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Discussion: Broadband through Power Lines (BLP)
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Randall_Berger |
Broadband through Power Lines (BLP)
Feb 22 2008, 6:10 PM EST
Stop all the kerfuffle about Internet access ... just bring in BPL!Broadband through Power Lines ... aka Powerband ... is an extension of Power Line Communications (PLC). This uses everyday electricity systems to carry massive amounts of high speed communications along the same cables as the power. Probably 90% of Australia is on some sort of mains power. All you need is a kind of set top box decoder ... just plugged in the wall ... and you can receive telephone, broadband, fax, cable tv ... anything, two ways, instantly. The system would require major transmitters at power junctions, but not as complex as telephone exchanges. This is real and has already been tested in Tassie. It's just there are a lot of very big interests standing in the way. To bring in BPL and PLC into Australia ... the ideal market ... would take a government with real steel to face up to the communications giants. 50 out of 67 found this valuable. Do you?
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arctanx |
1. RE: Broadband through Power Lines (BLP)
Mar 6 2008, 7:33 AM EST
I would be curious to know what the "big interests" you mention actually are. I am an a radio amateur (VK7NML) and as a Tasmanian resident am well aware of the disastrous effects that BPL has on the radio bands. There are many users of the HF radio band, including us, marine radio, Citizen's Band and many others, both commercial and not. BPL blankets most of the HF band with noise, meaning that we cannot hear any radio signals at all. Furthermore, BPL is susceptible to the effects of local radio transmitters.This is just a short summary. For a full explanation of the troubles brought by BPL, have a look at http://reast.asn.au/vk7bplwatch.php which is a well referenced and researched overview of what has been observed from the Tasmanian trials, including marketing and cost considerations. It is not at all the case that this technology would solve all our problems if only everyone else got out of the way -- it simply wouldn't. Your standard DSL is by far the most cost-effective and reliable way to get the broadband performance to the most people. The infrastructure is in place for people who live in towns. For others more far-flung, wireless internet is the way to go, or satellite if you're very remote. There are two major factors that are holding back Australia's Internet service -- our high cost international links, and Telstra's price-fixing on consumer ADSL. We should have 10+ Mbit ADSL2+ on every exchange, but they prefer to draw it out, offering their plans at extortionate rates and making use of a concept called a "download quota", which is completely unknown to people in other countries. International infrastructure and more telco competition are what will solve Australia's Internet problems. 1 out of 4 found this valuable. Do you? |
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2. RE: Broadband through Power Lines (BLP)
Oct 18 2009, 3:20 AM EDT
Replying to you, but agreeing to arctanx. most anywhere that has powerlines reaching, also has phone lines. and those that dont have phone lines, are so far from the exchange that the signal degradation over either phone lines, or powerlines means that the internet, and other services will be so slow, you may as well not bother. I didnt realise it had already been tested here in Tassie, but BPL has devastating effects on Radio Amateur's and anyone else using similarar frequencies. Its just more disruptions, and for what?Nick Cowan Damnedfish Do you find this valuable? |
