DPL / PLC (Digital Power Line
/ Power Line Communication)
CORINEX INTELLIGENT POWERNET - ETHERNET BRIDGES
Field Test Report
by P. Mateus
2004.01.24
The goal for this test is to the estabish a (sub)local area connection
solution using DPL/PLC technology, integrated with other local area network
equipment and solutions (UTP and WiFi oriented) and to benchmark them.
Two Corinex (Corinex Intelligent
Powernet) DPL/PLC - Ethernet bridges were acquired at
Colmeal (Madeira, Portugal). The unitary cost was, at
corporate rate, 125 Euros + VAT. Next working day mail delivery costed an
extra 5 Euros + VAT.
Package contains:
1 Powerline bridge unit
1 Encryption and Setup Software utility CD
1 Owner's Manual, 20 pages, color [ PDF 1.8 Mb ]
1 Category [UTP] 5 cable
1 standard power cable
Product specs (official quote):
Up to 14 Mbps powerline technology (c.f. Benchmarks)
56-Bit Des Link Encryption with key management
Driver available for Win98SE/NT/2000/Xp and Linux
Ethernet device based on Homeplug 1.0.1 compliant chip
SNMP Powernet Agent
External Photos
Internal Photos
The construction is of high quality - with strong and nicely put materials
and design. A set of 5 front leds, divided on two blocks, keep the user
informed about link, activity and collision for both power line and ethernet
layers. The unit chassis are stackable allowing for easy and organized
expansion.
Network Connection Test
Existing network consisting of a ADSL 1024/256 connection based upon a
Alcatel Home Speed Touch modem (with a Alcatel splitter) connected to a
LinkSys BEFSR41V2 router with a 10/100 4 port switch, paired with two
repeating LinkSys WAP11V22 (running modified D-LINK 900 firmware) WiFi
Access Point 802.11b. One 16 port 10/100 LinkSys EZXS16W Switch concentrates
all LAN traffic.
Room layouts and plug positions (
GIF,
approx. 70k );
Main (blue) and Connected (red) bridge
setups;
All 6 ports power extension cords in use are "LEGRAND"
brand, details and specs here.
Detailed Network Diagram; DPL, LAN and Wireless
| JPG, approx. 65k |
PDF, approx. 114k |
One UTP 5 RJ45 cable (1 meter) was extended
from the LinkSys router/switch and connected to one of the Corinex bridges,
already connected, with a 6 ports electrical extension. LEGRAND brand, to the home
power plug. The other Corinex bridge was connected also to a 6 ports
electrical extension on a different room. A IBM ThinkPad R32 laptop, with
built in 10/100 NIC, was connected, wih a 1 meter UTP 5 RJ45 cable to that
bridge. Both Corinex bridges were powered up, all lights went OK (both for the
powerline and ethernet activity). The laptop NIC was able to receive
immediatly a valid IP from the internal DHCP (provided by the LinkSys
router), and internet/web browsing access was immediatly tested with
success. Tests followed to two different rooms also with success. No drivers
or setup software of any kind were used. Only devices and cables on
standard, factory default configurations.
Main DPL setup;
extension cords cabling details (real life setup, not laboratory);
Details of all the network gear components: router, wifi, switch, adsl modem and
Corinex bridge;
Detail of the R32 IBM Think Pad laptop running tests;
Bridges on full activity,
transmission lights blinking
WM9 Video, 48 sec.
320x240, 250Kbps
Aprox. 1.5 MB
Transfer Rate Benchmarks
A IBM ThinkPad R32 laptop, running Windows XP SP1, with built in 10/100 NIC
and one extra 11M LinkSys WiFi PCMCIA adapter (WPC11 V3), was used for
tests. As server there was a Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP4 10/100 NIC based
file share, connected to the LinkSys 10/100 switch via UTP. WiFi access was
provided via LinkSys WAP11 AP.
One file, 42 MB (zip archive, binary)
LanMark FileCopy (Send and
Receive): Version 8.2.183
1999
WIFI 11B
11 Mpbs (spec)
WIFI, 802.11b, 2.4Ghz based
22% , average 2.45 Mbps
DPL/PLC
14 Mbps (spec)
DPL/PLC, power line based
22% , average 3.10 Mbps
LAN 100
100 Mbps (spec),
LAN, UTP based
66% , average 66.10 Mbps
2004.01.28
Cross Benchmark
PLB11-OEM vs.
CORINEX
Since there were several changes on the home power grid and system
network (one more server with storage array connected, a new network switch, different power cord
extensions brand and setup)
since the previous DPL/PLC testing
was done, and to ensure a correct direct cross benchmark between this two
equipments, the test for the PLB11 was now repeated.
On this new test, the PLB11 reported values substancially lower then the initial test;
also both the LAN 10/100 and the WiFi values were all equaly lower
then the initial test.
Overall, the Corinex bridges proved to be a 3 to 4% faster then the
PLB11s.
One file, 42 MB (zip archive, binary)
LanMark FileCopy (Send and
Receive): Version 8.2.183
1999
Corinex , average 3.05 Mbps
PLB11 , average 2.95 Mbps
All serial numbers and unique part number identifiers were digitally removed from the photos. 2004. Copyrighted by P. Mateus, All rights reserved. No image or text, as a all or in sections or samples, can be reproduced without formal request and authorization. There is no sponsor or partnership of any kind between the author and any of the brands or companies refered. This is a private and independent report. The author publically allows Colmeal, Portuguese dealer for Corinex, to reproduce this report "as it is", either as a PDF export os as a direct link to the URL.