Latest 3DTV Set-Top Boxes, Internet-connected TVs, Smartphones, Tablets and Other Popular Devices Will Be Showcased at Broadcom's CES Booth
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2011, Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced that it will showcase a variety of new technologies for digital video, wireless and mobile communications devices at this week's International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
These new technologies promise to advance the concept of a fully connected digital lifestyle. Broadcom® technology is designed to enhance the way consumers use their electronic devices to share digital content in and outside of the home, and the demonstrations at CES will touch all facets of the wired and wireless connectivity ecosystem.
"Whether it's a tablet, smartphone or Internet-connected HDTV, the most popular consumer electronics products in the market today all have one thing in common: they are powered by Broadcom technology," said Scott McGregor, President and CEO of Broadcom Corporation. "Broadcom technology touches millions of people every day and our solutions are enabling many of the most popular consumer electronics products available to connect to the Internet and with each other. Accessing the Internet from anywhere at any time and streaming and sharing content among multiple devices are driving consumers' desire for ubiquitous connectivity. No other company is as well positioned as Broadcom to enable the connected ecosystem and our technology on display at CES will showcase the latest advances and innovative features in a wide array of consumer electronics products."
Showing posts with label homeplug. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeplug. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Monday, June 14, 2010
HomePlug® Powerline Alliance’s Green PHY Specification for Smart Grid Applications Published
- Developed With Input from Major Utilities and Appliance Manufacturers to Meet Smart Grid Requirements
- Green PHY Specification-based Products Interoperable with HomePlug AV and IEEE 1901
Portland, Ore. – June 14, 2010 – The HomePlug® Powerline Alliance, the driving force for global powerline network technology, today announced the approval and publication of the HomePlug Green PHY (HomePlug GP) specification for Smart Grid applications. HomePlug GP is a low power, highly reliable, cost-optimized powerline networking specification targeting Smart Grid connectivity for home energy management to devices such as HVAC, smart meters, appliances and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles.
HomePlug GP was developed with direct input from major utility companies and appliance manufacturers including Consumers Energy, Duke Energy, GE, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison. Their input was used to optimize the technology to meet the challenges and requirements for real-world smart energy deployments.
"Utility companies told us loud and clear their requirements in the areas of performance, reliability, coverage, price and footprint for a successful Smart Grid solution, and we listened,” said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. “Another key requirement was an interoperable powerline network and our technology roadmap ensures complete interoperability between current and next-generation HomePlug AV and IEEE 1901 technology, which gives customers confidence that devices will communicate now and into the future.”
“HomePlug powerline network technology can play a key role meeting the reliability and interoperability requirements we have connecting meters, HVAC systems and other home devices to the emerging Smart Grid,” said Wayne Longcore, Director of Architecture and Standards for Consumers Energy, a major Michigan utility. “HomePlug Green PHY enables smart grid devices to freely communicate with other devices on the home area network. We appreciate HomePlug’s approach to crafting their technology to the utility industry’s needs.”
HomePlug GP is a key component of the HomePlug technology portfolio that includes the current HomePlug AV broadband powerline technology, and will include HomePlug AV2, the Gigabit-class next-generation powerline technology specification, due for completion in early 2011. All three specifications are fully interoperable with each other and with the IEEE’s 1901 powerline standard, now completing ratification. HomePlug AV is baseline technology for the IEEE 1901 powerline standard. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance will serve as the compliance and certification body for IEEE 1901, much as the Wi-Fi Alliance certifies 802.11 products.
HomePlug GP is a profile of HomePlug AV, which makes it easier for multiple silicon suppliers to produce GP chips quickly. HomePlug GP delivers scalable data rates with a peak sustained throughput of about 6 Mbps, ample bandwidth to support IP networking and IPv6. The specification also includes features to reduce power consumption by about 75 percent compared to HomePlug AV solutions. The ZigBee and HomePlug Smart Energy liaison is creating a common application layer for HomePlug and ZigBee devices enabling interoperability between those wireless and powerline devices.
HomePlug devices currently account for over 80 percent of the world's broadband powerline communications market, with over 45 million devices sold to date and shipments forecasted to reach 60 million by year’s end. Additionally, more than 50 service providers throughout the world are already utilizing HomePlug technology to deploy broadband, IPTV and triple-play offerings.
Please visit www.HomePlug.org for more information on the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and to download a copy of the HomePlug Green PHY specification.
- Green PHY Specification-based Products Interoperable with HomePlug AV and IEEE 1901
Portland, Ore. – June 14, 2010 – The HomePlug® Powerline Alliance, the driving force for global powerline network technology, today announced the approval and publication of the HomePlug Green PHY (HomePlug GP) specification for Smart Grid applications. HomePlug GP is a low power, highly reliable, cost-optimized powerline networking specification targeting Smart Grid connectivity for home energy management to devices such as HVAC, smart meters, appliances and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles.
HomePlug GP was developed with direct input from major utility companies and appliance manufacturers including Consumers Energy, Duke Energy, GE, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison. Their input was used to optimize the technology to meet the challenges and requirements for real-world smart energy deployments.
"Utility companies told us loud and clear their requirements in the areas of performance, reliability, coverage, price and footprint for a successful Smart Grid solution, and we listened,” said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. “Another key requirement was an interoperable powerline network and our technology roadmap ensures complete interoperability between current and next-generation HomePlug AV and IEEE 1901 technology, which gives customers confidence that devices will communicate now and into the future.”
“HomePlug powerline network technology can play a key role meeting the reliability and interoperability requirements we have connecting meters, HVAC systems and other home devices to the emerging Smart Grid,” said Wayne Longcore, Director of Architecture and Standards for Consumers Energy, a major Michigan utility. “HomePlug Green PHY enables smart grid devices to freely communicate with other devices on the home area network. We appreciate HomePlug’s approach to crafting their technology to the utility industry’s needs.”
HomePlug GP is a key component of the HomePlug technology portfolio that includes the current HomePlug AV broadband powerline technology, and will include HomePlug AV2, the Gigabit-class next-generation powerline technology specification, due for completion in early 2011. All three specifications are fully interoperable with each other and with the IEEE’s 1901 powerline standard, now completing ratification. HomePlug AV is baseline technology for the IEEE 1901 powerline standard. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance will serve as the compliance and certification body for IEEE 1901, much as the Wi-Fi Alliance certifies 802.11 products.
HomePlug GP is a profile of HomePlug AV, which makes it easier for multiple silicon suppliers to produce GP chips quickly. HomePlug GP delivers scalable data rates with a peak sustained throughput of about 6 Mbps, ample bandwidth to support IP networking and IPv6. The specification also includes features to reduce power consumption by about 75 percent compared to HomePlug AV solutions. The ZigBee and HomePlug Smart Energy liaison is creating a common application layer for HomePlug and ZigBee devices enabling interoperability between those wireless and powerline devices.
HomePlug devices currently account for over 80 percent of the world's broadband powerline communications market, with over 45 million devices sold to date and shipments forecasted to reach 60 million by year’s end. Additionally, more than 50 service providers throughout the world are already utilizing HomePlug technology to deploy broadband, IPTV and triple-play offerings.
Please visit www.HomePlug.org for more information on the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and to download a copy of the HomePlug Green PHY specification.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Atheros Powerline Technology Delivers Unprecedented Performance
Atheros (News - Alert) Communications, a provider of innovative technologies for wireless and wired communications, announced it delivered unprecedented performance for its Ethernet-over-Coax, or “EoC,” solution which helps in last mile broadband access.
With the help of Atheros’ AR7400 powerline chipset, cable operators can deliver two-way data services like broadband access, interactive TV and video-on-demand over existing coaxial infrastructures. This chipset provides PHY rates of about 700 Mbps and up to 350 Mbps of actual throughput over coaxial cables.
The AR7400 is designed in accordance to the new IEEE (News - Alert) 1901 draft standard for powerline networking and interoperates with a vast installed base of Home Plug AV products. China’s cable operators, Jiangsu Cable Networks or “JSCN” and Oriental Cable Networks or “OCN” have already adopted this standard into their EoC specifications. These cable operators will deploy Atheros’ EoC technology to strengthen up their existing infrastructure to support next-generation digital TV and broadband services.
The AR7400 is a fourth-generation HomePlug chipset that can deliver carrier-grade broadband transmission over coaxial and power lines. It supports next generation services within the existing infrastructure.
The chipset delivers better throughput and coverage over existing coaxial infrastructures as it is based on carrier certified HomePlug AV technology, which is the baseline technology for IEEE’s 1901 draft standard.
It is currently being integrated into customer premises equipment from leading Chinese device manufacturers like H3C and B-Star.
H3C has completed performance evaluation and interoperability tests of the new Atheros solution. H3C officials commented that the AR7400-based EoC products will soon be a pivotal tool for multi-system operators in meeting the growing demands of China’s NGB requirements.
The AR7400 EoC solution’s remote management feature helps operators configure and scale systems to suit building size, range and subscriber population. It supports more than 700 meter coverage through multiple splitters and required throughput speeds.
Todd Antes, vice president of marketing, Digital Home of Atheros Communications, said, “Service providers require standardized technologies that are field-proven and cost effective. Adoption by leading carriers not only validates the performance of our AMP products for EoC applications, but demonstrates the growing momentum behind IEEE 1901 as the technology of choice for wireline networking in the home”
In February at this year’s Mobile World Congress (News - Alert), Atheros Communications showcased its latest mobile technologies, connectivity features and applications, including the single-chip 802.11n AR6003, a mobile WLAN solution; AR1520, the company’s third-generation, single-chip GPS receiver; and the AR6133, Atheros’ smart combination of mobile 11n and Bluetooth 3.0 technologies for consumer electronics applications.
With the help of Atheros’ AR7400 powerline chipset, cable operators can deliver two-way data services like broadband access, interactive TV and video-on-demand over existing coaxial infrastructures. This chipset provides PHY rates of about 700 Mbps and up to 350 Mbps of actual throughput over coaxial cables.
The AR7400 is designed in accordance to the new IEEE (News - Alert) 1901 draft standard for powerline networking and interoperates with a vast installed base of Home Plug AV products. China’s cable operators, Jiangsu Cable Networks or “JSCN” and Oriental Cable Networks or “OCN” have already adopted this standard into their EoC specifications. These cable operators will deploy Atheros’ EoC technology to strengthen up their existing infrastructure to support next-generation digital TV and broadband services.
The AR7400 is a fourth-generation HomePlug chipset that can deliver carrier-grade broadband transmission over coaxial and power lines. It supports next generation services within the existing infrastructure.
The chipset delivers better throughput and coverage over existing coaxial infrastructures as it is based on carrier certified HomePlug AV technology, which is the baseline technology for IEEE’s 1901 draft standard.
It is currently being integrated into customer premises equipment from leading Chinese device manufacturers like H3C and B-Star.
H3C has completed performance evaluation and interoperability tests of the new Atheros solution. H3C officials commented that the AR7400-based EoC products will soon be a pivotal tool for multi-system operators in meeting the growing demands of China’s NGB requirements.
The AR7400 EoC solution’s remote management feature helps operators configure and scale systems to suit building size, range and subscriber population. It supports more than 700 meter coverage through multiple splitters and required throughput speeds.
Todd Antes, vice president of marketing, Digital Home of Atheros Communications, said, “Service providers require standardized technologies that are field-proven and cost effective. Adoption by leading carriers not only validates the performance of our AMP products for EoC applications, but demonstrates the growing momentum behind IEEE 1901 as the technology of choice for wireline networking in the home”
In February at this year’s Mobile World Congress (News - Alert), Atheros Communications showcased its latest mobile technologies, connectivity features and applications, including the single-chip 802.11n AR6003, a mobile WLAN solution; AR1520, the company’s third-generation, single-chip GPS receiver; and the AR6133, Atheros’ smart combination of mobile 11n and Bluetooth 3.0 technologies for consumer electronics applications.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Netgear Powerline AV 200 Adapter XAV2001 - bridge
At $80, the Netgear Powerline AV 200 Adapter XAV2001 is about $10 cheaper than the recently reviewed Plaster Network PLN3 adapter. However, the fact that it has only one Ethernet port (as opposed to two in the PLN3's case) makes it less of a good deal if you want to connect two computers at the far corner via the house's electrical wiring.
Other than that, the two adapters are very similar in regard to speed and the snap-in design, with the Netgear being about 20 percent more compact overall but noticeably thicker. The XAV2001 doesn't come with a fancy online service like the PLN3, but it makes up for it by having a convenient push-button solution to activate its security feature.
If you are looking to quickly connect a computer to your network via your home's electrical wiring, the Netgear XAV2001 is a good solution, especially when it costs only around $130 when you buy it in a kit that includes two units.
Design, setup and features
The XAV2001 has a typical shape of most power-line adapters, looking just like a two-prong power adapter for a small electronic device, such as a cordless phone or an external hard drive. It comes with only one Ethernet port. This means you will need a hub (or switch) if you want to connect more than one computer at the far end of the connection. What's more important at the far end is another power socket, as the as the XAV2001 doesn't feature a power pass-through and it, like all HomePlug AV power-line adapters, is not designed to work with power strips or surge protectors. To our surprise, it worked with a few strips we tried, but there's no guarantee that it will work with yours.
The XAV2001's setup process is like that of any typical power-line connection. You'll need two adapters, preferably of the same company, though the XAV2001 is compatible with any other HomePlug AV adapters. After that, say if you want to create a connection between the existing network and a device in the basement, you hook the first adapter to the network via the router (or the hub). The second adapter is connected to the Ethernet-ready device at the far corner. After that, you just plug both adapters into the power sockets. If the two locations share the same electrical wiring, which they do in most cases of homes or apartment buildings, the network connection is now established. This whole process takes just a minute or two, and you can't make a mistake.
We had no problem setting up the two test XAV2001 units and believed nobody would run into any issues. After the initial setup is done, the XAV2001 has a nifty security feature that you can enable by pressing on the button on its side. You need to press this button for all XAV2001 units at the same time or within two minutes of one another. After that, a secure connection is created between all of the XAV2001 units. This keeps others from tapping into your network by plugging another HomePlug AV adapter into the same electrical wiring, a necessary security measure for those who live in an apartment building.
Performance
We tested the XAV2001 using the same methodology we use for wireless routers, and it offered about the same speed as the average speed of a wireless-N router at a distance of 100 feet. The adapter registered a speed of around 22.9Mbps, just slightly faster than the 22.6Mbps of the Plaster Network PLN3. At this speed, the XAV2001 adapter can finish transmitting 500MB of data in slightly less than 3 minutes.
Other than that, the two adapters are very similar in regard to speed and the snap-in design, with the Netgear being about 20 percent more compact overall but noticeably thicker. The XAV2001 doesn't come with a fancy online service like the PLN3, but it makes up for it by having a convenient push-button solution to activate its security feature.
If you are looking to quickly connect a computer to your network via your home's electrical wiring, the Netgear XAV2001 is a good solution, especially when it costs only around $130 when you buy it in a kit that includes two units.
Design, setup and features
The XAV2001 has a typical shape of most power-line adapters, looking just like a two-prong power adapter for a small electronic device, such as a cordless phone or an external hard drive. It comes with only one Ethernet port. This means you will need a hub (or switch) if you want to connect more than one computer at the far end of the connection. What's more important at the far end is another power socket, as the as the XAV2001 doesn't feature a power pass-through and it, like all HomePlug AV power-line adapters, is not designed to work with power strips or surge protectors. To our surprise, it worked with a few strips we tried, but there's no guarantee that it will work with yours.
The XAV2001's setup process is like that of any typical power-line connection. You'll need two adapters, preferably of the same company, though the XAV2001 is compatible with any other HomePlug AV adapters. After that, say if you want to create a connection between the existing network and a device in the basement, you hook the first adapter to the network via the router (or the hub). The second adapter is connected to the Ethernet-ready device at the far corner. After that, you just plug both adapters into the power sockets. If the two locations share the same electrical wiring, which they do in most cases of homes or apartment buildings, the network connection is now established. This whole process takes just a minute or two, and you can't make a mistake.
We had no problem setting up the two test XAV2001 units and believed nobody would run into any issues. After the initial setup is done, the XAV2001 has a nifty security feature that you can enable by pressing on the button on its side. You need to press this button for all XAV2001 units at the same time or within two minutes of one another. After that, a secure connection is created between all of the XAV2001 units. This keeps others from tapping into your network by plugging another HomePlug AV adapter into the same electrical wiring, a necessary security measure for those who live in an apartment building.
Performance
We tested the XAV2001 using the same methodology we use for wireless routers, and it offered about the same speed as the average speed of a wireless-N router at a distance of 100 feet. The adapter registered a speed of around 22.9Mbps, just slightly faster than the 22.6Mbps of the Plaster Network PLN3. At this speed, the XAV2001 adapter can finish transmitting 500MB of data in slightly less than 3 minutes.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Getting things together on the smart grid networking front
Worth noting that the IEEE P1901 Working Group – which is working on global standards for powerline networking – has given the thumbs-up to the current draft of the standard.
A final version of the IEEE 1901 powerline networking standard should be available in the third quarter.
This is a big victory for the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, because the standard is, in part, based on HomePlug AV. That means technology that’s out in the market today that uses HomePlug AV will be interoperable with those that use P1901 Powerline Networking. HomePlug will actually get to be the certifying body to ensure that IEEE 1901 devices are truly compliant.
Part of the IEEE P1901 profile will be focused on smart energy/smart grid applications, so those watching smart grid adoption should continue to keep an eye on developments here.
Similarly, they’ll also want to keep tabs on a new collaboration between the IEEE Power & Energy Society and the GridWise Alliance, both of which are pretty heavy into engineering matters associated with the power grid and electric distribution system. The crux of the deal is that the two organizations plan to collaboration on a number of matters including smart grid policy proposals and research projects.
A final version of the IEEE 1901 powerline networking standard should be available in the third quarter.
This is a big victory for the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, because the standard is, in part, based on HomePlug AV. That means technology that’s out in the market today that uses HomePlug AV will be interoperable with those that use P1901 Powerline Networking. HomePlug will actually get to be the certifying body to ensure that IEEE 1901 devices are truly compliant.
Part of the IEEE P1901 profile will be focused on smart energy/smart grid applications, so those watching smart grid adoption should continue to keep an eye on developments here.
Similarly, they’ll also want to keep tabs on a new collaboration between the IEEE Power & Energy Society and the GridWise Alliance, both of which are pretty heavy into engineering matters associated with the power grid and electric distribution system. The crux of the deal is that the two organizations plan to collaboration on a number of matters including smart grid policy proposals and research projects.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Plaster Networks PLN3 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter
The PLN3 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter is the first power-line adapter we've reviewed in a long time (more will be reviewed soon) and like all power-line adapters, it offers a quick way to extend your network via the electrical wiring of your home or apartment building. This is a handy and effective solution for those far corners of your home where your router's wireless signal may be weak or nonexistent.
The PLN3 is rather bulky but it has two Ethernet ports, as opposed to only one like many others, to host up to two Ethernet-ready network devices. It also comes with an online service that helps monitor the power-line connection. The device is compatible with all HomePlug AV power-line adapters from other vendors and costs around $90.
Note that you'll need at least two adapters to create a power-line connection. If you don't already have some at home, Plaster Networks is offering a deal by knocking off $30 if you buy a pair of the PLN3 adapters at a time.
Design and setup
The PLN3 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter looks like a large power adapter for a small electronics device, such as a cordless phone or an external hard drive. It's about the size of two decks of cards stacked together. With this large size, it would be better if the adapter had a power cord, instead of just two prongs. As it is, the only way to hook it to the power is to snap it over a receptacle. This is a bad design as the adapter takes up a relatively large physical space and might even obstruct other adjacent sockets.
As the PLN3 doesn't feature a passthrough for the power socket, you will need a power strip in the far corner to extend the network. Note that the adapter might not work with all power strips or surge protectors because these devices generally degrade or block signal of HomePlug AV adapters. In this case, the sure way is to plug it directly into the wall and make sure you have extra power outlets. To its credit, the PLN3 has two Ethernet ports. This means it can support up to two Ethernet-ready devices, such as a printer and a NAS server, at the far end. At the near end, where the adapter is hooked to a router, though, the second Ethernet port is redundant.
As with most other power-line adapters, there's really nothing to setting up the PLN3. For a typical power-line connection, say between the existing network and a device in the basement, you'll need two power-line adapters. The first adapter is to connect to the network by hooking it to an Ethernet port of the router (or the hub). The second adapter is connected to the device at the far corner. After that, you just plug both adapters into the power sockets. If the two locations share the same electrical wiring, which they do in most homes or apartment buildings, the network connection is now live. This whole process takes just a minute or two; we had no problem setting up the PLN3, and you won't either, most likely.
The PLN3 comes with a CAT5 network cable, which is needed to connect it to other network devices.
Features
What makes the PLN3 different from other power-line adapters is the included Plaster Networks Service that automatically updates the adapter to the latest firmware and allows users to keep tab of their power-line network over the Internet.
This service is easy to set up. You just need to access it by pointing a browser to service.plasternetworks.com from a computer that's connected to the Internet via the PLN3 adapter. You will then be prompted to register a new account (or log into an existing one). Then the new adapter will also then be recognized and registered automatically.
From then on, each time you login at the same address, you will be able to view the power-line connection's status, activity history log, and so on. You can also change the password for the each PLN3 Powerline adapter. This is a necessary step for an apartment building because if you don't enable password protection or change the default password, others in the same building might be able to join your network (and tap into your Internet connection, for example) by plugging another HomePlug AV-compliant power adapter into any of the building's power outlet.
The service is potentially a handy tool for other service providers to offer remote troubleshooting for your network connection should a problem arise. However, this is possible only if the problem doesn't disconnect your computer from the Internet, as the Plaster Networks Service requires a live Internet connection to function. This also means you can't take advantage of it if you want to have an isolated network.
While we find this service useful, we didn't find it useful enough to justify the annual fee of $30. The good news is the service is free during the first year.
Note that if you don't want to use this service at all or do not even want Plaster Networks to be able to locate your PLN3 adapter (to update its firmware automatically for example), you can turn this all off. To do this--on a computer that's connected to the adapter--point an Internet browser to PLNxxxxxx, where xxxxxx is the adapter's six-digit identification number printed on its side. This allows access to the adapter's Admin Console, where you can change all of the adapter's additional settings, including those relating to the Plaster Networks Service.
Unlike the Plaster Networks Service, the Admin console doesn't require a live Internet connection to work.
Performance
We tested the PLN3 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter by using two units and the same test methodology we use for wireless routers. The adapters consistently registered 22.4Mbps in our sustained throughput tests. This is about the same average speed of 2.4Ghz Wireless-N routers at 100 feet distance. Note, however, this throughput speed can change depending on the electrical wiring of your home. At this speed, the PLN3 adapters can finish transmitting 500MB of data in about three minutes.
In our anecdotal movie streaming tests, the adapters proved that they can offer decent streaming for high-def content, as long as we streamed just one at a time with no other network activities, such as Web surfing or data copying, going on at the same time. We did notice, however, when we increased the file size of the movie or the workload, the streaming wasn't smooth at times, especially when we wanted to jump from one part of the movie to another.
On the other hand, for other casual network needs, such as printing, surfing the Internet, or even playing YouTube movies, the PLN3 will get the job done just fine.
Overall, we weren't terribly impressed with the PLN3's performance, but we weren't disappointed either. We believe it is a good alternative when wireless networking is not a viable option.
The PLN3 is rather bulky but it has two Ethernet ports, as opposed to only one like many others, to host up to two Ethernet-ready network devices. It also comes with an online service that helps monitor the power-line connection. The device is compatible with all HomePlug AV power-line adapters from other vendors and costs around $90.
Note that you'll need at least two adapters to create a power-line connection. If you don't already have some at home, Plaster Networks is offering a deal by knocking off $30 if you buy a pair of the PLN3 adapters at a time.
Design and setup
The PLN3 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter looks like a large power adapter for a small electronics device, such as a cordless phone or an external hard drive. It's about the size of two decks of cards stacked together. With this large size, it would be better if the adapter had a power cord, instead of just two prongs. As it is, the only way to hook it to the power is to snap it over a receptacle. This is a bad design as the adapter takes up a relatively large physical space and might even obstruct other adjacent sockets.
As the PLN3 doesn't feature a passthrough for the power socket, you will need a power strip in the far corner to extend the network. Note that the adapter might not work with all power strips or surge protectors because these devices generally degrade or block signal of HomePlug AV adapters. In this case, the sure way is to plug it directly into the wall and make sure you have extra power outlets. To its credit, the PLN3 has two Ethernet ports. This means it can support up to two Ethernet-ready devices, such as a printer and a NAS server, at the far end. At the near end, where the adapter is hooked to a router, though, the second Ethernet port is redundant.
As with most other power-line adapters, there's really nothing to setting up the PLN3. For a typical power-line connection, say between the existing network and a device in the basement, you'll need two power-line adapters. The first adapter is to connect to the network by hooking it to an Ethernet port of the router (or the hub). The second adapter is connected to the device at the far corner. After that, you just plug both adapters into the power sockets. If the two locations share the same electrical wiring, which they do in most homes or apartment buildings, the network connection is now live. This whole process takes just a minute or two; we had no problem setting up the PLN3, and you won't either, most likely.
The PLN3 comes with a CAT5 network cable, which is needed to connect it to other network devices.
Features
What makes the PLN3 different from other power-line adapters is the included Plaster Networks Service that automatically updates the adapter to the latest firmware and allows users to keep tab of their power-line network over the Internet.
This service is easy to set up. You just need to access it by pointing a browser to service.plasternetworks.com from a computer that's connected to the Internet via the PLN3 adapter. You will then be prompted to register a new account (or log into an existing one). Then the new adapter will also then be recognized and registered automatically.
From then on, each time you login at the same address, you will be able to view the power-line connection's status, activity history log, and so on. You can also change the password for the each PLN3 Powerline adapter. This is a necessary step for an apartment building because if you don't enable password protection or change the default password, others in the same building might be able to join your network (and tap into your Internet connection, for example) by plugging another HomePlug AV-compliant power adapter into any of the building's power outlet.
The service is potentially a handy tool for other service providers to offer remote troubleshooting for your network connection should a problem arise. However, this is possible only if the problem doesn't disconnect your computer from the Internet, as the Plaster Networks Service requires a live Internet connection to function. This also means you can't take advantage of it if you want to have an isolated network.
While we find this service useful, we didn't find it useful enough to justify the annual fee of $30. The good news is the service is free during the first year.
Note that if you don't want to use this service at all or do not even want Plaster Networks to be able to locate your PLN3 adapter (to update its firmware automatically for example), you can turn this all off. To do this--on a computer that's connected to the adapter--point an Internet browser to PLNxxxxxx, where xxxxxx is the adapter's six-digit identification number printed on its side. This allows access to the adapter's Admin Console, where you can change all of the adapter's additional settings, including those relating to the Plaster Networks Service.
Unlike the Plaster Networks Service, the Admin console doesn't require a live Internet connection to work.
Performance
We tested the PLN3 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter by using two units and the same test methodology we use for wireless routers. The adapters consistently registered 22.4Mbps in our sustained throughput tests. This is about the same average speed of 2.4Ghz Wireless-N routers at 100 feet distance. Note, however, this throughput speed can change depending on the electrical wiring of your home. At this speed, the PLN3 adapters can finish transmitting 500MB of data in about three minutes.
In our anecdotal movie streaming tests, the adapters proved that they can offer decent streaming for high-def content, as long as we streamed just one at a time with no other network activities, such as Web surfing or data copying, going on at the same time. We did notice, however, when we increased the file size of the movie or the workload, the streaming wasn't smooth at times, especially when we wanted to jump from one part of the movie to another.
On the other hand, for other casual network needs, such as printing, surfing the Internet, or even playing YouTube movies, the PLN3 will get the job done just fine.
Overall, we weren't terribly impressed with the PLN3's performance, but we weren't disappointed either. We believe it is a good alternative when wireless networking is not a viable option.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Plaster Networks PLN3 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter
The PLN3 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter is the first power-line adapter we've reviewed in a long time (more will be reviewed soon) and like all power-line adapters, it offers a quick way to extend your network via the electrical wiring of your home or apartment building. This is a handy and effective solution for those far corners of your home where your router's wireless signal may be weak or nonexistent.
The PLN3 is rather bulky but it has two Ethernet ports, as opposed to only one like many others, to host up to two Ethernet-ready network devices. It also comes with an online service that helps monitor the power-line connection. The device is compatible with all HomePlug AV power-line adapters from other vendors and costs around $90.
Note that you'll need at least two adapters to create a power-line connection. If you don't already have some at home, Plaster Networks is offering a deal by knocking off $30 if you buy a pair of the PLN3 adapters at a time.
Design and setup
The PLN3 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter looks like a large power adapter for a small electronics device, such as a cordless phone or an external hard drive. It's about the size of two decks of cards stacked together. With this large size, it would be better if the adapter had a power cord, instead of just two prongs. As it is, the only way to hook it to the power is to snap it over a receptacle. This is a bad design as the adapter takes up a relatively large physical space and might even obstruct other adjacent sockets.
As the PLN3 doesn't feature a passthrough for the power socket, you will need a power strip in the far corner to extend the network. Note that the adapter might not work with all power strips or surge protectors because these devices generally degrade or block signal of HomePlug AV adapters. In this case, the sure way is to plug it directly into the wall and make sure you have extra power outlets. To its credit, the PLN3 has two Ethernet ports. This means it can support up to two Ethernet-ready devices, such as a printer and a NAS server, at the far end. At the near end, where the adapter is hooked to a router, though, the second Ethernet port is redundant.
As with most other power-line adapters, there's really nothing to setting up the PLN3. For a typical power-line connection, say between the existing network and a device in the basement, you'll need two power-line adapters. The first adapter is to connect to the network by hooking it to an Ethernet port of the router (or the hub). The second adapter is connected to the device at the far corner. After that, you just plug both adapters into the power sockets. If the two locations share the same electrical wiring, which they do in most homes or apartment buildings, the network connection is now live. This whole process takes just a minute or two; we had no problem setting up the PLN3, and you won't either, most likely.
The PLN3 comes with a CAT5 network cable, which is needed to connect it to other network devices.
Features
What makes the PLN3 different from other power-line adapters is the included Plaster Networks Service that automatically updates the adapter to the latest firmware and allows users to keep tab of their power-line network over the Internet.
This service is easy to set up. You just need to access it by pointing a browser to service.plasternetworks.com from a computer that's connected to the Internet via the PLN3 adapter. You will then be prompted to register a new account (or log into an existing one). Then the new adapter will also then be recognized and registered automatically.
From then on, each time you login at the same address, you will be able to view the power-line connection's status, activity history log, and so on. You can also change the password for the each PLN3 Powerline adapter. This is a necessary step for an apartment building because if you don't enable password protection or change the default password, others in the same building might be able to join your network (and tap into your Internet connection, for example) by plugging another HomePlug AV-compliant power adapter into any of the building's power outlet.
Continued ...
The PLN3 is rather bulky but it has two Ethernet ports, as opposed to only one like many others, to host up to two Ethernet-ready network devices. It also comes with an online service that helps monitor the power-line connection. The device is compatible with all HomePlug AV power-line adapters from other vendors and costs around $90.
Note that you'll need at least two adapters to create a power-line connection. If you don't already have some at home, Plaster Networks is offering a deal by knocking off $30 if you buy a pair of the PLN3 adapters at a time.
Design and setup
The PLN3 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter looks like a large power adapter for a small electronics device, such as a cordless phone or an external hard drive. It's about the size of two decks of cards stacked together. With this large size, it would be better if the adapter had a power cord, instead of just two prongs. As it is, the only way to hook it to the power is to snap it over a receptacle. This is a bad design as the adapter takes up a relatively large physical space and might even obstruct other adjacent sockets.
As the PLN3 doesn't feature a passthrough for the power socket, you will need a power strip in the far corner to extend the network. Note that the adapter might not work with all power strips or surge protectors because these devices generally degrade or block signal of HomePlug AV adapters. In this case, the sure way is to plug it directly into the wall and make sure you have extra power outlets. To its credit, the PLN3 has two Ethernet ports. This means it can support up to two Ethernet-ready devices, such as a printer and a NAS server, at the far end. At the near end, where the adapter is hooked to a router, though, the second Ethernet port is redundant.
As with most other power-line adapters, there's really nothing to setting up the PLN3. For a typical power-line connection, say between the existing network and a device in the basement, you'll need two power-line adapters. The first adapter is to connect to the network by hooking it to an Ethernet port of the router (or the hub). The second adapter is connected to the device at the far corner. After that, you just plug both adapters into the power sockets. If the two locations share the same electrical wiring, which they do in most homes or apartment buildings, the network connection is now live. This whole process takes just a minute or two; we had no problem setting up the PLN3, and you won't either, most likely.
The PLN3 comes with a CAT5 network cable, which is needed to connect it to other network devices.
Features
What makes the PLN3 different from other power-line adapters is the included Plaster Networks Service that automatically updates the adapter to the latest firmware and allows users to keep tab of their power-line network over the Internet.
This service is easy to set up. You just need to access it by pointing a browser to service.plasternetworks.com from a computer that's connected to the Internet via the PLN3 adapter. You will then be prompted to register a new account (or log into an existing one). Then the new adapter will also then be recognized and registered automatically.
From then on, each time you login at the same address, you will be able to view the power-line connection's status, activity history log, and so on. You can also change the password for the each PLN3 Powerline adapter. This is a necessary step for an apartment building because if you don't enable password protection or change the default password, others in the same building might be able to join your network (and tap into your Internet connection, for example) by plugging another HomePlug AV-compliant power adapter into any of the building's power outlet.
Continued ...
Monday, May 03, 2010
Atheros weaves mesh networking effort - Standard could unite Wi-Fi, powerline chips in home nets
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Atheros Communications is trying to rally interest in defining a standard for mesh technology in home networks. Such a standard would help the company merge and add value to its Wi-Fi and powerline chips.
The IEEE 802.11 group that created the Wi-Fi standard has tried for years to set a standard for mesh networks, so far without success. The problem, in part, has been efforts have involved a wide range of stakeholders interested in a variety of home, metro, military and public service nets.
"When you start with that kind of crowd in a room you get a mess," said Bill McFarland, chief technology officer at Atheros in an interview at the Embedded Systems Conference
"We are interested in standardization, but we will do it in a focused way for mesh in powerline, Wi-Fi and MoCA," McFarland said, referring to the Multimedia over Coax Alliance. "We are only talking about home networking," he said.
The discussions so far have involved members of MoCA, other Wi-Fi companies and members of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. They have not yet decided whether they want to try to set an ad hoc standard or work through the 802.11 group.
"There is a lot of discussion of that at the moment, and each approach has its advantages," said McFarland. "I expect it will be resolved in the next few months," he said.
Atheros is in an early stage of developing its own mesh technology. It demonstrated traffic running across Wi-Fi and powerline nets over a few discrete hops at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. However, it is yet to show robust multi-hop technology supporting quality-of-service policies.
Atheros envisions hybrid home nets that can use powerline to help Wi-Fi nets extend their range or route past walls. "There's a great use model story there," he said.
Of course, vendors such as Atheros will have to create software to make the different device IDs, addresses and keys on hybrid networks appear as if they are on a single net for consumers, McFarland noted.
The work on mesh standards comes as Atheros is sampling a new powerline chip set from Intellon which it acquired in September. As many as five other chip makers are about to debut powerline chips that, like Intellon, are based on the ad hoc standard of the HomePlug group and the IEEE 1901. They include Arkados, Gigle Networks, Renesas and STMicroelectronics.
"The big evolution is we now have an IEEE standard coupled with price reductions that will let us move from installations based on adapters to being embedded," said McFarland. "Powerline has never been embedded into another devoice, but now TVs and Blu-Ray players might have it built right in.
"We are across the chasm in embedded Wi-Fi and we are about to cross it for powerline," he added.
Long term, Atheros believes it can produce integrated silicon for Wi-Fi and powerline, making the mesh software even more strategic. "We don't have definite product plans, but I don't see how it would not come to pass eventually," he said.
The IEEE 802.11 group that created the Wi-Fi standard has tried for years to set a standard for mesh networks, so far without success. The problem, in part, has been efforts have involved a wide range of stakeholders interested in a variety of home, metro, military and public service nets.
"When you start with that kind of crowd in a room you get a mess," said Bill McFarland, chief technology officer at Atheros in an interview at the Embedded Systems Conference
"We are interested in standardization, but we will do it in a focused way for mesh in powerline, Wi-Fi and MoCA," McFarland said, referring to the Multimedia over Coax Alliance. "We are only talking about home networking," he said.
The discussions so far have involved members of MoCA, other Wi-Fi companies and members of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. They have not yet decided whether they want to try to set an ad hoc standard or work through the 802.11 group.
"There is a lot of discussion of that at the moment, and each approach has its advantages," said McFarland. "I expect it will be resolved in the next few months," he said.
Atheros is in an early stage of developing its own mesh technology. It demonstrated traffic running across Wi-Fi and powerline nets over a few discrete hops at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. However, it is yet to show robust multi-hop technology supporting quality-of-service policies.
Atheros envisions hybrid home nets that can use powerline to help Wi-Fi nets extend their range or route past walls. "There's a great use model story there," he said.
Of course, vendors such as Atheros will have to create software to make the different device IDs, addresses and keys on hybrid networks appear as if they are on a single net for consumers, McFarland noted.
The work on mesh standards comes as Atheros is sampling a new powerline chip set from Intellon which it acquired in September. As many as five other chip makers are about to debut powerline chips that, like Intellon, are based on the ad hoc standard of the HomePlug group and the IEEE 1901. They include Arkados, Gigle Networks, Renesas and STMicroelectronics.
"The big evolution is we now have an IEEE standard coupled with price reductions that will let us move from installations based on adapters to being embedded," said McFarland. "Powerline has never been embedded into another devoice, but now TVs and Blu-Ray players might have it built right in.
"We are across the chasm in embedded Wi-Fi and we are about to cross it for powerline," he added.
Long term, Atheros believes it can produce integrated silicon for Wi-Fi and powerline, making the mesh software even more strategic. "We don't have definite product plans, but I don't see how it would not come to pass eventually," he said.
Monday, April 26, 2010
HomePlug powers onward as connected home play
In the home networking standards game, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance is sometimes overshadowed by Home Phoneline Networking Alliance and the Multimedia over Coax Alliance, but a closer relationship with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is raising its profile.
This week, the IEEE P1901 Working Group passed an initial sponsor ballot that moves the group closer to a likely third-quarter final approval of the standard, for which the HPPA’s HomePlug AV specification was used as the baseline technology. That approval will formalize ensured interoperability between 1901 and HomePlug AV products, and bring HomePlug more into the IEEE’s highly-marketable family of standards that also includes Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The initial sponsor ballot passage also came just days after the IEEE said it was facilitating cooperation between the HPPA and the HD-PLC Alliance, another group focused on getting powerline technology into broadband households. The result is a joint certification program for co-existence between their technologies, which helps smooth the various, often regional and industry-vertical differences between devices with 1901 standard interfaces.
“It’s not a huge leap now to make HomePlug AV and 1901 chips compatible,” said Rob Ranck, president of the HPPA. “Having the aligned standards is also important for market stability. You will no longer have a fragmented environment around powerline technology for home networking and smart grid.”
The HPPA will serve as the certification group for 1901 products, playing the same sort of role that the Wi-Fi Alliance and the WiMAX Forum play in their respective technology camps. Also like those programs, the HPPA will test both chip compliance to the standard and interoperability. The group will use the same testing house in France that it has used to certify more than 200 HomePlug products, half of which are HomePlug AV products, Ranck said.
With the IEEE bond, Ranck also sees more integration with Wi-Fi on the horizon. “The market for powerline technology is really coalescing at this point, and I think the coming trend you’ll see is more work on integrating HomePlug with Wi-Fi,” he said. That evolution seemingly would put the powerline technology in a better position to handle content sharing between portable and fixed devices in the home, and to reach a greater number of household devices with smart grid applications.
Speaking of smart grid, with broadband over powerline technology fading into more of a niche-oriented solution, and more parties, including telcos, looking more inside the home at smart grid, the HPPA is close to finalizing its low-power "Green PHY" specification, which was announced in January. Ranck said an update on that would be forthcoming in the next month or so, which should keep the spec aligned with the timing of other smart grid standardization efforts.
This week, the IEEE P1901 Working Group passed an initial sponsor ballot that moves the group closer to a likely third-quarter final approval of the standard, for which the HPPA’s HomePlug AV specification was used as the baseline technology. That approval will formalize ensured interoperability between 1901 and HomePlug AV products, and bring HomePlug more into the IEEE’s highly-marketable family of standards that also includes Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The initial sponsor ballot passage also came just days after the IEEE said it was facilitating cooperation between the HPPA and the HD-PLC Alliance, another group focused on getting powerline technology into broadband households. The result is a joint certification program for co-existence between their technologies, which helps smooth the various, often regional and industry-vertical differences between devices with 1901 standard interfaces.
“It’s not a huge leap now to make HomePlug AV and 1901 chips compatible,” said Rob Ranck, president of the HPPA. “Having the aligned standards is also important for market stability. You will no longer have a fragmented environment around powerline technology for home networking and smart grid.”
The HPPA will serve as the certification group for 1901 products, playing the same sort of role that the Wi-Fi Alliance and the WiMAX Forum play in their respective technology camps. Also like those programs, the HPPA will test both chip compliance to the standard and interoperability. The group will use the same testing house in France that it has used to certify more than 200 HomePlug products, half of which are HomePlug AV products, Ranck said.
With the IEEE bond, Ranck also sees more integration with Wi-Fi on the horizon. “The market for powerline technology is really coalescing at this point, and I think the coming trend you’ll see is more work on integrating HomePlug with Wi-Fi,” he said. That evolution seemingly would put the powerline technology in a better position to handle content sharing between portable and fixed devices in the home, and to reach a greater number of household devices with smart grid applications.
Speaking of smart grid, with broadband over powerline technology fading into more of a niche-oriented solution, and more parties, including telcos, looking more inside the home at smart grid, the HPPA is close to finalizing its low-power "Green PHY" specification, which was announced in January. Ranck said an update on that would be forthcoming in the next month or so, which should keep the spec aligned with the timing of other smart grid standardization efforts.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Powerline Communications Technology To Be Standardized
A big shortcoming of powerline adapters is the fact that they tend not to interoperate across vendors. For example, the adapters made by Cisco are unlikely to work with products made by Netgear. This is because the powerline market has been fragmented and does not have a common standard. However, this is about to change.
The HomePlug Powerline Alliance announced Tuesday that an initial sponsor ballot was passed for the IEEE P1901, the working group that develops the global standard for high-speed powerline communications. This is an important step toward establishing a global standard for powerline (PLC) networking.
According to the Alliance, the ballot was passed with over 80 percent of affirmative votes, demonstrating the overwhelming industry support behind 1901. Final ratification of the standard is expected in the third quarter of 2010. For general consumers, the fact that PLC is going to be an internationally recognized IEEE standard means manufacturers can provide the assurance of product interoperability. This is much like the ratification of the IEEE 802.11N wireless standard (also known as Wireless-N) last September.
Currently, due to the maturity of the draft standard, the P1901 specification is only available via purchase through the IEEE's online store. The draft standard gives interested parties the ability to start developing smart-grid applications as well as next-generation broadband solutions that comply with P1901. The HomePlug Alliance says that it is also finalizing the new HomePlug "Green PHY" specification as part of the IEEE 1901. This specification will provide a low-power smart energy/smart grid standard, meeting the IP networking requirements of utility companies and appliance manufacturers.
According to the organization, the HomePlug AV standard, which has been widely followed by many powerline vendors, was used as the baseline technology for the IEEE 1901 powerline networking standard. This means future products that are compliant to 1901 could be interoperable with millions of HomePlug AV products in the market today. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance will serve as the certification body for IEEE 1901 devices in a similar way as the Wi-Fi Alliance certifies IEEE 802.11 wireless networking devices.
The HomePlug Powerline Alliance announced Tuesday that an initial sponsor ballot was passed for the IEEE P1901, the working group that develops the global standard for high-speed powerline communications. This is an important step toward establishing a global standard for powerline (PLC) networking.
According to the Alliance, the ballot was passed with over 80 percent of affirmative votes, demonstrating the overwhelming industry support behind 1901. Final ratification of the standard is expected in the third quarter of 2010. For general consumers, the fact that PLC is going to be an internationally recognized IEEE standard means manufacturers can provide the assurance of product interoperability. This is much like the ratification of the IEEE 802.11N wireless standard (also known as Wireless-N) last September.
Currently, due to the maturity of the draft standard, the P1901 specification is only available via purchase through the IEEE's online store. The draft standard gives interested parties the ability to start developing smart-grid applications as well as next-generation broadband solutions that comply with P1901. The HomePlug Alliance says that it is also finalizing the new HomePlug "Green PHY" specification as part of the IEEE 1901. This specification will provide a low-power smart energy/smart grid standard, meeting the IP networking requirements of utility companies and appliance manufacturers.
According to the organization, the HomePlug AV standard, which has been widely followed by many powerline vendors, was used as the baseline technology for the IEEE 1901 powerline networking standard. This means future products that are compliant to 1901 could be interoperable with millions of HomePlug AV products in the market today. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance will serve as the certification body for IEEE 1901 devices in a similar way as the Wi-Fi Alliance certifies IEEE 802.11 wireless networking devices.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
HomePlug Powerline Technology Joins the Global Family of IEEE Standards
IEEE 1901 Sponsor Ballot approval signifies broad industry support
Portland, Ore. – April 20, 2010 – The HomePlug® Powerline Alliance congratulates the IEEE P1901 Working Group on passage of the initial sponsor ballot, paving the way for a global standard for powerline (PLC) networking. The ballot passed with over 80 percent of affirmative votes, which demonstrates the overwhelming industry support behind 1901. Final ratification of the standard is expected in the third quarter of 2010. The advancement of powerline technology to an internationally recognized IEEE standard will provide manufacturers and end-users with the assurance of product interoperability, driving broader adoption of PLC for home networking.
“The broad market acceptance of networking technologies such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® is in great part due to the IEEE worldwide standards that help define product interoperability and performance thresholds for them,” said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. “Having this IEEE powerline networking standard provides a stable foundation that will help the industry to accelerate mainstream adoption for broadband networking and emerging Smart Grid applications.”
HomePlug AV was used as baseline technology for the IEEE 1901 powerline networking standard. As such, products compliant to 1901 will be interoperable with millions of HomePlug AV products in the market today. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance will serve as the certification body for IEEE 1901 devices in a similar way as the Wi-Fi Alliance™ certifies IEEE 802.11 wireless networking devices.
Due to the maturity of the draft standard, the IEEE is already offering the specification for purchase through its online store, enabling members to now develop Smart Grid applications as well as next-generation broadband solutions that comply with P1901. The HomePlug Alliance is also finalizing the new HomePlug "Green PHY" (GP) specification as a certification profile of IEEE 1901, which will provide a low-power Smart Energy/Smart Grid standard. HomePlug GP will enable the industry's only powerline solutions to meet the IP networking requirements of utility companies and appliance manufacturers.
Portland, Ore. – April 20, 2010 – The HomePlug® Powerline Alliance congratulates the IEEE P1901 Working Group on passage of the initial sponsor ballot, paving the way for a global standard for powerline (PLC) networking. The ballot passed with over 80 percent of affirmative votes, which demonstrates the overwhelming industry support behind 1901. Final ratification of the standard is expected in the third quarter of 2010. The advancement of powerline technology to an internationally recognized IEEE standard will provide manufacturers and end-users with the assurance of product interoperability, driving broader adoption of PLC for home networking.
“The broad market acceptance of networking technologies such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® is in great part due to the IEEE worldwide standards that help define product interoperability and performance thresholds for them,” said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. “Having this IEEE powerline networking standard provides a stable foundation that will help the industry to accelerate mainstream adoption for broadband networking and emerging Smart Grid applications.”
HomePlug AV was used as baseline technology for the IEEE 1901 powerline networking standard. As such, products compliant to 1901 will be interoperable with millions of HomePlug AV products in the market today. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance will serve as the certification body for IEEE 1901 devices in a similar way as the Wi-Fi Alliance™ certifies IEEE 802.11 wireless networking devices.
Due to the maturity of the draft standard, the IEEE is already offering the specification for purchase through its online store, enabling members to now develop Smart Grid applications as well as next-generation broadband solutions that comply with P1901. The HomePlug Alliance is also finalizing the new HomePlug "Green PHY" (GP) specification as a certification profile of IEEE 1901, which will provide a low-power Smart Energy/Smart Grid standard. HomePlug GP will enable the industry's only powerline solutions to meet the IP networking requirements of utility companies and appliance manufacturers.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
HomePlug Powerline Alliance
Today at the 2010 IPTV World Forum, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance is celebrating its 10th anniversary by announcing several key milestones:
· HomePlug and HomePlug AV devices currently account for more than 75 percent of the world's broadband powerline communications market, with over 45 million devices sold to date and shipments forecasted to reach 60 million by year’s end.
· More than 50 of the world’s leading service providers are already utilizing HomePlug technology to deploy broadband, IPTV and triple-play offerings.
· HomePlug has added nine technology vendors and utility companies to its roster over the last few months (Atheros Communications, Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; D-Link Systems, Inc.; ETSA Utilities; Kawasaki Microelectronics America, Inc.; Marvell Semiconductor; Polaris Networks; Sigma Designs, Inc. and Western Digital Corporation)
· HomePlug Alliance is developing HomePlug GP, a powerline specification targeting low power, cost-optimized solutions. Major utility companies are supporting HomePlug by giving direct input into the specification requirements, helping optimize the technology for real world deployments.
· The HomePlug Alliance operates the powerline networking industry's largest Compliance and Interoperability (C&I) Certification Program to ensure true multi-vendor compliance and interoperability. The program has certified more than 200 products and will also begin certifying IEEE 1901 products in Q2 2010.
Additionally, several HomePlug members will be exhibiting HomePlug powerline networking solutions for IPTV, including: Atheros Communications (Stand 121), devolo AG (Stand 43), LEA (Stand 153) and Sigma Designs (Stand 13). HomePlug’s president, Rob Ranck, will be speaking on the Connected Home panel this Thursday, March 25.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
HomePlug® Powerline Alliance Announces Milestones on 10th Anniversary as Powerline Technology Leader
LONDON - (Business Wire) At the IPTV World Forum, the HomePlug® Powerline Alliance, the driving force for global powerline network technology, today celebrated its 10th anniversary by announcing several key milestones. With HomePlug technology continuing to gain momentum for broadband, IPTV and triple-play services, the organization has added nine technology vendors and utility companies to its roster, and is nearing the completion of the new Green PHY (GP) specification for Smart Grid applications.
HomePlug and HomePlug AV devices currently account for more than 75 percent of the world's broadband powerline communications market, with over 45 million devices sold to date and shipments forecasted to reach 60 million by year’s end. More than 50 of the world’s leading service providers are already utilizing HomePlug technology to deploy broadband, IPTV and triple-play offerings. HomePlug products take advantage of the most universal wired communications medium (a home’s existing electrical wiring) to reliably deliver audio and video without packet loss – which is ideal for streaming IPTV throughout a home.
“The HomePlug Powerline Alliance has maintained its leadership in the broadband powerline industry for 10 years and is now evolving to enable the latest broadband and Smart Grid applications,” said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. “We support the industry’s first international powerline standard (IEEE 1901), and we continue to increase and diversify our membership while expanding our technology roadmap by completing the Green PHY (GP) specification for Smart Grid applications.”
Growth of the alliance continues with new members added in the silicon supplier, service provider and OEM categories; such broad diversity is necessary for complete industry representation and a global HomePlug ecosystem. New members include: Atheros Communications, Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; D-Link Systems, Inc.; ETSA Utilities; Kawasaki Microelectronics America, Inc.; Marvell Semiconductor; Polaris Networks; Sigma Designs, Inc. and Western Digital Corporation.
For Smart Grid applications, the HomePlug Alliance is developing HomePlug GP, a powerline specification targeting low power, cost-optimized solutions such as HVAC thermostats, smart meters, home appliances and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PEHV). Since HomePlug GP is derived from HomePlug AV, it will be fully interoperable with the new IEEE 1901 Draft Powerline Standard. Major utility companies, including Duke Energy, are supporting HomePlug by giving direct input into the specification requirements, helping optimize the technology for real world deployments.
The HomePlug Alliance also operates the powerline networking industry's largest Compliance and Interoperability (C&I) Certification Program to ensure true multi-vendor compliance and interoperability. The program has certified more than 200 products and will also begin certifying IEEE 1901 products in Q2 2010.
HomePlug is the official Exhibition Guide Sponsor of IPTV World Forum, taking place March 25-27 at Olympia National Hall in London. Several HomePlug members will be exhibiting HomePlug powerline networking solutions for IPTV, including: Atheros Communications, Inc. (Stand 121), devolo AG (Stand 43), LEA (Stand 153) and Sigma Designs, Inc. (Stand 13). Additionally, HomePlug’s president, Rob Ranck, will be speaking on the Connected Home panel on Thursday, March 25. This panel will address connecting the home, the battle for the home and unclaimed revenue opportunities for operators, as well as standards and opportunities.
Please visit www.HomePlug.org for more information on the HomePlug Powerline Alliance.
HomePlug and HomePlug AV devices currently account for more than 75 percent of the world's broadband powerline communications market, with over 45 million devices sold to date and shipments forecasted to reach 60 million by year’s end. More than 50 of the world’s leading service providers are already utilizing HomePlug technology to deploy broadband, IPTV and triple-play offerings. HomePlug products take advantage of the most universal wired communications medium (a home’s existing electrical wiring) to reliably deliver audio and video without packet loss – which is ideal for streaming IPTV throughout a home.
“The HomePlug Powerline Alliance has maintained its leadership in the broadband powerline industry for 10 years and is now evolving to enable the latest broadband and Smart Grid applications,” said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. “We support the industry’s first international powerline standard (IEEE 1901), and we continue to increase and diversify our membership while expanding our technology roadmap by completing the Green PHY (GP) specification for Smart Grid applications.”
Growth of the alliance continues with new members added in the silicon supplier, service provider and OEM categories; such broad diversity is necessary for complete industry representation and a global HomePlug ecosystem. New members include: Atheros Communications, Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; D-Link Systems, Inc.; ETSA Utilities; Kawasaki Microelectronics America, Inc.; Marvell Semiconductor; Polaris Networks; Sigma Designs, Inc. and Western Digital Corporation.
For Smart Grid applications, the HomePlug Alliance is developing HomePlug GP, a powerline specification targeting low power, cost-optimized solutions such as HVAC thermostats, smart meters, home appliances and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PEHV). Since HomePlug GP is derived from HomePlug AV, it will be fully interoperable with the new IEEE 1901 Draft Powerline Standard. Major utility companies, including Duke Energy, are supporting HomePlug by giving direct input into the specification requirements, helping optimize the technology for real world deployments.
The HomePlug Alliance also operates the powerline networking industry's largest Compliance and Interoperability (C&I) Certification Program to ensure true multi-vendor compliance and interoperability. The program has certified more than 200 products and will also begin certifying IEEE 1901 products in Q2 2010.
HomePlug is the official Exhibition Guide Sponsor of IPTV World Forum, taking place March 25-27 at Olympia National Hall in London. Several HomePlug members will be exhibiting HomePlug powerline networking solutions for IPTV, including: Atheros Communications, Inc. (Stand 121), devolo AG (Stand 43), LEA (Stand 153) and Sigma Designs, Inc. (Stand 13). Additionally, HomePlug’s president, Rob Ranck, will be speaking on the Connected Home panel on Thursday, March 25. This panel will address connecting the home, the battle for the home and unclaimed revenue opportunities for operators, as well as standards and opportunities.
Please visit www.HomePlug.org for more information on the HomePlug Powerline Alliance.
Powerline Networks to Get Bandwidth Boost
Netgear has introduced products for powerline-based home networking at up to 500M bps (bits per second).
The products are based on the forthcoming IEEE P1901 powerline standard. The increased speed -- up from the 200M bps offered today -- should allow users to send simultaneous 1080p HD video to multiple TVs throughout the home, according to Netgear. Also, powerline-based networks can offer "whole-home coverage" in homes that measure up to 5,000 square feet, Netgear said.
Netgear has announced two adapter kits: the Powerline AV 500 and the Powerline AV+ 500, both of which include two adapters. A gigabit ethernet port is used to connect any Ethernet-equipped device to the rest of the network. The kits offer support for traffic prioritization and encryption is configured with the push of a button on the adapters, according to Netgear. The company has also added a number of features to improve power efficiency, including the ability to power down units when they are not used, it said.
The main difference between the two is that the Powerline AV+ 500 comes with an integrated socket.
The two kits will start shipping in the third quarter, at which time pricing will be announced, according to Netgear.
Netgear isn't the only company showcasing powerline-based home networking at up to 500M bps. German company Devolo will also demonstrate products that support the that speed at Cebit, it said on Monday.
The products are based on the forthcoming IEEE P1901 powerline standard. The increased speed -- up from the 200M bps offered today -- should allow users to send simultaneous 1080p HD video to multiple TVs throughout the home, according to Netgear. Also, powerline-based networks can offer "whole-home coverage" in homes that measure up to 5,000 square feet, Netgear said.
Netgear has announced two adapter kits: the Powerline AV 500 and the Powerline AV+ 500, both of which include two adapters. A gigabit ethernet port is used to connect any Ethernet-equipped device to the rest of the network. The kits offer support for traffic prioritization and encryption is configured with the push of a button on the adapters, according to Netgear. The company has also added a number of features to improve power efficiency, including the ability to power down units when they are not used, it said.
The main difference between the two is that the Powerline AV+ 500 comes with an integrated socket.
The two kits will start shipping in the third quarter, at which time pricing will be announced, according to Netgear.
Netgear isn't the only company showcasing powerline-based home networking at up to 500M bps. German company Devolo will also demonstrate products that support the that speed at Cebit, it said on Monday.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
NETGEAR Intros Two New Next-Generation HomePlug AV-Certified Powerline Kits
NETGEAR, a provider of technologically innovative, branded networking solutions, has announced the addition of two next-generation HomePlug AV-certified powerline kits to its powerline networking solutions.
These two powerline kits are the compact Powerline AV 500 Adapter Kit (XAVB5001) and the Powerline AV+ 500 Adapter Kit (XAVB5501) with a filtered “pass-through” power socket.
Company officials said that these latest offerings come with speeds of up to 500 Mbps, and whole-home coverage and “groundbreaking” throughput.
The adapters incorporate are designed to be compatible with the draft international IEEE 1901 powerline standard, providing “greater speeds for bandwidth-hungry applications” such as lag-free Internet gaming, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), large file transfers to networked devices, and even simultaneous 1080p HD video streaming to multiple TVs throughout the home.
“With the dramatic increase in Internet-connected devices across the industry, such as TVs, Blu-ray players, DVRs, gaming consoles and set-top boxes, consumers now require networking solutions that enable multiple devices to be running simultaneously,” said Chris Geiser, product line manager for in-home distribution consumer products at NETGEAR.
Until now, consumers haven't been able to seamlessly stream multiple Blu-ray quality HD videos to different TVs in their homes, Geiser said, adding that the company is offering new technology that will provide “uncompromising performance, higher speeds and the greatest throughput for these applications.”
The NETGEAR Powerline XAVB5001comes in compact size, smaller than a deck of cards and up to 50 percent smaller than competing products. Company officials said that it is thus an excellent choice for consumers who are concerned that a powerline device might block an open power outlet.
The HomePlug-certified NETGEAR Powerline XAVB5501 features an integrated filtered power socket for “pass-through” capability. Company officials said that this ensures that customers do not cannibalize an existing wall power socket with the adapter.
Both new NETGEAR kits offer backwards compatibility with other HomePlug AV products from NETGEAR, and installed HomePlug AV-certified products from other vendor. These kits are designed for compatibility with the draft IEEE P1901 global standard for high-speed powerline communications.
Both the newest launched powerline kits are expected to be available in Q3 of 2010 via retailers, direct marketers, e-commerce sites and value-added resellers.
These two powerline kits are the compact Powerline AV 500 Adapter Kit (XAVB5001) and the Powerline AV+ 500 Adapter Kit (XAVB5501) with a filtered “pass-through” power socket.
Company officials said that these latest offerings come with speeds of up to 500 Mbps, and whole-home coverage and “groundbreaking” throughput.
The adapters incorporate are designed to be compatible with the draft international IEEE 1901 powerline standard, providing “greater speeds for bandwidth-hungry applications” such as lag-free Internet gaming, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), large file transfers to networked devices, and even simultaneous 1080p HD video streaming to multiple TVs throughout the home.
“With the dramatic increase in Internet-connected devices across the industry, such as TVs, Blu-ray players, DVRs, gaming consoles and set-top boxes, consumers now require networking solutions that enable multiple devices to be running simultaneously,” said Chris Geiser, product line manager for in-home distribution consumer products at NETGEAR.
Until now, consumers haven't been able to seamlessly stream multiple Blu-ray quality HD videos to different TVs in their homes, Geiser said, adding that the company is offering new technology that will provide “uncompromising performance, higher speeds and the greatest throughput for these applications.”
The NETGEAR Powerline XAVB5001comes in compact size, smaller than a deck of cards and up to 50 percent smaller than competing products. Company officials said that it is thus an excellent choice for consumers who are concerned that a powerline device might block an open power outlet.
The HomePlug-certified NETGEAR Powerline XAVB5501 features an integrated filtered power socket for “pass-through” capability. Company officials said that this ensures that customers do not cannibalize an existing wall power socket with the adapter.
Both new NETGEAR kits offer backwards compatibility with other HomePlug AV products from NETGEAR, and installed HomePlug AV-certified products from other vendor. These kits are designed for compatibility with the draft IEEE P1901 global standard for high-speed powerline communications.
Both the newest launched powerline kits are expected to be available in Q3 of 2010 via retailers, direct marketers, e-commerce sites and value-added resellers.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Duke Energy Joins HomePlug(R) Powerline Alliance Board of Directors
Major Utility Upgrades HomePlug Membership to Sponsor Level to Support Smart Grid and HAN Ecosystem Efforts
PORTLAND, Ore., Mar 10, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The HomePlug(R) Powerline Alliance, the global driving force for powerline network technology, today announced that Duke Energy has joined the Alliance's board of directors. Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power companies in the United States delivering energy to approximately four million U.S. customers, has upgraded their membership to sponsor level, enabling them to join the Alliance's Board of Directors."Powerline networking will play a key role in connecting home appliances and systems to the Smart Grid enabling intelligent management and monitoring for energy savings and efficiency," said David Mohler, VP and chief technology officer, Duke Energy. "HomePlug, as a base specification within the IEEE 1901 Standard, offers an interoperable standards based technology roadmap from low cost to high-bandwidth and next-generation solutions that will meet the needs of the robust home network that is necessary for the smart grid. We look forward to increasing our involvement with the Alliance."
"The Smart Grid has been a key focus for HomePlug, with HomePlug's Green PHY (GP) specification at the center of our smart grid efforts," said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. "Utility companies are key players in the roll out of the Smart Grid, and having a major utility like Duke Energy join our board of directors is a very exciting development for the HomePlug Alliance. We see them playing an integral role in shaping the future of the Smart Grid connectivity."
Last month, HomePlug announced the expected finalization of the HomePlug GP specification for the first quarter of 2010. HomePlug GP is a low power, cost-optimized powerline networking specification targeting Smart Grid applications such as HVAC, smart meters, home appliances and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PEHV). Major utility companies gave direct input into HomePlug GP technology, optimizing the specification for real world deployments. HomePlug GP is fully interoperable with HomePlug AV and the new IEEE 1901 Draft Powerline Standard.
The HomePlug Powerline Alliance is committed to working with the industry in support of Smart Grid interoperability initiatives. HomePlug worked with the ZigBee Alliance to enable application-layer interoperability between ZigBee wireless and HomePlug powerline devices. The ZigBee/HomePlug Smart Energy Profile has been named in the United States National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Smart Grid interoperability standards roadmap.
HomePlug devices account for 75 percent of the world's broadband powerline communications market, and over 40 million devices have shipped to date. The Alliance works with key stakeholders to ensure all of its specifications are designed to meet the requirement for interoperability stated by service providers, utilities, equipment and appliance manufacturers, consumer electronics and other important stakeholders. The Alliance operates the powerline networking industry's largest Compliance and Interoperability Certification Program to ensure true multi-vendor co-existence and interoperability. The program has certified more than 190 products and will also begin certifying IEEE 1901 products in 2010.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
New HomePlugs from Aztech
New HomePlugs from AztechBy SUBASHINI SELVARATNAM
PETALING JAYA: AZ-Technology Sdn Bhd has unveiled its latest HomePlug device, the Aztech HL106E, which turns the electrical wiring in your house into a local area network (LAN) for transmitting data.
“The HL106E is a plug-and-play gadget that can be used in any part of the house with a wall socket. This sleek gadget is smaller than a size of a credit card,” said AZ-Technology technical manager Yap Zee Chieun.
Once you plug the HL106E into a wall socket, you can start streaming videos, send photos, and other high bandwidth content at up to 85Mbps throughout the entire home, the company said.
The HL106E is able to encrypt data with 56-bit DES (Data Encryption Standard) encryption to protect against data eavesdropping or hacking.
The plug is designed to work with both ADSL and cable modem extensions with up to 200m of point-to-point coverage.
Aztech HL110EW
The company also unveiled another HomePlug, the HL110EW, which offers up to 200Mbps speed (over electrical wiring) and comes with two Ethernet ports.
It also has the ability to extend a wireless network into any spot at home at a speed of 300Mbps.
The HL110EW has a power button that allows users to switch off the wireless feature when it is not needed, thus saving energy.
To ensure security, it uses Simple Connect which is an automated security system that uses 128-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption. The HL106E and HL110EW are priced at RM99 and RM249 respectively.
PETALING JAYA: AZ-Technology Sdn Bhd has unveiled its latest HomePlug device, the Aztech HL106E, which turns the electrical wiring in your house into a local area network (LAN) for transmitting data.
“The HL106E is a plug-and-play gadget that can be used in any part of the house with a wall socket. This sleek gadget is smaller than a size of a credit card,” said AZ-Technology technical manager Yap Zee Chieun.
Once you plug the HL106E into a wall socket, you can start streaming videos, send photos, and other high bandwidth content at up to 85Mbps throughout the entire home, the company said.
The HL106E is able to encrypt data with 56-bit DES (Data Encryption Standard) encryption to protect against data eavesdropping or hacking.
The plug is designed to work with both ADSL and cable modem extensions with up to 200m of point-to-point coverage.
Aztech HL110EWIt also has the ability to extend a wireless network into any spot at home at a speed of 300Mbps.
The HL110EW has a power button that allows users to switch off the wireless feature when it is not needed, thus saving energy.
To ensure security, it uses Simple Connect which is an automated security system that uses 128-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption. The HL106E and HL110EW are priced at RM99 and RM249 respectively.
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