What is HomePNA and what do they do?
HomePNA is a set of standards developed by the Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA). The objective of this group is to develop standards for an easy and inexpensive high-speed Data Networking solution using existing home phone wiring. This is a growing non-profit organization made up of 120 technology companies. They are dedicated to adopting a single industry standard to result in a wide range of compatible home networking solutions. This type of network is known as a Home Phone Line Network or sometimes it is referred to as HPNA or a HomePNA network.What equipment do I need in the InfoSet 408?
The only equipment that is required in the InfoSet 408 is the ADSL/HomePNA interface card. This all-in-one card provides support for the HPAN LAN interface as well as a WAN interface and package engine. The package engine supports a firewall, router and VPN option. HomePNA networks require you to install a PCI card in your PC. These PCI cards are available from many suppliers. The InfoSet 408, with this card installed now becomes a complete integrated communication platform.What makes Home PNA better than Ethernet?
Running Ethernet cables in existing walls and ceilings is not an easy job. Simplicity and reliability are the key selling points of a HPNA network. Home phone-line networks strive to offer consumers an easy to install, maintenance-free and easy-to-use network. Most homeowners do not have the engineering background to administer a LAN, they simply want to plug in all their devices and have the system work. Unlike Ethernet, HPNA does not require a hub. Each PC plugs into a telephone jack, without interfering with the phone's normal operation. Phone conversations are not effected because they operate on a different frequencyCan I use the existing jacks in my house?
Yes, this is the idea behind a Home phone line network, use your existing wiring. Every RJ-11 modular phone jack in the house can become a port on the network in addition to a phone extension. Typically home wiring is known as CAT 3.How many devices can I have on my network?
HPNA supports up to 25 PC's. These PCs can share files, printers and Internet connections without disturbing voice communications.Why the phone wire, are there other options?
Traditionally, deploying a high-speed network involved installing an Ethernet network. While this is an acceptable business solution, running Ethernet cables in existing walls and ceilings in a residence is not an easy job. Most homeowners do not have the engineering background to administer a LAN. Wireless networks are usually too expensive for the average homeowner. Using AC powerlines is a networking technology that is still in the development stage and has not been proven. Using phone wiring is the best solution because it is easy to deploy, the wiring is already installed, it's fast and standards are set.Why is this technology suddenly gaining popularity?
Speed! It was not until December 1999, that 10Mbps could be supported. Up until then, only 1Mbps was supported. This was too slow to support many of the applications that are driving the market. The 10Mbps technology will enable more rapid transmission of large and feature-rich graphics files and other high-bandwidth applicationsWhat is HPNA 2.0 — does the InfoSet 408 support this?
HomePNA 2.0 was introduced on December 1, 1999, it is the latest release of HPNA. This version supports speeds of 10Mbps. Devices on this network are backward compatible with the HPNA's 1.0 first-generation standard. HomePNA 2.0 builds upon the 1.0 technology released in the fall of 1998.What applications are driving this market?
- Multiple PC ownership is driving this market. Research by the Yankee Group concluded that 43.1 million or 44% of homes own at least one PC. Within this group of PC owners, 9.4 million own two, and 3 million own three or more. The Yankee group projects that by the year 2001, 54% of homes will own at least one PC and 24.5% of these homes will own multiple PCs.
- Demand for Broadband Internet Access with multiple PCs. This means, more than one person can share a single Internet connection. Without this capability there is a one-to-one relationship between Internet accounts and one PC that can be online at any given time. The connection rate for home Internet access is rising. Today, 22% of U.S. households have Internet access according to the Yankee Group. Many of these households purchase additional Internet accounts and telephone lines for their families' Internet access.
- Sharing peripheral devices and files between PCs is another application that is driving this market. It is no longer necessary to copy files to zip disks to move them between PCs. Program applications may be shared eliminating the expense of purchasing separate copies.
- The popularity of muti-player network games between PCs is also driving this market.
- The increase in the number of Telecommuters has created a growing need for home networks. Telecommuters need to be connected to the corporate local-area network (LAN) in order to have access to files and stored information. Telecommuters also require a voice solution capable of managing multiple lines.
- Large number of home businesses. Many small businesses begin as home businesses. Forrester Research estimates more than 13 million households or 12.6 percent of all U.S. residencesÑcontain a business. This percentage is expected to rise to 14 percent by the year 2003. These home based businesses need a networking solution that will work well in a home environment and easily migrate to a traditional business environment.
What about new technology standards for Wireless and Universal DSL/G.Lite will HPNA be compatible with them?
Yes. An objective of HomePNA is to ensure that the network is compatible with newer Internet access solutions such as Universal ADSL, and wireless standards.What about high-speed Internet access methods using cable modems, ISDN, xDSL and satellite, How does HPNA work with them?
Products built to HomePNA standards are an excellent match for these high-speed Internet access methods. By combining a home phone line network-based technology product such as the InfoSet 408 with, for example, a cable modem, the consumer will be able to share Internet access with all other PCs or devices in the home simply by plugging into the telephone jack with an adapter or network interface card.Will my computers be on one network and the InfoSet 408 system on another?
No, the InfoSet 408 solution is to share the same network.What quality cable is required to support this application?
Cat 3 or higher cable is required to support Home PNA.What is difference between InfoSet 408's HomePNA and other home networking solutions?
The InfoSet 408's HomePNA solution is a single-board, single-vendor solution. The ADSL/HomePNA card was designed exclusively for the InfoSet 408 so you can be confident of compatibility and expect a quick and easy setup. This is an all-encompassing communication solution supporting ADSL for broadband Internet access, a router, firewall and a downloadable Virtual Private Network (VPN).Can any kind of phone be connected to the network?
Yes, all InfoSet 408 and Electra Elite phones may be connected to the network.What is the future?
One of the most exciting things about HPNA is that it will support the home of the future. The number of non-computer, CPU devices sold each year continues to grow. These devices include games, phones, personal digital assistants, set-top boxes, and other consumer goods used to control and monitor appliances, home electronics, and home-security systems. HomePNA is positioned to manage all data, voice, and other non-computer CPU devices from any location at anytime. As the technology pushes forward we can expect to see the wired home of the future become the typical home of today.Is it common for a key system to support ADSL and HomePNA?
NEC America is the first major telecommunications supplier to offer ADSL in a key telephone system and is the first to offer HomePNA as part of a turnkey solution. By bringing this traditional office technology to the home, it reinforces NEC's commitment of moving solutions such as these from the office desktop to your home's doorstep.