homeplug

[David Bandel]

On 10/16/05, Alma J Wetzker <almaw at ieee.org> wrote:
> Ken Moffat wrote:
> > Collins Richey wrote:
> >>On 10/16/05, Man-wai Chang <mwchang at i-cable.com> wrote:
> >>>Is it going to make a stand? It's like wireless network inside the
> >>>electricity network....
> >>I must be missing something here. What is "it".
> >
> > http://www.homeplug.org/en/index.asp
>
> This looks more like BPL propaganda.  It is not secure, it produces
> radio emissions.  It is not necessarily cheap, or easy, if your property
> has any wiring anomalies.  It will get past the transformer, unless
> there are appropriate filters.
>
> My opinion is that this is an attempt by some to get the BPL
> interference problem out of the way by introducing other products that
> produce the same type of interference.  Then they can claim that it
> already exists, so we should not be regulated for it.
>
> Disclaimer:  I hold a ham radio license (KC0HDR).  This type of solution
> is interesting, but it relies on the assumption that a wire, is a wire,
> is a wire.  Having taken wires 1 and taking wires 2 (T TH 12:45 - 2:00)
> I can tell you that is not true.  Signal frequency makes a significant
> difference in the suitability of wires to certain tasks.  Electrical
> power wires are well suited for low frequency, high power applications.
>   And some types of appliances should get low-noise power (any signal
> data is noise).  Some types of appliances generate noise (interferes
> with the signal data).
>

I too am a HAM (AI4FG, HP1DAB) and have a great interest in this.  BPL
does indeed interfere with radio signals, particularly the ones I work
(HF in the 160m to 15m bands).  But i will tell you, any fool who runs
BPL near my modest <100W output systems will get a _lot_ more
interference from me than I from him.  BPL is _very_ prone to
interference, even that produced by noisy equipment (compressor pumps,
even laser printers).

Bottom line, you're using something to transmit a signal (which it
will), but was not designed for the type of signal you're trying to
transmit over it.  If it works, great, but don't be too disappointed
if it doesn't.  And if you get irate neighbors (some older TVs may not
suffer this noise very well), that's also your problem.  Hope you know
how to install bandpass filters.

Ciao,

David A. Bandel
--
Focus on the dream, not the competition.
            - Nemesis Air Racing Team motto