AC164142 Microchip Technology, AC164142 Datasheet - Page 36

• Manufacturer Part Number: AC164142
• Description: Consumer-band BPSK 7.2kbps PLM PICtail Plus Daughter Board Other
• Manufacturer: Microchip Technology
• Series: PICtail™ Plusr

Specifications of AC164142

• Kit Application Type: Communication
• Silicon Family Name: DsPIC
• Kit Contents: 2x Power-Line Soft-Modem PICtail Plus Daughter Boards, 2x High Voltage Adapter Cables, Info Sheet
• Features: Operates On 5V And 9V
• Rohs Compliant: Yes
• Processor To Be Evaluated: dsPIC33F
• Processor Series: dsPIC33F
• Operating Supply Voltage: 5 V, 9 V
• Featured Product: AC164142 PICtail™ Plus Daughter Board
• Main Purpose: Interface, Power Line Transceiver
• Embedded: No
• Utilized Ic / Part: -
• Primary Attributes: AC Power Line Transceiver, BPSK 7.2 Kbps
• Secondary Attributes: Requires Explorer 16 Boards
• Lead Free Status / Rohs Status: Lead free / RoHS Compliant

Consumer-band BPSK 7.2 kbps PLM PICtail™ Plus Daughter Board User’s Guide
DS70656A-page 36
C.1.1.6
Some power strips have Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) filtering or surge protec-
tion devices. These devices filter out the power line noises at frequencies much higher
than the power line frequency (which is 50 Hz or 60 Hz). Since the daughter board uses
a carrier frequency (129.6 kHz) much higher than the power line frequency, these
devices may attenuate the signal and result in unreliable or sometimes non-functional
communication link between daughter boards. Also, daughter boards will not be able
to communicate if they are connected through isolation power transformers.
C.1.1.7
Power lines can pick up and conduct noise from various noise sources like lamp dim-
mers, electric motors and switching power supplies. Power line noise from these noise
sources can cause degradation in the performance of the power line communication
link. If you notice reduced performance in communication between daughter boards,
try moving them to outlets further away from these noise sources.
C.1.1.8
Other Power Line Communication devices on the power line can cause interference
and performance degradation if they are operating in the same frequency band as this
daughter board. If the interfering device needs to be used simultaneously on the same
power line with the daughter board, please change the operating frequency band of the
interfering device and move it to a power outlet further away from the daughter board.
C.1.2
Since wall power outlets are connected using wires embedded into the walls, length of
wiring between power outlets is generally greater than the physical distance between
them. It is hard to quote the maximum operational range of the daughter boards since
it depends on many other factors like:
• Structure / architecture of the wiring:
• Age of the wiring:
• Appliances connected on the wiring:
• Quality of components used in the wiring (like copper wires, connectors, switches,
Branches and rings can cause signal reflections and multipath signals which can
interfere constructively or destructively with the original signal.
As wiring deteriorates over time, loose connections can attenuate or reflect
signals.
Number, type and distance of appliances from the daughter boards are also
important factors since the appliances can attenuate the signals from the
daughter board and create noise on the power line.
etc).
Despite the Automatic Gain Control (AGC) feature incorporated in the modem
software, changes in the above mentioned factors may change the maximum
possible operational range of the daughter boards.
DAUGHTER BOARDS PLUGGED INTO A POWER STRIP WITH EMI
FILTERING / SURGE PROTECT FEATURE
DAUGHTER BOARDS PLUGGED INTO OUTLETS CLOSE TO NOISE
SOURCES
INTERFERENCE FROM OTHER POWER LINE COMMUNICATION
DEVICES
What is the maximum operational range of these daughter
boards?
© 2011 Microchip Technology Inc.