Electricity from Air

Entrepreneur and former UK Science Minister Lord Drayson has unveiled a technology call Freevolt that can be a power source for Internet of Things (IoT), powering such devices as wearables and sensors, without the need for a connection to a wall socket.

Lord Drayson, demonstrated electricity from Air - Freevolt

Lord Drayson, demonstrated electricity from Air - Freevolt

Freevolt harvests energy from radio frequencies from existing wireless and broadcast networks.

Demonstrating the technology at  the Royal Institution, Lord Drayson used the radio frequency energy within the presentation room to power a loudspeaker!

The technology has already been harnessed into a product. The CleanSpace is a personal air pollution monitor created by Drayson Technologies. The aim of the product is to improve air quality and to highlight the extent of pollution. Freevolt technology harvests power for the built in battery.

It doesn’t require any extra infrastructure, it doesn’t require us to transmit any extra energy, it’s recycling the energy which isn’t being used at the moment.
— Lord Drayson

The technology, which has been patented, could now be used by organisations such as supermarkets which are preparing for the next phase of the internet, where billions of small cheap sensors are online providing data about their operations.

Drayson Technologies - http://www.draysontechnologies.com/

Plans for PLT in The Netherlands

The Dutch National Society VERON reports the energy network operator Enexis is planning to use a powerline communications technology for fast Internet access. Such systems can pollute the RF spectrum which is a precious natural resource 

It appears the network administrator Enexis intends to start trials in Stadskanaal to deliver Internet over the power lines. VERON is concerned about these tests because of the impact on radio communications.

The technique used is similar to the PLC technology which can cause significant interference to radio users. The wiring of a house can act as an antenna and widespread interference can result.

VERON have expressed their concern to the Telecom Agency.

VERON in Google English - http://tinyurl.com/NetherlandsVERON

New Radio Statio for Sylvan Grove Hospital

New amateur / ham  radio equipment has been purchased for a hospital using grant funding at Sylvan Grove Hospital, to be operated by the members of the Butt County Amateur Radio Emergency Service.

The equipment was provided by a grant from the Georgia Hospital Association. This equipment is typical of what they’ve provided. A lot of hospitals in the state have at least one radio connection.
— Buzz Kutcher K3GWK

The station, call sign WX4BCA, was launched and tested on 3rd October 2015 during a national emergency communications exercise that simulates a biologic attack on Atlanta.

Read the full story at
http://www.jacksonprogress-argus.com/news/2015/oct/02/sylvan-grove-hospital-gets-new-ham-station/

Butts County ARES - http://www.bcgaares.org/