DirecTV electrifies broadband-over-powerline

[radhak]

DirecTV says it would bundle broadband-over-powerline, starting with Dallas in early 2008.

At last, real competition to cable companies. HSI was the only reason I did not go satellite, and i expect the cable guys must know that's a common concern.

And looks like it might simplify stuff : easy to re-configure your networking.

[Ken Massingale]

As one who can't get cable or DSL and has to pay $$$$ for satellite 'broadband', I welcome it. The bad side is that the co-op that serves us says it will not consider BPL. I am so ticked that I can throw a rock and hit houses with DSL and almost see houses the other direction that have cable broadband. What really gets me is the phone company spending infrastructure funds to provise 6-10 MB speed to those who have DSL and not spending to provide basic service to their whole service area.

Dang, now you got me going again, rags.

[JR]

...and i expect the cable guys must know that's a common concern.

It doesn't stop there. The working phrase in telcom these days is "quad-play", meaning the delivery of telephone, tv, data, and mobile connectivity.

Yes, the cable guys know that they could lose tv service revenue to digital satellite if sat. guys could deliver data. But they're much more worried about AT&T and Verizon, who are delivering IPTV, telco, xDSL, and cell phone services in a bundle.

You may have noticed the cable guys advertising telephone services lately. That's where the real battle ground is.

JR

[cwsmith]

BPL has some real potential, but carries significant technical challenges. The powerlines in most areas are greatly deteriorated and quite simply is not designed to carry an RF signal.

Yes, it can be done, but without proper shielding, and a considerable investment in RF attenuators significant RF interference has been evidenced. This knocks out not only mobile to mobile communications but also rather widespread (several city blocks from point of leakage) disturbance and interuption to radio communications.

This not only significantly violates FCC rules, but causes harmful interferance to Fire, Police, EM services and business radio. As a licensed Ham Radio operator, we've found definite reason to be concerned about the unregulated spread of BPL.

My understanding from the ARRL research (www.arrl.org) is that significant findings in the EU has all but scrapped BPL services there in the last decade.

CWS

[Jeffrey Schronce]

[quote=Ken Massingale;290059]I am so ticked that I can throw a rock and hit houses with DSL [quote]

No way to work out a deal for wireless access from those folks who have DSL?