What is Phone Line Networking?
Phone line networking connects computers in the home by using existing phone lines. The standard for this technology is set by the Home Phone Networking Alliance (HPNA), often referred to as HomePNA. The first incarnation of HPNA, version 1.0, was very slow at 1 megabit per second (mbsp). Version 2.0, developed by Broadcom, boosted that rate to a more acceptable 10 mbps. Phone line networking uses frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) to create multiple channels for data transfer. These channels operate at frequencies unused by voice carrier signals or DSL modems, making it possible for a single phone line to support all three technologies simultaneously. The advantages of phone line networking are that it is easy to install, inexpensive and reliable. It delivers datastreams of 10 mbps, regardless of phone use. No additional devices, such as routers or switches, are needed and phone line networking will support up to 25 devices. It is fast enough to deliver video and works on Macintosh
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