HomePlug; PowerLine Communication
Bandridge PLC001When we take a look at an average home in any city or town in any country, you'll find electrical wiring. This wiring has been placed there during the construction of the house. Neatly tucked away behind walls, only peaking out when it's required in the from of a socket. This electrical wiring is needed to supply electricity to all kinds of appliances, ranging from lights to refrigerators to LCD screens. Very convenient!
As of late, those electrical wires have a new applicability. Not only can they be used to transport electricity to every corner of the building, but they can also be used to transfer data along the same cabling. How is this possible? By using PowerLine Communication adapters.
BasicsShare Music & Files
The principle where PowerLine Communication is built on, is "No additional wiring needed". In many cases, you are forced to buy and install quite some meters/feet of network cable to get let's say the PC to access the internet and to allow it to share files with the notebook. PowerLine Communication puts an end to this. The power cables are there anyway, so why not use it for networking? Using this principle, it is possible to access the network and internet at any power socket in the building. Just like that.
HomePlug
The name 'Homeplug' refers to an alliance of companies who have strived to set a standard for powerline communication. They have laid down certain technical requirements which products have to meet in order to function correctly.
HomePlug uses a technology called 'orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing' (OFDM). In the case of OFDM, the available range of frequencies on the electrical subsystem (4.3 MHz to 20.9 MHz) is split into 84 separate carriers. OFDM sends packets of data simultaneously along several of the carrier frequencies, allowing for increased speed and reliability. If noise or a surge in power usage disrupts one of the frequencies, the chip will sense it and switch that data to another carrier. This rate-adaptive design allows HomePlug to maintain a connection throughout the power-line network without losing any data. For more detailed information about the Homeplug alliance and the HomePlug technology, click here.
Set-up and use
So what does a basic setup look like? Like this:
Homeplug set-up
It's really as simple as it looks. Since PowerLine Communication uses the existing power network, all you need is an adapter at the point you wish the network to start and an adapter at a point (socket) you wish to access the network. Next to the standard CAT 5e RJ-45 cables you need to connect the adapter to the modem and/or PC.
Speed and Security
There are two more or less standard speeds in PLC networking; the All Bandridge PLC adapters operate at 85 Mbpsolder 14 Mbps and currently, higher speeds of up to 85 Mbps. Of course, when talking about speeds, the figures you see aren't actual throughput speeds. That's usually half of the 'official' speed.
To secure the data transported over the power lines, a 56 bit encryption is used. This security is needed, because it might be possible that some of the data might 'leak' unintentionally to the power network of neighbours. Especially when the network is set-up in an apartment building or flat. This encryption ensures the user that his or her data is safe, private and protected.
PowerLine Communication 'versus' or '&' Wi-Fi (Wireless)?
One might argue that with the advent of HomePlug, Wireless is going to be al lot less popular. An average house has loads of power sockets, which now can provide access to the network simply and effectively. Plus, since HomePlug is in essence still cabled, the connection is a lot more secure and stable.
All of this is true, However, even though the number of access points for the network has greatly improved, you're still restricted to power sockets. Wi-Fi allows you to go anywhere and you don't have to worry about being in the vicinity of a socket.
That's why the two are perfectly suited to work with one another. A Wi-Fi router can be connected to a PLC adapter to get a better wireless signal, because for instance the basement is made out of concrete, which is notorious in blocking wireless signals. You can now relocate the Wi-Fi router to a position where there's less interference. Eliminating Wi-Fi 'blind spots'. By using a configuration with both Wi-Fi AND PLC, you are sure of a reliable, fast and secure (home) network
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