European MIMO PLT field measurements: Overview of the ETSI STF410 campaign & EMI analysis

PLT systems available today only use one transmission path between two outlets. It is the differential mode channel between the phase (or live) and neutral contact of the mains. These systems are called SISO (Single Input Single Output) modems. In contrast, Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) PLT systems make use of the third wire, PE (Protective Earth), which provides several transmission combinations for feeding and receiving signals into and from the low voltage distribution network (LVDN). This paper gives an overview of the ETSI STF410 field measurement campaign which was performed in roughly 40 homes in six European countries. The measurement setup - including the couplers used - is described. The MIMO measurements include channel transfer function, noise, reflection and EMI measurements.