| Hi-Speed Internet Access Through Your Power Plug! | | | | second which is currently comparable to cable and |
| It's called BPL and it's being tested right now. Is it | | | | DSL modem speeds. |
| coming soon to a power plug near you? | | | | But turning the power grid into a stable, high-speed |
| Imagine this: | | | | system of data transmission is tricky. |
| You plug your BPL modem into any power socket in | | | | Those medium voltage power lines lines are just one |
| your home and you're instantly connected to a high | | | | component of a power grid. In addition there are |
| speed broadband ISP. Sound too good to be true? | | | | generators, high voltage lines, substations and |
| Maybe... maybe not. | | | | transformers that help carry electricity from the |
| BPL does seem to have more than its share of pros | | | | power plant all the way to your plug. And all of them |
| and cons. | | | | interfere with data transmission. |
| The Pros | | | | So first BPL bypasses high-voltage power lines using |
| Aside from the fact that nearly every home in the | | | | either fiber-optic or telephone lines to inject the data |
| country is connected to the power grid, this exciting | | | | into the medium-voltage power grid downstream. |
| new technology offers several other advantages | | | | However the data can only travel so far before it |
| over current broadband Internet service connections. | | | | begins to degrade. So special devices (called |
| First is the fact that no professional installation or | | | | repeaters) are installed on the lines to take in the |
| additional wiring would be needed in your home. True | | | | data and amplify it for the next leg of the journey. |
| 'plug-and-play' technology. | | | | There is also no way to run a clean data signal |
| Another interesting aspect of BPL is that every | | | | through a transformer. To overcome this, one BPL |
| electric device is connected to the electric distribution | | | | model uses two other devices, a coupler and a bridge |
| network. That means that BPL could let chips in | | | | to distribute Internet traffic. These are attached at |
| every electric device talk to each other. Much simpler | | | | the power pole and allow the data to bypass the |
| and more cost effective than putting a wireless chip | | | | transformer and enter the low voltage lines attached |
| in every appliance. | | | | to your home. There are also wireless systems that |
| Imagine the possibilities if your alarm clock, light | | | | bypass the low voltage lines altogether. |
| switch, water heater and coffee maker could talk | | | | From there Access BPL uses a special modem that is |
| each other! Or how about this scenario: You unpack | | | | about the size of a common AC adapter. It simply |
| and plug in your brand new flat-panel TV and it | | | | plugs into a 110 volt wall socket and has an Ethernet |
| automatically connects to the cable box, DVD player, | | | | cable that connects to your computer (wireless |
| your Home Theater system and the Internet. | | | | versions are also available). BPL modems use silicon |
| Even more than the communications aspect, electric | | | | chips specifically designed to send signals over |
| utilities are interested in BPL because it could give | | | | medium voltage power lines and separate data from |
| them an intelligent electric grid that is both more | | | | 110 volt electric current. These are available right now |
| secure and more reliable. That in turn could lead to | | | | and several electric utility companies in over 26 |
| less pollution and lower electric power costs. | | | | states are quietly doing pilot programs. |
| The Cons | | | | In-house BPL |
| The above-ground utility wires that carry BPL signals | | | | In-house BPL networks machines within your home |
| can also act as antennas and cause radio frequency | | | | or office. In-house BPL products can easily comply |
| interference with airplane radios, emergency, military | | | | with the radiated emissions limits listed in Part 15 of |
| and police radios, HAM radios and short-wave | | | | the FCC's Rules, because they connect directly with |
| broadcasts. This possible interference is central to the | | | | the low voltage electric lines inside your home or |
| debate over whether or not the FCC should allow | | | | office. This technology has little to do with actually |
| BPL to exist. | | | | connecting to the Internet and is available in stores |
| How Broadband Over Power Lines Works | | | | right now. |
| There are two different technologies under | | | | Is BPL coming to your neighborhood soon? |
| development: Access BPL and In-house BPL. | | | | Bottom line... Don't count on it! At least not soon. The |
| Access BPL | | | | radio interference issue is serious enough that at |
| Access BPL combines the technological principles of | | | | least one utility company was forced to terminate its |
| radio, wireless networking, and modems. It uses | | | | pilot program prematurely. |
| medium voltage power lines carrying about 7,200 | | | | Is the idea going to die? Don't count on that either. |
| volts (the ones that you see at the top of electric | | | | The concept has enough merits and profit potential |
| utility poles) to carry broadband Internet traffic. It | | | | that BPL developers and investors alike refuse to |
| can send data over power lines and into homes at | | | | give up. And that attitude will most likely persist until |
| speeds between 500 kilobits and 3 megabits per | | | | the FCC finally says "no way". |