Characterization and modeling of in-building power lines for high-speed data transmission

This paper analyzes the characteristics of power lines in Singapore residential network in order to develop a channel model suitable to simulate its behavior for high-speed data transmission. The channel model, which describes the transfer function and noise characteristics of typical in-building power line channels in a frequency band from 1 to 10 MHz, is developed and tested through software simulation and hardware implementation. The transfer function is described by an echo model and the noise spectrum is derived statistically from measurements on actual power lines. Some measurement results on power line impedance, noise and attenuation are presented. The results are based on measurements between line and neutral conductors in a 230-V power line network. From the results obtained so far, the impedance, noise and attenuation of power lines exhibit variations with frequency, time and location.