Broadband Characteristics for Multi-Path Power Line Communication Channels: Indoor Environments

Abstract

In this paper we propose a broadband frequency-domain model for practical indoor power-line communication (PLC) channels. We consider a top-down strategy where the channel is regarded as a multipath propagation environment with frequency-selective fading. The model is based on the physical signal propagation effects of numerous PLC architectures which comprise unknown number of branches and load conditions. We further consider the attenuation of a typical power-line to be increasing with length as well as frequency. The applicability of the model is verified with measurements from real channels from our laboratories and offices within the band 1-30 MHz. The generated channel frequency response (CFR) has a good agreement with measurements results from real PLC channels. Furthermore, to improve the generality of the model application, we study the dispersive nature of these channels through their impulse responses (IR), and then compare our results with findings from elsewhere. The comparison is made in terms of the maximum excess delay, mean excess delay and root mean square (rms) delay spread.