ETSI Blesses 4K Video Over Powerline MIMO Networks

The Online Reporter noted that ETSI recently published a technical report, Powerline recommendations for very high bitrate services, showing the 4K video works great over powerline communication networks using MIMO.

To be sure, ETSI's testing only used HomePlug AV2 MIMO networks. The conclusion was "... MIMO-PLT networks are recommended for high speed internet services such as UHD (Ultra High
Definition) SVOD and video streaming services for whole home distribution". No reason was given why products using the ITU MIMO PLC standard, G.hn, was not tested.

QualityLogic Announces First SEP2 Conformance Test Program

QualityLogic announced the launch the first certification test program for the Smart Energy Profile 2.0 (SEP2) standard. SEP2 is TCP/IP based protocol for smart meter / smart home applications.

SEP2 was jointly developed by ZigBee and HomePlug members (and later rubber stamped by the IEEE as IEEE 2030.5).  The idea was to have a protocol similar to the ZigBee only SEP 1, but allow it to function on any network technology supporting IPv4 or IPv6. Lots of XML and security was added along with support of plug-in electrical vehicle charging. SEP2 was approved May 2013.

The ZigBee and HomePlug Alliances, along with the Wi-Fi Alliance, then created on May 16, 2012 the Consortium for SEP 2 Interoperability (CSEP) with the goal to write the SEP2 certification test plan.

QualityLogic seems to have jumped the gun on CSEP by announcing the first certification test program for the Smart Energy Profile 2.0 (SEP2) standard. While their press release had quotes from the CEO of Grid2Home and the Lab Manager at Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Curiously there were no quotes from CSEP or a CSEP press release.

Wi-SUN Finalizes Specification for wireless mesh Smart Gird communications

Wi-SUN's recent press release announced that they have finished the technical specifications for a wireless mesh Smart Grid communications technology. Effectively Wi-SUN developed a profile of IEEE 802.15.4g to ensure IPv6 (yes, Cisco is behind this)  multi-vendor interoperability.

This effort compliments the work done by Netricity to standardized narrowband PLC for Smart Grid.

As both Netricity and Wi-SUN fully support IPv6, Cisco sees them as key technologies for Smart Grid communications solutions.

HomePlug AV2 out of the Starting Blocks--Broadcom takes the lead.

HomePlug's recent CES 2015 press release announced the launch of the HomePlug AV2 certification program along with first certified HomePlug AV2 reference designs and products. All the certified HPAV2 products have MIMO capability--which effectively doubles the performance if your outlet has a ground pin.

As expected and required by HomePlug, chips from two silicon vendors were part of the HPAV2 certification. Broadcom and Qualcomm Atheros have had their reference designs certified:

• BRCM960500 Reference Design uses the BCM60500 chip (2-87MHz AV2 band)
• QCAKPL41E Reference Design uses the QCA7500 chip (2-67MHz AV2 band)

The first two certified HPAV2 products are both based on Broadcom's BCM60500 chip. This is very curious as Qualcom Atheros dominates the HomePlug market and has customers shipping products based on the QCA7500 for sometime.

D-Link and Lea Networks certified HomePlug AV2 Products:

• NetSocket 1800 Product uses BCM60500 chip. 
• DHP-701AV PowerLine AV2 2000 Product BCM60500 chip. 

Even more of a win is D-Link using the extra 20MHz the BCM60500 chips provides to position the DHP-701AV as a 2000 Mbps solution (" Speeds of up to 2000Mpbs"), Most of Qualcomm Atheros OEMs are going with 1200 Mbps as the out-of-the-box speed for QCA7500 solutions.

IEEE 1901.2 (aka Netricity)--one step closer to standardized narrowband PLC for Smart Grid

Today's press release from HomePlug announced the first multi-vendor interoperability event for the IEEE 1901.2 narrowband PLC technology.

Semtech (using the recently purchased EnVerv PLC assets) and Texas Instruments were the 1901.2 chip providers. Cisco and Itron were the 1901.2 equipment providers.

In addition to testing the PHY/MAC interoperability using various modulations and payload sizes in the FCC-above-CELENEC band, Cisco was surely hovering about to ensure that IEEE 1901.2 implementations were exchanging IPv6 packets correctly. HomePlug said that "Participants confirmed interoperability".

STMicroelectronics seems to have not attended the event. This is curious given that their STCOMET10 chip was announced 15 months ago as supporting IEEE 1901.2 narrowband PLC.

$15 USD ZigBee Smart Bulb from Cree

Connected Cree LED Bulb

GIZMODO is reporting that Cree's connected light bulb, Connected Cree LED Bulb will be priced at $15 USD per bulb. The LED bulb is a 60-watt replacement and works with both ZigBee (e.g. SmartThings) and Wink hubs. It has a durable, shatterproof housing ensures that the bulb can take a hit.

Permalink to GIZMODO article and my notes

Semtech Acquires Narrowband Powerline Communications Assets of EnVerv

Semtech, a supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, announced that they are acquiring the assets of EnVerv, a privately-held supplier of narrowband powerline communications (PLC) semiconductor technology.

EnVerv had three investment rounds totaled $33.4M, starting in June 2010. Semtech did not reveal the purchase price of EnVerv's assets.

Announced in Dec-2012, EnVerv's PLC technology implements several narrowband PLC standards:

• IEEE 1901.2/Netricity 
• G3
• PRIME
• IEC 61334 S-FSK

Semtech says that EnVerv's PLC technology is complementary to Semtech's LoRa; a long range, low power, wireless technology working in the 860-1000 MHz band.

Given that Semtech only purchased EnVerv's assets, one can assume that they got a good price and a lot of the original investors $33.4M went up in smoke.

Permalink to Press Release and my notes