_Wired_ Mesh Networks

What is your preferred _wired_ mesh network protocol and chips? Can wireless mesh network protocols (Zigbee for example) be used in a wired fashion?

Here's the problem:

Let's say you have an underground pipe stretching for, let's say, 100 miles. This pipe already has some small DC voltage on it (1-5 V range, fully-rectified AC typically), and it has lots of noise on it from all kinds of sources. Now, connect a module with a mesh network chip of some kind to the pipe at every ten feet or so and bury them underground near the pipe. Presume the modules each have a very long- lasting, charged battery to power its needs for a long time to come (or uses the voltage on the pipe to charge their batteries).

Taking all of this into consideration, would you then be able to connect to the pipe at any location, and, using the pipe itself as the network path, poll every module for its data?

If so, what mesh network protocol would work? Would a mesh network even be required, as opposed to some network protocol that can make point-to-point connections over 100 miles?

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David Drinnan
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