Planning for Future Bandwidth Growth in Wired Communication Systems

When selecting the ideal wired communication technology for your system, the right solution goes far beyond just covering the necessary range. How much bandwidth flexibility do you need to future-proof your system? Future bandwidth demands are constantly evolving as applications become more data-intensive. Will your system be able to handle increased data loads in the coming years?

To address these concerns, Nessum’s 4th Generation Technology introduces a game-changing solution: Flexible Channel OFDM. This cutting-edge technology offers a broad selection of channels, enabling you to choose from options that provide up to 8 times the range and 64 times faster PHY (Physical Layer) rates. With this unprecedented flexibility, you can fine-tune your network’s performance, ensuring it’s always optimized for your unique needs.

Understanding the Cable Loss and Frequency Range

In any wired communication system, cable loss plays a crucial role in signal performance. In the MHz frequency range, the skin effect becomes dominant, causing signal attenuation that increases with frequency. Essentially, as the frequency rises, the signal strength decreases, typically in proportion to the square root of the frequency.

For example, reducing the frequency band by a factor of 100 can increase the communication range by up to 10 times. This understanding of cable loss is crucial when selecting the ideal frequency band for your network, allowing you to balance performance and range based on your needs.

The Challenge with Traditional Wired Communication Technologies

Traditional OFDM-based technologies—such as narrowband PLC (Power Line Communication) (e.g., G3-PLC) and broadband PLC (e.g., Homeplug AV2)—often present difficult trade-offs. These systems can have frequency differences of up to 100 times and PHY rate variations of up to 1000 times, forcing users to make a tough decision between range and speed. For example, if a broadband PLC system cannot provide sufficient range, the only option is to switch to a much slower narrowband PLC, which significantly reduces data transmission rates. This forces a trade-off between coverage and performance, making it difficult to optimize the system.

How Flexible Channel OFDM Works

Nessum’s Flexible Channel OFDM solves this issue by offering a wide range of frequency options, giving you the flexibility to choose between low-frequency bands for extended range or high-frequency bands for faster speeds. This versatility ensures you can find the perfect balance between range and performance for your system. Here’s how it works:

  • High-frequency band (CID x-8): This band uses frequencies from 4 MHz to 56 MHz, supporting high-speed communication with PHY rates (~500 Mbps), but with a shorter range.
  • Low-frequency band (CID x-24): Operating between 62.5 kHz and 875 kHz, this band offers a significantly longer range, though with a slower PHY rate (~7.8 Mbps).

 

For example, if CID x-8 provides a 1 km range, the following channels offer the corresponding distances:

  •     CID x-1: 1.4 km
  •     CID x-2: 2 km
  •     CID x-24: 8 km

In this case, if your system needs a 2 km range, selecting CID x-2 gives you the ideal combination of range and speed, without the need to compromise.

The Power of Flexibility

Nessum’s Flexible Channel OFDM technology offers a level of flexibility that traditional wired communication technologies simply can’t match. Whether you need to extend range for remote locations or push the limits of speed for high-demand applications, this technology gives you the freedom to choose the optimal channel for your system’s needs.

Conclusion

With Nessum’s 4th Generation Flexible Channel OFDM technology, you no longer need to choose between range and performance. The broad selection of channels allows you to design a wired communication system that is both highly efficient and adaptable to future demands. By selecting the right channel for your network, you can maximize system performance today and ensure it remains scalable for the future.

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Order your Evaluation Kit and experience the benefits of Nessum today!

 

About the Author
Kengo Tamukai is a senior engineer specializing in wired and wireless communication technologies. With over 20 years of experience in LSI design, system architecture, and technical marketing, his expertise spans SoC design, OFDM-based technologies, and hybrid communication systems, driving innovation in modern digital networks.

 

Seamless IP Migration for Video Doorbell Systems

Video doorbells are becoming an essential feature in modern residential and commercial buildings. As demand for IP-based video intercom systems grows, building owners are seeking ways to upgrade their legacy analog doorbell systems without incurring excessive costs or disrupting existing infrastructure.

However, retrofitting multi-dwelling buildings with IP-based video doorbells presents significant challenges. System integrators require a cost-effective communication technology that simplifies deployment while maintaining high performance and reliability.

The Challenge: Retrofitting Without Rewiring

One of the biggest obstacles to upgrading analog doorbell systems is the cost and complexity of installing new Ethernet cabling. In many cases, the cost of new wiring exceeds that of the doorbell hardware itself.

Beyond replacing the doorbell units, system integrators often need to re-cable the entire building, requiring extensive electrical work. This can lead to project delays, higher labor costs, and inconvenience for residents.

To address these challenges, system integrators need a solution that enables IP-based video doorbell functionality without requiring costly rewiring.

10BASE-T1L: A Potential Solution, but with Limitations

10BASE-T1L is a promising wired communication technology that supports long-distance connectivity up to 1 km, making it a strong candidate for large buildings and industrial environments where Ethernet wiring is impractical.

However, 10BASE-T1L has a major limitation—it only supports point-to-point communication. While point-to-point connections can be applied in a daisy-chain topology where multiple devices are cascaded, they do not support a bus topology.

The Problem with 10BASE-T1L

Since 10BASE-T1L relies on one-to-one connections in a daisy-chain topology, the biggest drawback of this approach is that if a single device in the middle of the chain fails, all downstream devices lose connectivity.

For example, in a building with ten video doorbells connected in a daisy chain, if the third device fails, the fourth and all subsequent devices will also go offline. This poses a serious reliability risk in multi-tenant buildings, where stable communication is essential.

To overcome this limitation, a loop topology (ring structure) can be used. A loop topology provides multiple communication paths, ensuring that if one device fails, the signal can still reach the remaining devices via an alternative route. However, implementing a loop topology requires additional cabling, which may not be feasible in all retrofit scenarios.

 

The Solution: Nessum (HD-PLC) – A Superior Alternative

This is where Nessum (HD-PLC) provides a game-changing solution.

Nessum employs Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), which offers two key advantages:

  • High Bandwidth Efficiency – Enables Mbps-level data transmission, supporting multiple HD video streams over existing 2-wire cabling.
  • Strong Reflection Resistance – Ensures stable communication even in environments where signal reflection is a concern, making it ideal for free-topology networks.

These advantages enable installers to flexibly deploy video doorbell systems in a way that suits the existing infrastructure. Additionally, Nessum’s high bandwidth efficiency ensures that multiple HD video streams can be transmitted without interference.

Furthermore, Nessum’s Ethernet Bridge function provides L2 switch-equivalent capabilities, allowing for seamless network expansion by easily connecting multiple sub-networks. This means integrators can build scalable and flexible video doorbell systems without requiring extensive rewiring.

With these advanced features, Nessum is the optimal solution for upgrading analog doorbell systems to IP video while ensuring cost-effective, reliable, and scalable deployment.

Get Started Today

Order your Evaluation Kit and experience the benefits of Nessum today!

 

About the Author
Kengo Tamukai is a senior engineer specializing in wired and wireless communication technologies. With over 20 years of experience in LSI design, system architecture, and technical marketing, his expertise spans SoC design, OFDM-based technologies, and hybrid communication systems, driving innovation in modern digital networks.