Broadband Over Power Lines in Canada

Patchw0rk F0g writes "From Europe, we jump to la belle province of Quebec for the latest test of broadband internet over power lines (Real Player stream available.) Seems the utility is already utilizing the system to control traffic lights and such, and is exploring the possibilities of offering a cheaper service to consumers to compete with DSL/cable/satellite. Lower prices? I'm all for it... but I live in TORONTO!"

Comments

Re:security

[thynk]

Good point! One would hope that they have a way to keep your packets from being sniffed on the lines.

My biggest concern with this is the ammount of line noise in my house. Even a slow protocall like the one that X10 uses is full of errors (usually the type that turns my bedroom light on in the middle of the night).

Single point of failure

[Gary Destruction]

Power loss will also mean communication loss. If a business is using broadband instead of T1, they risk losing communication in the event of a power failure. Sure, they probably have a UPS but that's not going to keep their WAN links alive.

It's very scary to think of so many things being handled by one main line.

Re:Single point of failure

[Gary Destruction]

UPS = Uninteruptable Power Supply.

Re:Single point of failure

[kommakazi]

With a multitude of failure points you can still have partial functionality should one fail (so long as they are independent) as opposed to no functionality should the single failure point give out... Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Re:Single point of failure

[tracker1972]

and if the T1 goes down they have no connection, and if whatever provides their other connection has its pole knocked down or cables dug up they lose their connection. All this is, is another possible connection, if connectivity is vital to your business then you will have a backup plan. If not you probably have a cheap ups that will back up data then shut down the machine int the 5 mins you have anyway. Or nothing and you will curse the f**king power company and read a magazine. It's just another option.

Re:One point in its favor.

[pVoid]

While I applaud your educated warning at us poor users, I would like to remind you that we're not gonna plug the cable right out of the power grid into our ethernet card.

There most likely will be a modem of some sort that connects to the plug and has an ethernet output. Such a device is just as vulnerable but not any more vulnerable than any other electric device.

Also, I don't know what you talk about: bandwidth? Electric wires probably have monstruous bandwidth. The wires are made to carry much more current than a phone line was ever designed to, and most probably much more than a coax cable as well. Something tells me the bandwidth is going to be several orders of magnitude higher than conventional lines we're used to.

Security Issues?

[Shonufftheshogun]

Does this seem scary to anyone else that these traffic lights would be internet accessible? If some script kiddies decided to have some fun, lives could be lost.

Re:Amateur HF Band Issues

[Anonymous Coward]

Who is going to keep their HAM equipment and skills around if they can't use them except when the power is down?

Re:Amateur Radio and such

[Anonymous Coward]

It may not be a problem for you because your power is out, but the guy you need to talk to to pass your emergency traffic won't be able to hear you because his power is still on.

And you may not be able to hear either -- don't forget that HF energy can travel worldwide and even though your local power is out, you may be getting BPL interference from another state (or country).

And that's assuming anyone is still on HF after everyone gives up on it due to BPL interference.

Ed