Broadband Over Powerline

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF BPL

The diagram below (BPL Architecture) shows IP data from the Internet being injected at the HV/MV substation, travelling through the electrical grid and being accessed by consumers using a BPL modem at their premises.

                                                       BPL Architecture

The BPL equipment injects the IP data as an RF signal into the overhead or underground power lines using ferrite cores. The RF signal is typically injected at the medium voltage (“MV”) substation, bypasses low voltage (“LV”) transformers and is delivered to the end-users' electricity sockets in their home or business.
The diagram below (Inductive Coupling Injection Technique) shows how the BPL injector converts the IP data traffic into an RF signal in a signal cable. The signal is then injected into the MV or LV cable by induction using ferrite cores. This is known as “inductive coupling” and can be done without switching off power. An alternative injection technique, known as “conductive coupling” connects the signal cable directly to the electricity cables. This technique requires the power to be switched off during connection for safety reasons.

Inductive Coupling Injection Technique

The end-user simply connects a BPL modem to any power socket in the building for access to the BPL RF signal. The BPL modem converts the RF signal back into IP data. The end-user then connects the BPL modem into a computer, server, switch, or wireless access point.