Broadband over the power grid

[Mustang]

I had an interesting query from a former colleague in the US regarding broadband over the power grid i.e. someone can plug their computer into the wall socket and get broadband access.

I have never heard of this have any of you? Does the product work and is it used here in the UK? If so, what type of customer would be targeted?

TIA

[voodooflux]

I remember Nortel (under the guise of NorWeb) were looking into this in the UK in the late 90's, but it was canned.

More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_l...line_.28BPL.29

[Fred Bloggs]

I remember Nortel (under the guise of NorWeb) were looking into this in the UK in the late 90's, but it was canned.

More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_l...line_.28BPL.29

Correct, I also think Scottish Power monkeyed around with it for a while too. Seemed a good idea to make use of existing infrastructure in news ways to me though.

[voodooflux]

Correct, I also think Scottish Power monkeyed around with it for a while too. Seemed a good idea to make use of existing infrastructure in news ways to me though.

Yes, that rings a bell now too. Definite potential, but I seem to recall that it was subject to interference from street lights and such.

[NickNick]

I use a powerline solution as well as wireless at home these days. Is that what you're on about?

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/power-network.htm

[voodooflux]

I use a powerline solution as well as wireless at home these days. Is that what you're on about?

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/power-network.htm

I think (but could be wrong) that the OP was referring to the provision of network access to premises via the electrical distribution grid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_l..._powerlines.29

[scooterscot]

It already exist for company use not public and not at broadband speeds.

There were too many technical challenges as I recall. Shame really

[VectraMan]

Seemed a good idea to make use of existing infrastructure in news ways to me though.

Of course almost everywhere that has electricity also has a phone line, so perhaps it was always a little redundant.

Somebody did setup a communications network over The National Grid, but they did it with fibre optic cables strung along the earth wire at the top of the pylons. Which is a different thing entirely but still an innovative use of the existing infrastructure.

[NickNick]

I may be wrong here, but didn't the Netherlands start "laying" fibre through their gas pipes?

[voodooflux]

I may be wrong here, but didn't the Netherlands start "laying" fibre through their gas pipes?

Just reading around, it sounds like there are some interesting ideas regarding network provision through gas pipes.

Nethercomm is adapting ultra wideband radio transmitters and receivers to send wireless signals through the natural-gas pipe at the same time the pipe is delivering gas fuel. Ultra wideband, or UWB, is a developing communication technology that delivers very high-speed network data rates, but at higher power levels it can interfere with other wireless signals.