Texas to get broadband over its power lines

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You can do your own personal BPL right now . . .

Rick,

You can do BPL in your house right now using basically the same system (granted on a much more localized scale) right now. Hit your local computer store and buy a couple of NetGear XE-102 ethernet bridge adapters. Plug one into the wall socket near your broadband connection and the other somewhere else in your house. Then hook up your computer. You can now use your broadband connection anywhere in your house you have a power outlet.

Those NetGear bridges convert the ethernet "bits" to a broadband RF signal that is carried by your electrical wiring. As a matter of fact I'm using such a system here at home right now, and it works well. The problem with BPL is when you try and use this technology on the medium-voltage outside distribution system - those pole-to-pole wires make VERY nice antennas in the 2-30 MHz RF range used!

Just like any device connected to the power line the BPL "modem" can be fried by severe disturbances on the power lines like a nearby lightening strike. But, other than the damage to the device itself, you'll get no more dramatics from that than you would from a "wall wart" getting zapped in a similar situation.

Posted by: bowenw@...   Posted on: 12/21/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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