Broadband Communications

over Power Lines

(PLC)
What is PLC?
PLC (also known as BPL) is a technique for sending
high speed data through the medium voltage power
distribution network
The idea of sending data through the power
distribution network is not new
Utilities use LF for network control and telemetry (typically
< 0.200 MHz)
Schools have used carrier current system for “campus radio”
systems that operate in the AM band (0.530 – 1.700 MHz)
What makes BPL different is that it uses frequencies
between 2 and 80 MHz
2. Types of PLC
There are three major categories of PLC:
Access PLC uses electrical distribution lines, overhead or
underground, to provide broadband Internet access to
homes and businesses.
● This is currently in the developmental stage
In-building PLC uses the electrical wiring within a
building to network computers.
● Most systems use the HomePlug standard which provides
protection for amateur frequencies
Control PLC operates below 500 kHz, and is used by
electric-utility companies to control their equipment using
the power-lines as transmission lines.
● These systems are not a problem, although it is interesting to note
that utilities successfully lobbied against an amateur VLF
allocation, claiming that amateur transmissions could disrupt
their communications.
3. PLC Modulation Techniques
 Access PLC
Access PLC systems are presently under
development. Current systems use OFDM
(orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) in
combination with some type of PSK .
Carrier frequencies can be between 2 and 30 MHz.
No filtering provisions are made to protect other
users of the HF/VHF spectrum
Data throughput > 10 Mb/sec
 HomePlug
HomePlug uses a combination of OFDM (orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing) and DQPSK
(differential quadrature phase shift keying) to send
data through power lines within the home.
Carrier frequencies are between 4.5 and 21 MHz.
The modem output has notches at 3.5, 7.0, 10.1,
14.0, and 18.1 MHz to reduce interference to
amateurs.
Data throughput > 10 Mb/sec
 HomePlug
Software in the receiver continuously determines the
transfer function of the medium and carrier
frequencies are changed to use the best available
spectrum.
HomePlug signal power is spread over the entire 4.5
– 21 MHz bandwidth as the carrier frequencies are
changed.
HomePlug signals can pass through a residential
service entry panel with less than 10 dB loss.
HomePlug Spectral Mask
 Control/Carrier Current PLC
These use frequencies below 1.7 MHz.
Carrier current AM signals 0.53 – 1.70 MHz
LF telemetry/control signals used by utilities <0.2 MHz
Signals have narrow bandwidth ( < 10 KHz) and
have carrier frequencies below all amateur bands.
These signals do not generally present serious
interference problems to amateurs
Data throughput << 1 Mb/sec
4. RFI from Access Line PLC
Tests involving PLC systems in Japan and Europe
indicate that PLC can cause significant interference
to other users of the HF spectrum.
Medium voltage power distribution lines look very
much like antennas at HF wavelengths.
The next slide shows the far-field pattern of a 328 ft
(100 m) segment of a typical MV distibution line.
The conductors are at a height of 10m (32 ft 10 in)
and they are spaced 1.5 m (4ft 5in) apart. The load is
assumed to be the primary of a neighborhood
transformer, which is assumed to have an impedance
of 10 – j25 ohms.
 Elevation patterns for radiation from MV Power Lines
Perpendicular to Lines Parallel to Lines

+9 dBi
28 MHz +5 dBi 28 MHz
14 MHz 14 MHz
7 MHz 7 MHz
3.5 MHz 3.5 MHz
0.15 MHz 0.15 MHz
As might be expected, the power lines look like long wire
antennas at HF, with some gain and a complex multi-lobed
radiation pattern
It is interesting to note that the signal transmitted from the
power lines in the LF range (150 kHz) is less than –70 dbi
in any direction.
Utilities’ RFI experience in the LF range is no predictor of
RFI problems in the HF range.
Because overhead power lines run in all directions, the
resultant field produced by the entire power distribution
system should be more or less isotropic in the azimuthal
plane.
ARRL simulations indicate that a fully-deployed access
line PLC system would raise the noise floor by 70 dB (9 s-
units + 16 dB)
 Japanese PLC RFI Study

Noise Floor

• These measurements were made at 7 MHz on a 96

km long path in Japan.
• PLC signals raised the noise field strength by 25
dB
 Effect of PLC on HF Coverage

> 75%

~ 50%

< 25%

20 m Coverage under 20 m Coverage with access

normal conditions PLC in neighborhood
ARRL PLC Video
5. RFI from HomePlug PLC
HomePlug uses a spectral mask that provides 30 dB
of filtering in the amateur HF bands.
At current RF brightness levels of –80 dBm/Hz,
HomePlug signals can cause interference to antennas
(especially indoor) that run within 2 – 3 m of
household power lines.
HomePlug signals can also leak into other
households with < 10 dB of attenuation, causing
problems for all homeowners sharing a common
transformer.
6. What Can Be Done?
The FCC recently closed off comment on the PLC
docket. Hundreds of amateurs did comment on the
problems with PLC during the comment period.
Measurements need to be made. If a utility is
deploying PLC in your area, please make
measurements of the noise. We need to show the
FCC what the problems are.
It is very likely that some form of PLC will be
implemented – the economic potential is to great. It
is important for amateurs to help steer the
implementation so that our frequencies are protected