Characterization of Hybrid Communication Channel in Indoor Scenario

Abstract

This work focuses on the characterization of indoor hybrid power line communication (PLC)-wireless channels in the frequency band between 1.7 and 100 MHz. These hybrid channels allow the simultaneous exploitation of the ubiquitous PLC channel and the mobility benefits offered by the wireless signals radiating from and being induced into power cables. A comprehensive study and analysis was conducted based on: (i) coherence time, (ii) additive-noise power spectral density, (iii) coherence bandwidth, (iv) delay spread, (v) average channel gain, (vi) channel frequency response and (vii) channel capacity. Based on the reported analysis, the magnitude responses of hybrid PLC-wireless channels can be assumed to be symmetrical and significantly frequency selective. Also, we reveal that additivenoise power spectral density and, consequently, channel capacity differ considerably in the PLC-to-wireless and wireless-to-PLC transmission directions. Finally, we show that the measured PLCwireless channels present a channel capacity of up to hundreds mega bits per second.