[PLC] Anyone using Broadband-Over-Powerlines? Page 2

Author	All Replies
digitalmech join:2005-03-16 Emmaus, PA	reply to Optimized Re: [PLC] Anyone using Broadband-Over-Powerlines? OK, besides what has been posted here... This is the skinny on BPL as seen from a service beta-tester in Pennsylvania. A little Background: I'm in an area of PA that has very little deployed infrastructure - although my closest CO (EMMSPAX I think) is wired for DSL but the infrastructure is not active and no DSL is being provided to consumers or businesses in the area. This seems to be very common in our area so we're forced to seek out alternatives. One of the alternatives is one-way cable - somewhat of a joke and a ripoff all in a neat little package - 1-Way Cable download speeds can top 2.1Mb but upload is limited to around 75 or 80k because you have to dail into a server to authorize the download stream - which translates into an $80/month charge for the cable service and $300+ for dialed connections (if you have to keep it alive 24/7 like I do). Enter BPL from PPL: Our service is provided by PPL (Pennsylvania Power & Light) their website can be found at www.pplplc.com. As a beta tester for this service I am in frequent and direct contact with the engineers working on the service... They tell me that the "Backhaul" is operating at over 2Gb/s (that's a capitol "G") but the bridge - which I can see from my home is only delivering an average of 120k symmetrically. At sun-down the service drops to around 70k and stays that way until sun-up... There are numerous problems that have been encountered in delivery of BPL to the endpoints and we're seeing severely fluctuating performance. The performance problems seem to stem from the topography (although BPL is touted as coming through the power lines, a majority of the service is distributed via microwave). It is a constant headache for the engineers to maintain reliable provisioning because of the complexity of the format. BPL is delivered in 2 primary streams: the first is 2.5Khz (upstream band) and 3.5Khz (downstream band). Inside these frequency allocations are provisioned bands separated by as little as 100khz and they are arranged by the provisioning (firmware or software) to provide bandwidth to endpoints... Sounds like a feasible architecture, and it does work... just not as advertised at the moment. While the engineers are working hard to solve the delivery problems in my area - it seems as though the hardware and its architecture leaves a lot to be desired and there are factors that present significant challenges to delivery. All in all, BPL is supposed to be capable of providing as high as 20Mb connections to end-points; plausible due to the extremely high bandwidth backhaul speeds in operation. However, the end-point delivery has yet to approach 1Mb (the speed PPL expects to be capable of delivering). There's a lot of work to do - but at the moment I run two connections: (1) my 1-way cable, and (2) my BPL - mostly for testing. I'm hopeful that the problems being addressed will be solved. The folks at BPL are extremely helpful and genuinely concerned about the quality of their service. That's the only reason I'm still in the program... For what it's worth -Digital Mechanic
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-08-05 10:36:18 ·
pende_tim Premium join:2004-01-04 Andover, NJ ·ProLog ·ViaTalk ·Verizon Online DSL	Hey digitalmech, good post! I hear that Service Electric is updating the system to 2 way. Also I hear that Verizon is installing Fixed Wireless in that area also. You may have Broadband options coming out of your ears soon. As a comment, It sure is amazing what competition does: Going from one way cable to 3 options just because PPL is being tested.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-08-28 08:45:11 ·
djlloyd Premium join:2002-12-18 Goose Creek, SC	reply to Optimized BPL - A disaster for world radio communications! BPL is very bad for global radio users, I have several clients already impacted by BPL Systems already. I will not rant here in the forum. I have posted some links below, please look at them, there is a lot of very interesting reading. The world wide radio community is at arms with the impending loss of HF radio viability. It is not only the amateur radio operators effected but emergency maritime, national security, military and many more. The list of HF spectrum users is long. Europe has "been there, Done that" so to speak and suffered, they are shutting down systems right and left. Keep in mind, the power lines are not shielded, they in fact are super antennas. Power Industry GREED is driving the pollution of our radio spectrum world wide. »www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/bpl-dep.. »www.tradcentral.com/ei6iz/plt.html »ww.eham.net/articles/8883 »www.vk1od.net/bpl/bplch.htm »www.cq-vhf.com/NTIA%20Report%20May5200.. »www.w4ovh.net/bplinfo.htm Happy Reading, the only conclusion BPL will result in is wide spread radio interference. -- Respectfully, Dennis --- A US NAVY NUCLEAR SUBMARINE VETERAN.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-08-30 01:12:43 ·
Hitagain join:2003-06-23 Saint Louis, MO ·Charter Pipeline 1 edit	reply to hurricane74 said by hurricane74 : Here in North America our local lines are running medium-high voltage, we have transformers that cut it down at almost every point of service for power, this is very hard to overcome for BPL, you would need a network node at every transformer, thus actually running network lines along side the power lines, what's the point? I'm work for the contractor doing the installation of a BPL system. We have a way to "jump" around the transformers. We can jump from as high as 13800 to 480/277/208/120. The nodes are located at the medvolt subs.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-11-02 19:36:09 ·
tr985 join:2003-06-12 USA	reply to Optimized Here is some news about it I found online - Motorola's Commercial Broadband Over Powerline Solution Debuts at Telecom 2005 »www.physorg.com/news4219.html Matsushita unveils chip for broadband link (Friday September 30, 2005 9:14 AM EST) »www.mobilemag.com/content/100/313/C4768/ Google invests in power-line broadband Current Communications Group, which offers broadband Internet service over power lines, said Thursday that it has received investment money from Google, Hearst and Goldman Sachs. The Wall Street Journal reported that the three companies have invested roughly $100 million in the start-up. »news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-5777917.html
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-11-03 22:19:41 ·
tr985 join:2003-06-12 USA	reply to Optimized Here is some specific information on affordable broadband internet over power lines, you might want to email this info to your local electric company to ask if they are aware of it and if they have any plans to use it (if they don't already) - »www.motorola.com/Enterprise/us/e···erlineLV Motorola Powerline LV With minimal investment you can maximize service and revenue with the Motorola Powerline LV Solution. Unlike other medium voltage BPL solutions, it is so scalable, you can cost justify at under two customers per transformer. Plus, there’s less equipment to install and maintain. There’s no need for specialized personnel to install our equipment significantly reducing your installation costs. Wireless to low voltage. Enhanced ROI. Optimal flexibility. Only Motorola Finally, a BPL solution built on trusted experience and proven technology. Unify company-wide applications and customer communications. Get the business critical information and real-time communications in a single system that’s easy to deploy and effortless to maintain. Low cost. High gain. Immediate reliability. Long-term scalability. Contact an Enterprise Solutions Representative: Call 1–800–367–2346
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-11-04 12:12:31 ·
qstick777 join:2005-11-22 Manassas, VA	reply to Optimized I posted this in another forum -»Any BPL customers here to report? I tried it for 3 weeks (details available in the above thread). To answer your info: Provider: COMTek (»www.comtekbroadband.com/index.htm) City & State: Manassas, VA Service fee: $28.95/month; $83.37/quarterly; $326.56/yearly Download/Upload speeds: Advertised as 10-15 times faster than dial-up. My observed speeds: 120k/276k; 190k/212k; 276k/313k. Reliability of connection: Okay I guess. I found the service to mostly un-useable. Even with the posted speeds, pages would fail to load (time-out) and "surfing" just wasn't enjoyable. Constructive feedback: See my post in the other thread. I don't consider it bashing. I wish them the best of luck, and maybe my results were atypical, but it seems like they have a long way to go. I canceled service over a week ago and still have not received my credit. I have not been able to talk to a live person, only an answering machine. Also, web-site says they do not provide mid-month pro-rates on canceled service....you pay for the full month if you go even one day into the month. My final results/opinion: I can get 4mb from the cable company for $60/month. For half that ($28.95/month) I can get a connection that is 1/16th that speed. Cable gives me a better value.
	to forum · permalink · · 2005-11-22 10:04:22 ·
lerandell join:2002-08-16 Ennis, TX	reply to qstick777 Re: [PLC] Anyone using Broadband-Over-Powerlines? so has anyone heard anything about the Dallas area TXU BPL deployment? The press release says the "majority" of their network. But what does that mean. I would like to see a purposed coverage map to see if I will be able to get it. -- Runnng Family Web Site over Direcway Satellite.»randell.no-ip.com/
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-01-25 15:41:41 ·
liquidvacuum join:2005-01-28 West Mifflin, PA	reply to Optimized There is a test set up running in Monroeville PA just outside of Pittsburgh. Here is a link »www.duquesnebroadband.com/ServicePlans.cfm. They might be expanding it to much of Allegeheny County if it works out well. They're using Duquesne Light's power lines and basically use wireless from the poles to the house or an AC plug in box if the lines are underground. According to a couple of unofficial reviews the premium plan's up is 3mb and the down steady at 3mb as well. Hope this keeps the lid on Comcast's prices in my area when they take over from Adelphia in April. lqv
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-03-02 21:49:05 ·
AaronTyler23 join:2005-08-09 Cincinnati, OH	reply to Optimized Hey everyone... I live in Cincinnati, and have had RoadRunner for about 3 years (paying 44.95 a month). While I was satisfied with my download speed 500kb, my upload speed was very slow 20kb. Back in February of this year, I receieved a card in the mail about a local promotion for Current Connections (the new BPL service in my area) with a 3Mb up and 3 Mb down for only 25.95 a month. I decided to at least try it out, so just last week they installed it., and I cancelled RR Assuming that the speed would be comparable to that of DSL (but with faster uploads), I was only expecting to get about 250kb down and 250kb up. However to my surprise, I am getting roughly 475kbs down and 360kb up!!! And all of this for $26 a month!!! No more RR for me... I'm sticking with this. Also, on a side note, the tech who came out to my house informed me that within the next year they are planning to upgrade the connection to either 5mb or 7mb.... Both down and up... and still only charge me 25.95 a month. (FYI: This promo is now over, they are charging $34.95 for the same connection I have) P.S. I am a very happy customer!
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-03-24 12:24:40 ·
Vonage User5 join:2004-05-15 Hillsborough, NC	Has anyone heard any news from the Duke Power trials going on in charlotte? I found some news that it went on to the 2nd phase but nothing else.
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-03-25 17:36:08 ·
W1RFI join:2003-05-12 Burlington, CT	For information on the Duke trial, see: »p1k.arrl.org/~ehare/bpl/ex2.html···_Ambient At last report, they are in Phase II, with a trial passing 700 homes. Duke is also planning to evaluate other vendors and make a careful decision about BPL. Information about BPL and radicommunications can be found at: »www.arrl.org/bpl Ed Hare, ARRL W1RFI@arrl.org (Note to moderators -- the spampbots already have my email address, so it's okay to leave it in the post. Ed)
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-03-27 07:00:20 ·
Vonage User5 join:2004-05-15 Hillsborough, NC	good post thanks for the info, i know it may be down the road but i think the technology will give cable some competition.
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-03-28 13:55:54 ·
b2riesel join:2006-05-22 Cincinnati, OH	reply to Optimized Just installed my BPL modem....if you call plugging in a 4"x3" wall plug with cat5e connector 'installing'. The connection worked right out of the box with no configurations needed on windows....about like any other broadband connection. I'm in the Cincy area...the Oakley test market. I went with the 3mb/3mb with static IP option due to webservers. This is going to be a test for BPL..running production webservers from a home residence. My users will give me instant feedback... a.k.a. gripes, complaining, demanding, and the other childish reactions from end users. My DSL Reports tests show about a 2mb connection down and 2.5mb connection up. While most would complain about being faster up than down...it works to my advantage. I was having problems with my ZoomTown DSL...but the constant utilities construction on my street lately is probably the cause of that. No need to blame ZoomTown DSL but I moved to a new apartment that had BPL so I atleast want to test it out. I'll report in after some time to give a report on my experiences with the servers.
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-22 12:42:09 ·
Fox McCloud Crazy like a fox. join:2006-07-23	reply to Optimized Ok, so speeds seem to definitely be as advertised, but what about latency? Could someone with BPL ping www.broadbandreports.com www.yahoo.com and www.google.com and post the results here? Also could a tracert be run on all those sites too?
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-07-31 21:41:35 ·
profpyro join:2006-08-12	reply to Optimized I am a lineman for a power company in Texas. A few months ago we received a construction Manuel upgrade which states the construction standards regarding the installation of BPL hardware. Although we haven't received any orders to install them as of now, but this new section in our construction Manuel suggest it will be available in the coming year. From what I understand is that we are going to install a frequency unit on the hot primary directly before the transformer. So there will be anywhere from 7200 volts to 14400 volts going through this device. I understand that it's just supposed to imply a frequency on the line. A wire will come down the pole to your network. I don't know the speed or anything yet. One thing is for sure though... I have seen some lightning do some very extreme destruction. Anywhere from exploding transformers to melting coaxial tv cables, even shattering wood poles themselves. One thing I have not seen is a overload voltage protection for this device. We have fuses in place to protect our transformers and equipment (fuses are not for the customer they are only there to save our equipment.....period) but since this devise connects directly to the hot primary I don't see any protection from lightning. Anyone who uses this service should buy a very expensive surge protector. The frequency should still pass through unless it is a power cleaner which will wipe out any frequency other than the US electrical standard of 60 Hz. I Like that this technology is available, It's a mile stone in connectivity..... But creates a lot of extra work for me
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-08-12 18:01:01 ·
blacbear join:2004-01-04 Cincinnati, OH	reply to Fox McCloud I'm in Cincinnati also. At this time my upload speed is around 1.8mbps and download speed is around 485kbps. The tech that came out says that this is becasue of my StrikeStop whole house surge suppresor. They are supposed to come out next week and upgrade the StrikeStop hardware. I'll post updated speds at that time. Requested ping & traceroute results below. Ping Results: Pinging broadbandreports.com [209.123.109.175] with 32 bytes of data: Reply from 209.123.109.175: bytes=32 time=52ms TTL=47 Reply from 209.123.109.175: bytes=32 time=38ms TTL=47 Reply from 209.123.109.175: bytes=32 time=40ms TTL=47 Reply from 209.123.109.175: bytes=32 time=48ms TTL=47 Ping statistics for 209.123.109.175: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 38ms, Maximum = 52ms, Average = 44ms Pinging www.yahoo-ht2.akadns.net [209.73.186.238] with 32 bytes of data: Reply from 209.73.186.238: bytes=32 time=45ms TTL=46 Reply from 209.73.186.238: bytes=32 time=43ms TTL=46 Reply from 209.73.186.238: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=46 Reply from 209.73.186.238: bytes=32 time=44ms TTL=46 Ping statistics for 209.73.186.238: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 43ms, Maximum = 50ms, Average = 45ms Pinging www.l.google.com [72.14.203.104] with 32 bytes of data: Reply from 72.14.203.104: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=238 Reply from 72.14.203.104: bytes=32 time=27ms TTL=238 Reply from 72.14.203.104: bytes=32 time=27ms TTL=238 Reply from 72.14.203.104: bytes=32 time=24ms TTL=238 Ping statistics for 72.14.203.104: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 24ms, Maximum = 29ms, Average = 26ms Tracing route to broadbandreports.com [209.123.109.175] over a maximum of 30 hops: 1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms DD-WRT [192.168.1.1] 2 * * * Request timed out. 3 * * * Request timed out. 4 * * * Request timed out. 5 20 ms 11 ms 14 ms 172.16.9.1 6 17 ms 13 ms 20 ms br01.cinci.current.net [192.168.17.196] 7 12 ms 12 ms 12 ms s4-1-ca01.cvg01.atlas.cogentco.com [38.99.201.10 9] 8 20 ms 23 ms 18 ms s5-1.ca01.cle03.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.1.69] 9 20 ms 19 ms 17 ms p3-2.core01.cle01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.1.2 25] 10 25 ms 23 ms 27 ms p6-0.core01.buf02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.2.8 5] 11 33 ms 47 ms 35 ms p13-1.core01.bos01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.1. 17] 12 39 ms 39 ms 36 ms p5-0.core01.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com [66.28.4.11 8] 13 45 ms 38 ms 41 ms p5-0.core01.jfk01.atlas.cogentco.com [66.28.4.9] 14 39 ms 43 ms 45 ms p13-0.core01.ewr02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.3. 146] 15 39 ms 44 ms 41 ms nac.ewr02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.12.34] 16 43 ms 38 ms 38 ms 3.ge-3-0-0.gbr2.nwr.nac.net [209.123.11.189] 17 43 ms 40 ms 40 ms 0.so-0-3-0.gbr1.oct.nac.net [209.123.11.233] 18 47 ms 39 ms 40 ms www.dslreports.com [209.123.109.175] Trace complete. Tracing route to www.yahoo-ht2.akadns.net [209.73.186.238] over a maximum of 30 hops: 1 1 ms * 1 ms DD-WRT [192.168.1.1] 2 * * * Request timed out. 3 * * * Request timed out. 4 * * * Request timed out. 5 19 ms 16 ms 10 ms 172.16.9.1 6 11 ms 11 ms 12 ms br01.cinci.current.net [192.168.17.196] 7 * 14 ms 15 ms s4-1-ca01.cvg01.atlas.cogentco.com [38.99.201.10 9] 8 19 ms 28 ms 30 ms s5-1.ca01.cle03.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.1.69] 9 18 ms 24 ms 19 ms p3-2.core01.cle01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.1.2 25] 10 24 ms 27 ms 23 ms p6-0.core01.buf02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.2.8 5] 11 38 ms 33 ms 32 ms p13-1.core01.bos01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.1. 17] 12 36 ms 35 ms 35 ms t3-3.mpd01.bos01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.22 ] 13 39 ms 42 ms 47 ms t2-1.mpd03.jfk02.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.6.2] 14 45 ms 44 ms 47 ms t9-1.mpd01.dca01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.25 3] 15 44 ms 47 ms 45 ms v3494.mpd01.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.5.4 2] 16 44 ms 50 ms 47 ms yahoo.iad01.atlas.cogentco.com [154.54.10.2] 17 45 ms 46 ms 45 ms ge-2-1-0-p140.msr1.re1.yahoo.com [216.115.108.17 ] 18 54 ms 63 ms 45 ms ge-1-32.bas-a1.re3.yahoo.com [66.196.112.35] 19 55 ms 48 ms 48 ms f1.www.vip.re3.yahoo.com [209.73.186.238] Trace complete. Tracing route to www.l.google.com [72.14.203.99] over a maximum of 30 hops: 1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms DD-WRT [192.168.1.1] 2 * * * Request timed out. 3 * * * Request timed out. 4 * * * Request timed out. 5 17 ms 10 ms 10 ms 172.16.9.1 6 11 ms 13 ms 12 ms br01.cinci.current.net [192.168.17.196] 7 15 ms 11 ms 11 ms ge-5-0-109.hsa1.Cincinnati1.Level3.net [4.78.216 .1] 8 15 ms 38 ms 12 ms so-7-0-0.mp1.Cincinnati1.Level3.net [4.68.124.23 7] 9 18 ms 17 ms 21 ms ae-0-0.bbr1.Chicago1.Level3.net [64.159.1.33] 10 19 ms 18 ms 18 ms ae-11-53.car1.Chicago1.Level3.net [4.68.101.66] 11 24 ms 25 ms 21 ms GOOGLE-INC.car1.Chicago1.Level3.net [4.79.208.18 ] 12 26 ms 24 ms 38 ms 72.14.232.53 13 23 ms 24 ms 24 ms 72.14.232.46 14 36 ms 32 ms 33 ms 64.233.175.94 15 24 ms 24 ms 24 ms 72.14.203.99 Trace complete.
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-11-04 10:39:15 ·
Siryak join:2005-11-26	Any updates on BPL? Like how reliable it is, how the pings are, speed,etc. The curiosity is killing me lol. -- Wildblue Pro Pack / Beam 40 / Laredo NOC / Windows MCE SP2
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-12-07 18:40:56 ·
blacbear join:2004-01-04 Cincinnati, OH	After much ado & mucking about with hardware all up & down the street & rebuilding my electric meter, it seems that the best current.net can do at my & my close neighbors homes is 1.6 Mbps up & downstream. Speeds seem to drop to about 30% of that during peak times. I'm mostly underwhelmed. At this point they've extended my free month yet again & they're trying to see if they can do anything else to get the speed near the promised 3 Mbps. Tracing route to www.l.google.com [72.14.203.104] over a maximum of 30 hops: 1 2 ms 1 ms 1 ms DD-WRT [192.168.1.1] 2 * * * Request timed out. 3 * * * Request timed out. 4 * * * Request timed out. 5 17 ms 12 ms 10 ms 172.16.9.1 6 38 ms 13 ms 12 ms br01.cinci.current.net [192.168.17.196] 7 12 ms 29 ms 14 ms ge-5-0-109.hsa1.Cincinnati1.Level3.net [4.78.216 .1] 8 42 ms 15 ms 11 ms so-7-0-0.mp1.Cincinnati1.Level3.net [4.68.124.23 7] 9 19 ms 23 ms 18 ms so-2-0-1.bbr2.Chicago1.Level3.net [64.159.0.162] 10 19 ms 30 ms 20 ms ae-21-54.car1.Chicago1.Level3.net [4.68.101.98] 11 23 ms 26 ms 25 ms GOOGLE-INC.car1.Chicago1.Level3.net [4.79.208.18 ] 12 25 ms 23 ms 44 ms 66.249.94.133 13 29 ms 24 ms 24 ms 66.249.94.128 14 32 ms 31 ms 28 ms 64.233.175.94 15 25 ms 24 ms 30 ms ro-in-f104.google.com [72.14.203.104] Trace complete.
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-12-19 00:52:42 ·


Saturday, 28-Nov 15:04:40	Terms of Use \| Privacy Policy \| Hosting by www.nac.net - DSL,Hosting & Co-lo \| feedback \| contact over 10 years online! © 1999-2009 dslreports.com.republican-creole page compression OFF