Slashdot Mirror


Japanese Firms Claim 170Mb/s Service Via Powerline

valdean writes "Sony, Mitsubishi, and Panasonic have created and launched a new technology to transport Internet and media signals around the home via the electricity network at speeds 3x that of Wi-Fi. It's even fast enough for HDTV. The introduction is only dependent on government authorization."

21 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. Big Surprise by atv1990 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "We think our technology is better."
    Nothing new there...

  2. Original text... by chill · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Asked why the three companies came up with their own technology and risked yet another format war in the consumer electronics world, Chmielewski said: "We think our technology is better."

    Translation: We patented our version. Ka-ching!

    --
    Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
  3. Insecure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Electrical power lines are not surrounded by a ground shield. I hope they came up with some security to go along with their high-frequency data mover.

  4. Network-over-powerlines is not new, so... by FooAtWFU · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I first saw network over home powerline products quite some time ago (probably not at these speeds, however). I seem to recall the usual issues about dirty power, the fridge kicking in, et cetera et cetera. Does this deal with those any better?

    --
    The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
  5. What of RF interference? by Spaztiq · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Will this technology induce extra RF interference in other appliances? It was considered a negative possibility everytime Broadband over Powerlines has been mentioned in the past. Does being localized to a home reduce that? Is it actually localized to the home or can it spread from a home to outside powerlines then onto another home?

    *Imagines the next form of "War-Driving"*

  6. Actually... by Short+Circuit · · Score: 4, Insightful

    From what I've learned, Japanese engineers have the enviable ability to invent something to fit their needs, even though the development cost would have to be recouped in sales. The stories I hear about developers here in America tell tales of requirements of immediate or near-immediate profits. *coughCarlyFionacough*

  7. RFI by Detritus · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Household power wiring is not designed to be an RF transmission line. Are they going to follow the path taken by BPL and Homeplug, that is to shit all over the HF spectrum since nobody important is using it?

    --
    Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
  8. Re:Misleading... by Fjornir · · Score: 4, Informative

    Sir, did you read the article? This is for your LAN, not for broadband to the home.

    --
    I want a new world. I think this one is broken.
  9. Re:Still not internet2 by master0ne · · Score: 3, Insightful

    i think your refering to the speed of the connection to the net, where as the article is (i think) refering to home networks, the slashdot post makes it look like it applies to total net connection though, i doube this works past the transformer comming into your home at that speed, if at all!

    --
    Noone writes jokes in base 13!
  10. A different kind of /. effect.... by d474 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If they implement this here, kiss your 2 way radio's good-bye. The radio interference those large powerlines give off when they are all jacked up with Broadband is nasty.

    --
    Authority questions you. Return the favor.
  11. I refuse to give in! by d474 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I will not RTFA.
    I don't need to RTFA.
    I already know this technology is bad with out RingTFA.
    So, no, I will not RTFA.

    --
    Authority questions you. Return the favor.
  12. Robot? by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    If it is from Japan, there has just GOT to be a robot involved somehow.

  13. Sticking it to the incumbent by stimpleton · · Score: 4, Informative

    I love reading stuff like this.

    All I can think of is the bosses of our local telecomms incumbent reading this, instantly loosing control of their bowels, the splash of the explosion showering their faithful lieutenants in gooey excrement.

    I'm in New Zealand. We pay $70/month for 2mb down 196K up. Its sketchy at best as interleaving pushes pings to about 70-90ms. No unbundling of the LL, and a government that takes it like the Goatse guy from the incumbent, better service is a far off dream.

    Please, dear jesus, let alternatives like BB over powerlines work.

    --

    In post Patriot Act America, the library books scan you.
  14. Re:Oh, around the home. by vena · · Score: 3, Informative

    i think the reason they're comparing this to wifi is that people use wifi so they don't have to run wires. your home is already wired for electricity in most cases all over the house, but wiring it (cleanly and nicely with a wall plug) for gigabit ethernet is going to cost you.

  15. Important Distinction by ErichTheWebGuy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It is important to note that this technology would only work inside your home. It would never make it past the transformer at that speed, if even at all. Transformers, by their very nature, kill off any signal that would be sent down the line. Now if you could have a bypass, with a rather large resistor to cut back the outside voltage, then we might have something. Since that's not very practical, don't hold your breath.

    For home networks that wanna, say, stream HDTV from a media server with something like MythTV, that sounds pretty sweet.

    --
    bash: rtfm: command not found
    1. Re:Important Distinction by fatboy · · Score: 3, Informative

      Now if you could have a bypass, with a rather large resistor to cut back the outside voltage, then we might have something.

      Actually, they are using bypass capacitors for BPL.

      --
      --fatboy
  16. DAMN! by joNDoty · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now I have to firewall my exterior power outlets?!

  17. Re:Suuure.... by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It gets high speeds inside the home, enough for HDTV, but why would I want to broadcast an HDTV signal through my home's powerlines when I can get it just as well through normal cable or satellite?

    So you can just plug your tv into any power outlet and not have to worry bout anything else.

    This would be kickass in an apartment building, condo or hotel. I can see it making real impact there.

    --
    -1 Uncomfortable Truth
  18. But can they do wireless electricity too? by schwit1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    What's next, wireless electricity and cordless extension cords.

  19. Works with ordinary network cards! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    You only need an adapter.

  20. Once again... by IntergalacticWalrus · · Score: 3, Informative

    the /. headline is misleading. It's a LAN solution, not a broadband Internet service. The word "service" should not appear in the title.