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Texas to Get Broadband Over Power Lines
mrops writes "CNet is reporting that Texas will soon be getting broadband over power lines. From the article, "Broadband service over power lines (BPL) is not a new technology. People have been experimenting with building communication networks over power lines since the 1950s. But it hasn't caught on due to its low speed, low functionality and high development cost." Unfortunately this technology matured a bit too late and has been subdued by recent rush of wi-fi products. The technology has a lot of potential and wi-fi black zones are not an issue in simple home setups."
Power over Wireless, call it 802.11P or something similar. Imagine a time where we no longer need power cords, plugs or even power poles. I know this is probably a dream that won't come to pass anytime soon, yet still it facinates me as a possibility. Too bad the inventors keep vaporizing themselves...
While Wifi and WiMAX are what most expect to be the future, how long will it be before small rural towns are 100% accounted for? If the goal is to give EVERYONE the option of having internet access in their town, BPL is probably the most intelligent option.
With the power infrastructer already in place, it should be much less costly to implement this type of service to people outside of the large cities. I applaud Texas for this decision and hope to see more states follow in their footsteps. The "WI-'s" will take care of the big cities first, but what about everyone else?
If the problem is getting everyone connected, then this is the solution.
So take that for what you will.
"In the game of life, someone always has to lose. To me, if life were fair, that someone would always be Oklahoma." -DKR
What about security issues? What if I ping of death a local power company because I am directly connected to them? Couldn't this open the door to 'hackers' being able to screw with power transfer? Cable and DSL are more refined technologies which have security built in, but just standard power could be scary.
Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.
Except it's most likely fiber to a local wifi hotspot and your house is served via 802.11 modes. Using fiber vs a modulated ac signal is preferable since it requires less power and reduces the interference potential to licensed services.
OTOH, BPL is another way for a utility co to get more taxpayer money for this infrastructure. Monitoring their equipment is a red-herring, I think.
Will you be serviced? Are you sure? Texans are paying for it. If it fails for economic reasons the Texas taxpayers still pay for it.
The frequencies thay 802.11 stuff uses is secondary to the amateur allocation, IIRC. With enough power a licensed ham operator can get on, hold a QSO and the wifi users must vacate the frequency until the hams are done.
Fiber (almost) to the curb is nice, and the wifi is a nice way to finish it out.
- KD5ZEF
During WWII, hams were not allowed to transmit "on the air", but limited power "carrier current" transmittion was allowed and appears to have been popular given the construction projects I recall from reading the 1944 ARRL handbook in our small town library. This operation was, as I recall, around 150 KHz and sometimes, depending on the location of transformers, could cover a few miles.
I don't see why this miserable technology hasn't died a natural death. It's like the monster in the movies that just won't quite die. Power lines are designed to carry power and become antennas at higher frequencies. It's as simple as that.
"Do the Right Thing. It will gratify some people and astound the rest." - Mark Twain
Yes, you can choose who you buy power from, but the actual utilities themselves are the same company no matter who you buy your power from. So your meter reader, utilites repair will be done by the same company regardless. There is no real incentive to lower the price. All the competitor has to do is be a little under Reliant's (insane) cost and they are golden. Especially since they can just cycle themselves through as the lowest periodically. So you go to the lowest cost guy, a few months ater they jack thier prices sky high. Takes you 30-45 days to transfer if you are not locked in for a year. Then you jump to the next guy, they do the same. Wash, rinse repeat. Houston is supposed to be the energy capital. Why do we pay so much more?