HomePNA
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Image:HomePNA.jpg HomePNA (also known as Home PNA, HPNA, Home Phoneline Networking Alliance, Home Phoneline Networking and Homepna) is an incorporated non-profit association of more than 150 companies, including the founding companies Epigram, Inc., 3Com, AMD, AT&T, Compaq,HP, IBM, Intel, Lucent, Rockwell and Tut Systems. The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance seeks to establish standards among telecom, computer and network products such that they are compatible for HomePNA. Home Phoneline Networking Alliance does not enforce standards; it provides advice to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which is a standards body.
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Overview
The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance as an entity does not manufacture any products, though its members do. However, it endorses products as Home Phoneline Network Certified™. The current version of their Home Phoneline Network Certified™ specifications is 3.0 (after 2003 it is referred to as HomePNA 3.0).
HomePNA 1.0 technology was developed by Tut Systems, and HomePNA 2.0 was developed by Epigram, Inc. who continue to play a developmental role. HomePNA 3.0 was developed by Broadcom and Coppergate solutions [1].
HomePNA 2.0 received approval by the ITU as a global standard known as Recommendation G.989.1, subsequently G989.2 and G989.3 (Phoneline Networking Transceivers).
HomePNA 3.0 is a relatively new technology, which allows you to network your home computers much like a LAN using your existing telephone wiring. Internet access received by a single computer can be shared among several others without a router. Computers can access each other’s peripherals like printers and storage devices as well as the ability to play multiplayer games. HomePNA 3.0 uses a different frequency than voice or fax calls while conducting data across the phone line. The frequencies for voice and fax calls is reserved and prioritised to take precedence over all other data transfer. V.92 modems have already incorporated this concept.
Note: There is now a proposal to include coaxial cables in the HPNA standard to increse the networking capabilities and overcome some limitations of phone jacks locations.
Requirements
The Requirements for HomePNA 3.0 are:
- Telephone jacks spawned from a single phone line (the phone line does not have to be active). Almost 99% of home telephone wiring in North America works with HomePNA 3.0.
- Hardware approved by the Home Phone Networking Alliance. Generally, this applies to standard hardware such as network cards converting Digital to Analog and vice versa, but many brands of routers, software, ethernet bridges and USB adaptors offer the Home Phoneline Network Certified™ versions. Some PCs are prefitted with the Home Phone Networking Alliance approved adaptors. The average consumer normally needs only a certified network card.
Advantages
Some advantages of HomePNA 3.0 are:
- Phone and fax are not disrupted since the networking function operates in a frequency band above voice, analog modem and DSL modem, allowing one phone line to be used for regular telephone conversations.
- No special or new home wiring is required.
- Unlike LAN, HomePNA 3.0 can connect to another floor without additional wires and cables.
- HomePNA 1.0 failed because the data transfer was limited to 1 Mbit/s. Home PNA 3.0 offers 128 Mbit/s, which should be sufficient for most needs. This can be increased to 240 Mbit/s for those with high data rate requirements.
- A maximum of fifty devices can be connected maintaining 10 Mbit/s speed.
- The devices can be up to a thousand feet (300 m) apart, spread over ten thousand square feet (900 m²).
- Is Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, and Linux compatible.
- The phone line used by HomePNA does not have to be active.
- The required hardware is not expensive, and once installed, it is the user's to keep. No service fees or contracts.
- A movie playing on a television in one room can be broadcast to another television in a different room provided both sets are Home Phoneline Network Certified™. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can suffer from undefined range when transferring video.
- HomePNA 3.0 will be compatible with emerging technologies such as Wi-Fi Wireless, Universal xDSL, G.Lite and HomePlug/Power Line.
- HomePNA 3.0 is backwards compatible with products bearing HomePNA 1.0 and 2.0 specifications.
- Broadband companies could deliver phone, Internet and video in a single package through Home Phoneline Network Certified™ hardware.
- The hotel industry has found HomePNA a highly cost effective option [2].
Disadvantages
Some disadvantages of HomePNA 3.0 are:
- Wi-Fi wireless LANs and Bluetooth, which replaced the now obsolete HomeRF, continue to be the major alternative.
- Another alternative is Power Line/HomePlug which carries data over powerlines. Many vendors are building HomePlug compatible products.
- Poorly placed telephone jacks can be an obstacle.
- If an analog modem is used for dialup Internet (even if it's a v.92 modem), a user will still not be able to make or receive phone calls since the dial service is occupied [3].
- Actual speeds of many products using HomePNA 3.0 are yet to be ascertained.