[ Spotlight: Powerline networking ] T
he typical home now has more connected devices within it than ever before. The likes of computers, iPads, connected TVs and music streaming systems enable us to stay connected to each other and to consume content far more quickly and easily. However, the number of potential issues during and post installation mean electrical contractors have traditionally shied away from data networking jobs – preferring to stick with the electric installations they know and understand. Often, the only notice you may previously have taken of wireless routers and other networking paraphernalia will be in ensuring electrical sockets are suitably situated. But all that is changing – powerline communications (PLC) technology is evolving from being a temporary consumer solution to networking woes in to a valuable new tool in the electrical contractor’s toolbox.
And there’s never been a better time for electrical contractors to get involved. Broadband providers, such as Virgin Media, offer superfast speeds, while high defi nition video streaming and cinematic multiplayer gaming all demand higher bandwidth from home networks – and consumers expect theirs to simply keep up. The majority of wireless routers struggle to effectively stream high defi nition video and the like, and that’s without adding drop-outs caused by nearby networks, thick walls and other devices, such as microwaves, to the mix. Wi-Fi, although convenient, is simply not robust enough to be the primary network within the home.
Up against a brick wall It’s no wonder, then, that we’re increasingly hearing of electricians being asked to install data networking while
The more you are able to understand your customer’s home and
requirements, the more chance you have of creating a new revenue stream
About the author
Giuliano Digilio Giuliano Digilio is the head of ECA Technical Services. He has extensive experience in the electrical and electronic engineering building services industry, and sits on numerous technical committees for the ECA in the UK and Europe.
rewiring a home. To the Wi-Fi-jaded customer moving to a property in need of a rewire and used to the reliable wired connection they use at work, it seems an entirely natural request to get their electrician to install data network cable while they’re at it. In modern partition-walled buildings, installing a dedicated structured network cabling solution is a relatively straightforward, if time consuming, job. The majority of homes requiring rewiring, however, present a signifi cant challenge; solid walls that have been drilled for power cable need substantial work to support data cable, and extensive thought needs to be put into maximum cable runs, distance from power cables and minimum cable radius. All too often, the enormity of the task – combined with the redecoration costs afterwards – will price the job far higher than the customer was expecting. In fact, the sheer number of unexpected diffi culties that can arise – from installation to performance issues further down the line – means electricians might be forgiven for leaving this thankless task to the full-time network installers. But headaches created by one particular technology’s weaknesses should not be an excuse for failing to embrace any innovation that may offer a new opportunity and revenue stream – and, thankfully, when it comes to networking, powerline provides the simple, highly effective alternative that electricians, faced with the request to network a home – no matter how old – need in order to offer a far more positive response.
One cable, two jobs Powerline is nothing new, having been invented in the
May 2012 ECA Today
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