April 27, 2006 3:18 PM PDT
Calif. regulators OK broadband over power line test
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The technology known as BPL uses the existing utility lines that deliver power to carry broadband signals into the home. For years, people have hoped BPL would allow electric companies to become a viable third alternative to the cable and telephone companies providing high-speed access to the Internet.
But technical limitations and a bad habit of interfering with local emergency radios have made BPL a tantalizing near-miss for the tech industry.
Nevertheless, several utilities across the country are looking into deploying BPL, and several big technology companies, such as Google, IBM and EarthLink, are investing in the technology.
Last year, Google invested in a service provider called Current Communications Group, which is testing broadband over power line networks in Ohio and Texas. And IBM is partnering with Houston-based power utility CenterPoint Energy to build a BPL network.
EarthLink has tested broadband over power line services with several power companies including Duke Power in Charlotte, N.C., Progress Energy in Raleigh, N.C, and Consolidated Edison in New York.
BPL also can be used to monitor the health of the power grid. If an outage occurs, the network, which is based on Internet Protocol, can immediately send alerts. Eventually, a utility could even use the network to remotely read meters and switch power on or off.
This is not true. They can't run the service over high voltage lines.
They have to fiber out to medium voltage (7,200 volts) lines and then offload from fiber ($$) to the unshielded lines.
The lines may be 7,200 volts, but to comply with section 15 the data is transmitted somewhere closer to 1 volt.
Emergency frequencies tend to be low because the low attenuation rate allows for greater travel. BPL being sent at 1 volt attenuates quickly so their workaround is to use EMRGENCY FREQUENCIES to transmit data on the power lines.
Even at 1 volt it is enough to disturb radio and emergency communications because med voltage power lines are basically a big antenna.
The problem with being only about 1 volt is that the signal must be cleaned and re-amplified every few hundred feed (more equipment, $).
medium voltage lines are stepped down to 240 volt drops to peoples homes but the data could not survive this. The result is the need for a CT coupler (yes, more $) to bypass the transformer and again reinsert the signal onto the shielded line.
When all is said and done you have a service that is expensive enough to run that it will no be a rural broadband solution.
At best it will be available to areas that already have a choice between Cable, DSL, Fiber, and soon WiMAX.
For the high maintenance costs of keeping BPL signal leakage from PBL deployments you could just run fiber right to the home.
Also, BPL maintenance and inline equipment = network (read Power) outages.
Besides, internet access is a very step for power companies. By the time they establish data centers, mail platforms etc. there will be a slew of better alternatives that won't cause power outages.
Maybe they should instead focus on providing reliable power service or clean energy.
As for the latest "We can monitor equipment with it" they already have technology in place to do that that. It is simply their latest ploy to get people to sign off on their raping the radio spectrum.
This is not true. They can't run the service over high voltage lines.
They have to fiber out to medium voltage (7,200 volts) lines and then offload from fiber ($$) to the unshielded lines.
The lines may be 7,200 volts, but to comply with section 15 the data is transmitted somewhere closer to 1 volt.
Emergency frequencies tend to be low because the low attenuation rate allows for greater travel. BPL being sent at 1 volt attenuates quickly so their workaround is to use EMRGENCY FREQUENCIES to transmit data on the power lines.
Even at 1 volt it is enough to disturb radio and emergency communications because med voltage power lines are basically a big antenna.
The problem with being only about 1 volt is that the signal must be cleaned and re-amplified every few hundred feed (more equipment, $).
medium voltage lines are stepped down to 240 volt drops to peoples homes but the data could not survive this. The result is the need for a CT coupler (yes, more $) to bypass the transformer and again reinsert the signal onto the shielded line.
When all is said and done you have a service that is expensive enough to run that it will no be a rural broadband solution.
At best it will be available to areas that already have a choice between Cable, DSL, Fiber, and soon WiMAX.
For the high maintenance costs of keeping BPL signal leakage from PBL deployments you could just run fiber right to the home.
Also, BPL maintenance and inline equipment = network (read Power) outages.
Besides, internet access is a very step for power companies. By the time they establish data centers, mail platforms etc. there will be a slew of better alternatives that won't cause power outages.
Maybe they should instead focus on providing reliable power service or clean energy.
As for the latest "We can monitor equipment with it" they already have technology in place to do that that. It is simply their latest ploy to get people to sign off on their raping the radio spectrum.
14 September 2005
DS2's Radio Friendly BPL Technology puts Competition on the Defensive
Speaking at 2005 UPLC Annual Conference, Victor Dominguez, DS2's Director of Strategy and Standardization, outlined the reasons why DS2's 200Mbps powerline solution is the only regulatory compliant technology available for BPL commercial deployments.
Dominguez was dismissive about claimed alternatives to DS2.
Mr Dominguez was adamant about competitors claims "I think that we have put the competition on the defensive. Our competitors would love to have the flexible notching capabilities that we have for BPL and In-Home PLCs, but the truth is that they don?t. DS2 has had dynamic notching since its first chip set and can mitigate radio interference in a programmable way and other PLC chipsets do not. We would like to thank our competition for the rumours propagated at several press interviews, they have been attracting attention towards one of the main competitive advantages of our technology, we mastered programmable notches in a 200 Mbps chipset more than 2 years ago, since then we have been shipping in volume for BPL and In-Home applications, and still remains to be proven that competition can follow us.?
14 September 2005
DS2's Radio Friendly BPL Technology puts Competition on the Defensive
Speaking at 2005 UPLC Annual Conference, Victor Dominguez, DS2's Director of Strategy and Standardization, outlined the reasons why DS2's 200Mbps powerline solution is the only regulatory compliant technology available for BPL commercial deployments.
Dominguez was dismissive about claimed alternatives to DS2.
Mr Dominguez was adamant about competitors claims "I think that we have put the competition on the defensive. Our competitors would love to have the flexible notching capabilities that we have for BPL and In-Home PLCs, but the truth is that they don?t. DS2 has had dynamic notching since its first chip set and can mitigate radio interference in a programmable way and other PLC chipsets do not. We would like to thank our competition for the rumours propagated at several press interviews, they have been attracting attention towards one of the main competitive advantages of our technology, we mastered programmable notches in a 200 Mbps chipset more than 2 years ago, since then we have been shipping in volume for BPL and In-Home applications, and still remains to be proven that competition can follow us.?
United States Patent Application 20060087382
Kind Code A1
Cern; Yehuda
April 27, 2006
Abstract
There is provided an inductive coupler for coupling a data signal to a power line. The inductive coupler includes a split magnetic core having an aperture formed by an upper magnetic core and a lower magnetic core. The aperture permits the power line to pass therethrough as a primary winding, the upper magnetic core is for making electrical contact with an outer surface of the power line, and the lower magnetic core makes electrical contact with the upper magnetic core.
more... http://broadbandoverpowerlines.blogspot.com/2006/04/us-patent-and-trademark-office.html
United States Patent Application 20060087382
Kind Code A1
Cern; Yehuda
April 27, 2006
Abstract
There is provided an inductive coupler for coupling a data signal to a power line. The inductive coupler includes a split magnetic core having an aperture formed by an upper magnetic core and a lower magnetic core. The aperture permits the power line to pass therethrough as a primary winding, the upper magnetic core is for making electrical contact with an outer surface of the power line, and the lower magnetic core makes electrical contact with the upper magnetic core.
more... http://broadbandoverpowerlines.blogspot.com/2006/04/us-patent-and-trademark-office.html
``The commission's actions create a very favorable climate for the development of BPL in California,'' said SDG&E spokesman Eddie Van Herik
http://www.etopiamedia.net/bplw/audio/edvanherik1.0.wma
======
http://broadbandoverpowerlines.blogspot.com/2006/04/san-diego-gas-electric-is-conducting.html
``The commission's actions create a very favorable climate for the development of BPL in California,'' said SDG&E spokesman Eddie Van Herik
http://www.etopiamedia.net/bplw/audio/edvanherik1.0.wma
======
http://broadbandoverpowerlines.blogspot.com/2006/04/san-diego-gas-electric-is-conducting.html
Kind regards,
J. Martin
- My comment to debat this issue
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by uf420400
May 24, 2006 2:05 AM PDT
- It may be the post California PUC Approves New Broadband Over Power Lines Regulatory Framework in my blog Power Encounter can provide additional information for debating this issue.
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See all 28 Comments >>Kind regards,
J. Martin