F.A.Q

What is Powerline Networking?

With Powerline devices, virtually any equipment found in the home such as PCs, printers, TVs, VCRs, set-top boxes, security systems can be easily networked together through the existing electrical wiring. Powerline networking doesn’t require any new cables and is both robust and affordable.

This technology is standards based and handles broadband high-speed communications over existing AC electrical wiring in the home or business. Performance levels are constantly improving and CertaintyPoint products utilize the latest versions currently providing up to 85 Mbs throughput.

Are Powerline products proven?

Yes. The technology used by CertaintyPoint has been fully implemented in silicon and tested in the field. The components embedded in the CERTAINTY branded products have been field tested in homes across North America and Europe covering thousands of communications paths between outlets. Test results in residences have shown close to a 100% outlet connectivity success rate.

How do CERTAINTY products communicate over Powerline?

CERTAINTY video surveillance products utilize embedded HomePlug Powerline technology to transmit data over the existing electrical wiring of a building. This technology allows you to simply set up your cameras and create an instant network by plugging into any electrical outlet making it possible for instant video connectivity to a local computer or through a router to Internet. For information on HomePlug® technology visit www.homeplug.org.

How simple is the installation of the CERTAINTY products?

Installation is very simple. The set up is fully automated. After physical installation of the camera(s), the same electrical wiring that supplies power to the device carries the data. All data communications are carried between the devices, th computer and the router using HomePlug technology. No additional cabling is required.

Can I connect CERTAINTY products to power bars with surge protector?

CERTAINTY products have internal surge protectors in some models. Some power bar products filter and attenuate the signal carriers and affect the link quality in which case they should be avoided and you should seek such accessories that are identified as “Powerline compatible”

Should I use three-prong outlets with ground or two-prong outlets without ground?

CERTAINTY video travels on the two main power line wires. Existence of the Ground wire does not interfere with our products. Therefore both two and three prong outlets can be used.

Do CERTAINTY Powerline products work across multiple AC line phases?

HomePlug uses high frequency signals and has a very large dynamic range. This allows cross phase connectivity in most cases. The testes performed on HomePlug technology included houses with two and three phases. The statistical connectivity of near 100% provided by the HomePlug Association did not exclude such connections. For larger buildings where there may be multiple phases used and the total wiring is extensive, an electrician can simply insert a device called a “phase coupler” to further improve signal performance to most or all outlets in that building.

Is my privacy protected? How does Powerline networking handle co-interference between two adjacent homes both using Powerline

Firstly, the data-bearing signal is highly attenuated when it passes through your power meter and that of your neighbor which in most cases reduces any outgoing signal to a level that is unusable. Secondly, CERTAINTY products secure your data during transmission utilizing 56-bit DES encryption to make sure your privacy is protected. This data encryption is between all your CERTAINTY devices and is activated at the time of installation, making your signal invisible to any other network or device on the same local power line technology.

Does a Powerline signal travel through the public AC line network?

No, in addition to the attenuation at the residential electrical panel, outside the medium to low voltage transformer further blocks the data-bearing signal from traveling out to the public network.

How well do CERTAINTY products perform in the presence of AC line noises such as when a hairdryer is turned on?

Special software embedded in the technology adapts to these problems by automatically moving among special carrier frequencies that are least affected by the particular interference, thus maintaining data performance even during such unusual interference. Therefore products are protected against most line noises using the embedded HomePlug® technology. In addition, CERTAINTY products uses our own patented technology to adapt data rates and store video inside the device when the line communication is severely affected or even interrupted by some stronger, longer lasting noises. This means that video signals are not lost and are re-sent automatically as the interruption ceases. If the Powerline characteristics degrade during a session, CERTAINTY Powerline products sense the change and automatically adapt to provide the most reliable connection. When normal conditions return, it resets to its original configuration.

What is the power usage of CERTAINTY products? Will my electrical fuse handle the extra power?

CERTAINTY video surveillance products are low power, typically about 1 to 5 watts. This power is much less than most appliances on the power line and does not break your fuse or circuit breaker.

How much coupling is there between phases on the Powerline?

The attenuation between phases is minimal. The average data rate degradation that results from crossing phases in the same home is approximately 4%. No additional equipment is normally required to enable communication between phases.

Can I use CERTAINTY products in large homes and buildings?

HomePlug technology used in CERTAINTY products has been tested in houses of various sizes with near 100% connectivity. It has been successfully used in houses up to 7000 sq ft. In rare cases of failure, one has a choice of using another nearby power connection, or have an electrician install a functional line to the desired location. In some CERTAINTY products an RJ45 Ethernet connector is provided for alternative wired networking. The CERTAINTY system can handle any combination of connections.

Can CERTAINTY devices work in apartments and high-rise buildings?

Yes, many CERTAINTY product design and the architecture allows for working in such buildings. Utilizing the adaptive bandwidth control and advanced software as well as special devices such as couplers, repeaters bridges and other components that are installed by the systems integrator or electrician, CERTAINTY devices provide a plausible video surveillance solution for such multi dwelling buildings and campus environments.

What power line voltage and frequency is needed for CERTAINTY products?

CERTAINTY products are auto voltage. They work on an AC voltage range of 85 to 260V and frequency range of 47 to 63 Hz.

Can I use multiple cameras on Powerline?

CERTAINTY products allow for simultaneous use of multiple cameras. CERTAINTY patented technology optimizes use of bandwidth to enable full motion, high-resolution, multiple video streams over a Powerline network.

How does Powerline technology handle node addressing on the network?

CERTAINTY Powerline technology adheres to standard Ethernet addressing.

How does CERTAINTY Powerline technology compare with wireless technologies?

Although Powerline technology used by CERTAINTY resembles wireless in some aspects, it offers many advantages, including wider coverage, more secure environment and simpler set up and configuration. Wireless technologies that provide flexibility and mobility for the end user have been widely implemented in data networks and are increasingly employed in new handheld electronic devices. For video surveillance and security applications wireless networking is not as reliable as CERTAINTY Powerline technology, particularly for security of the video signal. Range is also more limited inside most buildings and is more often interfered with by other home appliances such as cordless phones, microwaves etc.

A separate and isolated video security network over Powerline is not subject to the type of down time often associated with the maintenance of wireless and even conventional wired data networks. It is also more immune from interference and security attacks directed by malicious wireless hand held devices.

Will Powerline technology interfere with ADSL services?

No, Powerline products do not interfere with ADSL services because the radiated emissions are below FCC limits and, in fact, below many existing RF signals in the same band. In addition, the signal does not share the same band with the most popular DSL techniques: DSL-Lite and ADSL.

Does CERTAINTY Powerline technology coexist with other networking technologies? Is it compatible with other home networking technologies (including phone line, Powerline, and RF)?

CERTAINTY technology does not cause interference and can work together with other networking choices including phone line, wireless and cable networking. It can co-exist with phone line and RF networks with no known problems. Other Powerline technologies using FSK signaling will be treated as noise by the Powerline products and do not pose a problem.  Our products also operate in a different frequency band than Powerline control technologies such as X-10, CEBus, and Lonworks and will usually coexist with them in the same home.

What happens if I need to use other electrical extensions, power-bars etc.?

Connecting to a power-bar or one with integrated surge suppressor that is not optimized for Powerline communications may cancel the Powerline signals since these products are designed to eliminate EMI emissions. The solution if surge protection is required (as some CERTAINTY products already embed this capability) is to check that your electrical adapter is Powerline data friendly or in particular “HomePlug® compatible. Such devices are becoming more readily available. When using electrical extension cords if they are needed, most good quality extensions should not interfere with performance in normal use.