Analysis of IP over power lines in conjunction with ADSL as a rapid network deployment package.

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Analysis of IP over power lines in conjunction
with ADSL as a rapid network deployment package.

• David Mackie
• Supervisor
• Professor Peter Clayton

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Getting a Power Line Communication (PLC) network
working.

• David Mackie
• Supervisor
• Professor Peter Clayton

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OverviewPower Line Communication (PLC)

• Transmission of data using power circuit/lines
• IP-over-Power
• Our Focus
• Low Voltage
• Using the existing power circuit in a building

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Layout

• Master Unit
• (APM-45i)
• Indoor Controller
• Bridge to uplink
• Adapters
• (APA-15i-e)
• Indoor
• Like a modem

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Master Controller Ports
Ethernet (Backbone)
Serial (Terminal)
Signal
3-phase power
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3-Phase Power5 Wires 3-pin Plug Problem

• Master Controller
• 5 wires - 3x Live, Neutral Protected Earth
• Switch signal between 2 live wires. Not Neutral
• Separate signal injection method needed

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Solution Signal Coupling

• 2 left over wires
• Wire back
• Found to have a voltage
• Left alone!
• Alternative
• Another 3-pin plug
• Coupling device
• Signal connector
• Waiting on last

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Automatic Configuration
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PLC Node Start-up Sequence

1. PLC Node starts up with parameters in flash
   memory
2. PLC Node synchronize with PLC master (slave nodes
   only)
3. PLC Node sends out DHCP request via Powerline for
   IP address
4. DHCP server reply with
5. IP address, Subnet Mask, Gateway, DNS Server
6. Option 43 (ftp//usernamepassword_at_146.231.126.13
   /plc/ia.cfg)
7. PLC Node obtains IP Address information,
   establish connection to FTP server and retrieves
   configuration file
8. PLC Node compares the parameters from the
   configuration file with its flash memory. If
   there is a difference in settings, slave node
   will copy the new values to flash and reboot

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Setup of Master though Serial

• plcgt setup
• Setting up PLC system parameters
  
• IP parameters eth0 (public port)
  
• Address 192.168.0.1
• Netmask 255.255.0.0
• Broadcast 255.255.255.255
  
• Other IP parameters
• Default gateway 169.254.130.90
  
• PLC configuration
• Node Type (1Master, 2Foreman, 4Repeater,
  6Droid, 8Slave) 1
• Multi Master Environment (0No, 1Yes) 0
• Enter sum of selected carriers(e.g. 3 use lt1gt
  and lt2gt)
• Possible carriers are
• (lt1gt 19.8MHz, lt2gt 22.8MHz, lt4gt 25.2MHz) 2
• Coupling phase (0P1-P2/P-N, 1P1-P3, 2P2-P3,
  3search best) 3

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Residence Cullen Bowels

• THEN
• To be implemented and tested in Cullen Bowels
• Difficult to wire UTP
• Not on ITs roadmap

• NOW
• Surprise email from Director of IT on 30 April
• Cullen Bowels added to ITs roadmap (3rd term)
• New test bed needed
• Seems to have stalled

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Alternative ProductsHomePlug

• Alliance of companies (mainly in the US)
• HomePlug Certification Mark
• Products from different companies work together
• Bandwidth
• Initially low 1.5Mbps
• Now equal to Ascom
• Higher bandwidths expected soon
• Small number of users/network

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Alternative ProductsSouth African

• Virtual Technician Consultants (PTY) Ltd
• South African Company
• Designed from board up
• Products
• HomePlug 1.0.1 Compliant
• Ethernet, Wireless USB
• 14.4 Mbps (4.5 real world)
• Still to come

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Work

• Mini-network in Hamilton Building
• Can it handle Eskoms voltages
• Comparison to HomePlug solution

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Questions?