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Linksys Incorporates HomePlug Networking
mattyohe writes "It seems that Linksys is one of the first to prepare release for their ethernet router that uses the HomePlug 1.0 spec. Linksys claims the Instant Powerline EtherFast Router performs well by using the OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) scheme. OFDM forms numerous signals into a single signal for transmission and then is used again to find and automatically adapt to the specific frequency combination that enables successful communication. This product currently uses 56 bit DES encryption and would be excellent for networking in the home enviroment. Never worry about not having enough rj-45 jacks at a lan party, bring some power strips!"
And, why would that be? Well, the range is an entire whopping half of a mile! I wonder if this could be done on the entire neighborhood's power grid...
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And the Angel said unto me, "These are the cries of the carrots! The cries of the carrots!"
It was created by an employee of Clare Micronics in his own spare time. The person who invented this technology is named Shun Ueda and is currently working for Clare Micronics on a work visa from Japan. Visit Clare Micronics' homepage at www.mxasic.com and maybe you'll be able to contact him via eMail. His technology makes every AC power connection in your house, all of which on the same grid, a viable network connection. Long distance is in mind... Mr Shun Ueda has been developing it in his free-time and is looking for someone to make the drivers. I told him to contact Mr. Brenner, but I think he may be busy at the moment and is working on something for the company in all his available hours.
Nah, you wouldn't need one of these routers in each room. The router only goes at the point where your Power-line network needs to interface with another type of network (in this case, the rj-45 network that most dsl and cable modems use). For each computer you just need a power-line network card. Granted, I have no idea on the pricing for those or for the router, but this definitely will be easier than running cat5 all over creation. Probably works better than 802.11b, especially if you've got a lot of walls.
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---- El diablo esta en mis pantalones! Mire, mire!
Worried about leakage from noise on the power lines?
:)
Buy an always-on UPS. It will take the "unclean" power and re-create it for your stereo etc.
Personally, I don't care that much
From a November 6th press release it appears that Linksys will have a USB adaptor for the PC-end with an ESP of $149.99, and the router in the story has an ESP of $179.99. Looks like they're going to release a bridge as well for $149.99.
This would be ideal for my girlfriend's family's house. They have GHz cordless phones in their home, so they can't use wireless. They have a huge, huge house (it's been expanded from the original, smaller house), so ethernet just isn't a viable option for them. Consequently, I've got 5 of their computers networked and sharing a 56k, but the other 3 still have to dial out. (Thus using up the line and preventing any of the other 7 computers from being connected.) This PowerLine Router will be ideal for their setup, and I'm quite pleased to see it becoming available.
-Waldo Jaquith
Seriously, if you want to network your house using the existing wires in your house, pnoneline networking is the way to go. It is fast - right now it has a limit of 10 mbps, but they are working on 100 mbps - the power line gets 14mbps, not too much faster (and anyway, unless you have a T1, 10mbps is plenty fast). Also, it is secure, there is no need to encrypt your data as it travels on your own private network. Also, there is no risk of power spikes damaging your hardware. And finally (and most importantly I might add), there are Linux drivers for phonline NICs (at least for the card I use, the Linksys HPN200, you can find the drivers here.)
For more more information go to www.homepna.org
I have had an Intelogis (now Inari) Passport networking kit for a couple of years. These devices use a home's electrical wiring to communicate. The Linux drivers are Open Source. Interestingly, they encourage you to use encryption on your network because you neighbors would be able to see you network if they also had a Passport and there was not a transformer between you.
I'm guessing that this adaptation is similar to bit-swapping that is done in DMT ADSL.
:)
Essentially (and this is pure speculation), the frequency spectrum will be divided into a number of frequency bins of a fixed width (in DMT, its 4.3125 KHz). Then, during training, a certain number of bits will be allocated to each frequency bin, depending on the Signal-to-Noise ratio of that bin. Later, if the line conditions change, the two sides will negotiate a reallocation of bits away from any frequencies that have been trashed. In DMT, these bits have to be re-allocated to another bin, but in this case, since the line conditions are likely change rather drastically when you plug in a 1500 Watt hair-dryer with an oscillating electric motor, I'm guessing that they would simply remove the bits entirely, alter the framing, and add the bits back in when conditions improve.
But that's just a guess
Tim
There are lots of good uses for this.
Every person keeps thinking of this is a stepbackward, I really do not think so. I think that this will be a replacement of the 802.11x because it will be a lot easier to hookup. The only point of 802.11 is so wiring is not to hard. People keep talking about interfearance, I am sure that 802.11 will have it also, I mean look at a cellphone, thoes damn things never work right, and I would suspect that much higher speeds will be acheived.
The real benifit here is it will be about as easy as plugging in a CAT5 cable into the wall.
1. There is also an ethernet bridget that one can buy to add there existing infastructure.
2. In an apartment where you cannot run CAT5 without loosing your security deposite.
3. Places where it is not possible to run CAT5 without replacing drywall and flooring.
4. After a while, it will probably be cheaper that 802.11x
5. It is great for geeks to setup networks at friends houses without having to run cable and drill holes everywhere. I cannot even count how many houses I have had to network.
If you would look at linksys's main page you would see an ethernet powerline bridge. I think there is a lot of potential here, and I plan on getting a set of what I need.
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