This work focuses on the characterization of indoor hybrid power line communication (PLC)-wireless channels in the frequency band between 1.7 and 100 MHz. These hybrid channels allow the simultaneous exploitation of the ubiquitous PLC channel and the mobility benefits offered by the wireless signals radiating from and being induced into power cables. A comprehensive study and analysis was conducted based on: (i) coherence time, (ii) additive noise power spectral density, (iii) coherence bandwidth, (iv) delay spread, (v) average channel gain, (vi) channel frequency response and (vii) channel capacity. Based on the reported analysis, the magnitude responses of hybrid PLC-wireless channels can be assumed to be symmetrical and significantly frequency selective. Also, we reveal that additive noise power spectral density and, consequently, channel capacity differ considerably in the PLC-to-wireless and wireless-to-PLC transmission directions. Finally, we show that the measured PLCwireless channels present a channel capacity of up to hundreds mega bits per second.
This paper deals with the statistical modeling of key features of power line communication (PLC) channels that are necessary for designing data communication systems that operate over theses channels. The key features are average channel attenuation, root mean squared delay spread, coherence bandwidth and coherence time. All these features were estimated from in-home PLC channels measured in seven distinct Brazilian residences. Assuming that each feature is a random variable, four criteria (i.e., maximum likelihood estimate and three different information criteria) are used to select the statistical distribution that fits best to the data. The symmetry and asymmetry of the histogram associated with each feature is pointed out. The reported results focus on three frequency bands, namely: 1.7-30 MHz, 1.7-50 MHz and 1.7-100 MHz, which are in accordance with the standards used in Europe, North America and Brazil. The values obtained to Brazilian PLC channel features are different from those related to US and Europe channels reported in literature. Thus, the presented statistical models constitute an important tool to better design practical PLC systems that are suitable for Brazilian and in-home electric power grids.
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