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AFE031: Broadband over powerline

Part Number: AFE031
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AFE032, THS6222, THS6212, OPA2673

Hello Guys,

Good day.

Could AFE031 be used for Broadband over power line application. If not do we have a solution for this?

For details, our customer want solution regarding HomePlug AV wall adapter. MAC/PHY transceiver with PHY rate 200mbps +analoge front end + Line driver solution.

Thanks in advance!

Art

  • Hi Art,

    Q: Could AFE031 be used for Broadband over power line application. If not do we have a solution for this?

    For details, our customer want solution regarding HomePlug AV wall adapter. MAC/PHY transceiver with PHY rate 200mbps +analoge front end + Line driver solution.

    Broadband PLC application is defined that the full power BW has to be greater than 500kHz. 


    AFE031 has BW approx. 670kHz, and full power BW is rated  300kHz, which is only suited for NB-PLC application. 

    AFE032 has full power BW rated approx. rated at approx. 1MHz. Although AFE032 is designed  for NB-PLC application, it may use in BB-PLC application, if the transmission rate is low (theoretically, AFE032 may be able to handle up to 100mbps with OFDM modulation). 

    Per your customer's BB-PLC requirements, both AFE032 is unable to achieve 200mbps actual transmission speed. Inside of BB-PLC adapter (e.g. HomePlug), it is likely uses our THS6212 or THS6222 BB PLC line driver, and its full power BW is close to 200MHz. Typically, the AV wall adapter is advertised in Gbps transmission rate, but the actual usage may only be able to handle up to 200Mbps, which is limited by power line's quality, AC noises/harmonics, error detection etc.. 

    There is another major differences. NB-PLC tends to be used in localized low speed communication, and tends to be used in less secured application. BB-PLC can do both, and will require full OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model in layered network architecture. Therefore, only high BB line driver is capable to Tx/Rx the required server's overhead and data rates in the model.  

    BTW, THS6222/THS6212 is only a line driver, not integrated NB-PLC controller as specified in AFE03x products.  

    If you have additional questions, please let us know. 

    Best,

    Raymond

  • Hello Raymond.

    Thank you for looking into this.

    Attached is the image of specifications of chip set of the customers power line adapter design. 

    Do we have something similar solution?

    Thanks!

    Art

  • Hi Art,

    Q: Do we have something similar solution?


    We have similar BB line driver product as in  THS6212 or THS6222, but we do not have System on Chip (SoC) solution. AR7400 seems to have PHYS and MAC layers in the chip (likely in hardware , but I do not have the datasheet). PHYS and MAC layers can be accomplished via hardware or software, but AR7400 is definitely Broadband PLC products.

    I can connect you to the engineer who supports THS6212/THS6222 line drivers in BB-PLC products, if you are interested. We have BB-PLC partners who may be able to compete with the product line. 

    If you have additional questions, please let me know. 

    Best,

    Raymond

  • Hi Art,

    I forwarded your message to the engineer who supports  THS6212 /THS6222, product lines. If you have additional questions, please post any messages here.  

    If you want keep the communication or support in private, you may submit "friendship" request via E2E, and we are able to communicate via E2E private message, once the connection is established. 

    Best,

    Raymond

  • Hello Raymond,

    Thanks for taking your time forwarding the request to the support group for THS6212 /THS6222 product lines.

    How will they reach out to me? Can I send them a personal email?

    Thanks!

    Art

  • Hi Art,

    I have asked the application engineers who support BB-PLC products to reply via the thread. 

    I want to be clear, TI  only produces BB line drivers in THS6212/THS6222 or OPA2673. We have worked with a third party system  integrator (I recalled), who uses the line drivers to market their BB-PLC products. AR7400 products are made by Qualcomm for HomePlug's BB-PLC market. I do not work with the marketing or application teams in the Broadband PLC products. 

    Best,

    Raymond 

  • Hi Art,

    Please send me a TI internal email, and I will provide you with names. When I checked the mailing list last time, I was not sure that you are listed in the directory. 

    My email address is shown on the top of thread.

    thanks,

    Raymond

  • Hello Raymond,

    I just sent you a separate email internally.

    Thanks a lot!

    Art