luigi Cobisi, Italy, edxc mailing list, February 1, 2001

EDXC is blowing it

More on Internet A Threat and a Promise Full text of Andy Sennitt's personal editorial at Radio Netherlands' web site

I am baffled at how little interest the radio community has shown in the latest threat to hit shortwave broadcasting: Powerline Communications, Radio Netherlands' web editor Andy Sennitt writes in a personal editorial.
Meanwhile, Sennitt continues, the organisation that claims to represent the interests of DXers and shortwave listeners in Europe has grudgingly been forced into reacting to the issue. Its answer is to seek help from a university professor "to produce a document about possible interference of PLC techniques on radio listening". This document is expected to be ready two weeks after the deadline for public consultations in Germany. A very helpful contribution after two years of non-action!
Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands. web site, February 2, 2001