DS2 Blog

DS2 Analog team short-listed for European Inventor Award 2010

Jorge Blasco, DS2 CEO and a telecommunication engineer with a PhD in the design of analog integrated circuits has been short-listed for the "European Inventor 2010 Award" by an international jury comprising entrepreneurs, managers, scientists, researchers and IP experts working for the European Patent Office. EP Patent 1551089B1 developed jointly by José Luis Gonzalez, Paco Andres, Antonio Pairet, Antonio Poveda, and Jorge Blasco gave rise to the nomination in the "SMEs and Research" category.  The patent concerns an over-voltage protection circuit and method for multiple access and data transmission.  

This year the jury nominated 12 inventions in four categories.   The winners will be announced on 29 April. 

Seminar: ITU-T’s Next-Generation Wired Networking Standard and the IPTV Revolution

The G.hn standard is almost ready and product developments are picking up speed to deliver silicon during 2010. Its no surprise then to see that the HomeGrid Forum has announced that it will host a G.hn seminar during the IPTV World Forum Event, London. It will cover what you need to know to implement and deploy this technology.  The Seminar entitled ITU-T’s Next-Generation Wired Networking Standard and the IPTV Revolution includes an introduction to G.hn and its applications and key technical components of the standard (including Physical and Data Link Layers, and coexistence mechanisms). 

When:    Tuesday, March 23, 2010
             11:00 a.m. – First Session
             2:30 p.m. – Second Session

Where:   IPTV World Forum
              Olympia National Hall, London
              Training Theater on Exhibit Floor

To enter the Exhibit Floor register at IPTV World Forum website.

DS2 Powerline technology enabling connectivity in Spanish schools

Last year the Spanish government approved a new plan to provide computers to all students in Spanish primary schools. However as computers are shipped into the classroom, the regional governments in charge of the actual implementation are facing a challenge in creating the necessary network infrastructure.

The government of the Spanish southern region of Andalucía has found a solution to this problem in DS2 powerline technology. The Spanish company EKOPLC has been selected to enable connectivity in 500 schools in this region.

Powerline technology has great advantages compared to the other potential networking solutions. It is easy to install and supports 100% coverage through the high dynamic range and built-in automatic repeating mechanisms.  WiFi has big limitations in coverage, especially in older buildings with thick walls. Cabling the buildings is of course always an option, but it is very expensive, requiring a large initial investment and installation work is disruptive for classes and normal school business.

EKOPLC has developed a complete system and methodology for professional installations of Smart Building powerline communication networks, and are implementing this system in a great variety of scenarios worldwide. Any building or structure that needs a communication infrastructure can benefit from the low cost and simple installation of a PLC network and all without having to lay a single new cable. Some of the scenarios where EKOPLC and others have used the technology are:

·              Hotels

·              Offices

·              Schools and Universities

·              Hospitals

·              Public buildings

·              Casinos

·              Ships

More information about the DS2 solution for Smart Buildings is available here. More information about EKOPLC is available here.

CeBIT 2010: Two new DS2-based home networking products from Billion

Billion will launch two DS2-based Powerline models at CeBIT Hannover 2010. The   BiPAC 2093 R2 (Pocket-sized 200Mbps PLC Ethernet Wall Plug) and BiPAC 2094 R2 (200Mbps PLC Ethernet Wall Plug with Noise-filtering Power Outlet) provide instant connectivity in the home and are great for connecting different devices such as modems, routers, PCs, set-top-boxes, IP Cameras, and game consoles using existing power cables. Using DS2's unique smart routing and repeating functions these products offer Smart Route to find the best transmission path and Smart Repeater to extend the connection for 100% coverage in larger homes and buildings. The BiPAC 2093 R2 and the BiPAC 2094 R2 include Smart Power Saving technology  that reduces power consumption when the units are not in use. Both products will be available early in the second quarter of the year.

Billion anticipates compatibility between these new products and future G.hn -based products. DS2 has demonstrated compatibility of its current UPA-based Powerline technology with its new G.hn prototypes. 

Woxter wins with DS2

Woxter's VideoLAN ™ is a CES 2010 Design & Engineering Award Honoree.  

This multi-room HDMI extender offers a compact, plug and play, cable-free solution to connect any AV source: set-top-box, multimedia player, Blu-ray player, with HD TV’s throughout the home.

VideoLAN integrates DS2´s AITANA++ chipset. Existing electrical wiring is used to offer a full HD home theater experience anywhere in the home.

DS2 technology powers new multiroom IPTV service from Telefonica

Telefonica has recently upgraded its IPTV service Imagenio by adding a multi-room service that uses DS2 powerline technology to distribute Imagenio servicio to any room.

Customers of Imagenio now have a solution to end family disputes as the new service adds the ability to simultaneously access distinct content: football, movies, children´s TV channels.

How Telefónica uses DS2 powerline technology for IPTV distribution

Telefónica is one of the first IPTV Service Providers that pioneered the use of powerline networking technology for distribution of IPTV services to any room in their subscribers' homes.

Telefonica uses powerline ethernet adapters based on the UPA specification and powered by DS2 powerline chips.

In this video, Telefónica shows what powerline technology is, and how it is used as part of Telefónica's IPTV Imagenio service.

Using TR-069 to manage powerline ethernet adapters in IPTV home networks

This is the first of a series of posts about how to use TR-069 to manage DS2 powerline networks.

TR-069 is a suite of standard protocols created by the DSL Forum (now Broadband Forum) to manage end-user devices in broadband networks, such as DSL routers, IPTV Set-Top-Boxes or VoIP adapters. With TR-069, service providers can remotely control powerline devices and perform management tasks.

Aitana-based powerline adapters beat competition

John R. Delane at Computer Shopper recently published a review of the latest D-Link’s Powerline HD Network Starter Kit DHP-303. The DHP-303 (which has been featured in this blog before) is powered by the latest DS2's AITANA powerline communications chipset.

The D-Link adapter gets a score of 8 (out of 10) and an "Editors' Choice" recognition.
Some highlights from the review:

Using Microsoft Windows LLTD with DS2 powerline networks

One of the nice features of DS2's AITANA powerline chipset is that its embedded microprocessor provides an excellent platform to develop network protocols.

Typical examples that our customers use are HTTP, SNMP or TR-069 (for remote management) or TFTP/FTP (for downloading configuration settings or new firmware upgrades). System designers can run these protocols in the AITANA chipset itself, instead of requiring an external processor (which would increase cost, space and power consumption).

Last year, DS2 announced that we had ported another network protocol, Microsoft's Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD), to our AITANA platform.

What is LLTD and why is it important?