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HomePlug fires back with powerline IEEE P1901 Draft Standard adoption

HomePlug Power Alliance logoHighly variable real-world performance aside, the lack of a well-defined standard for powerline networking isn't helping the technology take off; but sticking consumers between the warring G.hn and HomePlug AV factions doesn't help anybody. In the latest round of the fight, the IEEE P1901 reached Draft Standard acceptance, and -- wouldn't you know it -- the onus of coming up with compliance and interoperability testing for products will fall upon the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. Just to raise the stakes, the Draft Standard is aiming for backward compatibility with existing devices. Sounds like herding cats to us, but with finalization of the Standard slated for 2010, it looks like things are going to heat up in the coming months.

UPA and HomeGrid Forum agree to support G.hn networking standard

While wireless HD / HDMI attempts to find itself a place in the market, G.hn is racking up its fair share of support from those who still get along with wires. Universal Powerline Association and the HomeGrid Forum have just announced an agreement to support the G.hn wireline networking standard. If you'll recall, G.hn was just recently ratified by the ITU as a new global standard for HDTV home networking, and while it's tough to tell how it'll react to HomePlug AV vying for those same customers, we can already see a battle shaping up. Still, a universal format for transmitting 1080p content around the home is certainly something that's easy to dig -- it's getting everyone on a single caboose that's difficult. Full release is after the break.

DS2 already concoting a G.hn-compatible chipset

Man, these guys are really on top of things. Just days after the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) ratified the G.hn home networking standard, DS2 has emerged to announce that it is already working to introduce a G.hn-compatible chipset as early as next year. When brought to market, the DSS9960 chipset will enable manufacturers to jump in and attempt to revive the obviously flagging powerline niche. Will interoperability be what finally turns this segment into a viable business model? We'll wait 'til the wireless HD fiasco gets sorted before attempting to answer that.

ITU ratifies G.hn as new global standard for HDTV home networking

CopperGate knew this day was coming when it snapped up HomePlug AV's powerline business, and now the ink has finally dried on a new global standard for HDTV home networking. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has ratified a standard that will be published under the G.hn banner and will serve to deliver "high quality multimedia over power, coaxial, phone and other home network wiring." Reportedly, the protocol will also bring "up to 20 times the throughout of existing wireless technologies and three times that of existing wired technologies." Moving forward, it's expected that the specifications will be used by chip manufacturers to "build transceivers that can be incorporated into set-top boxes, residential gateways, home computers, home audio systems, DVD players, TVs or any other device that may be connected to the network." Sounds good -- now let's get some gear to take advantage. CES, maybe? It's a date.

CopperGate buys HomePlug AV Powerline business

Let's face it -- HomePlug AV has had a pretty rough go of it, and while we wouldn't consider the technology dead just yet, we can't imagine it ever rising to prominence at this point. Our negativity isn't stopping one CopperGate Communications from following its heart, however, as it just announced this week that it would be taking the business off of Conexant Systems' hands. The pickup makes CopperGate the "the first semiconductor company with home networking technologies supporting all three wire types (coax, phone and power lines)." The deal gives the new owner "all relevant power line technology and silicon products, related patents, appropriate licenses, and requisite personnel," which sounds to us like everything including the kitchen sink. Of course, there's no way of knowing what kind of impact the acquisition will have, but CopperGate's hoping that it will "better prepare the company for the new ITU home networking standard, G.hn." Check out the read link for more details.




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