Abstract
Recently, power line communication (PLC) technology has been associated with the
emerging visible light communication (VLC) technology. PLC technology is matured and has gained from
tremendous research contributions over the past years. VLC technology, relatively new, utilizes light emitting
diodes (LED) to transmit information through the visible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Their hybrid systems are attractive in their ubiquitousness for providing power delivery, illumination, and
data transmission. Furthermore, such a hybrid system is cost effective due to its infrastructure already being
used for other means. In this paper, we report on channel frequency measurement of a hybrid cascaded
PLC-VLC channel. These measurements performed in a laboratory environment demonstrate the influence
of power line activities and the LED supply on the hybrid PLC-VLC channel response. Based on previous
models and the observed behaviors, we present simulation results of a PLC-VLC channel model. In our
results obtained, the effect of the LED supply on both channels is emphasized and also considered in the
proposed model. Finally, this paper provides an overall characterization, model and spectral analysis for
hybrid PLC-VLC channels, which is critical for effective promotion and mass production of hybrid PLCVLC
systems.