HomeGrid aims to unify home networking

The newly founded HomeGrid Forum plans to develop a uniform standard for home networking using existing cable systems, such as mains wiring -- known as power line communication or indoor PLC – coaxial TV cables and home phone lines, the latter being widely distributed in the US. The aim is a comprehensive specification for delivery of multimedia content and networking of household devices which is independent of the transmission medium used.

The HomeGrid standard is intended to replace existing, mutually incompatible standards, such as the competing HomePlug Alliance and UPAPLC PLC procedures. HomeGrid Forum is working on a unified specification for medium access (MAC) and transmission (physical layer, PHY). The standard, which is being created in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) G.hn working group, founded in 2005, should be ready by the end of 2008.

As well as industry giants such as Infineon, Intel, Panasonic and Texas Instruments, HomeGrid Forum's founders also include smaller companies such as DS2 and Gigle. HomePlug's parent company Intellon is not at present a member, but does sit on the ITU's G.hn working group. Whereas DS2 reported a doubling in throughput for its power line technology to 400 Mbit/s just a couple of months ago, Gigle announced much higher figures as long ago as late 2006.

heise online took the opportunity to talk to Davin McAndrews, Gigle's SVP for marketing and business development, at CeBIT. According to McAndrews, Gigle raised $20m in venture capital in a second round of financing in November 2007. Gigle is on course to meet its original plan of starting mass production of its chip in 2008. Gigle is operating a two-pronged strategy. On the one hand, its module is intended to be compatible with existing HomePlug-AV technology. This currently permits up to 200 Mbit/s via power lines. In its proprietary mediaxtream mode the chip achieves a physical speed of up to 1000 Mbit/s via three different media (power line, TV coaxial cable or telephone cable). According to McAndrews, they have already completed "real world tests", but are not yet releasing the results.

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