Power Line Communication

Power line communication or power line carrier (PLC), also known as Power

line Digital Subscriber Line (PDSL), mains communication, power line
telecom (PLT), power line networking (PLN), or Broadband over Power
Lines (BPL) are systems for carrying data on a conductor also used for electric
power transmission.
Electrical power is transmitted over high voltage transmission lines, distributed
over medium voltage, and used inside buildings at lower voltages. Powerline
communications can be applied at each stage. Most PLC technologies limit
themselves to one set of wires (for example, premises wiring), but some can cross
between two levels (for example, both the distribution network and premises
wiring). Typically the transformer prevents propagating the signal, which requires
multiple PLC technologies to be used to form very large networks.
Basics
All power line communications systems operate by impressing a modulated carrier
signal on the wiring system. Different types of powerline communications use
different frequency bands, depending on the signal transmission characteristics of
the power wiring used. Since the power wiring system was originally intended for
transmission of AC power, in conventional use, the power wire circuits have only a
limited ability to carry higher frequencies. The propagation problem is a limiting
factor for each type of power line communications. A new discovery called E-
Line that allows a single power conductor on an overhead power line to operate as
a waveguide to provide low attenuation propagation of RF through microwave
energy lines while providing information rate of multiple Gbps is an exception to
this limitation.
Data rates over a power line communication system vary widely. Low-frequency
(about 100-200 kHz) carriers impressed on high-voltage transmission lines may
carry one or two analog voice circuits, or telemetry and control circuits with an
equivalent data rate of a few hundred bits per second; however, these circuits may
be many miles long. Higher data rates generally imply shorter ranges; a local area
networkoperating at millions of bits per second may only cover one floor of an
office building, but eliminates installation of dedicated network cabling.
Ultra-High-frequency communication (≥100 MHz)

The highest information rate transmissions over power line use RF through
microwave frequencies transmitted via a transverse mode surface wave
propagation mechanism that requires only a single conductor (U.S. Patent
7,567,154). An implementation of this technology called E-Line has been
demonstrated using a single power line conductor. These systems have
demonstrated symmetric and full duplex communication well in excess of 1
Gbit/s in each direction. Multiple Wi-Fi channels with simultaneous analog
television in the 2.4 and 5.3 GHz unlicensed bands have been demonstrated
operating over a single medium voltage line conductor. Because the underlying
propagation mode is extremely broadband, it can operate anywhere in the 20 MHz
- 20 GHz region. Also since it is not restricted to below 80 MHz, as is the case for
high-frequency BPL, these systems can avoid the need to share spectrum with
other licensed or unlicensed services and can completely avoid the interference
issues associated with use of shared spectrum while offering complete flexibility
for modulation and protocols of an RF-microwave system.
High-frequency communication (≥MHz)
High frequency communication may (re)use large portions of the radio spectrum
for communication, or may use select (narrow) band(s), depending on the
technology.
Home networking (LAN)
Power line communications can also be used in a home to interconnect home
computers (and networked peripherals), as well as any home entertainment devices
(including TVs, Blu-ray players, game consoles and Internet video boxes such as
Apple TV, Roku, Kodak Theatre, etc.) that have an Ethernet port. Consumers can
buy powerline adapter sets at most electronics retailers and use those to establish a
wired connection using the existing electrical wiring in the home. The powerline
adapters plug into a wall outlet (or into an extension cord or power strip, but not
into any unit with surge suppression and filtering, as this may defeat the signal)
and then are connected via CAT5 to the home’s router. Then, a second (or third,
fourth, fifth) adapter(s) can be plugged in at any other outlet to give instant
networking and Internet access to an Ethernet-equipped Blu-ray player, a game
console (PS3, Xbox 360, etc.) a laptop or an Internet TV (also called OTT for
Over-the-Top video) box that can access and stream video content to the TV.
The most established and widely deployed powerline networking standard for
these powerline adapter products is from the HomePlug Powerline Alliance.
HomePlug AV is the most current of the HomePlug specifications (HomePlug 1.0,
HomePlug AV and the new HomePlug Green PHY for smart grid comprise the set
of published specifications) and it has been adopted by the IEEE P1901 group as a
baseline technology for their standard, due to be published and ratified in
September or October of 2010. HomePlug estimates that over 45 million
HomePlug devices have been deployed worldwide. Other companies and
organizations back different specifications for power line home networking and
these include the Universal Powerline Association, the HD-PLC Alliance and
the ITU-T’s G.hn specification.
Internet access (broadband over powerlines)
Broadband over power lines (BPL), also known as power-line Internet or
powerband, is the use of PLC technology to provide broadbandInternet
access through ordinary power lines. A computer (or any other device) would need
only to plug a BPL "modem" into any outlet in an equipped building to have high-
speed Internet access. International Broadband Electric Communications or IBEC
and other companies currently offer BPL service to several electric cooperatives.
BPL may offer benefits over regular cable or DSL connections: the extensive
infrastructure already available appears to allow people in remote locations to
access the Internet with relatively little equipment investment by the utility. Also,
such ubiquitous availability would make it much easier for other electronics, such
as televisions or sound systems, to hook up. Cost of running wires such as ethernet
in many buildings can be prohibitive; Relying on wireless has a number of
predictable problems including security, limited maximum throughput and inability
to power devices efficiently.
But variations in the physical characteristics of the electricity network and the
current lack of IEEE standards mean that provisioning of the service is far from
being a standard, repeatable process. And, the amount of bandwidth a BPL system
can provide compared to cable and wireless is in question. The prospect of BPL
could motivate DSL and cable operators to more quickly serve rural communities. 
PLC modems transmit in medium and high frequency (1.6 to
80 MHz electric carrier). The asymmetric speed in the modem is generally from
256 kbit/s to 2.7 Mbit/s. In the repeater situated in the meter room the speed is up
to 45 Mbit/s and can be connected to 256 PLC modems. In the medium voltage
stations, the speed from the head ends to the Internet is up to 135 Mbit/s. To
connect to the Internet, utilities can use optical fiber backbone or wireless link.
Deployment of BPL has illustrated a number of fundamental challenges, the
primary one being that power lines are inherently a very noisy environment. Every
time a device turns on or off, it introduces a pop or click into the line. Energy-
saving devices often introduce noisy harmonics into the line. The system must be
designed to deal with these natural signaling disruptions and work around them.
For these reasons BPL can be thought of as a halfway between wireless
transmission (where likewise there is little control of the medium through which
signals propagate) and wired transmission (but not requiring any new cables).
Broadband over power lines has developed faster in Europe than in the United
States due to a historical difference in power system design philosophies. Power
distribution uses step-down transformers to reduce the voltage for use by
customers. But BPL signals cannot readily pass through transformers, as their
high inductance makes them act as low-pass filters, blocking high-frequency
signals. So, repeaters must be attached to the transformers. In the U.S., it is
common for a small transformer hung from a utility pole to service a single house
or a small number of houses. In Europe, it is more common for a somewhat larger
transformer to service 10 or 100 houses. For delivering power to customers, this
difference in design makes little difference for power distribution. But for
delivering BPL over the power grid in a typical U.S. city requires an order of
magnitude more repeaters than in a comparable European city. On the other hand,
since bandwidth to the transformer is limited, this can increase the speed at which
each household can connect, due to fewer people sharing the same line. One
possible solution is to use BPL as the backhaul for wireless communications, for
instance by hanging Wi-Fi access points or cellphone base stations on utility poles,
thus allowing end-users within a certain range to connect with equipment they
already have.
The second major issue is signal strength and operating frequency. The system is
expected to use frequencies of 10 to 30 MHz, which has been used for many
decades by amateur radio operators, as well as
international shortwave broadcasters and a variety of communications systems
(military, aeronautical, etc.). Power lines are unshielded and will act
as antennas for the signals they carry, and have the potential to interfere
with shortwave radio communications. Modern BPL systems
use OFDM modulation, which allows them to mitigate interference with radio
services by removing specific frequencies used. A 2001 joint study by
the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and HomePlug Powerline
Alliance showed that for modems using this technique "in general that with
moderate separation of the antenna from the structure containing the HomePlug
signal that interference was barely perceptible at the notched frequencies" and
interference only happened when the "antenna was physically close to the power
lines" (however other frequencies still suffer from interference).
Medium frequency (kHz)
Home control (narrowband)
Power line communications technology can use the household electrical power
wiring as a transmission medium. This is a technique used inhome automation for
remote control of lighting and appliances without installation of additional control
wiring.
Typically home-control power line communication devices operate by modulating
in a carrier wave of between 20 and 200 kHz into the household wiring at the
transmitter. The carrier is modulated by digital signals. Each receiver in the system
has an address and can be individually commanded by the signals transmitted over
the household wiring and decoded at the receiver. These devices may be either
plugged into regular power outlets, or permanently wired in place. Since the carrier
signal may propagate to nearby homes (or apartments) on the same distribution
system, these control schemes have a "house address" that designates the owner.
Since 1999, a new power-line communication technology "universal powerline
bus" has been developed, using pulse-position modulation(PPM). The physical
layer method is a very different scheme than the modulated/demodulated RF
techniques used by X-10. The promoters claim advantages in cost per node, and
reliability.
Low-speed narrow-band communication
Narrowband power line communications began soon after electrical power supply
became widespread. Around the year 1922 the first carrier frequency systems
began to operate over high-tension lines with frequencies of 15 to 500 kHz for
telemetry purposes, and this continues.[2]Consumer products such as baby alarms
have been available at least since 1940.
In the 1930s, ripple carrier signalling was introduced on the medium (10-20 kV)
and low voltage (240/415 V) distribution systems. For many years the search
continued for a cheap bi-directional technology suitable for applications such as
remote meter reading. For example, the Tokyo Electric Power Co ran experiments
in the 1970s which reported successful bi-directional operation with several
hundred units. Since the mid-1980s, there has been a surge of interest in using the
potential of digital communications techniques and digital signal processing. The
drive is to produce a reliable system which is cheap enough to be widely installed
and able to compete cost effectively with wireless solutions. But the narrowband
powerline communications channel presents many technical challenges, a
mathematical channel model and a survey of work is available.
Applications of mains communications vary enormously, as would be expected of
such a widely available medium. One natural application of narrow band power
line communication is the control and telemetry of electrical equipment such as
meters, switches, heaters and domestic appliances. A number of active
developments are considering such applications from a systems point of view, such
as demand side management. In this, domestic appliances would intelligently co-
ordinate their use of resources, for example limiting peak loads.
Control and telemetry applications include both 'utility side' applications, which
involves equipment belonging to the utility company (i.e. between the supply
transformer substation up to the domestic meter), and 'consumer-side' applications
which involves equipment in the consumer's premises. Possible utility-side
applications include automatic meter reading(AMR), dynamic tariff control, load
management, load profile recording, credit control, pre-payment, remote
connection, fraud detection and network management,  and could be extended to
include gas and water.
A project of EDF, France includes demand side management, street lighting
control, remote metering and billing, customer specific tariff optimisation, contract
management, expense estimation and gas applications safety.
There are also many specialised niche applications which use the mains supply
within the home as a convenient data link for telemetry. For example, in the UK
and Europe a TV audience monitoring system uses powerline communications as a
convenient data path between devices that monitor TV viewing activity in different
rooms in a home and a data concentrator which is connected to a telephone
modem.
High-speed narrow-band powerline communication — distribution line
carrier
DLC uses existing electrical distribution network in the medium voltage (MV) —
i.e., 11 kV, Low Voltage (LV) as well as building voltages. It is very similar to the
powerline carrier. DLC uses narrowband powerline communication frequency
range of 9 to 500 kHz with data rate up to 576 kbit/s. DLC is suitable (even in very
large networks) for multiple realtime energy management applications. It can be
implemented underREMPLI System as well as SCADA, AMR and Power Quality
Monitoring System. DLC complies with the following standards: EN 50065
(CENELEC), IEC 61000-3 and FCC Part 15 Subpart B.
Radio users may experience some interference to their systems when in the near
proximity of overhead power lines. For two way radio systems utilizing digital
schemas, such as the P25 systems, this may appear as loss of received signal
caused by the radio's front end (desensitising the receiver). For analog radios the
interference appears as a buzzing sound eminating from the radio's speaker. With
external inductive or capacitive coupling, a distance more than 15 km can be
achieved over a medium voltage network. On low voltage networks, a direct
connection can be made since the DLC has a built-in capacitive coupler. This
allows end-end communications from substation to the customer premises without
repeaters.
The latest DLC systems significantly improve upon and differ from
other powerline communication segments. DLC is mainly useful for last-mile and
backhaul instrastucture that can be integrated with corporate wide area networks
(WANs) via TCP/IP, serial communication or leased-line modem to cater for
multi-services realtime energy management systems.
More recently, narrowband PLC communications techniques have also started to
include implementations of more sophisticated communication technologies like
OFDM, that were till date used in broadband domain. PRIME is one such system
that operates within CENELEC A band and uses OFDM as the technology at
physical layer to provide data rates of up to 128 kbit/s. The PRIME Alliance is an
industrial consortium that is putting forth this open specifications of physical and
MAC layers and allowing for utilities to pick solutions from different vendors.
Transmitting radio programs
Sometimes PLC was used for transmitting radio programs over powerlines. When
operated in the AM radio band, it is known as a carrier current system. Such
devices were in use in Germany, where it was called Drahtfunk, and in
Switzerland, where it was called Telefonrundspruch, and used telephone lines. In
the Soviet Union, PLC was very common for broadcasting since the 1930s because
of its low cost and accessibility. In Norway the radiation of PLC systems from
powerlines was sometimes used for radio supply. These facilities were
called Linjesender. In all cases the radio programme was fed by special
transformers into the lines. To prevent uncontrolled propagation, filters for the
carrier frequencies of the PLC systems were installed in substations and at line
branches.
An example of the programs carried by "wire broadcasting" in Switzerland:

 175 kHz Swiss Radio International

 208 kHz RSR1 "la première" (French)
 241 kHz "classical music"
 274 kHz RSI1 "rete UNO" (Italian)
 307 kHz DRS 1 (German)
 340 kHz "easy music"
Utility applications
Utility companies use special coupling capacitors to connect medium-frequency
radio transmitters to the power-frequency AC conductors. Frequencies used are in
the range of 24 to 500 kHz, with transmitter power levels up to hundreds of watts.
These signals may be impressed on one conductor, on two conductors or on all
three conductors of a high-voltage AC transmission line. Several PLC channels
may be coupled onto one HV line. Filtering devices are applied at substations to
prevent the carrier frequency current from being bypassed through the station
apparatus and to ensure that distant faults do not affect the isolated segments of the
PLC system. These circuits are used for control of switchgear, and for protection of
transmission lines. For example, a protective relay can use a PLC channel to trip a
line if a fault is detected between its two terminals, but to leave the line in
operation if the fault is elsewhere on the system.
While utility companies use microwave and now, increasingly, fiber optic
cables for their primary system communication needs, the power-line carrier
apparatus may still be useful as a backup channel or for very simple low-cost
installations that do not warrant installing fiber optic lines.

Conclusion
Digital Power Line technology is an exciting alternative to connecting to the
Internet via phone and modem. Though this technology is not commercially
available yet, it should be available before other broadband technologies due to the
relatively low cost of its local loop. Moreover, its high speeds will provide Internet
access, video on demand, local phone, and long distance phone services to
customers.