PLC Communication Diagnostics Basics

Power Line Carrier (PLC) communication uses the low-voltage distribution network. It is completely irrelevant what standard or proprietary protocol is used. Meter reading systems use the same frequency band and distribution system, which always has similar characteristics and behavior.

What influences the effectivity of PLC communication?

Among the influences that affect data transmission from e-meters in all systems are mainly changes in the topology, impedance, or disturbance of the communication channel. To increase the success of PLC communication, it is necessary to find out “bottlenecks” of the communication channel.

PLC Communication map with bottlenecks
PLC Communication map with bottlenecks
PLC Communication map without bottlenecks
PLC Communication map without bottlenecks

As communicating systems must automatically create a communication path, they have built-in support for creating this path using various procedures inside the chip. Not all standards enable to find out the state and progress of these communication path creation mechanisms, and if they do, complete datagrams (for the transmission of measured data on electrical energy and parameters associated with it) containing information about the state of this communication path are not available. In addition, the specific certification of electricity meters does not allow the sharing of information about the communication path.

Communication with a bottleneck, bad throughput
Communication in the network takes place through a bottleneck – low throughput, the failure of a red node will cause the loss of a large part of the network.
Communication via multiple nodes with alternative paths, better throughput
Communication via multiple nodes – better network throughput, in case a green node fails, there is an alternative path.

ModemTec’s solution for PLC communication diagnostics

Since 2001, ModemTec has been dealing with both, the design of PLC communication modems, and their subsequent implementation. Due to this, these products incorporate procedures that provide information on the quality of the received signal, the state of the communication path, and other diagnostic variables such as phase monitoring (recognizing whether it is the phase to which the opposite modem is transmitting or whether it is signal received by crosstalk in the cable line).

As part of the PLC Cleaner solution, we use these modems for communication on low-voltage distribution systems. They are able to detect even the “bottlenecks” of the communication channel and, subsequently, recommend how to remove them. The big advantage of this solution is that it does not matter on deployed standard (G3-PLC, PRIME, OSGP, METERS AND MORE, IDIS…) in a given location and there is no need to manipulate already installed electricity meters.

Would you like to check your communication channel for bottlenecks?

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