Product category:
Communications ICs (Wired)
News Release from: Design of Systems on Silicon | Subject: Alma 4.0 firmware
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 04 March 2008
Networking technology cuts interference
Alma 4.0 improves network manageability by extending simple network management protocol controls tailored for grid management.
DS2 has released a networking solution for broadband powerline communications (BPL) and smart grid applications Alma 4.0 firmware meets the network planning and manageability requirements of commercial BPL services and reliable smart grid applications
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 16 Mar 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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The solution, available as a firmware upgrade, benefits from a modular architecture that promotes code re-use and reduces the development cycle while allowing product developers greater access to advance on-chip features for customisation and product differentiation.
Performance is enhanced by up to 20% which increases average throughput in the network for broadband applications and provides resilience to impairments such as noise on MV and LV overhead electricity lines to meet the stringent reliability requirements of smart grid applications.
BPL technology is used to deliver broadband services, including internet access, VoIP, Muni WiFi, video surveillance, traffic monitoring and air quality monitoring.
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DS2 has launched a powerline adapter reference design with a novel built-in power socket that frees up the wall outlet for other appliances.
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Networking chipset delivers simple, reliable broadband connectivity to the digital home by turning any electrical outlet into a high-speed broadband connection.
Smart grid technology is used by electricity utilities for grid management applications such as outage provision and management, advanced metering, preventive maintenance, asset management and optimisation and load management and control.
Both BPL and smart grid applications share the same electrical network and benefit from DS2's new Alma 4.0, specifically the frequency translation and frequency division repeating to support network planning requirements for large networks.
Alma 4.0 improves network manageability by extending SNMP (simple network management protocol) controls tailored for grid management.
Chano Gomez, VP Marketing DS2 said: "Overhead, low-voltage powerlines are widely deployed because they are generally the cheapest means of delivering electricity".
"On the other hand, they present specific challenges when used for two-way digital communication as they are highly exposed to external interferences including noise sources due to poor connections and environmental factors like temperature and humidity".
"DS2 has worked extensively for the last year in close partnership with its customers to analyse and characterise the channel conditions and the other elements in the network to develop a solution that meets market requirements".
"The new Alma 4.0 firmware offers greater resilience to impairments enabling the roll out of robust, commercial grade BPL services and smart grid applications for powerline operators and utility applications, particularly in rural areas underserved by other broadband access technologies", according to SH Kim, CTO, Kaicom.
"DS2's new firmware Alma 4.0 is the only robust solution for smart grid applications that offers electricity companies a solution to maximise the benefits offered by the capillarity of the electricity network to effectively manage the most dense network and to significantly increase energy efficiency while simultaneously improving the way in which millions of users connect to the internet".
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