Tech Support > Computer Hardware > Modems > Powerline modem
Powerline modem
Posted by Gireesh on February 7th, 2005


Hi all,
I'm engaged in designing a powerline modem. and i'm in search of a
perfect IC for that.
I found HCPL800J DAA with DSP56F801 PLM ?
Is there any one who worked on this ?
Can abnybody suggest me better ICs ?
I need a range of atleat 1 km and the application is Automatic meter
reading

Posted by Rick Merrill on February 7th, 2005


Gireesh wrote:

If you have a EE PHD from MIT, go for it. Do you realize that the high
fequency transmission characteristics of most peoples "powerline"
changes constantly and essentially randomly? - RM

Posted by Joerg on February 7th, 2005


Hello Rick,


For power metering it seems that the OP only needs a very narrow channel
bandwidth. The challenge will be mostly in the analog and filter design
arena but it can be done. Then, of course, there are the transformers
that need to be bridged.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

Posted by Jim Thompson on February 7th, 2005


On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 23:00:32 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

The two remote electric power measurement schemes I know of:

(1) RF transmitter at your meter, "neighborhood" receiver located on a
pole, then connection to phone lines.

(2) Modem connection between your meter and *your* phone line. Power
company polls your modem.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Posted by Don Lancaster on February 8th, 2005


Jim Thompson wrote:
I guess I was involved in the earliest of powerline carrier
communications. Back in 1961 at Femco.

It did not work then and it will not work now.

Ferinstance, an ancient Diablo 630 printer has such a good noise filter
that it takes out any X-10 device within 200 feet.



--
Many thanks,

Don Lancaster
Synergetics 3860 West First Street Box 809 Thatcher, AZ 85552
voice: (928)428-4073 email: don@tinaja.com

Please visit my GURU's LAIR web site at http://www.tinaja.com

Posted by Rick Merrill on February 8th, 2005


Don Lancaster wrote:

There is work that has used cell phone methods to dynamically adapt the
power frequency to fit the power line characteristics. Remember, anytime
an expert says something can be done, he/she is probably right; and
anytime an expert says something can not be done, he/she is probably
wrong. - Rm


Posted by Dave Houston on February 8th, 2005


Don Lancaster <don@tinaja.com> wrote:

http://www.archnetco.com/
http://www.sei.co.jp/sn/2004/327/feature_article.html
http://www.advanceddd.com/ADD1010.htm
http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/fold...lc-emeter.html
http://www.yitran.com/
http://vchips.co.kr/eng_product/system.html
http://www.oakvillehydro.com/ohesi_b...ic_utility.asp


Posted by Joerg on February 8th, 2005


Hi Don,


Not for broadband. But for low BW communication it can.


Even a brandnew color printer/scanner did that out here. Had to crack
out the toroid box and give it an individual choke per wire plus a cap
which fixed the problem. Lots of people in our neighborhood keep stashes
of Aspirin or Tylenol. I maintain a bucket of $43 toroids.

But remember, X10 is an ancient AM protocol with little noise tolerance.
Then I found that almost all modules were off from carrier frequency so
after tuning them all up this increased liability greatly. If a suitable
multi-frequency narrowband protocol was adopted this kind of appliance
control would work like a champ. It's just that nobody seems to do it,
they don't see the market potential..

As to power metering I probably would first sit down with the financial
people of a cell phone carrier. It doesn't take a lot of their currency
(kb/sec) per account to transfer a meter reading.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

Posted by James Knott on February 8th, 2005


Joerg wrote:

Aren't they hard to swallow? ;-)


Posted by Peter on February 9th, 2005


On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 23:00:32 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

to bridge transformers. However if complex tariffs are envisaged
there may be a need for transmitting up to 24 readings a day per meter
and this may be beyond such systems.

Posted by John on February 9th, 2005


Don Lancaster wrote:

Powerline communications doesn't work in the 21st century? Really? Gosh
somebody forgot to tell these people:
http://www.powerlinecommunications.n...spowerline.htm

PPL has had running broadband Internet over powerline services in select
markets for a few years now. Some other utilties have similar programs.
http://www.thestreet.com/_tsclsii/te.../10045487.html

Utilities not only have another revenue stream and an efficient Internet
distribution method, but also gain the benefit of a communications channel
to/from their meters.

The ARRL (amateur radio group) has spoken out against some powerline
communications, out of fears that it will cause interference to them.


Posted by Peter on February 9th, 2005


On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 23:12:19 -0500, John <john_t@no.spam> wrote:

power lines as a rather crude handrail.


Posted by Ron Hunter on February 9th, 2005


John wrote:
bridge transformers along the entire data path. This adds cost (and
service delaying infrastructure) to what would otherwise be an already
'in place' data path. It certainly has advantages in simplicity over
other services.


--
Ron Hunter rphunter@charter.net

Posted by James Knott on February 9th, 2005


John wrote:

It's more than fears. There have been several documented instances of
interference to radio services. The potenial for interference to the data
communications, from radio transmitters also exists.


Posted by Ken Smith on February 9th, 2005


In article <i4uf01doft60n1f23rt4ep34kf7b8o5d6u@4ax.com>,
Jim Thompson <thegreatone@example.com> wrote:
[...]
I'll add:

(3) An RF responder that is pinged from a truck going down the street.


I know, some places use this for water meters, but I expect that someone
has done it for power meters.

--
--
kensmith@rahul.net forging knowledge


Posted by Jim Thompson on February 9th, 2005


On Wed, 9 Feb 2005 14:43:24 +0000 (UTC), kensmith@green.rahul.net (Ken
Smith) wrote:

I'm sure you can find other methods as well. This part of the
industry hasn't yet standardized. Everything still is in 'beta' ;-)

In my neighborhood the "meter reader" plugs a hand-held device into
the meter and records the information, my bill is based on three
rates: off-peak, on-peak and peak demand.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Posted by Spehro Pefhany on February 9th, 2005


On Wed, 09 Feb 2005 07:59:32 -0700, the renowned Jim Thompson
<thegreatone@example.com> wrote:

http://www.gtiservices.org/amra/amra1/



Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com

Posted by Jim Thompson on February 9th, 2005


On Wed, 09 Feb 2005 11:48:21 -0500, Spehro Pefhany
<speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote:

I did some chip design work for a "modem-per-house" company that was
in (IIRC) Toronto. But they lost their funding before they got it
working.

BTW, if you haven't heard the news...

"PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb 09, 2005 (United Press International via
COMTEX) -- The chairman and chief executive of Hewlett-Packard Co. has
resigned suddenly in a dispute with the California company's board."

Good riddance, Carly ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Posted by Rob Gaddi on February 9th, 2005


Jim Thompson wrote:
Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead. Now to see if I can't go
defibrillate my poor HP shares.

Posted by Spehro Pefhany on February 9th, 2005


On Wed, 09 Feb 2005 11:12:43 -0600, the renowned Rob Gaddi
<rgaddi@bcm.YUMMYSPAMtmc.edu> wrote:

Don't count on it happening really fast:

"The uptick in Hewlett-Packard is purely because of market psychology
and will pass as the company still has the same mess in its hand and
doesn't have anyone to run the ship long term," said Cummins
Catherwood, managing director, Walnut Asset Management.

But given my experience with such experts, maybe the above is a 'buy'
signal.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com


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