Powerline Networking For Video Surveillance Advocated By Comtrend
Powerline networking, using existing electrical wiring, has been around for many years. Indeed, over the years, some video surveillance providers have offered it as an alternative to coax, category cable and wireless. However, it has never really taken off.
Now Comtrend, adopting a more recent powerline standard, is promoting powerline networking specifically for video surveillance use. Indeed, the company's PG-9172 Series offers a range of video-appealing features like PoE, multi-adapter networking, and even support for coax cameras:
But how does powerline work, and is Comtrend's product a good alternative to running network cables? We examine product claims and identify strengths and weaknesses inside.
Comtrend's ********** ********* ******
********* **** ******** ****-******* ********** ***** conductors *** ******** **********. ********* ** popularly ******** *** *********** ************, ***** installing ******** **** ******** ***** ******* is ******* *** *** ** ******* than ******* * ******** ******** ***** to ***** ******* ************ ** ***** not ****** ******* ** ****:
*******, ******** ** ********* ***** **-**** ****** *** **** ********** ************, ******** ********* throughput **** ****** **** *** ******** cameras *** ****** ******** ******** ******:
*******, *** ********** ************ *** ** limited ******* *** ******. ** *** sections *****, ** ******* ********'* *******, and ***** ****** **** **** ******* in * ********** ********** *******.
Powerline ******
******* ** *** ** *** ********, where ******** ***** **** *** **** conductor, ********* **** ********** ****** ** transmit ****. **** ***** *** **** can *** *** **** **** ******* interference, *** ** ***** ****** ********* frequencies *** **** ******. ** *******, electrical ***** **** * **** ***** frequency **** ****, ** *** ***** of ******* ******* ***** *****:
- ** *****:** - ** **
- ********* ********:* - ** ***
********* ******** **** ********'* ***** ******* signal ** ******** ***** ***** *** listen ** ******* ** *** **** convert ** ** **** *********** ****/******** connections.
G.hn ********
********'* ******* ****** * *** ********* interoperability ************* ******** ** **** ********-***** products, ** **** ******** ***** (****** than **** ***) *** *********** **** each *****.
** *** ******, *** ********* ********* groups *** ******:
- ******** [**** ** ****** *********]: ******* by ******* ****** ***** *** *** makers **** ********, ********, *****, *** electric ******* ************* **** **** *** General ****** (*** *** '***** ****' recharging ******).
- *.**: ******* ******** ******* *********** ************* ** ******* ********* **&*, *******, British *******, *** ********.
********'* *.** ******** ***** ** ******** to **** **** ***** ********* ****** also ******** *.**, ******** *** ****** number ** ******** ** ************** **********, and ******** ******** ******* ******* ** not ********** ** *** ********.
Comtrend ***** *****
*** ******* ****** ***** ***** ***** an ******** ** *** **-**** ****** and *** ********** *.** *********** ***** commercial ************:
*** ***** ********** **** ******** ************, walls, *** **** ********* ** ********** can **** ********** ************ ******** *** WiFi, *** ****** *.** ***** ********* a ******** ***********.
Product ********
********** ** *** ******** *****, *** Comtrend **-**** ***** **** **** **** a **** ****** *** ** ******** port/device, *** *** ******* ** *** existing ********** *******. **** ******* ******** also *********.*** ***, ****-**** *** *** **** *****, are **** ****** ******, ** *** designed ** ***** ********:
** ********, *** **-**** ******** ******* a Web ************* ****, ******** ** **** consumer ******* ******** *** ******** ****** settings, ** *********, **** ************, *** accessing ****:
Comtrend *******
********'* *.** ******** *** ********* **** multiple ****** *********, *** ********* ***** in **** ******* $** - $** per **** ********* ** *** **** options *** **** *********. *** *******, Comtrend's **-**** **~$**, ***** *** *** ******* **~$**. ***** ***** ****, ** **** integrated **** **** ****.
******** ** ******* ****** **** ***** to ******** ****** **** ********-***** ********* competitors, **** **** ***** **** **** adapter **~$** ****, ** **** **-**** *** **~$** ****.
Potential ********** *** ********
***** *** ******* *********** ****** ******* to *** **-*** ********** ********* ******* environment. *********** ** ***** ***** ***** for ********** ***** ************ *** ******* in ******** ********, *********:
- ***** ******** ****: ** ***** *** ***, *** wires **** ** ** ******* ********* together, *** ********* ** *** **** panel *** **** *******. ***** **** limitation ** *** *********** *** *********** use, ** ** *********** ** ********** applications **** ***** *** ***** **** multiple ****** *** *********. *** **** topography **** ** ***** ****** ********* can ** * ********** *******, *** simply ******* * *** ******** ***** often ***** **** **** ******* ********** plans **** ************.
- ** ***** **********: ******* *** ********** ** **** Powerline ******** ****** ** ********* ** surge-protected *****, ** *** ***** ********* devices ***** ****** ** ************* ******* direct ********** ** **********. ***** ********** is ****** ** ********** ************, **** power ****** ** ****/**** *****.
- ***** ***** ****** ***********: *******, ****** ******* ** '***** power', ** ****-****** ***** **** ***** coils, *******, ********* *****, *** **** equipment ************* ******* ******** ****** **** power, ********* ** ***** ******.
Common *****: **** *********
*** ***** ****** ********, **** ***** Powerline *******, ** **** ***** *** ************* under-deliver *** ******* *,*** **** ******. Throughput ** ****** ******** ***** ** the ********** ***** ******, *** ********* throughput ** ********* ******** *** ******* significantly *** *************.
*********'* **** ********** ** ******* ** *** ********, not **** * ****** ******. ***** Comtrend's *,*** **** ***** ** *** the **** ** ********* *******, ** is **** *** ***, *** ** manufacturer's ****** ******** ** *** ***** capacity ******* **** **** ************ ** at ***. ** ********, **** ******** grade **************** ***** **% - **% ** their ******* ********* ********** ********.
**** *** ****'* '*** ******** ******' ****** ****** ***** ****** **** ********** ** ***** a ******** ** **** ******:
***** **** *********** *** ********* ******** may *** ** * *********** ** a *********** *********** **** *** ** two ******* ** ****** *******, ** could ** * *********** ****** ** outages *** ********** ************ **** ********* use ******** ******* **** ****** **** to ** ********** *** ****** ******** video.
Comtrend ******** ** **** *********
** ***** ******** *** **** ********* positive ******* **** ********** ********* **********, often *** ***** *** *,*** **** rating *******. **** *********:
"*** *** **** ** ******** ** a *********** **** ** *********** ** the **** ***** **** *********. *** performance ** **** **** ** ********** by *** **** *********, ********** ***** present ******* ***** *****, ****** ** outlets ******* ******, *** *** **** nodes *** ******* ** *** *******.
******** **** *** *.** ** *** concentrating ** *** **** *********** *****. The ******* ******** ****** ****** ********** to ******* *** **** ** ***** streaming **** ** *** **** ********* environment."
** *******, ******** ** ****** **** if * ********* ******* ** *****, designed, *** **** ************ *** ****, the ********* ****** *** ******. *** as **** *** ********* ********, **** is *** * ********* *** **** for *** *********, ** ****** *********** is *****, ********* ***********.
Complicated ******* ********
******* ****** *** ****** ** ********** is **** *********** ******* ********, ************* policy, *** ******** *********** ** *** apply ** * ********* *******. ***** cabled ***** ******* *** ******* **********, *****, ** VLANs, ***** ******** **** *** ***** to ********* ******** *** **** ** separately *******, ** **** *** **** ********.
Tough *** *** ********** *****
******** ** ********'* *********, ********* ** not * ********** *********** ** ******** cables ** **** ***. *** ********* limitations, **** **********, *** ******* ******* administration *** *** *********** ******* **** often *** **** ****** ****** ******* costs.
********'* *.** ******** *** ** ******** in ******* *** *** * ******** run, *** ********** **** ********** *********** may exceed **** ** *************** *** ************** beyond ******* *** ****** ** **** applications.
*** ****** **** ****** *** ********* equipment? * **** ****** ***** ** interesting *** **** ** * *******. I ***** ****** ** *** ** home ** ****** *** ********** ******** feedback. *** ******** **** *******?
* *** ** ** ******* * recorder ** ** ****** ** ** house. ******** *'** **** **** ** two ******, *** **** * ***** of **.
** ***** ***, ***** *** ***** in ****, *** ******** ******** ***** had * ***** ** *** **** and **** ****** *** **** ****** grounding, ** *** ***.***** ***/*, *** ********** *******. ** was *** **** ****** ***** **** wireless...also *** * ***** ****** *** a **** *****, ** * **** with **.
** ***** ***, ***** ** **** the *** *** *** ******* ** some *****, ** ***** *****. ** seems ** ********* **** * **** Ethernet ********** ** **. **'* ******** to ** *** **/*, ***** *'* sure ** ** ***, *** **'* been ******* ******** *** **** **** fast ****** ** **** * ****** cameras *** *****. ** *** ** a *** **** ****** *** * wouldn't *** **'* ** *** ******** level. * *****'* ******** **.
* **** ****** ****** ** *** it, *** ***** *** ****** ** it. * ** **** * ********* where ** ***** ** *****. ** I *** **** **** ******** *** not *** **** *****, * *** pick **** ** *** **** **** a ***** ***.
****: $*** *** *** **** *** adapter, $*** *** *** *** *** for **** ******, ** ******.** *** so **** * **** ** ****** this * ***** ***** ***, ****.
* **** * ********* ****** ** connect **** ** *** ******** **** have *** *** * **** ** more **** ** *****. **** ******* are ***** * ******* **** *** the ********** **** *** *** ****** apps ** **** **** *****. ** the ****** * *** **** *** of *** **** **** **** ** one **** ** ** **** ******* and **** **** *****.
** *** ********* ** *** **** to ******* ********* ****** ** *** internet **** *** ******** ****'* **** to *** *** *** **** ** run *** *****. ** **** ******* out ***** **** **** **** ******* for ***** ******* *******. *'* *** sure * ***** *** ** ** a ******** ******** *********** *** * camera. * ***** *** ***** ** to *** ******** (** ******** *******) out ** * **** ** **** that's ********* ** *** ***** ** electrical *****.
** *** ***** ** *** ******* bandwidth ******, ******** *** **** *******. (I ***** **** ******* ** *** post *****):
Comtrend ******** ** **** *********
** ***** ******** *** **** ********* positive ******* **** ********** ********* **********, often *** ***** *** *,*** **** rating *******. **** *********:
"*** *** **** ** ******** ** a *********** **** ** *********** ** the **** ***** **** *********. *** performance ** **** **** ** ********** by *** **** *********, ********** ***** present ******* ***** *****, ****** ** outlets ******* ******, *** *** **** nodes *** ******* ** *** *******.
******** **** *** *.** ** *** concentrating ** *** **** *********** *****. The ******* ******** ****** ****** ********** to ******* *** **** ** ***** streaming **** ** *** **** ********* environment."
** *******, ******** ** ****** **** if * ********* ******* ** *****, designed, *** **** ************ *** ****, the ********* ****** *** ******. *** as **** *** ********* ********, **** is *** * ********* *** **** for *** *********, ** ****** *********** is *****, ********* ***********.
**'** ***** **** ***** *** ****** been ******* ***** ****. ** *** two ***** **** ** ** ** the **** ******* *******? ** **** the **** *****? ** **** *** the ******/******* **** *** **/**? ** Hot/Neutral?
* ******* **** **** ** ** on *** **** *****. **** ** the ***** ****'* * **** ** share ** ******** **** ** **** door ******** ***** **** **********. ** I **** ** ***** ******* ***** meters ****.
**** ******* ***** **** * *****. Used ** * *** *****!
*’** ***** *** ********** ***** **** generally ****** **** ******* ** ** power **** ** **** ******* ** the ********* ****** **************. ********* **’* a ******* ** ******* *** ** different ******
* **** **** ********* ******* *** times
******* **** ** ***
**** ****** ************** ******* ** ******?
*******, * **. * ******** **** way **** ****. * ******** ******* it *** *********. ********* * *** wrong.
*******, ** *** **** **** ******** to ****?
* ****** ****. * ***** *** paid, **** **** **** ***********. **** never **** ***** *** ***** **** gear ****.
* **** * *** ** ****** power **** ******** ** ** **** bag. *** ** ** *** ******* to *** ****** ** *** ***** where ***** ***'* ******* ********* *********. I ***** **** *** ********** ** solid, ** ***** ****** ** *** descent ********** *** ** ********.
***** *** ********** ****** ** **** of *** ***** *** *** ** the **** *****, * **** **** noticed **** **** ** *** *************** **** **** **. ***** *** one ******** **** * **** ** be **** ** *** **** *** then *** ***** ******** *** *** circuit ******** ** *** ******** **** AFCI **** ******** *** *** ******** quit *******.
**** ******* **** ***** **** ***** is * ********? ** ** ** the ****** ** ******* *** ** CCTV & ******* ****** ***** ******** in *** ***** & ****** *****. All * *** ********* ****** ** your ************ **** (***) ***** ****** power *******
*********** ********. *'* ******* *** **** dies ** *** ******** *********** ********* the ******* *** ******* **** *** main **. *** *************, ** *** electronics **** ****** **, *** *** wires ***** *****, ** ***** ** work.. **** ****** **** ** ** noise.
*** ****** **** ***** *** ****** control? **** *********** *** ****** *** bandwidth ******* ** *****. *** ***** think ********* ***** **** **** ******** in **** ****.
** **** ** *** ** **** door *********** *** ***** *********** & not ******* ** *** ***** ******* for ********* / ****** ******** ****** then **** ** * **** ****** application **** ***** ** ******** *********. Typically *** ********* & *** **** time *********, ** **** ******* / low ************ ** *** ****** ** issue.
* ****** ** **** ***** **** on **** ***** *****, *** ** electrician ** ******* ******** ******** ** both **** (******* ******* ***** *** pole), *** ********** ** * **** enclosure *** ** *** ****.
*** ****** **** ****?
** **** - * ***'* ***** so. ** **** ** *** ** through * *********** *** **** ************ and **** ******.
* ***** ** ** ** * 4 **** *******, ** ** ***** derive * **** ****** ** *** pole *** *** ******* ***** ******* a ***********., *** *'* *** ** electrician, ****** ******* ** **** ***** would ***** **.
***** ****** ***** ******* *** ******* encryption, *****, ** *****, ***** ******** will *** ***** ** ********* ******** and **** ** ********** *******, ** they *** **** ********.
********.
********* ******** ********** ** **** ** “cabled ***** *******” **. ***** ** to *** **** **** *** **** unaware ** ** ***** **** ******* ** lower *** ******.
*** ******* ***, * ****** **** is ***** ******* ** * ****** will ****** ******* ***** ** ******* the *********** **, ********** ** *** intervening ************ *****.
* **** ** *********** *** * gentleman **** **** ***** * *** of *****. **** *** **********, **** off *** ******* ****** ****** ****** like ***** ******* *** ******* ***** unnecessary *********. * ***** ****** ******* using **** *** ******** *******.
****** *** *** ***** ******. *** the **** *** ******* ******** *****, or *** **** ******* ********* **********?
**** *** **********, **** *** *** network ****** ****** ****** **** ***** outages...
****’* *****.
**** ****** ** **** “**, ** got *** ***** *** ** *********!”
*** **** * ******** ***** **** sold ** *** *** * ***** they **** ********. * ** *** 100 ******* ****. * **** *** that ** ** *** **** **** there *** ** *********** ******* **** claimed ** **** * ******** *****. They **** *** **** ** **** using **** **********.
** **** ***** ** * *** of ****** ******* ** *** **** of ****-**** **** ** *****. ******** about ** ** ** ***** *** that *** **&* ***** ***** ***** off *** ******* **** ** ********* that **** *** **** ** ***** drilling * **** ********* **** *** inside ****** ** *** ***** ******* to *** ******** ******** ** * smudge ** ******** *** **** *** residential ***** **** *.*.* *** *******. Anyways **** ****** ***** *** **** they ****, **** *** * **\*** RJ-45 ** **** **** *** ******* an ****** **********, **** ********* *** the *** ****, ********** ****** ** cases ***** *** **** * ********** to ** ***-******** ***** *** ***** derived **** *** **** ********** ******* where **** ****** ** *******.
** ** ***********, *** **** *** that * *********** ******** ******* * devices **** *********** ** ********* * frequency ******* *** ***** **** ******* your ****** ** *** ******* ** all ********, *** *** **** ******* must ** ** *** **** *****, on *** **** ********** *******\******* ******. I ***'* *** *** ***-***** ******** could ******* *** ************* ******* ******* like ****, ** ***** ** * solid ********** *** *** *** ******* the ******* ** *** ******* ****** though * ***'* ***** *** *** signal\frequency ****** ******** *** ******* *.*. simulating ** ***\** ***** ******** ** such. ********* **** ******* ** *** many ** ***** *** *** *** at *** **** **** (* *** phase) *** ** * ***** **** certainly **** ***** *****. *'* *** sure ***** *** *********** **** **** that ***** ****** **** ****** ***** outages *** **** *****, **** **** work ****** * ***** ******.. **** we ***** **** **** ******** ********** harmonics *** ***** ****** *** *** kinds ** ***** ********* **** *** adversely ****** ******* **** **** *** in *** *******, ** *** *** looking *** ***********, **** *** * wire. ** **** ** * ***** and *** ** *******, ***** *** great ************.
**** ******** ** ** *******, *** used ** **** * **** ** that *** ** *** **** *** ASIS ***** ****, ***** ** ****'*. They **** *** ********* ** ********* networking ********, *** ** **** ***** in *** **** ******* ***** **** have **** *** ** ********.
**** *** **** *********** ****-*******, **** this *********** **********/******* ******:
* ***** ******** *** ** *** next *******.