[LINK] BPL

[Robin Whittle]

Broadband over Power Lines (AKA PLC - Power Line Communications) is
a load of crap.  I mentioned this once before on Link:
  http://mailman.anu.edu.au/pipermail/link/2005-September/063634.html

But it is raised again and again as if some new technical
breakthrough has or will squeeze precious broadband gold out
powerlines.  Powerlines are exceedingly ugly for anyone wanting to
send data.  Nothing can change this, no matter what modulation
techniques or high-level protocols are used.

To quote myself:

http://www.budde.com.au/News_and_Views/2008/April/Smart_Grids_and_BPL.aspx

  The problems are fundamental and not solvable by technology. At
  the same time, it is difficult even to standardise on a common
  technology, due to differences in types of cabling in different
  countries, and the clash between the desire to carry out
  in-building communications and to link to the outside world –
  while avoiding crossing signals with other residences.

This is not to mention the problems of interference from and to
radio services of various kinds.

The above page links to a series of five reports I wrote on BPL.

BPL is not even worth using for meter reading.  Better to have a
little radio transponder in the meter and drive down the street with
a van talking to each meter in turn.

  - Robin