HomePlug Powerline Alliance reveals features of new HomePlug AV2 spec
By Ben Bowers 
posted July 29th 2010 1:06PM
posted July 29th 2010 1:06PM
HomePlug Powerline Alliance Announces Revolutionary Advancements for Next-Generation Powerline Networks
– HomePlug's AV2 Specification Will Support Gigabit-class Powerline Networking and Greatly Improve the Delivery of High-bandwidth Applications throughout the Home –
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The HomePlug® Powerline Alliance today announced that its Technical Working Group (TWG) has made major advancements to the HomePlug AV2 specification, designed to meet the expanding requirements of the connected digital home. The AV2 specification will be fully interoperable with current HomePlug AV and future HomePlug Green PHY and IEEE 1901 products.
"The TWG made significant progress toward our goal of deploying a truly next-generation HomePlug powerline specification to address future market demands, and that is built on the excellent powerline products readily available and in use"
"Powerline networking between modems and set-top boxes is being used today by many broadband service providers to reduce capital expenses and support costs associated with delivering new triple play and IPTV services," said Kurt Scherf, vice president, principal analyst, Parks Associates. "More than 50 operator/service providers have deployed HomePlug AV powerline networking solutions as a means to expand services. These providers require a migration path to a much higher performance powerline technology to meet future bandwidth demands while maintaining interoperability with their current HomePlug AV installations and future IEEE1901 products."
Major powerline enhancements the TWG selected for inclusion in the developing HomePlug AV2 specification include:
MIMO (Multiple-Inputs Multiple-Outputs) offers significant increases in link throughput and range without requiring additional spectrum or transmit power. MIMO allows the data signal to propagate from multiple outputs to multiple inputs implementing advanced transmission coding schemes which will increase capacity and enable more reliable and expanded home coverage. This is similar to the 802.11n and 802.16e which use MIMO solutions with wireless products to extend performance.
Increased MAC (Medium Access Control) efficiencies that lower overhead and expand throughput
Increased operating spectrum: the specification will expand operations into an additional spectrum, up to an order of magnitude beyond current powerline technology. This increased bandwidth will further improve performance.
Extending coverage via repeating and routing technology in networks of three or more nodes
The HomePlug AV2 specification is expected to deliver a 5x increase in performance over current HomePlug AV solutions at the application layer to offer significant improvements in whole home coverage to guarantee reliable delivery of throughput intensive applications such as multiple streams of 1080p HD video (and emerging 3D and 4K HD) broadband Internet, Internet gaming and security camera video over existing electrical wiring. These advancements are necessary to meet the increasingly demanding Quality of Experience (QoE) requirements of service providers and consumer electronics companies.
HomePlug's Technical Working Group made these important selections based on extensive international field testing and channel characterization, technical evaluations, simulations and experience with the widely deployed base of HomePlug AV products. The goal is to deliver a comprehensive and technically detailed specification using proven technology validated by careful technical scrutiny and rigorous testing. HomePlug plans to finalize the specification in the first quarter of 2011.
"The TWG made significant progress toward our goal of deploying a truly next-generation HomePlug powerline specification to address future market demands, and that is built on the excellent powerline products readily available and in use," said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. "Consumers are increasingly interested in the large, growing volumes of video, gaming and other media content available via the Internet, and they need an easy way to connect entertainment devices that allow them to move multiple streams of content to any room in the home. HomePlug AV has been the powerline technology of choice, and AV2 provides an aggressive migration path to support greater network capacity and distribution of ultra-high quality content throughout the home."
HomePlug devices account for more than 80 percent of the world's broadband powerline communications market and over 45 million devices have shipped to date. The alliance works with key stakeholders to ensure all of its specifications are designed to meet the requirements of IPTV service providers, power utilities, equipment and appliance manufacturers, consumer electronics and other important stakeholders. HomePlug operates the powerline networking industry's largest Compliance and Interoperability Certification Program to ensure true multi-vendor co-existence and interoperability. The program has certified more than 200 products and will also begin certifying IEEE 1901 products in 2010.
Please visit www.HomePlug.org for more information on the HomePlug Powerline Alliance.
About the HomePlug® Powerline Alliance
Founded in 2000, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. is an industry-led initiative with 70 member companies that creates specifications and certification logo programs for using the power lines for reliable home networking and Smart Grid applications. The Alliance accelerates worldwide adoption for HomePlug technology by collaborating with international standards organizations such as the IEEE and through market development and user education programs. Sponsor members include Atheros Communications (ATHR); Cisco (CSCO); Comcast (CMCSK); Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK); GE Energy, an affiliate of General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE); Gigle Networks; Motorola, Inc. (MOT); Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723); SPiDCOM Technologies; and STMicroelectronics (STM). Contributor members include Arkados (OTCBB: AKDS) and Corporate Systems Engineering
I really really love my HomePlug networking setup, and so glad to see it advancing further.
@Mr Awesomer your name has become quite fitting then
@Mr Awesomer
Sadly it's hit and miss, I tried the Belkin 1Gbps versions but it had actual throughput of about 80Mbps and dropped out 3-4 times a day .
I changed to Wireless N and it's been quicker and more reliable.
@Mr Awesomer I concur. Newegg has a GREAT deal on refurb Netgear units for 20 bucks (they normally cost 120 bucks for 2). I purchased 4 of them and have them scattered about my 1980's apartment. Not sure what the comment in the article wishing for 1080p streaming in every room is about, because I get that now with my existing units. They're reliable, easy as hell to setup, and at least 5x faster then the best wireless N connection you could ever hope for.
@Jimbob
Agreed. I just broke down and wired the house with cat6...now I get solid 110 MB\sec. Maybe this update will bring better results though...too late for me unless I get a new house :P
@Jimbob Sorry to hear that. I've got the Netgear equipment and have been getting solid numbers in 180mbps range. Of course it's a newer house with fresh wires, so perhaps your wiring doesn't make it a good option.
@Mr Awesomer 3 years 2 houses, DLINK, NETGEAR, CORINEX, all broke down within one year. I will stick to WIFI thank you.
@Jimbob
hm...Belkin... I remember when that company was a bastion of tech goodness. Alas that company no longer exists. The name is all that remains.
@1mc
My experience has been the opposite of yours. I started out with some Airlink101 Homeplug Turbo models (which are now happily working for my parents) 5 years ago and I switched to Linksys Homeplug AV units about two years ago. Both systems have been rock solid and the AV setup allows me to stream HD content from Vudu, Netflix and my Windows Home Sever without issues. I've found my connection to be more consistent with Homeplug than Wifi.
@Cotay i have the same setup but with..3 XBOX360's, macmini HTPC,desktop and a laptop wired and they all are connected to my HP mediasmart server in my bedroom. The linksys powerline has been perfect since day 1. i recently had to replace one of the adapters after it burned out.(literally smelled)
This tech has been rock solid for me.
@Jimbob
Just about every review I've seen of the Belkin has said the same thing - it's identical in reported performance to current 200Mbps equipment it seems.
As regards the actual throughput issue, I tried wireless-N (complete set of matched Netgear stuff). I was getting throughput around 70 Mbps with a laptop right next to the router. Just going to the opposite side of the room dropped it to 50, and going to the next room to 30Mbps. My laptop's built in wireless-G would also run at 30 from the next room, so I had to return the lot, as for me the performance of N and G was identical (in fact had to go to small claims to get a refund as Netgear stated throughput isn't guaranteed).
I'm currently using Billion homeplug adaptors, and they've so far been better than the Netgear ones I had before (2 of which broke 1 month after the warranty ran out). Never heard of Billion before but they get good reviews most places.
I didn't know picture frames needed power or a network.
@Kloc
Dude that's a TV
@Freakintoddles
Look slightly to the left.
@Kloc
Those are speakers, and what looks like a home alarm system?
@Kloc
Digital frames...or a Sony Dash in every room!
@DeFlanko
That's not a home alarm system.
It's only a thermostat.
We can soooo rob that joint.
@DeFlanko I figured out they were speakers. At first glance it looked like pictures with a grayed out portrait of a fat guy lol.
Ugh ok
@Kloc ahah. Had to look a bit closer. They are speakers. That makes way more sense.
i wish manufacturers integrate these into the PSUs
I am not happy with my powerline network. Some days I get great bandwidth but most day its crap. I am planning on running cables through my house now.
Sorry, but I may be too paranoid to be excited about this technology. The data flows in all directions, even outside of the house. And with certain techniques, can actually be tapped into without having to tap into a hard line.
I'll stay away from powerline networking for now, one less method for anyone to break in... *cue tinfoil hat comments*
@DJ Tama You can secure it just like you would a wireless network.
@DJ Tama
Dude, WiFi also flows outside your house....you need to set your security and encryption for both technologies. For my money, Powerline is actually a bit more secure since not every guy down the block is running Powerline Ethernet and the changes of him picking up my signal, even if unsecured, are remote at best.
@DJ Tama You've clearly not even bothered to read up on the technology, otherwise you'd know you can secure a powerline network.
@DJ Tama
While tinfoil hats may be excessive, you're right for more reasons than you realize. The wires in walls were never meant for high frequency signals.
There's a difference between a wire (like those in your wall) and a transmission line (like a coax cable, or, an ethernet cable). Transmission lines have dedicated ground returns. Without this dedicated ground return, a wire 1 quarter wavelength long (as frequency goes up, wavelength gets shorter) becomes an antenna, emitting electromagnetic radiation.
For a 60 Hz power signal, the wire in your wall is nowhere close to a quarter wavelength, so it doesn't radiate. For a 100 MHz ethernet signal, however, (that's nearly 2 million times higher frequency), the wires in your house are just as good as antennas!!
So, if a couple of people use power line networking, it's not a big deal. But the more popular it becomes, the more congested the 100 MHz band will become, devastating not only power line networking, but also ham radio operators--the ones who are actually licensed to use that wireless frequency band.
I hate to rain on the parade, but these devices should really be boycotted.
@ghost03 This does indeed pretty much kill radio hamming.
That said, I see the 100mhz band being put to far better use with powerline technology, than for the few people who still enjoy ham radio.
@Mr Lizard
My father is a Ham and runs Powerline Turbo hardware in his shack without interference.
@Mr Lizard Hams don't have a 100 megahertz band; that frequency is in the middle of the FM radio broadcast band. While in-home powerline networking devices can present interference issues for amateur radio operators, the interference is generally observed elsewhere in the spectrum.
@Mr Lizard
While a huge ordeal in itself, reassigning bandwidth isn't really the point I'm making. The point is that wired data transmissions can EASILY avoid emitting EM radiation when designed properly--essentially all it takes is one extra wire. Putting high frequency signals on lines not designed for it is a kludge, one which will affect more than ham radio operators.
Imagine trying to drive a race car full tilt on a sidewalk. It's kinda like that. Except, with the race car, we can SEE the consequences, so we don't do it.
@kmartin
You are correct, 100 MHz is not a ham band. I presented misinformation, perhaps in an effort to over simplify.
@Engadget
You guys have outlets in your pantry?
That's forward thinking.
Great ...more junk RF puking devices.
These things block radio reception all over the bands.
House wiring is NOT Cat5
@Threlly
I'm thinking this is targeted to households where rewiring the whole place with Cat5 isn't an option...
@tikigawd Sell the house then.
@tikigawd
I get that, it's still a badly designed solution.
Hurling broad spectrum RF down unshielded, unbalanced cabling is not a good idea.
The 1Gig flavour of these has been caught wiping out DAB radio in the U.K., that's in the 200Mhz range !!!
These things really are junk.
anyone know of a good, cheap way to send a direct video stream over powerlines? i've been looking for quite some time.
@ianhouser Cable not good enough for you?
@Kloc not available in this situation. but i will take my pondering elsewhere. thanks
@ianhouser After some searching for my own setup, i found my Net-X 200mbit adapters, not a well known company but from reviews they seem to have good parts. Gave them a go (bought from Amazon UK), get around 160mbits solid connection from 15 year old cabling.
If i read up on this correctly the 1Gbit models available from other manufacturers are just a sham so i stayed clear from those speeds.
@NoAddedSugar And ofcourse my wall of text is irrelevant to what you asked now that iread the question again, please disregard it.
@NoAddedSugar And ofcourse my wall of text is irrelevant to what you asked now that iread the question again, please disregard it.
The real problem with these devices is that they make promises they can't keep. They work great in brand-new construction with the wiring done entirely according to code and with no oddnesses. However, put them into a 50 year old house with old, noisy, often nonstandard, even substandard, wiring, and they have little chance of living up to the manufacturer's performance promises. 802.11n will provide comparable or superior performance at no greater expense in most houses. That, or just bite the bullet and run some Cat5 already.
@kmartin
I think they've been very up front about the limitations on old wiring. I beg to differ on 802.11 N...wireless has considerably more drop outs for me and results in stalled/lost video streams constantly. I rarely experience this issue with Powerline AV.
As a person who owns a 100 year old home 3 story home with plaster and lath walls, I am not about to start punching holes in walls to fish Cat5 through the house. So needless to say, these have my interest.
I have a Netgear Powerline set in a house that is nearly 100 years ago (older Portland, Oregon). Now, I know for a fact that the wiring was re-done this in home and I can't say when that happened. So, for the most part, the lines are clean here.
The units work great.