network over power lines

I know this is not true "wireless" but I don't have to run wires to use it
so it's kind of wireless I didn't see any other active groups that were
more appropriate. Feel free to point me to a better place if you can think
of it.

Anyone have experience with using powerlines for networking? If I have one
of those devices in my house for networking over powerlines, how far does it
go - will my neighbour be able to tap into my network?

I've noticed a couple of pilot programs pop up in Canada where the power
company is offering internet access by putting 802.11b access points on the
power lines running down the street. I assume this means that there is
something that would block a network signal from a house to the main line.

- Scott

"Scott" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:HQsVb.433755$X%5.75967@pd7tw2no:

> I know this is not true "wireless" but I don't have to run wires to
> use it so it's kind of wireless I didn't see any other active
> groups that were more appropriate. Feel free to point me to a better
> place if you can think of it.
>
> Anyone have experience with using powerlines for networking? If I
> have one of those devices in my house for networking over powerlines,
> how far does it go - will my neighbour be able to tap into my
> network?

No -- but can anyone attack your network via the Internet, it's the same as
any other netwoking situation where a machine on the network has access to
the Internet.
>
> I've noticed a couple of pilot programs pop up in Canada where the
> power company is offering internet access by putting 802.11b access
> points on the power lines running down the street. I assume this
> means that there is something that would block a network signal from a
> house to the main line.

The only blocking there would be is if the ISP doesn't allow a MAC not tied
to one of its accounts to use its network.

Duane

On Sun, 08 Feb 2004 15:45:43 GMT, "Scott" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I know this is not true "wireless" but I don't have to run wires to use it
>so it's kind of wireless I didn't see any other active groups that were
>more appropriate. Feel free to point me to a better place if you can think
>of it.
>
>Anyone have experience with using powerlines for networking? If I have one
>of those devices in my house for networking over powerlines, how far does it
>go - will my neighbour be able to tap into my network?
>
>I've noticed a couple of pilot programs pop up in Canada where the power
>company is offering internet access by putting 802.11b access points on the
>power lines running down the street. I assume this means that there is
>something that would block a network signal from a house to the main line.
>
>- Scott
>

Unlikely your neighbors could see the signal. Sounds to me like it
would be something akin to the X-10 products which don't work beyond
the transformer that feeds your house.



Kirk

"Moe, Larry, the cheese!", Curly

www.sandpoint.net/captkirk
www.stormyacres.com

Scott wrote:

> I know this is not true "wireless" but I don't have to run wires to use it
> so it's kind of wireless I didn't see any other active groups that
> were
> more appropriate. Feel free to point me to a better place if you can
> think of it.
>
> Anyone have experience with using powerlines for networking? If I have
> one of those devices in my house for networking over powerlines, how far
> does it
> go - will my neighbour be able to tap into my network?
>
> I've noticed a couple of pilot programs pop up in Canada where the power
> company is offering internet access by putting 802.11b access points on
> the
> power lines running down the street. I assume this means that there is
> something that would block a network signal from a house to the main line.

No, there's no filter or anything. However, there'll be lots of
interference problems with that system, as have been shown elsewhere. The
power line system will interfere with licenced radio services and may be
interfered with by them.

All in all, a very bad idea.

--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.

'Captain' Kirk DeHaan wrote:

> Unlikely your neighbors could see the signal. Sounds to me like it
> would be something akin to the X-10 products which don't work beyond
> the transformer that feeds your house.
>

However, neighbours often share a transformer.

--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.

Scott wrote:

> I know this is not true "wireless" but I don't have to run wires to use it
> so it's kind of wireless I didn't see any other active groups that were
> more appropriate. Feel free to point me to a better place if you can think
> of it.
>
> Anyone have experience with using powerlines for networking? If I have one
> of those devices in my house for networking over powerlines, how far does it
> go - will my neighbour be able to tap into my network?
>
> I've noticed a couple of pilot programs pop up in Canada where the power
> company is offering internet access by putting 802.11b access points on the
> power lines running down the street. I assume this means that there is
> something that would block a network signal from a house to the main line.
>
> - Scott
>
>
A customer of mine didn't want to have CAT5 wiring run in their house
and had an aversion to wireless (I didn't quite understand their
concerns, but their opposition to wireless was considerable), so we used
the Netgear powerline products. They have had a few minor issues
(occasionally the Netgear unit seems to 'get lost', unplugging the unit
and plugging it back in solves the problem) but are quite happy with it.

Have never checked to see if neighbors can see the network.

ken

The technology is mature and waiting on implementation by major
players -

http://www.wave-report.com/tutorials/bpl.htm

http://www.ipcf.org/powerlineintro.html

Search Google for "Broadband Power Line"

To see potential for growth, go here -

http://www.dslreports.com/coinfo

To see how screwed up this country is compared to others, go here -

http://www.digitaljournal.com/print.htm?id=3829


On Sun, 08 Feb 2004 15:45:43 GMT, "Scott" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I know this is not true "wireless" but I don't have to run wires to use it
>so it's kind of wireless I didn't see any other active groups that were
>more appropriate. Feel free to point me to a better place if you can think
>of it.
>
>Anyone have experience with using powerlines for networking? If I have one
>of those devices in my house for networking over powerlines, how far does it
>go - will my neighbour be able to tap into my network?
>
>I've noticed a couple of pilot programs pop up in Canada where the power
>company is offering internet access by putting 802.11b access points on the
>power lines running down the street. I assume this means that there is
>something that would block a network signal from a house to the main line.
>
>- Scott
>

You forgot to mention the interference potential. Power lines are lousy for
carrying the frequencies involved and tend to act as antennas.


Tom B. wrote:

> The technology is mature and waiting on implementation by major
> players -
>
> http://www.wave-report.com/tutorials/bpl.htm
>
> http://www.ipcf.org/powerlineintro.html
>
> Search Google for "Broadband Power Line"
>
> To see potential for growth, go here -
>
> http://www.dslreports.com/coinfo
>
> To see how screwed up this country is compared to others, go here -
>
> http://www.digitaljournal.com/print.htm?id=3829
>
>
> On Sun, 08 Feb 2004 15:45:43 GMT, "Scott" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>>I know this is not true "wireless" but I don't have to run wires to use it
>>so it's kind of wireless I didn't see any other active groups that
>>were
>>more appropriate. Feel free to point me to a better place if you can
>>think of it.
>>
>>Anyone have experience with using powerlines for networking? If I have
>>one of those devices in my house for networking over powerlines, how far
>>does it
>>go - will my neighbour be able to tap into my network?
>>
>>I've noticed a couple of pilot programs pop up in Canada where the power
>>company is offering internet access by putting 802.11b access points on
>>the
>>power lines running down the street. I assume this means that there is
>>something that would block a network signal from a house to the main line.
>>
>>- Scott
>>
>

--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.

....And the fact that several public safety agencies, not just the amateur radio
community, has detected interference from BPL and as a result, several
communities have already banned it. Nothing statewide yet.

On Wed, 11 Feb 2004, James Knott wrote:
> You forgot to mention the interference potential. Power lines are lousy for
> carrying the frequencies involved and tend to act as antennas.
>
> Tom B. wrote:
> > The technology is mature and waiting on implementation by major
> > players -
> >
> > http://www.wave-report.com/tutorials/bpl.htm
> >
> > http://www.ipcf.org/powerlineintro.html
> >
> > Search Google for "Broadband Power Line"
> >
> > To see potential for growth, go here -
> >
> > http://www.dslreports.com/coinfo
> >
> > To see how screwed up this country is compared to others, go here -
> >
> > http://www.digitaljournal.com/print.htm?id=3829
> >
> > On Sun, 08 Feb 2004 15:45:43 GMT, "Scott" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> > wrote:
> >>I know this is not true "wireless" but I don't have to run wires to use it
> >>so it's kind of wireless I didn't see any other active groups that
> >>were
> >>more appropriate. Feel free to point me to a better place if you can
> >>think of it.
> >>
> >>Anyone have experience with using powerlines for networking? If I have
> >>one of those devices in my house for networking over powerlines, how far
> >>does it
> >>go - will my neighbour be able to tap into my network?
> >>
> >>I've noticed a couple of pilot programs pop up in Canada where the power
> >>company is offering internet access by putting 802.11b access points on
> >>the
> >>power lines running down the street. I assume this means that there is
> >>something that would block a network signal from a house to the main line.