Modeling and evaluation of the indoor power line transmission medium

Abstract

The aim of this article is to outline the possibilities of indoor power lines when used to support local area networks in homes or small offices. For this purpose, the channel characteristics are described and a channel model is presented. This model is related to the physical nature of common indoor power lines, so its parameters can be defined in a straightforward way. Based on it, the performance of communication systems that use discrete multitone modulation, which appears to be the most suitable technique for these channels, is evaluated. Finally, a discussion about medium access control strategies is included.