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Internet via the Power Grid, Again

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the plug-in-drop-out dept.

Damon Campagna writes "This NYT article, Internet via the Power Grid: New Interest in Obvious Idea says the FCC is looking into power-line networking again. I thought this was pretty much debunked a couple years ago?"

9 of 240 comments (clear)

  1. Power Grid by Zephy · · Score: 5, Informative

    The FCC Might have debunked it, but it seems to work over here. Some companies have started large scale trials. 2000kbps might not be a lot over there but it's still faster than the 512k/1024k that's the norm over here.

    1. Re:Power Grid by gobbo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The primary difference in the ease of deploying IP over A/C is with the differing electrical infrastructure in NorthAmerica as opposed to the U.K. (and possibly other regions, don't know about that). In N.A. transformers were put all over the place in such a way that it presents a significant problem for getting a clean signal all the way down the line.

      --
      Damn those pesky terrorists
  2. They've got it backwards by wcbarksdale · · Score: 5, Funny

    The real future is in distribution of electricity over IP.

  3. The History of Power Grid Internet. by jetkust · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought this was pretty much debunked a couple years ago?

    ...And a year ago...And 6 months ago...And a month ago...And a week ago...And two days ago...

  4. It works by GiMP · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is not only in trial in many places, but in full-scale production.

    Poland, for example, has been rolling out power-line internet for at least a year.

  5. Prior art? by AccUser · · Score: 5, Funny

    Using the power grid for internet access is a great idea, provided that they don't later claim prior art on the use of sockets.

    --

    Any fool can talk, but it takes a wise man to listen.

  6. Huh. by Geekenstein · · Score: 5, Funny

    So the next time I shock myself, I might get some pr0n too?

    With my luck, my hair will probably just stand up in the form of an x10 popup ad....sigh.

  7. Re:Redundant by SerpentMage · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Speak for yourself guy. You know there are a large number of people who cannot get Cable or DSL... These people are stuck, with well 56K. This would be wonderful if it actually worked. BTW I am talking from a place that is 15 KM from a DSL and Cable connection. 15 KM, not 100 KM or 200 KM, but 15KM and nothing has changed in five years!!!!

    --

    "You can't make a race horse of a pig"
    "No," said Samuel, "but you can make very fast pig"
  8. Really redundant by GQuon · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess it really depends on where you live, but at least in my neighborhood, power is interrupted much more often than either cable or phone.
    So then you have to go online and watch TV in the dark. Much as how they did before electric power was invented.

    --
    Irene KHAAAAAAN!