ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)

PowerLine Telecommunications (PLT); Report from PlugtestsTM 2007 on coexistence between PLT and short wave radio broadcast; Test cases and results

DTR/PLT-00024

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 12-Mar-2008
• Technical Committee: PLT - Powerline Telecommunications
• Current Stage: 12 - Completion
• Due Date: 13-Mar-2008
• Completion Date: 13-Mar-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
Technical Report


PowerLine Telecommunications (PLT);
Report from Plugtests™ 2007 on
coexistence between PLT and
short wave radio broadcast;
Test cases and results

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2 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)



Reference
DTR/PLT-00024
Keywords
EMC, powerline, radio
ETSI
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© European Telecommunications Standards Institute 2008.
All rights reserved.

TM TM TM TM
DECT , PLUGTESTS , UMTS , TIPHON , the TIPHON logo and the ETSI logo are Trade Marks of ETSI registered
for the benefit of its Members.
TM
3GPP is a Trade Mark of ETSI registered for the benefit of its Members and of the 3GPP Organizational Partners.
ETSI

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3 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights.4
Foreword.4
Introduction .4
1 Scope.5
2 References.5
2.1 Normative references.5
2.2 Informative references.5
3 Abbreviations.6
3.1 Abbreviations.6
4 Test cases.6
TM
4.1 Plugtests specification .6
4.1.1 Verification of concept in a Building.7
4.1.1.1 Test environment.7
4.1.1.2 Verify Reception Quality of Radio Stations.8
4.1.1.3 Revise thresholds, Level and Timings .11
4.1.1.4 More Tests in the Building.11
4.1.1.5 Further tests to verify the concept in Lab / Anechoic chamber.11
4.1.2 Laboratory Test with Participants.12
4.1.2.1 Test environment.12
4.1.2.2 Test Procedure.12
4.1.3 Field-tests with Participants in Building.14
4.1.3.1 Test environment.14
4.1.3.2 Test procedure.14
5 Results.15
TM
5.1 Plugtests specification .15
5.1.1 Verification of concept in a Building.15
5.1.1.1 Test environment.15
5.1.1.2 Verify Reception Quality of Radio Stations.16
5.1.1.3 Revise thresholds, Level and Timings .21
5.1.1.4 More Tests in the Building.23
5.1.1.5 Further tests to verify the concept in Lab / Anechoic chamber.23
5.1.2 Laboratory Test with Participants.23
5.1.2.1 Test environment.24
5.1.2.2 Test Procedure.24
5.1.3 Field-tests with Participants in Building.29
5.1.3.1 Test environment.29
5.1.3.2 Test procedure and results.29
6 Statistical evaluation of Results .42
Annex A: An Overview of Frequency Scheduling in HF Broadcasting .45
th th
Annex B: Some pictures from the tests on 10 and 11 of October 2007.47
th rd
Annex C: Some pictures from the tests from 20 to 23 of November 2007.50
Annex D: Change history .54
D.1 Change history of the test cases part .54
D.2 Change history of the results part.54
History .55

ETSI

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4 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
Intellectual Property Rights
IPRs essential or potentially essential to the present document may have been declared to ETSI. The information
pertaining to these essential IPRs, if any, is publicly available for ETSI members and non-members, and can be found
in ETSI SR 000 314: "Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); Essential, or potentially Essential, IPRs notified to ETSI in
respect of ETSI standards", which is available from the ETSI Secretariat. Latest updates are available on the ETSI Web
server (http://webapp.etsi.org/IPR/home.asp).
Pursuant to the ETSI IPR Policy, no investigation, including IPR searches, has been carried out by ETSI. No guarantee
can be given as to the existence of other IPRs not referenced in ETSI SR 000 314 (or the updates on the ETSI Web
server) which are, or may be, or may become, essential to the present document.
Foreword
This Technical Report (TR) has been produced by ETSI Technical Committee Powerline Telecommunications (PLT)
(STF 332).
The present document is the report from a Plugtests™ event in 2007 on coexistence between PLT and short wave radio
broadcast, and is structured in two parts as identified below:
Part 1: "Test cases";
Part 2: "Results".
Introduction
In order to verify draft TS 102 578 of Work Item 21 (WI21) [5] which deals with coexistence between PLT and short
™
wave radio services including DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) a Plugtests event was requested by many ETSI
members.
™
During the coexistence Plugtests event different PLT modems from different vendors implementing the draft TS
related to TS 102 578 will be evaluated. A Special Task Force (STF) 332 has been established to perform the
™
Plugtests event.
The STF will validate the concept of 'Smart Notching' which is specified in TS 102 578 [5]. Measurements
demonstrating the ingress of SW radio broadcasts to the electrical installation in a building will be made. Further, using
real implementations of PLT modems the practicality of the draft TS will be verified. Verification of levels and
thresholds will be carried out along with the performance of the coexistence implementations. Recommendations for
possible improvement to the current draft TS 102 578 of Work Item 21(WI21) will be made as appropriate.
The tasks of the STF are in detail:
• validate or revise the thresholds and resolution bandwidths needed to detect ingress from a receivable radio
broadcast;
• verify test bench levels and thresholds;
• provide feedback from implementations to the ongoing work in TS 102 578 [5] as well as to PLT modem
implementers;
• check the feasibility of detecting and notching narrow bands;
• determine, if it is possible to detect SW radio ingress without demodulating signals by PLT PHY;
• determine probability of false detection by PLT modems;
• verify if there is a way of classifying the narrow band signals' source (radio station or switching power supply,
or class D amp).
™ ™
Therefore STF 332 will organize the Plugtests event. At the execution of the Plugtests event any ETSI member is
™
free to participate in the execution of any or all of the Plugtests event proposed in the present document.
ETSI

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5 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
1 Scope
Results of the verification of the proposed mechanism to improve coexistence between PLT and short wave radio
broadcast.
2 References
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific.
• For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.
• Non-specific reference may be made only to a complete document or a part thereof and only in the following
cases:
- if it is accepted that it will be possible to use all future changes of the referenced document for the
purposes of the referring document;
- for informative references.
Referenced documents which are not found to be publicly available in the expected location might be found at
http://docbox.etsi.org/Reference.
For online referenced documents, information sufficient to identify and locate the source shall be provided. Preferably,
the primary source of the referenced document should be cited, in order to ensure traceability. Furthermore, the
reference should, as far as possible, remain valid for the expected life of the document. The reference shall include the
method of access to the referenced document and the full network address, with the same punctuation and use of upper
case and lower case letters.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
2.1 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of the present document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For non-specific references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(including any amendments) applies.
Not applicable.
2.2 Informative references
[1] ITU-R Radio Regulations, edition of 2004.
[2] ETSI ES 201 980 (V2.2.1): "Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM); System Specification".
[3] ITU-R Recommendation BS.1284: "General methods for the subjective assessment of sound
quality".
NOTE: See http://stason.org/TULARC/radio/shortwave/08-What-is-SINPO-SIO-Shortwave-radio.html.
[4] CISPR 16-1-1 (2006-11): "Specification for radio disturbance and immunity measuring apparatus
and methods - Part 1-1: Radio disturbance and immunity measuring apparatus - Measuring
apparatus".
[5] ETSI TS 102 578 (draft version of 12 October 2007): "PowerLine Telecommunications (PLT);
Coexistence between PLT Modems and Short Wave Radio broadcasting services".
NOTE: See http://webapp.etsi.org/WorkProgram/Report_WorkItem.asp?WKI_ID=24584.
ETSI

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6 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
[6] ITU-R recommendation BS.1615: ""Planning parameters" for digital sound broadcasting at
frequencies below 30 MHz".
[7] ITU-R Recommendation P372: "Radio noise".
3 Abbreviations
3.1 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations apply:
AE Auxiliary Equipment
AM Amplitude Modulation
CE Consumer Electronics
DRM Digital Radio Mondiale
NOTE: See ES 201 980 [2] (http://www.drm.org/).
EUT Equipment Under Test
HFCC High Frequency Co-ordination Conference
NOTE: See http://www.hfcc.org.
LI Level of Ingress (in dBm)
NHB Noise higher frequency block (in dBm)
NLB Noise lower frequency block (in dBm)
PLT PowerLine Telecommunications
NOTE: See http://www.etsi.org/plt.
S second
SINPO Signal Strength, Interference, Noise, Propagation, Overall
SW Short Wave
4 Test cases
TM
4.1 Plugtests specification
There are 2 tests to be performed:
1) The concept, as specified in the current draft TS 102 578 [5] shall be verified.
Levels, Thresholds, Timing, definition of useable radio service reception quality, lower level and slopes of the
notch, verification method, etc.
th th
This test will be performed on 10 / 11 of October 2007 in Stuttgart area (Germany).
th
Revised values will be published by 17 of October 2007.
2) Tests with participants. Implementations from modem manufacturers will be verified versus this test
specification.
th rd
These tests will be performed from 19 to 23 of November 2007.
ETSI

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7 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
4.1.1 Verification of concept in a Building
4.1.1.1 Test environment
Test will be carried out in a private home. The detailed installation of the power infrastructure is unknown to test
participants. The 300 kW SW radio broadcast station in Skelton (UK) will schedule some radio transmission according
to the demands of this test. A Spectrum Analyser, Test Receiver and a selection of DRM and AM SW radio receivers
are available to perform the tests. A calibrated active biconal antenna verifies the field strength in the air.

Figure 1: Test Setup in a private living unit
Equipment needed:
• CE SW Radio receiver:
- AOR AR7030, Sony ICF-SW77, ICF-1000, Sangean ATS909, TECSUN 9700, etc.
• DRM: Roberts MP-40, etc.
• Cable snap ferrites.
• Spectrum Analyser, PLT coupler 50:100 Ω Impedance matching.
• Calibrated antenna in 1 MHz < f < 30 MHz, wooden tripod.
• Artificial white noise generator:
- Coupler to feed noise to the mains grid.
- Antenna to broadcast noise inside the building.
ETSI

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8 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
4.1.1.2 Verify Reception Quality of Radio Stations
th
This test will be done on the 10 of October 2007.
Using a SW radio receiver, scan the SW radio band and record the frequency, service name and reception quality
wherever the automatic scan stops. Check for a good position of the receiver in the living unit and monitor the field
strength there.
Connect the Spectrum Analyser to the mains (sequentially at several outlets) and measure the level of ingress of HF
broadcast signals there. Do this process in turn 3 times and take the average from the numeric reading as result.
Classification for reception quality of AM stations shall be according to SINPO system [3]. The empirical rating of the
signal quality will be done "democratically" by the three STF 332 experts. Tables 1 and 2 will be compiled during the
tests.
ETSI

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9 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
Table 1: Reception quality, field strength and level of ingress of AM services
Used AM Radio In dBm
Measured at outlet No:
Level of Ingress
Frequency Field strength SINPO SINPO SINPO SINPO SINPO noise levels of adjacent frequency block:
Station name
in kHz in dB (µV/m) Signal Interference Noise Propagation Overall Lower Block / Higher Block
1 2 3 4

LI
6 123 Example AM 50 3 4 4 5 4 NLB
NHB
LI

NLB
NHB
LI
    NLB
NHB
LI
    NLB
NHB
LI
    NLB
NHB
LI
    NLB
NHB
LI
    NLB
NHB
LI
    NLB
NHB

Classification for reception quality of DRM stations shall be done according the reception of a DRM channel:
• DRM Radio Stations using e.g. Roberts MP-40.
ETSI

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10 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
Table 2: Reception quality, field strength and level of ingress of DRM services
  Used DRM Radio In dBm
Measured at outlet No:
Frequency Field strength Service receivable? Level of Ingress / noise levels of adjacent frequency
Station name
in kHz in dB(µV/m) Y/N block: Noise Lower Block / Noise Higher Block
1 2 3 4
LI -75 -70 -69 -73
Example DRM 50 Y
NLB
NHB
LI
  NLB
NHB
LI

NLB
NHB
LI
  NLB
NHB
LI
  NLB
NHB
LI
  NLB
NHB
LI
  NLB
NHB
LI
  NLB
NHB

™
After monitoring radio broadcast services at the Plugtests location, the HFCC Database (see http://www.hfcc.org) provides information on day and seasonal variations of
reception quality. The HFCC Database may help to give an estimate of the necessity of notch parameters.
ETSI

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11 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
4.1.1.3 Revise thresholds, Level and Timings
Revise threshold of ingress as defined in draft TS 102 578 [5], where an ingress shall be identified as a receivable radio
broadcast service, to create a notch.
Revise lower level of Notch defined in draft TS 102 578 [5], by feeding known noise level to the mains in vicinity of
outlet where radio receiver is connected to. Record the level when reception quality gets worse (using SINPO).
Revise response timings defined in draft TS 102 578 [5] to activate notch and reuse the frequencies. Monitor fading
behaviour in time domain of a transmission to the test location.
Schedule Skelton (UK) test broadcast transmission with 300 kW to monitor its field strength at various times in the test
nd
location. Compare it with 2 location.
4.1.1.4 More Tests in the Building
If there is enough time at the test day, following tests shall be performed.
Check various receiver positions
Pick out smallest receivable service, verify reception quality using CE radio devices:
• AOR AR7030, Sony ICF-SW77, ICF-1000, Sangean ATS909, TECSUN 9700, etc.; and
• verify the field strength of this frequency at various locations in the building.
Check how far mains filters might remove interferences in Radio reception, when the receivers are powered by a mains
adaptor.
Check level of interference to adjacent (neighbour) living unit.
4.1.1.5 Further tests to verify the concept in Lab / Anechoic chamber
th
This test will be done on the 11 of October 2007.

Figure 2: Test Setup anechoic chamber
Revise noise floor and relative level of ingress above noise floor defined in draft TS 102 578 [5] in an anechoic
chamber. An AM signal with added noise will be generated and fed into the antenna input of a radio receiver. Check the
SNR when the signal becomes an acceptable quality.
Check Consumer Electronic Radio devices when they identify a service as useable when scanning the band.
ETSI

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12 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
4.1.2 Laboratory Test with Participants
4.1.2.1 Test environment
Test will be done in a laboratory. Depending on organization and logistics of the Plugtests™ event the lab equipment
might be transported into one of the private homes.
The tests will be carried out as described in the current draft of TS 102 578.
Equipment needed:
• Measurement apparatus.
2
• Ground plane, 1 m .
• Signal Ingress Generator:
- Test signals known to participants: PLT43_TD_08 / PLT43_TD_09 TS102578_V1.1.8_VerifyPattern.
- More Test signals not known to participants before tests:
more or less carriers, DRM and / or AM;
use other frequencies;
incl. noise.
• Spectrum Analyser.
• PLT Modems.
• Data traffic generation for PLT modems.
™
Specification of the unknown signals will be published after the Plugtests event. Test Signals will be shared with
participants, so these tests could be reproduced by participants in their laboratories.
4.1.2.2 Test Procedure
Follow the test procedure as described in TS 102 578 [5] (see clause Test Procedure).
Data throughput will be measured using IPERF: transmit UDP traffic monitoring packet loss and throughput
Modems will be connected to data source and sink via Ethernet plugs.
ETSI

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13 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
Table 3 will be compiled during the lab tests.
Table 3: Results sheet of TS 102 578 Laboratory tests
Participant A Max PLT Timing from Max PLT Are all frequencies Are more frequencies Lower Level of the Timing from switch off
throughput switch on throughput notched where a notched? (Where no notch in dBm artificial ingress signal
without any artificial with notches carrier ingress? carrier ingress?) Readout value as till frequency is reused
notches in ingress in Mbit/s Yes / No Which? described in current by PLT in s
Mbit/s signal till draft of TS 102 578
Attenuation notch is Attenuation
from EUT to AE established from EUT to
in s
in dB AE in dB
20 40 60 20 40 60
Known signal
PLT43_TD_08
Unknown Signal A
Unknown Signal B
Unknown Signal C

Record screen shot of Spectrum Analyser of each ITU-R Radio band.
Monitor notch slopes for checking AM- / DRM Protection ratios: Fine Sweep using Spectrum analyser on 1-2 notches.
Additionally the threshold at which notches are inserted may be measured by changing the power of artificial signal ingress.
ETSI

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14 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
4.1.3 Field-tests with Participants in Building
4.1.3.1 Test environment
Test environment includes everything as described in clause 4.1.1.1 (without biconal antenna).
Additionally the PLT modem equipment from participants is required.
Data throughput will be measured as described in clause 4.1.2.2.
4.1.3.2 Test procedure
Connect the PLT modems to (various combinations of) outlets in building.
Tune SW-radio DRM / AM to e.g. 5 frequencies as described in clause 4.1.1.2 and record reception quality of radio
stations. (The 5 with the lowest power.) Table 4 will be compiled during the field tests in Buildings.
Table 4: Results sheet of TS 102 578 Field Tests in buildings
Participant A
Without Smart Notching: PLT throughput in Mbit/s
Level of Ingress in dBm
Frequency Station SINPO SINPO SINPO SINPO SINPO measured at outlet where PLT
in kHz name Signal Interference Noise Propagation Overall Modem is connected
Tx Modem Rx Modem
Example
6 123 2 3 3 5 3 -75 -70
AM




Smart Notching active: PLT throughput in Mbit/s
Frequency Station SINPO SINPO SINPO SINPO SINPO Level of Ingress in dBm
in kHz name Signal Interference Noise Propagation Overall measured at outlet where PLT
Modem is connected
Tx Modem Rx Modem
6 123 Example 5 5 5 5 5 -75 -70
AM




Quick test for "false detections" of PLT modems:
Are there any frequencies notched which does not coincident with a receivable SW radio broadcast?
Schedule Skelton (UK) test broadcast transmission and monitor when PLT modem notches this frequency in s.
Turn off Skelton (UK) test broadcast transmission and monitor when PLT reuses this frequency in s.

ETSI

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15 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
5 Results
TM
5.1 Plugtests specification
Two tests were performed:
1) The concept, as specified in the current draft of TS 102 578 [5] is verified.
i.e. Levels, Thresholds, Timing, definition of useable radio service reception quality, lower level and slopes of
the notch, verification method, etc.
th th
This test has been performed on 10 / 11 of October 2007 in Stuttgart area (Germany).
The following sites/buildings were visited to perform the tests:
- Dombovar Str 18, D-71394 Kernen.
- Hotel Unger Kronenstraße 17 70173 Stuttgart.
- Rosenstr 26 71364 Winnenden.
- Anechoic chamber.
th
Revised values have been published before 17 of October 2007.
2) Tests with participants. Two different systems were present, one using PLT modems with an extra algorithm
running in an external PC and one PLT demonstrator system based on three PCs and external instrumental
devices. The two systems have been verified versus this test specification.
th rd
These tests have been performed from 20 to 23 of November 2007.
The following sites/buildings were visited to perform the tests with the prototype PLT systems:
- Dombovar Str 18, D-71394 Kernen.
- Hotel Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin, Stuttgart downtown.
- Hotel Ochsen, in Stuttgart Wangen.
5.1.1 Verification of concept in a Building
5.1.1.1 Test environment
The Tests have been carried out in one or more private homes. The detailed installation of the power infrastructure was
unknown to the test participants before the tests. A 300 kW SW radio broadcast transmitter at the Skelton (UK) station
has scheduled radio transmission according to the demands of this test. A Spectrum Analyser, Test Receiver and a
selection of DRM and AM SW radio receivers were available to perform the tests. A calibrated active biconal antenna
was used to verify the field strength in the air.

Figure 3: Test Setup in a private living unit
ETSI

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16 ETSI TR 102 616 V1.1.1 (2008-03)
Equipment used:
• CE SW Radio receiver:
- AOR AR7030, Sony ICF-SW77, ICF-1000, Sangean ATS909, TECSUN 9700, etc.
• DRM: Roberts MP-40, etc.
• Cable snap ferrites.
• Spectrum Analyser, PLT coupler 50:100 Ω Impedance matching.
• Test receiver.
• Calibrated antenna in 1MHz < f < 30MHz, wooden tripod.
• Artificial white noise generator:
- Coupler to feed noise to the mains grid;
- Antenna to broadcast noise inside the building.
5.1.1.2 Verify Reception Quality of Radio Stations
th th
This test was carried out on the 10 and 11 of October 2007.
Using a SW radio receiver, the SW radio broadcasting bands were scanned and the frequency, service name and
reception quality recorded wherever the automatic scan stopped. A "good" position for the receiver in the living unit
was found and checked and the field strength monitored at this position.
The Spectrum Analyser was connected to the mains (sequentially at several outlets) and the level of ingress of HF
broadcast signals measured. This process was r
...