What is Power line communication?
[[File:Devolo dLAN650.JPG|thumb|A powerline adapter, as they are commonly found. It has a plug for an [[ethernet]] cable, plus a normal power socket.]] '''Power line communication''' (or '''Powerline communication''') uses existing [[electricity|electric]] [[power line]]s to send and receive data. The data [[signal]] is [[modulation|modulated]] and [[multiplexing|multiplexed]] over several carrier frequencies. There are different technologies that can be used: *low frequency transmission, over long distances: Example uses are the power company reading out its meters from a distance, or controlling its equipment, which may be in remote locations that are difficult to access. Modulation is at a few hundred kilohertz *medium frequency transmission, over short distances: Home automation (light switching, automatically controlled blinds...) *There are different technologies that propose to replace a [[Local Area Network]] or [[WLAN]]. The problem there is that technologies of different vendors cannot talk to each other, and that the standard is only about as fast as Fast Ethernet {{tech-stub}} [[Category:Computer networking]]