Hi.
I've worked on a system that sends data through 4 miles of cable, along with AC power. A phase-shift modulated carrier, at a frequency much higher than the AC power frequency and its harmonics is used. The tradeoff is between loss, which goes up with frequency, and noise from other circuits, which show up at lower frequency.
Nah, it's just that you're only used to 'seeing' 60Hz show up on your power lines. Think about DSL phone lines... there's some signals (low frequency) used both to carrier voice and power the phone, and there's other signals (high frequencies) that carry the DSL data signals.
Signaling over power lines is very similar. The very popular X-10 series of products places 100kHz 'bursts' on the line to transfer data. There's also... what are they called... 'power line networking' products that take a large frequency range, and, combined with fancy signaling methods, get you upwards of 10Mbps of digital data over the phone lines.
Of course, power lines are _optimized_ to carry power at 60Hz... and lots of it. But fundamentally a transmission line is a transmission line, and many different signals can be carried on it simultaneously.
Hi, Ive seen something somewhere that you can send data through your AC outlets in your house from one to another. Is this possible and how does it work. Seems very strange.
Thanks.
outlets
Yes, it is quite feasible and is being used in some cases as an alternative to standard network wiring. For instance:
See the powerline products at this site:
See the initiative at this site:
or just plug: powerline network into Google and read till the cows come home.
HTH
B.C.
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required