RFUnderstanding Powerline Communication (PLC) Technologies
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This article explores various Powerline Communication (PLC) technologies, including Lonworks, KNX, IEC, PRIME, INSTEON, HomePlug, UPB, X10, A10, WPC, PLM-1, SITRED, G3 Lite, and LF NB OFDM G3 PLC.
The following table details the frequency bands, modulation types, and organizations behind these PLC technologies. It compares these technologies and highlights their key differences. For more information on frequency bands, refer to the CENELEC Frequency Bands, which covers CELENEC Band A, CELENEC Band B, CELENEC Band C, and CENELEC band D.
PLC Technologies Comparison
| PLC Technologies | Frequency Band | Modulation Type | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lonworks | 86KHz and 75.453 KHz, 125-140KHz , Fc =131.579 KHz, CENELEC A, B, C | BPSK/NRZ | ISO/IEC, ANSI, LonMark |
| KNX PL | 110 (95 to 125 KHz , Fc =110 KHz ) , PL 132 (125 to 140 KHz, Fc =132.5 KHz ) CENELEC A | S-FSK/NRZ | ISO/IEC, BS IEC |
| IEC | 20-95 KHz | S-FSK | IEC TC57, WG09 |
| PRIME | CENELEC A (approx.42 to 89 KHz ), capable upto 500 KHz | OFDM/DBPSK, DQPSK, D8PSK | nSyscom , ADD, STM, TI |
| INSTEON | 131.65 KHz | BPSK | INSTEON alliance |
| HomePlug | FCC (120 to 400KHz) , CENELEC A, B | Single carrier spread spectrum, DCSK6, DCSK4 | HomePlug Alliance |
| UPB | 4 to 40 KHz | PPM | PCS |
| X10 | 120 KHz | OOK | Pico Electronics |
| A10 | 120 KHz | OOK | ACT |
| WPC | 1.7 to 4 MHz | Pulse Modulation | Watteco |
| PLM-1 | 50 to 500 KHz, 262 KHz expected | FSK/NRZ | Ariane Controls |
| SITRED | CENELEC A, 20 KHz -95 KHz | S-FSK | ENEL |
| G3 Lite | 10 to 490 KHz , CENELEC FCC | OFDM | Maxim |
| LF NB OFDM G3 PLC | 35.9 to 90.6 KHz, CENELEC-A | OFDM/DBPSK, DQPSK | Maxim, ERDF, TI |
