Broadband over Power Lines here soon and much cheaper than ADSL

[MrGray]

Just a question - does BPL still work during a power failure?

 

[DirtyPope]

DirtyPope - That is a well thought out post right there
I agree with most parts, if not all, but I am tired of every new operator following the telkom trend. Look at the rest of the world, most other countries would consider 512k some sort of dial-up speed
But they are trying, and maybe the have some strategy that would benefit everyone in the end.

Spose a burning desire for service that is light years ahead is what we (paying client) may just need.

Njoy the weekends Dei...

 

[DirtyPope]

Just a question - does BPL still work during a power failure?

heheh..yeah good question...

I would guestimate that the transmission of data across power lines is directly linked to the devices that "power" the transmission from point to point. i.e if the power failure is in an area around the lines but the sending and receiving points are powered, I don't see why it wouldn't continue to work?

Maybe someone else can answer this for us.

 

[Nod]

International pressure, what international pressure?

I was trying to be possitive. The whole soccer world cup spectacle might force them to increase bandwidth, hopefully, maybe.

 

[cjh]

Just a question - does BPL still work during a power failure?

I doubt it. While the modulated signal may still work without a carrier signal (doubtful), the receiving modems still need to be powered. From what I can tell, the Mitsubishi equipment used is powered from the mains. And my best guess is plugging it into a UPS won't work, because the signal will get mangled.

But this is just my semi-educated guess.

 

[GTS]

Goal Technology Solutions Response

Good day all

GTS is very pleased once again with the overwhelming response to this article. It is clear that there is a need for our services and appreciate the input given by your forum. This will aid in developing product offerings that are suited to the requirements of our subscribers.

The Broadband Over Power solution is going live shortly in certain areas of PTA as indicated by the article. Our website will be updated in due course with the relevant information and product offerings, and details on coverage areas will be provided once BPL, as with our ISP service, has been officially launched.

GTS aims to make a significant difference in the South African market by providing internet, telephony and IP TV services... with more to come. Please watch this space!

Thank you for your support and words of encouragement.

Kind regards,
The GTS Team

 

[kingmonty]

Thanks and welcome GTS Hope this is a start of an excellent service record

 

[kingmonty]

@ rpm: will Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) enjoy its own sub forum soon?

 

[xenithon]

Welcome GTS! Fantastic news, I wish you luck. Drop me a line as soon as you are in the northern suburbs or JHB so I can tear up my monthly contract.

 

[Radio]

PLC in Tshwane

The trial at Rooiwal cannot be claimed to be successful. The system creates mega interference on the HF radio spectrum. In the township itself there is no radio reception between 3,5 and 15 MHz and around the area severe interference is experienced. In Rooiwal a strong BBC signal on 6MHz is totally blotted out - that amounts to jamming which is an unlawfull activity

No system can be classed sucessful until it can live side by side with HF radio communication

Until proper inteference testing is carried out ICASA should stop Tshwane to roll-out PLC.

Hans van de Groenendaal
South African Radio League

 

[Darth Garth]

No system can be classed sucessful until it can live side by side with HF radio communication

That is why no BPL trail that I am aware off has ever gone into production because of interference issues with ham radio operators.

It is a dead end technology.

 

[Nokkie]

how valid is this information ? is there any date when this will be availible?

 

[armitage]

hehe. Was wondering when the HAM's would start voicing their opinion.

Most of the other countries that have tried BPL have been hammered by the HAM's cause it causes interference in the radio frequencies.

@ Radio. Welcome to the forums mate.
Just a question. It seems you got some info on how the BPL creates interference. Care to explain how it causes interference?

 

[sludge]

Ja, I saw a few articles about the HAM radio operators and some emergency services objecting to BPL.

@Radio and GTS, Welcome to the forums!

@Radio, I see there is a clip on your site, I have watched it and it leaves me with a lot of questions. How bad will the interferece be exactly? Will it occupy
spectrums wich are used by say, the airforce or military?

Their site is : www.sarl.org.za ,look on the index page, there is a 5.6MB clip.

@GTS kudos to you guys for actively engaging the public on the forums! I'm always extremely happy to see a company do this. I also want to ad, in GTS's
defence, they acknowledged the problem and also seems to be looking for a solution. Thumbs up to you guys!

 

[telkomsuig]

If WiMax is all it is supposed to be will there be any need for BPL still? I read about it yesterday and it seems quite an expensive technology...with fibre backhaul, repeaters etc etc.

 

[Rkootknir]

heheh..yeah good question...

I would guestimate that the transmission of data across power lines is directly linked to the devices that "power" the transmission from point to point. i.e if the power failure is in an area around the lines but the sending and receiving points are powered, I don't see why it wouldn't continue to work?

Maybe someone else can answer this for us.

Nope, won't work. All signals need a carrier. The carrier in BPL is the 50Hz alternating current of the power grid.

So: No electricity ==> no carrier ==> no signal ==> no data.

 

[krycor]

Adsl 512k = R362 + ISP section, lets say Telkom 3GB one cause people can over-run those.. so thats R249 =~ R611

Vs 512k + 5GB @ R480.. but assuming they getting it from same provider and it costs the same to provide on BPL or ADSL bandwith.. then 5GB costs R228.

So.. rental is R250. Question is can you get less bandwidth or speed? if need be so that the overall price is lower and competes with the 384k adsl product? Advantage ADSL has tho is multi isp's albeit a tight market.

Can't really add pots on if you do use it and they don't offer a pots solution on BPL cause its an extra service (forced tho)

 

[Paul_S]

The trial at Rooiwal cannot be claimed to be successful. <snip>No system can be classed sucessful until it can live side by side with HF radio communication

<flame shield on>
Oh my word - what a load of bollocks!
The BPL system works like advertized but you label it a failure because it breaks your toys?
With that type of reasoning the motor vehicle wouldn't be called a success and should be banned if you disliked the polution. We'd all still be using horses as the main form of transport if the critics had their way back in the late 1800s.

I understand the annoyance but just how many HF users are there in Rooiwal?
Probably less than five ...
Should the needs of maybe five people outweigh the needs of hundreds or maybe even thousands of users? And most of these operators do it as a hobby - not for a living.

Don't like the interference? Then move out of town.
You remind me of someone who refuses to sell their property or relocate when a new highway needs to be built for the benefit of the masses. Bunch of fringe lunatics ...
<flame shield off>

 

[captainwifi]

Decentralised vs. Centralised

Good day all
GTS is very pleased once again with the overwhelming response to this article. It is clear that there is a need for our services and appreciate the input given by your forum. .......IP TV services... with more to come. Please watch this space!

GTS see my thread here where I discussed centralised vs. decentralised
networks.
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=39954&page=3

In other words GTS we as consumers are back to square one. My idea is
to stream CCTV of streets/gardens when away on holiday, over the local loop to a local street node. I can't see how you could provide us with free local loop bandwidth because then people would obviously resell your bandwidth to the house next door. When I discussed the BPL with Charles Kuun he was emphatic with me that yes would have free local loop and thus liberate Moreleta from crime.

I understand the need for the you and ISP's to have a viable business model, but surely you must also understand my desire to prevent that lonesome tannie of 75 from being raped tonight. I am not interesed in sabotaging your business model , I am interested in CCTV on every street. Is there anyway short of us planting our own Telephone poles that we can perhaps come to some sort of an agreement?

www.goal.co.za][/url]
The Broadband Internet Protocol (IP) network permits the fast and flexible deployment of surveillance cameras. Linking to other security systems, like electric fences, motion and seismic detectors, armed response is possible. Thanks to the flexibility of the IP network, monitoring can be done from a control centre or by the members of the community.
www.goal.co.za

How are we going to stream 40meg local loop cameras(say 20 houses x 4 cameras = 80 cameras around perimiter) to a guard station 800m hence without selling each other your international bandwidth?

From this http://www.goal.co.za/housing.html page you refer to Housing estates or Golfing estates if you wish.
Free communication with the guard house and other residents (voice and video)
These entities will be treated as one block it seems. Ok, so what if I sprinkle some Manto miracle muti powder over 100 houses in Rubenstein- Moreleta 'transforming' them into a 'housing estate' - then what? Will these transformed houses
also be able to do free inter-house communication?

From your solutions page:
The drive for secure housing estates is the need to provide a future-proof solution that meets today’s sophisticated requirements.
Yep, the criminals are turning South-Africa in one giant prison. Everybody is fleeing into housing estates. Maybe we
should all go sleep everynight in an underground bunker or alternativly create FREE inter-house communication which
will enable CCTV.

Question to Charles Kuun:
Will Moreleta's residents now be able to purchase a CPE and be able to stream their own personal data or CCTV data to each other or will Moreleta's people be forced to subscribe to www.goal.co.za?. Or must you wait for the ECA
to be implemented?

To forumites:
Gentlemen as we await their answers to my questions I have a hunch that my research into Dslams and Telephone poles weren't a waste of time after all.

 

[Darth Garth]

And most of these operators do it as a hobby - not for a living.

In times of crisis and natural disasters, ham radio is often used as a means of emergency communication when wireline and other conventional means of communications fail. Recent examples include the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in Manhattan, the 2003 North America blackout and Hurricane Katrina in September, 2005, where amateur radio was used to coordinate disaster relief activities when other systems failed.

Well I dunno about you but I would prefer to have these folks on the air rather in a time of crisis than some power line internet service who is not going to be working anyway .