Evaluating the low-frequencypower-line communications channel in Rural North America

This paper addresses power-line communication (PLC) for automated metering infrastructure (AMI) and automated meter reading (AMR) applications in North America, with specific focus on the physical layer. FCC regulations in the U.S. permit power line communication systems to use the band from 9 kHz to roughly 500 kHz. This paper presents channel and noise characteristics in this band, based on field tests.