Powerline Networking

In it effort the spread the good news of powerline communication, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance has announced plans to attend two technology summits in China this year. The HomePlug powerline communication technology enables homeowners to use thier existing electrical wires to distribute broadband Internet, HD video, digital music and smart energy applications. The Alliance believe this is a chance for local Chinese companies to gain insight into these leading edge technology advancements.

Avoid the need to mix your home networking devices, with the Amplifi range you get all the sevices you want from the same range.  Now they have expanded the range to include the HD Media Router 3000 (DIR-857) with SharePort Cloud technology and the Wireless N Powerline Gigabit Router (DHP-1565). Both devices offer high networking speeds for today’s most demanding home applications, such as HD media streaming and online gaming.

Pace has announced its latest set of High Definition set-top boxes for the connected home. The new set-top boxes are expected to offer pay TV subscribers an advanced viewing experience. The boxes offer a number of flexible features to enhance users viewing experience and network setup options.  Operators are expected to benefit from the devices, which are accompanied by upgraded software, business consulting, specialised customer care call centre and product delivery services.

ZYXEL has launch a new range of 500 Mbps Powerline Ethernet adapter (PLA4205) that will deliver enough bandwidth for gaming, video chat, multiple HD media streaming. Its Homeplug AV standard ensures delivery of steady hip-throughput speeds for a consistent and reliable HD viewing experience.

The Powerline Ethernet adapter is design to help those who want to extend their home network without the cost of rewiring.  The PLA4205 delivers 500Mbps over the home’s existing electrical wires.

Wi3 in partnership with Entropic Communications as developed the Wi3Port, a digital home Powerline Ethernet solution that allows you to connect your home devices via Wi-Fi, Wired and Wideband. Debuted at CES, the solution is a combination of the Wi-Fi Direct specification, the MoCA IPTV/Smart TV standard enclosed in their in-wall wallport patented design. According to Wi3, the Wi3Port is a truly built-in network solution for in home media streaming and digital file transfers.

D-Link said this morning that they are launching a new line of Whole Home Routers with its patented SmartBeam technology.  The new range of Wireless-N Routers is due out in the first quarter of this year. The SmartBeam-enabled wireless routers are ideal for anyone who suffers from "dead-spot" issues in your home, and will be able to work with a wide array of devices Android phones, iPad, iPhone, laptops, entertainment systems.

As part of Puerto Rico’s Smart Grid Initiative, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) has selected PowerNET International in partnership with Amperion to implement a trial broadband solution over high voltage powerlines communications network. The project will allow the island to implement a new communication infrastructure using its existing high-voltage electric power lines and infrastructure.

It’s almost a year since Atheros Communication acquired Intellon Corporation, a supplier of HomePlug and other powerline communication solutions, and today Atheros announced the release of four new reference designs based on Wi-Fi, HomePlug AV Powerline and Ethernet technologies. The reference designs comprises of a router and three adapters that use various combinations of its XSPAN wireless LAN, AMP™ powerline and ETHOS Ethernet technologies.

WD the developers of countless storage devices as join the likes of D-link, Netgear and others in launching a new powerline Ethernet AV kit called WD Livewire.  The new WD Livewire will act as a complement to Western Digital existing connected home devices, like the My Book World Edition and WDTV Media Player.  At data rate of up to 200Mbps the WD Livewire will have no problem streaming HD video into your home theatre transferring large files between devices or playing multi-player online games – all done without the need of running cables throughout your home.

The TWG (Technical Working Group) of the Powerline Alliance has announced that they are making steady progress in the development of Homeplug AV2 specification. The group said they hope to finish the specification in the first quarter of 2011 and that they expect Homeplug AV2 specification to deliver a 5x increase in performance over existing Homeplug AV solutions. The AV2 specification will be fully interoperable with current Homeplug AV and future Homeplug Green PHY and IEEE 1901 products.