[LINK] BPL

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

stephen at melbpc.org.au wrote:

> Now the IEEE have just ratified BPL standards, let's you and i simply 
> agree to wait and see what happens to emerging BPL technologies. Yes?
>   
Stephen,

Let me try and lift the fog a little. This is not a dig at you, it's 
actually quite a complex and confusing subject and the term "Broadband 
over Powerline" is open to misinterpretation.

Here is an IEEE report:

<quote>
IEEE Approves First Standard for Broadband Over Powerline Hardware
http://standards.ieee.org/announcements/pr_broadbandoverpowerlinehardware.html

PISCATAWAY, N.J., USA,13 January 2009 -- The IEEE has approved the 
industry's first standard for Broadband Over Power Lines (BPL).IEEE 
1675™, "Standard for Broadband Over Powerline Hardware," provides 
testing and verification standards for the commonly used hardware, 
primarily couplers, for BPL installations, and provides suggested 
installation methods to supplement a utility's or contractor's 
installation procedures.

BPL provides the ability to send high-speed digital data over the power 
lines between substations and homes and offices, turning every wall 
outlet into a portal to the Internet."This standard will give both power 
utilities and the BPL industry the ability to confidently pursue a BPL 
installation," says Terrence Burns, Chair of the Broadband over Power 
Line Standards Working Group, which developed IEEE 1675. "It provides 
for the protection of and safe operation by utilities personnel, as well 
as the safety of non-utility workers."IEEE 1675 was sponsored by the 
Power System Communications Committee of the IEEE Power Engineering Society.
</quote>

What this means is that the IEEE 1675 standard apply to the last part of 
the mains circuit, after all transformers.

There is also IEEE 643 a "Guide for Power-Line Carrier Applications" a 
standard for communication over the transmission line network (above 69kV).

Note this only applies to the transmission line above 69kV.

There is no standard that applies to the whole system from transmission 
line to home socket. The 1675 standard applies to the "last mile". There 
is quite a gap between the
transmission line network and the last mile.

The trials may work but they don't demonstrate a workable system, only a 
single component.

--
 
Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au