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NuVo Tech Chief Talks Powerline Trends
Rick Kukulies, NuVo's CTO, breaks down the emerging powerline networking category.
According to NuVo Technologies’ Rick Kukulies, emerging powerline innovations mean big things for CE pros. “In the case of a multiroom audio system, like the NuVo Renovia,” he says, “installation can be done in one day.”
Powerline networking has recently become a popular option for custom installers, thanks to its retrofit-friendliness and increasing reliability.
Newly formed organizations, like the HomePlug Alliance, have established standards for the development of new and better powerline-based communication technologies products.
Rick Kukulies, NuVo Technologies' chief technology officer, sat down with CE Pro for a Q&A session aimed at giving readers some powerline tech clarity.
Describe powerline technology.
Powerline technology connects devices together using the power lines in the home.
Proprietary technologies exist for both control and A/V applications, but HomePlug is the only global standard for high-speed networking in the home.
How do today's technologies differ from older protocols, like X10?
Powerline technologies, such as X10 and Insteon, are for control only.
The frequencies used by these technologies are in the 100 kHz to 200 kHz range and they cannot handle audio or video content. The HomePlug 1.0 powerline specification, however, is suited to transmit audio, video and metadata.
In what applications will installers see Powerline technology used most?
Powerline technology is used for control applications, such as lighting, HVAC and other home automation scenarios.
The powerline market segment is growing quickly. It will be used for audio and video applications, too.
Will the reliability of the technology be affected by issues such as brownouts, surges, line noise and power outages?
It's tough to beat a physical wire for transmission quality, reliability and cost, of course.
There are, however, many applications, particularly in retrofitting existing homes where a physical wire is difficult or impossible to run.
Keep in mind that homeowners are not only concerned with the cost an installation, but also the disruption of running wires throughout their homes.
It can be a messy and time-consuming process and as we all know the holes need to be cut and patched to the homeowner's standards.
In order to best serve the retrofit market, the industry has been forced to find ways to wirelessly connect rooms together and this connectivity doesn't necessarily mean using wireless technologies.
With that said, there are two reliability issues with powerline and both are addressed by the current technology.
The first issue involves the possibility of permanent damage to equipment caused by surges and brownouts. The second issue is the temporary loss of service due to factors such as line noise.
The permanent damage issue is addressed by standard techniques that the industry has employed for years and The HomePlug Powerline Alliance has addressed reliability through extensive testing to find ways to reduce signal loss issues.
Does a technician need to be a licensed electrician to install these products?
If the product is directly connected to AC wiring, the installer needs to be a licensed electrician.
Powerline products, like USB extenders and Ethernet adapters, do not require electrician licenses because all they do is plug in to an outlet. In all cases, the installer must comply with all electrical codes -- national and local.
What are the cost differences between traditional A/V and powerline technologies?
As with any product that isn't hardwired, powerline products will be more costly. The difference is that the installation cost will be lower in some cases.
Powerline technology eliminates the disruption caused by installing more wiring in an existing home.
What kind of profit do you expect this emerging category to offer installers?
The real take-home point for the installer is this: even though the products are more expensive and the installation is less expensive, dealers will realize greater income because they will be able to perform more installations.
In the case of a multiroom audio system, like the NuVo Renovia, installation can be done in one day.
Looking at the big picture, powerline-based solutions will enable the industry to make a significant impact in the existing home market.
Newly formed organizations, like the HomePlug Alliance, have established standards for the development of new and better powerline-based communication technologies products.
Rick Kukulies, NuVo Technologies' chief technology officer, sat down with CE Pro for a Q&A session aimed at giving readers some powerline tech clarity.
Describe powerline technology.
Powerline technology connects devices together using the power lines in the home.
Proprietary technologies exist for both control and A/V applications, but HomePlug is the only global standard for high-speed networking in the home.
How do today's technologies differ from older protocols, like X10?
Powerline technologies, such as X10 and Insteon, are for control only.
The frequencies used by these technologies are in the 100 kHz to 200 kHz range and they cannot handle audio or video content. The HomePlug 1.0 powerline specification, however, is suited to transmit audio, video and metadata.
In what applications will installers see Powerline technology used most?
Powerline technology is used for control applications, such as lighting, HVAC and other home automation scenarios.
The powerline market segment is growing quickly. It will be used for audio and video applications, too.
Will the reliability of the technology be affected by issues such as brownouts, surges, line noise and power outages?
It's tough to beat a physical wire for transmission quality, reliability and cost, of course.
There are, however, many applications, particularly in retrofitting existing homes where a physical wire is difficult or impossible to run.
Keep in mind that homeowners are not only concerned with the cost an installation, but also the disruption of running wires throughout their homes.
It can be a messy and time-consuming process and as we all know the holes need to be cut and patched to the homeowner's standards.
In order to best serve the retrofit market, the industry has been forced to find ways to wirelessly connect rooms together and this connectivity doesn't necessarily mean using wireless technologies.
With that said, there are two reliability issues with powerline and both are addressed by the current technology.
The first issue involves the possibility of permanent damage to equipment caused by surges and brownouts. The second issue is the temporary loss of service due to factors such as line noise.
The permanent damage issue is addressed by standard techniques that the industry has employed for years and The HomePlug Powerline Alliance has addressed reliability through extensive testing to find ways to reduce signal loss issues.
Does a technician need to be a licensed electrician to install these products?
If the product is directly connected to AC wiring, the installer needs to be a licensed electrician.
Powerline products, like USB extenders and Ethernet adapters, do not require electrician licenses because all they do is plug in to an outlet. In all cases, the installer must comply with all electrical codes -- national and local.
What are the cost differences between traditional A/V and powerline technologies?
As with any product that isn't hardwired, powerline products will be more costly. The difference is that the installation cost will be lower in some cases.
Powerline technology eliminates the disruption caused by installing more wiring in an existing home.
What kind of profit do you expect this emerging category to offer installers?
The real take-home point for the installer is this: even though the products are more expensive and the installation is less expensive, dealers will realize greater income because they will be able to perform more installations.
In the case of a multiroom audio system, like the NuVo Renovia, installation can be done in one day.
Looking at the big picture, powerline-based solutions will enable the industry to make a significant impact in the existing home market.
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About the Author
Robert Archer, Senior Editor, CE Pro
Bob is a dedicated audiophile who has written about consumer electronics for various publications within Massachusetts before joining the staff of CE Pro in 2000. Bob writes CE Pro's monthly Audio/Video news and Screening Room, as well as serving as the co-chair for the EHX A/V educational curriculum.
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