Are Homeplugs worth the cost?

DonnyDave

Inactive wrote: »

Well I purchased my Home Plugs without any knowledge of this perceived problem, and there is no way that I am going to be parting with them because some Radio Ham thinks there may be a problem.

Sorry.

So if you have a gas fire installed and later find that it is responsible for leaking carbon monoxide into your neighbour's house, you would not do anything about it? How very self-centred you are.

System

I'm surprised that the ham radio community haven't tried to get ADSL2+ banned as it impinges on their 160m band. They seem to object to everything else that might spoil their enjoyment of polluting the airwaves.

System

Maybe polluting is too strong a word. I find it strange that 'polluting' was commented on but, considering the thread, no comment was made on ADSL2+ interfering with the 160m band. A lost cause?

kwikbreaks

computershack wrote: »

The interference to me wasn't a low power signal. On the signal meter it was +9dB which, for the uninitiated is 3/4 of the way across the signal meter and only bettered by local stations in the same town. It was strong enough that I could basically only hear someone once they were transmitting within a couple of miles of me.

In that case the unit simply must have been faulty if it was any distance away from you. Similar issues can occur with switch mode power supplies (amongst other things).

Some HomePlugs certainly do interfere with some radio amateurs hobby but it is not at all true to say that all HomePlugs radiate significantly on amateur frequencies and getting them banned now simply isn't going to happen. Unfortunately they will have to be dealt with on a case by case basis as you are doing. It is a great pity that the EU were not involved before they came to market as our own regulators are self evidently useless.

tweeter

Are Solwise homeplugs ok, as I just bought a pair and don't want to inconvenience anybody.

kwikbreaks

!!!!!! wrote: »

Maybe polluting is too strong a word. I find it strange that 'polluting' was commented on but, considering the thread, no comment was made on ADSL2+ interfering with the 160m band. A lost cause?

• ADSL2+ is only just being rolled out.
• Only very short lines use the highest frequency bins (ie those in top band)
• Most phone wires are underground so won't radiate.
• By the time the signal even reaches the overhead wiring section it is down to a level not much exceeding the noise floor of the router.
• The overhead wire is acting a lot closer to a proper balanced pair feeder operating into a proper load than mains wiring and is usually pretty short relative to the wavelength so will not be an efficient radiator.
• Top Band is mostly used for local rag chewing (although there are no doubt some DXers around)

I wouldn't say that ADSL2+ can't interfere with top band because it obviously can but I will say that I doubt it will bemuch of an issue.

Inactive

DonnyDave wrote: »

So if you have a gas fire installed and later find that it is responsible for leaking carbon monoxide into your neighbour's house, you would not do anything about it? How very self-centred you are.

I live in a detached bungalow with no mains gas supply.

Carbon Monoxide and Radio interference are two very different things, one causes actual physical harm, the other does not.

I will be keeping my Home Plugs.

LindaMary

Inactive wrote: »

I will be keeping my Home Plugs.

So if your computer and TV gets interference from a radio user you will not complain at all and live with it!

Inactive

LindaMary wrote: »

So if your computer and TV gets interference from a radio user you will not complain at all and live with it!

No I would report them, but as there are no Radio Hams anywhere near to me, that isn't going to happen.

Yanski

kwikbreaks wrote: »

• ADSL2+ is only just being rolled out.
• Only very short lines use the highest frequency bins (ie those in top band)

Actually Top Band is 2.0 MHz and the wavelength is around 160 metres

[*]Most phone wires are underground so won't radiate.

Sorry but that is quite incorrect. Ask the submarines in the Mediterranean how they get radio while under water

It will be interesting to see what happens with Top Band and ADSL2+. However, this is a side issue from what is being spoken about. The fact is that Homeplugs radiate from the unbalanced mains wiring in this country. Saying that the Amateur bands are notched is a smokescreen. The notching merely admits that there is a problem and even then still raises the noise floor on receivers.
Most people will not realise that companies can self certificate CE branding. This makes the mark a complete nonsense and has legal connotations. However, it is going to be an interesting case and a difficult one. The quoted speeds over mains compared to wireless etc are pointless as the chances are that they are *much* faster than the incoming Internet connection anyway and so only work for computers on the same network.

Interestingly, nobody seems to talk about field strength. Think of the worries people have about mobile masts and how the strength of the transmitted signal from these is harmful! The radiation from these Homeplugs is being transmitted from ALL the electrical wiring in the house, completely surrounding the occupants. When you bear in mind that these devices can (and do) transmit up to 500m from the source, it makes you wonder.

Good debate.