by George West, Senior Analyst
HomePlug – What is it?
Powerline communications technology that is a platform for extending and sharing broadband connections and Audio/Video distribution today. Future extensions are expected to include HomePlug based Broadband over Powerline (BPL) and Command and Control (C&C) functionality.
Homeplug networking is built on an underlying PHY protocol that used pulsed modulation and OFDM coding.
Specifications
HomePlug 1.0 ~~ Data Rate up to 14 Mbps; Frequency Band 4.3 MHz – 20.9 MHz
HomePlug 1.0 with Turbo ~~ Data Rate up to 85 Mbps although field tests are reporting 10 Mbps as more typical
HomePlug AV ~~ Data Rate – 200 Mbps over the wire channel rate. 100 Mbps out the MAC
HomePlug Alliance
70 Members
6M+ Shipped Worldwide to date
3M Shipped in 2005
Currently Shipping HomePlug Devices
There are HP 1.0 Devices available on the market since 2001. These products are primarily Ethernet, USB and WiFi products extension products.
The HomePlug AV specification is released and chips based on this specification are currently available or will soon be available from Arkados, Conexant, Intellon and Spidcom. A number of products based on HP AV chipsets were shown during the showcase. HomePlug AV products are expected to begin selling through retail channels this quarter.
Most of the technology products shown had a very high level of integration and the offering consisted of chipsets, modules, software and in many cases supporting applications. One example was the offering from Arkados which was an application to distribute digital audio. The Arkados Direct-to- Speaker Internet Radio Reference Design (AI1100- DTS-INTR) demonstrates the capabilities of the AI- 1100 chip and its associated firmware by offering a way to stream Internet Radio stations without using a personal computer.
What is cool about this product is that it can be used as the foundation for a consumer product through the addition of the plastic or metal casing. Shown were a number of examples of the same base product with different style packages, all of which contained identical electronics.
A similar product, serving as the basis for the controller of a simple IP camera system, was shown in operation.
www.arkados.com
www.gigafast.com
The key point is that chips, providing the capability defined under the HomePlug AV specification, are announced with pricing projected in the low teens.
www.intellon.com
www.spidcom.com
Shown on the floor were Ethernet adapters from Actiontec, Asoka, Aztech, Devolo, DLink and Zyxel.
Also demonstrating product with a higher level of integration was Digital Deck, showing their media connector communicating over HomePlug connections as an alternative to wired network connectivity.
www.digitaldeck.com
Broadband Delivery using HomePlug technology
Motorola presented “Motorola Powerline MU” for broadband access that combines Motorola wireless broadband with HomePlug technology, to deliver data and voice services to residences and businesses underserved by traditional broadband technologies. The focus was on delivering services to so-called Multiple-Unit dwellings – apartments, condominiums, hotels – using a combination of high-speed wireless for long distance and BPL,for the last “100 meters.”
www.motorola.com/canopy
What is on the road map?
HomePlug BPL (Broadband over Power Line)
HomePlug AV is selected as the baseline technology and a candidate specification is to be submitted to the Board of Directors for ratification in Q1/2007.
Current road map is for a ratified Broadband over Power Line (BPL) specification to be released in Q2/2007. Field testing is planned to be accomplished in Q3/2007, with prototype BPL products appearing in Q4/2007.
Further out is the definition of the HomePlug Command and Control specification.
Current Q4/2006 is the selection of a PHY/MAC specification for HomePlug CC.
Development of protocol definition, testing and verification plans, a protocol specification and Device/Application libraries are planned for 2007.
We do not expect to see products based on HomePlug CC before 2008.
What does it mean?
If this all works as advertised, both the HomePlug 1.0 and HomePlug AV provide capabilities that overlap with some of the use cases proposed for UWB. Use cases such as printer sharing between mobile computers or audio distribution from mobile players are readily handled by HomePlug compliant products. Some use cases such as AV distribution between rooms appear to be more readily served using HomePlug technologies, avoiding some of the challenges posed by using UWB as a connectivity technology for multi-room applications. Using powerline networking provides a similar level of flexibility as UWB without the range/speed trade-offs associated with that technology.
For the use cases that are served quite well by Certified Wireless USB, the conflict with HomePlug use cases doesn’t seem to be as strong. An example is the case of a PC to a digital camera connection for the purpose of storing images. The ‘no new wires’ model seems to work quite well for this type of application.
The use case for using UWB technology to distribute audio and video to headsets or seat back units inside a vehicle have zero overlap with HomePlug. As a result it is difficult to make the argument that HomePlug can completely displace UWB in the market.
An interesting question is the impact of HomePlug AV on the adoption of IEEE 802.11n networking technologies. At first look HomePlug AV makes the requirement for IEEE 802.11n less compelling or urgent.
It is more difficult to predict a place in the market for HomePlug BPL or HomePlug CC. The use cases depend on a widespread deployment of broadband delivery using BPL or Automated Meter Reading applications which will evolve into the automated electric meter as the home gateway.
There are a number of obstacles to overcome before that future arrives. Among them is the limitation of bandwidth available from BPL over medium voltage power lines. Current capability tops out around 20 Mbps which can support delivery of video services but is marginal for triple play services. Also unresolved are the regulatory issues around the conflict between the users of the amateur radio bands and the providers of BPL services.
Other topics of interest
1. Do ZigBee and Z-Wave finally get a powerline component?
One of the odder announcements was a comment that both the ZigBee alliance and the Z-Wave alliance had plans to provide definitions for bridging devices between these technologies and HomePlug.
2. The obvious question is what are the use cases?
We should mention that the list of current HomePlug devices shipping includes a ZigBee device, the ZigBridge 1.0 from the Institute of Network Technologies, JSC.
info@int.spb.ru
It seems that this device could serve the same purpose as some of the USB dongle devices without requiring that they remain attached to a laptop computer. Such a device would prove useful to developers of wireless applications based on IEEE 802.15.4 radios. Another application might be as a network extender to connect several ZigBee networks into a larger network. From the Alliance literature, “HomePlug v.1.0 is used to connect several ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 sub-networks into a single logical ZigBee network. Multi-hop packet delivery over both radio links and power line allows for setting up networks of thousands of nodes spanning across large buildings.”
For another approach to solving this problem the reader is referred to ArchRock.
www.archrock.com
Find out more about HomePlug….
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