Broadband over power lines gets poor reception

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Research published this week has shown that broadband over power line services may not be attractive to many potential customers.

America's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) laid out regulatory guidelines for companies who want to offer broadband over power lines (BPL) last month, and US utility firms are expected to begin selling services soon.

Trials are also already taking place in the UK, but the study from energy information firm Platts suggests that commercial take-up could be limited.

"Nearly one-quarter of residential customers in our survey said they would be very interested in BPL if their utility could beat the price of broadband Internet alternatives," said Michael Reid, a research director at Platts. "But interest dropped sharply when we introduced specific price points. At $29.95 per month -- below typical prices for Internet access via cable or DSL -- only 9 percent were still very interested."

If lower prices don't attract customers then BPL may struggle to be successful. Although the technology works today, there are still some problems with interference that could affect service performance.

One issue holding people back is a lack of trust in their electricity providers. Platts found that many customers had mixed feelings about the kind of reliability, customer service and technical support they could expect from a utility selling a BPL service.

Talkback

In Japan, outdoor BPL is not allowed by regulation because of radio frequency interference. But indoor BPL, connected with fibre or xDSL, is now under testing by several communication or utility companies, and it is positively expected. No need for wiring is indoor BPL's primary advantage, but the feature is also provided by WLAN. Key factor may be the ease of use.

via Facebook 4 November, 2004 21:14
Reply

Powerlines go everywhere in the house with no added cost. Advantage.

The problem I have with the technology is its over designed to try and compensate for AC and Random Noise.

Design overkill cost due to not understanding the
simple solution fix will keep the cost high.

Lets face it DSL, Broadband, Cable are here
and have an established market base.

I see the technology being a niche product.

via Facebook 5 November, 2004 18:20
Reply

PLC, also know as Broadband Over Powerlines is being touted as the ideal way to provide broadband to the rural Internet users at a reasonable cost. It will not do this as the current cost per customer in urban areas is $30/month just for et up and operation.

The two test plants herenear Rochester, NY both pulled the plug on their setups when the cost analysis came in. There is a major interference issue on PLC also, but the final argument was decided due to the money.

Rather than wasting tens of millions, if not billions of dollars on a flawed system, the utilities should invest, as partners, in WiMax. WiMax will need towers for the transceivers in the Hinterlands and utility poles would be just perfect. A marriage of the utilities and an ISP would be benificial to both, would provide true high-speed ccess to the rural areas and not wipe out the shortwave and low VHF spectrum out in the process.

PLC/BPL is being pushed due to the politiics rather than the science. Keep the politicians in Washington and out of our back yards out here.

via Facebook 6 November, 2004 00:58
Reply

We sell broadband signal boosters which improve your broadband signal.

Do you want me to send one over to you to review?

evs 8 July, 2009 09:18
Reply

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