Evaluation of Noise Effects on Power Line Communication in a Narrow and Wide Band Frequency Spectrum: A Case Study of Electricity Distribution Network of Ghana

Power Line Communication (PLC) is a means of communication that uses the power line network medium to transmit data and signals. The PLC system is basically divided into Narrowband and Broadband PLC system. The PLC is considered to be one of the most favourable candidates for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). In the past Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) used PLC (Narrowband-PLC) as a medium of Communication for smart prepaid metering but was unsuccessful due to hostile nature of the power line characteristics like electrical noise and interferences. Noise characterization of the power lines channel is very important for PLC systems design. In this paper, the measurements of noise properties injected by various loads in the Narrowband frequency 1-500 KHz and Broadband frequency 2-12 MHz spectrum are presented and discussed. The outcome of the study suggests that the Narrowband frequency region 1 - 500 KHz is marked with noise and therefore noise will have a negative impact on PLC categories operating under this region of frequency band. On the other hand, noise level on the Broadband frequency region 2-12 MHz was found to be minimal and therefore noise will have very little or no impact on the PLC Category operating under the Broadband frequency band (BB-PLC).