Is this the year of powerline networking? WiFi solutions have become a solution of choice for many homes, including mine. The current top-dog wifi standard is 802.11n, with a theoretical data rate of 300 Mbits/sec. Current powerline networking solutions do not come close to that. Yet. According to Rick Kukulies of NuVo, current non-proprietary powerline solutions are suitable only for use with as control devices in the home.
The undisputed king-of-the-hill is a wired gigabit solution. Wiring a home is not always a feasible option, and I abhor current “proprietary” powerline solutions that are acceptable for use to stream audio and video. Getting back to Rick Kukulies, he recently sat down with CE Pro’s Robert Archer to discuss new powerline-based standards. From the article:
Describe powerline technology.
Powerline technology connects devices together using the power lines in the home.
Proprietary technologies exist for both control and A/V applications, but HomePlug is the only global standard for high-speed networking in the home.
How do today’s technologies differ from older protocols, like X10?
Powerline technologies, such as X10 and Insteon, are for control only.
The frequencies used by these technologies are in the 100 kHz to 200 kHz range and they cannot handle audio or video content. The HomePlug 1.0 powerline specification, however, is suited to transmit audio, video and metadata.
In what applications will installers see Powerline technology used most?
Powerline technology is used for control applications, such as lighting, HVAC and other home automation scenarios.
The powerline market segment is growing quickly. It will be used for audio and video applications, too.
Will the reliability of the technology be affected by issues such as brownouts, surges, line noise and power outages?
It’s tough to beat a physical wire for transmission quality, reliability and cost, of course.
There are, however, many applications, particularly in retrofitting existing homes where a physical wire is difficult or impossible to run.
Keep in mind that homeowners are not only concerned with the cost an installation, but also the disruption of running wires throughout their homes.
It can be a messy and time-consuming process and as we all know the holes need to be cut and patched to the homeowner’s standards.
In order to best serve the retrofit market, the industry has been forced to find ways to wirelessly connect rooms together and this connectivity doesn’t necessarily mean using wireless technologies.
With that said, there are two reliability issues with powerline and both are addressed by the current technology.
The first issue involves the possibility of permanent damage to equipment caused by surges and brownouts. The second issue is the temporary loss of service due to factors such as line noise.
The permanent damage issue is addressed by standard techniques that the industry has employed for years and The HomePlug Powerline Alliance has addressed reliability through extensive testing to find ways to reduce signal loss issues.
Does a technician need to be a licensed electrician to install these products?
If the product is directly connected to AC wiring, the installer needs to be a licensed electrician.
Powerline products, like USB extenders and Ethernet adapters, do not require electrician licenses because all they do is plug in to an outlet. In all cases, the installer must comply with all electrical codes — national and local.
What are the cost differences between traditional A/V and powerline technologies?
As with any product that isn’t hardwired, powerline products will be more costly. The difference is that the installation cost will be lower in some cases.
Powerline technology eliminates the disruption caused by installing more wiring in an existing home.
What kind of profit do you expect this emerging category to offer installers?
The real take-home point for the installer is this: even though the products are more expensive and the installation is less expensive, dealers will realize greater income because they will be able to perform more installations.
In the case of a multiroom audio system, like the NuVo Renovia, installation can be done in one day.
Looking at the big picture, powerline-based solutions will enable the industry to make a significant impact in the existing home market.
It seems that companies are looking to introduce these devices for use by professional installers in a digitally connected home to stream all types of audio/video content. The one point that is made that causes me concern for the potential self-installer is
If the product is directly connected to AC wiring, the installer needs to be a licensed electrician.
Powerline products, like USB extenders and Ethernet adapters, do not require electrician licenses because all they do is plug in to an outlet. In all cases, the installer must comply with all electrical codes — national and local.
These statements confuse me. Aren’t powerline devices “directly” connected to the AC wiring, thus requiring a licensed electrician to install? Then he goes on to state that extenders/adapters do not. I really think those statements need further explanation.
Regardless, I like the concept of standards being introduced to powerline solutions. My home is not ethernet wire-friendly. Appliances like televisions are not wifi friendly. I like the idea of a powerline solution. At least one that is consumer friendly, is designed/built to industry standards, and is cost/performance competitive to wifi solutions. Will this solution meet those criteria? Only time will tell.
