RayW
Premium
join:2001-09-01
Layton, UT
clubs:
 ·XMission
| said by shindig :
bpl isn't dead by a long shot. it already has and will continure to morph into a technology that is specifically geared to smart grid and advanced metering applications....with some ip applications in tow. it will never compete with fttx, but it dosen't have to. utilities who are interested in having ethernet connectivity on every inch of their grid for internal applications will drive next generation bpl. book it.
BPL has been there for many years, only at a low data rate and has been used for many control functions (PLC or power line controller/communication). Now with the higher data rate, they can poll all the meters and track your usage and perform billing actions without paying a meter reader. And a side affect that many folks forget or do not know, the utilities want to implement a tiered charge system, one where if the demand is high, you pay a higher rate, if the demand is low, you pay a lower rate, and the faster BPL will allow that. Plus, compared to Internet usage, that data rate is still MUCH lower with less losses and interference.
As far as true Internet access using BPL type technology coming around for the masses, not until the physical item called a power transmission line changes from what it is today. It was never designed to work at data frequencies and even at the power frequencies of 50/60 Hz you still get interference under certain conditions. And I will not get into skin effect, impedance, resistance, and other transmission issues and why power is transmitted the way it is and why we have coax and twisted pair lines for higher frequencies (plus our favorite, fiber). So your point on "ethernet connectivity on every inch of their grid for internal applications" is probably why BPL was the holy grail, get it built out under a different account and not take a hit on the utility side financial's.
And yes, I know that the last paragraph is a bit run on, but it is dinner time. CHOW!
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I am not lost, I find myself every time. |
