Lingo (Glossary)
| Term | Definition |
| Backbone | Main trunk at the uppermost level of a hierarchic network. The backbone may also connect several local networks (LANs). |
| Broadband Power Line | To-the-home powerline communications — essentially DSL over mains cables |
| Bandwidth | A measure of the rate at which digital bits can be transported from one place to another; also: frequency span over which useful signals can be transmitted. (de: Bandbreite, es: Ancho de banda) |
| Device Language Message (DLM / DLMS) | A draft protocol for remote-readable electricity meters |
| Earth | Set of interconnected conducting elements that will unify the electrical potential to a single value |
| Earthing | Act of connecting to earth. (de: Erden, es: poner a tierra) |
| Field | Spatial distribution of magnitude, direction and sense of magnetic or electrical effects radiated from a given source. (de: Feld, es: campo) |
| Field Strength | Magnitude of the field vector at a given point. (de: Feldstärke, es: intensidad de campo) |
| Filter | A device for the selective offer of a low impedance path for signals of a given frequency. (es: filtro) |
| Frequency | Rate at which a physical parameter is changing per unit time, cycles per second [c/s] or Hertz [Hz]. (de: Frequenz, es: frecuencia) |
| High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD) | A method for higher data transmission in existing networks by compression and channel packing (bandwidth 9.6-43.2 kbit/s). |
| Homeplug | Industry alliance and de facto standard for In-Home powerline networks. |
| Impedance | Aggregate opposition to be overcome when transmitting energy and signals of alternating current or pulses. (es: impedancia) |
| Interference | Unwanted effect of one field over another. (de: Störung, es: interferencia) |
| Internet Protocol | The standard protocol for transmission of data packets on the Internet. |
| M-Bus | An interface for remote-readable electricity meters. |
| Mains | The part of the electrical energy distribution system that delivers energy to individual customers. (de: Stromnetz, es: red de alimentación) |
| Multiplexer | Functional unit managing a transmission channel or a passive medium in such a way that several station pairs can communicate simultaneously on this unit. |
| Noise | Signals without a specific meaning. (de: Rauschen, es: ruido) |
| Power | Energy per unit time [W] Watt. (de: Leistung, es: potencia) |
| Power Line | System of cables through which electrical energy is made available. (de: Energienetz, es: línea eléctrica) |
| Radiation | Manner in which electromagnetic and electrical fields propagate from an electrical source. (es: radiación) |
| Router | System connecting physically different networks using the same transmission protocol. They route data packets, for example, from LANs to the Internet and identify optimum transmission routes for data traffic. (es: ingeniería inversa) |
| Screening coefficient | Expression of how much the signal placed on the inner conductor of a coaxial cable is protected from outside electromagnetic fields by the shield; in [dB]. (de: Schirmeffekt, es: coeficiente de blindaje) |
| Telecommunication | Transportation of a signal from one place to another; traditionally understood to be carried out over a physical line. (de: Übertragung, es: telecomunicación) |
| Three Pot Bank | Three transformers on a powerline pole. |
| Transformer | Electrical stationary machine that allows to change the values of voltage/current at which electrical energy is delivered. (de: Transformator, es: transformador) |
| Twisted Pair | Pair of copper telephone lines. (es: Par telefónico / Par trenzado) |
| Universal Powerline Bus | A Home Automation technology using Powerline Communications. Possible successor to X-10, CEBUS and LONWORKS. |
Acronyns
- AMR
- Automatic Meter Reading
- ASK
- Amplitude Shift Keying
- ATM
- Asynchronous Transfer Mode
- BPL
- Broadband Power Line
- CATV
- Cable Television
- CDMA
- Collision Detection Multiple Access
- CENELEC
- Committee European de Normalisation Electrotechnique
- CLEC
- Competitive Local Exchange Carrier
- DECT
- Digital Enhanced Cordless Technologies
- DLM / DLMS
- Device Language Message
- DNS
- Domain Name System
- DSL
- Digital Subscriber Loop
- EMC
- Electromagnetic Compatibility
- EMR
- Electromagnetic Radiation
- FFT
- Fast Fourier Transform
- GHz
- Giga Hertz - 109 c/s
- GW
- Giga Watt - 109 W
- HDTV
- High Definition Television
- HSCSD
- High Speed Circuit Switched Data
- Hz
- Hertz - 1 c/s (cycle/second)
- IBSP
- Internet Business Solutions Provider
- IFFF
- Inverse Fast Fourier Transform
- ILEC
- Independent Local Exchange Carrier
- IP
- Internet Protocol
- ISDN
- Integrated Services Digital Network
- ISP
- Internet Service Provider
- KHz
- Kilo Hertz - 103 c/s
- KW
- Kilo Watt - 103 W
- LAN
- Local Area Network
- MHz
- Mega Hertz - 106 c/s
- MW
- Mega Watt - 106 W
- PLC
- Power Line Communications
- PLT
- Power Line Telecommunications
- PSTN
- Public Switched Telephone Network
- PTF
- Powerline Telecommunications Forum
- QoS
- Quality of Service
- RA
- Radiocommunications Agency (UK)
- SMPS
- Switch Mode Power Supply
- TDM
- Time Division Multiplexing
- TMA
- Telecommunications Managers Association (UK)
- TWG
- Technical Working Group
- UPB
- Universal Powerline Bus
- UTC
- Utilities Telecommunications Council (USA)
- W
- Watt
- WLL
- Wireless Local Loop
News Archive
BPL/PLC Companies
Industry Organizations
Powerline Technologies
Permanent Content
External Resources
Webmaster's Own Sites
Powerline Communications News and Information