Abstract
The Channel Frequency Response (CFR) is an
important parameter in the specification of Power Line
Communications (PLC) equipment. In this paper, low voltage
indoor power cables are investigated and their suitability for PLC
operation are determined. This is done in terms of their Channel
Frequency Response (CFR). Cable parameters such as inductance,
capacitance, resistance, length and termination are investigated up
to 100MHz. This work shows cable length and load impedance are
the primary factors affecting CFR behavior. Long cables (in the
100’s of meters) and low load impedances - lower that the cable
characteristic impedance (few Ω) can dramatically limit the
bandwidth of the CFR. Variances in geometry, dielectric and
resistance are only secondary effects and do not affect CFR as
drastically as length and load impedance.