The Consumer-band BPSK 7.2 kb ps PLM PICtail Plus Daughter Board (AC164142) incorporates Analog Front End (AFE) circuitry, which is required to implement a software-based modem, using the dsPIC33F Digital Signal Controller (DSC) device on the Explorer 16 Development Board. The daughter board fits in to the expansion slot on the Explorer 16 Development Board. A HV adapter cable (included in the package) interfaces the daughter board to the power line. The HV adapter cable incorporates the circuitry required to provide noise-filtering and isolation from the power line. The daughter board and the HV adapter cable are designed to op erate at a carrier frequency of 129.6 kHz (CENELEC-C band)

The daughter board does not implement any particular modulation technique. Software on the dsPIC33F DSC device generates 4-channel PWM output, which when summed-up and filtered suitably by the daughter board circuitry, forms an approximated sine wave. This approximated sine wave is modulated in the software using the BPSK modulation technique by controlling the PWM channels. On the receive path, the modulated signal on the power line is filtered and amplified by the daughter board before being fed to the ADC input of the dsPIC33F DSC device. The ADC module on the dsPIC33F DSC device converts this received signal into the digital domain where further filtering and demodulation is performed in software to recover the data.

A Power-Line Modem PLM, also referred to as a Power Line Communication (PLC) modem, uses the existing power lines to provide a cost-effective communication medium. This technology can be used for a wide range of applications including, but not limited to, Automated Meter Reading (AMR), energy consumption monitoring of individual appliances, and lighting, heating, and solar applications. Data rate and robustness of a power line communication link are the main parameters that decide its application spectrum.

Key Applications: Automated Meter Reading (AMR), Energy Consumption monitoring of individual appliances, Lighting, Heating, and Solar applications.