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Why Powerline Communications?

Through the use of simple adapters, powerline communications is easy to set up, and even easier to use. The technology uses the electrical wiring already in your home to turn any electrical power outlet into a high speed Internet and home network connection.

Use powerline adapters to bridge between your Internet router and these internet-connected devices:

Many powerline adapters use a 200Mbps technology -- fast enough to stream HD video.

So why Powerline Communications? It's Plug and play:

Wireless is excellent for laptops and mobile applications, but why choose powerline communications over wireless technologies?

About Security & Encryption

Powerline communications signals are contained on the electrical power lines in your home. The signals are not in the air where neighbors or others could potentially snoop your service.
HomePlug certified products incorporate DES or AES encryption. Powerline adapters are sold with encryption turned on. You can add a new powerline product to a secured network through a simple password-setting process - and some products have easy-to-use network setups that set encryption through a simple push-button interface.

About PLC Speeds and Standards

Just as wireless technology has grown in speed over the years, powerline communications has experienced a similar growth path.

HomePlug 1.0

 

HomePlug AV

Interoperable with IEEE 1901; Some HomePlug AV semiconductors are interoperable with HomePlug 1 devices. Some HomePlug AV devices incorporate semiconductors that use proprietary extensions to HomePlug AV technologies and claim 500Mbps and Gigabit speeds.

IEEE 1901

IEEE 1901 technology includes PHYs interoperable with both HomePlug AV and HD-PLC and provides smart coexistence through an Inter-system Protocol. Products and semiconductors are certified by the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. Devices are interoperable with HomePlug AV. Some semiconductors are interoperable with both HomePlug 1 and HomePlug AV.

HomePlug GP ("Green PHY")

First available: Certified chips expected in early 2011, though HomePlug GP implementations can be deployed now using HomePlug AV chips.

HomePlug GP uses 75% less power, and is a cost-optimized, lower data rate version of HomePlug AV, IEEE 1901, and HomePlug AV2

Targeted at Smart Grid applications:

Market-leading HomePlug-certified devices are carried online and in brick-and-mortar retail stores throughout the world, but some powerline devices incorporate non-HomePlug technologies, and are not interoperable. Make sure all the devices you use carry the same certification mark.