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Thursday, August 16, 2007

Sign me up...

Although I had essentially written off broadband-over-power-lines (BPL) technology, it will become reality in Dallas next year.

DirecTV said it would bundle broadband-over-powerline high-speed Internet and VoIP with its digital TV services to about 1.8 million homes in the Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas region by early 2008. Benefits of broadband-over-powerline include faster upload and download speeds compared to many cable and DSL broadband services: up to 10Mb versus 8Mb, according to Current. The broadband service is symmetric, which means upload speeds are as fast as download speeds. Moreover, broadband-over-powerline works via a go-anywhere, installation-free modem that's about the size of a regular power adapter and plugs into any electrical outlet. It is Ethernet and WiFi enabled, which means it can fill in wireless coverage gaps created by cable or DSL, said Current VP of corporate development and strategy Brendan Herron. [More]

Note the speeds mentioned above. Zoweee!! Also consider:

No satellite dishes
VoIP (Internet phone service)
No TV dish
No meter reader
More reliable electric service.

It's a dream, I know. But BPL would be a godsend to rural America.

[Updated: link is now activated]

Labels: Internet, rural life, technology

¶ 7:01 AM

Comments:

I lived a a rural county in west Texas whose population was only 10,000. I lived 25 miles from the courthouse and 15 miles from the nearest loaf of bread or gallon of milk that was for sale. I got dsl in 2002. They have pushed fiber there, now.

The county I live in now has a population of 32,500. I'm only 15 miles from the courthouse and less than a mile from that loaf of bread. Do you think I have dsl? No! Why??

That county in Texas was served by a locally owned telephone coop that was satisfied with a little profit. This county is served by SouthWesternBell who is not satisfied unless they have a lot of profit.

# posted by robt : 8:39 AM

BPL will be great if the technology ever makes it feasible in truly rural america. Presently I believe it takes an amplifier on the line every .5 miles. In Indiana we average 6 meters per mile. The cost is still prohibitive but give it time and technology will make it affordable some day. Until then I will use my 'Wild Blue' satellite speed internet that I buy from my local Rural Electric Coop. It is way better than dial up but no way near dsl or BPL.

# posted by Anonymous : 5:10 PM

John's World Thursday, August 16, 2007 Sign me up... Although I had essentially written off broadband-over-power-lines (BPL) technology, it will become reality in Dallas next year. DirecTV said it would bundle broadband-over-powerline high-speed Internet and VoIP with its digital TV services to about 1.8 million homes in the Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas region by early 2008. Benefits of broadband-over-powerline include faster upload and download speeds compared to many cable and DSL broadband services: up to 10Mb versus 8Mb, according to Current. The broadband service is symmetric, which means upload speeds are as fast as download speeds. Moreover, broadband-over-powerline works via a go-anywhere, installation-free modem that's about the size of a regular power adapter and plugs into any electrical outlet. It is Ethernet and WiFi enabled, which means it can fill in wireless coverage gaps created by cable or DSL, said Current VP of corporate development and strategy Brendan Herron. [More] Note the speeds mentioned above. Zoweee!! Also consider: No satellite dishes VoIP (Internet phone service) No TV dish No meter reader More reliable electric service. It's a dream, I know. But BPL would be a godsend to rural America. [Updated: link is now activated] Labels: Internet, rural life, technology ¶ 7:01 AM Comments: I lived a a rural county in west Texas whose population was only 10,000. I lived 25 miles from the courthouse and 15 miles from the nearest loaf of bread or gallon of milk that was for sale. I got dsl in 2002. They have pushed fiber there, now. The county I live in now has a population of 32,500. I'm only 15 miles from the courthouse and less than a mile from that loaf of bread. Do you think I have dsl? No! Why?? That county in Texas was served by a locally owned telephone coop that was satisfied with a little profit. This county is served by SouthWesternBell who is not satisfied unless they have a lot of profit. # posted by robt : 8:39 AM BPL will be great if the technology ever makes it feasible in truly rural america. Presently I believe it takes an amplifier on the line every .5 miles. In Indiana we average 6 meters per mile. The cost is still prohibitive but give it time and technology will make it affordable some day. Until then I will use my 'Wild Blue' satellite speed internet that I buy from my local Rural Electric Coop. It is way better than dial up but no way near dsl or BPL. # posted by Anonymous : 5:10 PM Post a Comment << Home US Farm Report host John Phipps surfs the Web so you don't have to... About Me Name: John Phipps Location: Chrisman, Illinois, United States Jan and I farm 1700 acres near Chrisman, IL. I have also written humor and commentary for Farm Journal and Top Producer for 13 years. Please visit my website (www.johnwphipps.com) to learn about my speaking services for your group's next meeting. View my complete profile ARCHIVES April 2006 / May 2006 / June 2006 / July 2006 / August 2006 / September 2006 / October 2006 / November 2006 / December 2006 / January 2007 / February 2007 / March 2007 / April 2007 / May 2007 / June 2007 / July 2007 / August 2007 / advertisement MORE FROM JOHN On the Coffee Table
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