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PLC Performance Testing White Paper
Digital communications over AC power lines is a technology that has matured to a level of high-performance and worldwide deployment, but in the process competing technologies have emerged that carry the same performance brand (i.e. 200 Mbps), yet are not compatible and do not deliver the same level of performance in a home network. Evaluating the different Powerline Communications (PLC) technologies to determine the best performer is a serious challenge for consumers, service providers, publication editors and product analysts.
This PLC Performance Testing white paper has been created because both Intellon and the HomePlug Powerline Alliance want investigators to understand how to evaluate the technologies to achieve real contextual data that leads to the best technology choice and market success. Intellon's position is that ultimately PLC technology must be field tested within the context of real-world settings to reveal true performance and impairment-handling capability. In other words, testing must be done in the end-users' setting parallel to typical use as seen in consumers’ home networks.
Topics covered in this paper include:
- Best Use Practices
- Key Metrics for PLC Technology Field Testing
- Simplified Field Testing
- Laboratory Testing
In addition, performance data is presented that compares competing PLC technologies and reinforces the importance of testing PLC devices in real user environments.
Powerline Communications Performance Testing White Paper (pdf) - includes a procedure for testing streaming video.
Sample video files that can be used for testing include:
Standard Definition test clip (3 Mbps)
High Definition test clip (19 Mbps)
This test footage is courtesy of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.
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