Internet over power poles

[TCJatko]

Uh-oh. Should I cash out my cell tower lease?

 

[buickanddeere]

It's about location, location, location. Hopefully this new technology and/or 5G will level the playing field.

Radio wave bands is like land, they ain't making any more of the stuff.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That wave guide business is interesting. But a wave guide in my mind is still exact and uniform in impedance. Power distribution infrastructure is hardly that, in my way of thinking.

I did see small antennas simply clamped onto the (I believe) live conductor of our rural lines to service the smart meters and wondered what that was all about. Given the chance, I always meant to stop and talk to a crew but never got the chance.

 

[ch1ch2]

They figured out how to use power lines to transmit data years ago. The biggest problem was the get the data across the transformers. Once they had that figured out the cost of internet service would be just pennies a month. The high cost of the infrastructure was solved.
Then all the satellite companies, cable companies and telephone companies got scarred and knew they would be forced out of business. So Congress passed a law. No one can use the power lines to transmit internet. The power companies can and do, do it "within house" with their digital meters.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sounds great. What I wouldn't like, is the popular "all the eggs in one basket" scenario. I have gensets, four levels of back-up. But no power could mean no Internet! And that would suck! No phone if you have VOIP, and maybe no way to be in touch to find out what was going on. In other words, just another technology trap!

 

[MossRoad]

But no power could mean no Internet!

Guy with a backhoe next to your ISP will kill it just as dead. Its something not to be concerned about.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I'm always looking out for modern day traps. No shortage around.

Having said that. Part of me, would like to see how these people hooked on their smart phones would (or will) react when it all goes south.

I did a big annual inspection of a big-pharma security system last night. My friend, head of IT reinforced just how complex and convoluted IT systems have become. I would say, already beyond our ability to manage it or at least even really understand it. When things continue to run, it's almost just by the grace of God. But for how long?

 

[k0ua]

I'm always looking out for modern day traps. No shortage around.

Having said that. Part of me, would like to see how these people hooked on their smart phones would (or will) react when it all goes south.

I did a big annual inspection of a big-pharma security system last night. My friend, head of IT reinforced just how complex and convoluted IT systems have become. I would say, already beyond our ability to manage it or at least even really understand it. When things continue to run, it's almost just by the grace of God. But for how long?

My HF and VHF radio's will still operate on my batterys which are charged by solar power, and I can charge my smartphone too!

 

[Industrial Toys]

Funny you should say that. I was thinking whether I should get an HF rig. I think I asked you about it once. When I got my license in the early 80s complete with the cw requirement, the rules clearly stated that no superfluous communications were allowed. But since commercially available equipment was already then, mostly the order of the day, not much technical conversation was taking place and superfluous communication was abound, so I wasn't much interested.

But given dire circumstances, I'm sure communications with just about anyone, would be better than none. Kind of like Tom Hanks on the deserted island, with no one to talk to but that ball. The name escapes me. Not a sports fan, any way, shape or form.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

My B.I.L works for the local telephone utility. He told me about this technology about 3-4 years ago. Not sure why but they did not peruse it. Probably enough competition with every other option out there now.

They figured out how to use power lines to transmit data years ago. The biggest problem was the get the data across the transformers. Once they had that figured out the cost of internet service would be just pennies a month. The high cost of the infrastructure was solved.
Then all the satellite companies, cable companies and telephone companies got scarred and knew they would be forced out of business. So Congress passed a law. No one can use the power lines to transmit internet. The power companies can and do, do it "within house" with their digital meters.

Baloney. And he reason cars don't run on water is because Big Oil killed the inventor, right? :sarcastic:



They did trials of this not far from me about 10 years ago, in Manassas. I followed the developments via an engineer's newsletter I used to get. It didn't work. They couldn't solve the interference problem, and it was horribly unreliable.

I've actually been watching this technology since about 2001. So far, nobody has made it work decently. That doesn't mean nobody ever will, but it hasn't happened yet.

If they get it right, it will be a game-changer. High speed Internet to rural areas, and more importantly (economically), there will finally be real competition in The Last Mile, which will be an upheaval in the telephone business similar to the breakup of AT&T in 1984.