This module can send and receive data at high speeds (5Mbps) across AC or DC power lines. Range is up to 1Km, perfect if you own a mansion, hotel or office block.

The module sports a 20 pin socket that will accept most types of Digi Xbee modules or any of the LinkSprite daughter modules (see below), allowing the data to be take off-board in a number of wireless and wired ways.

Although the device is pretty much 'plug and play', additional configuration is achieved by simple AT commands, and data is subject to full error correction - very useful when someone turns the kettle on and creates a burst of mains noise!

Okay - enough of the waffle - here's the science bit

• Fully transparent mode, plug and play coming out of the box without the need to do any programming.
• Sends data on UK / US AC power lines, and DC 0 to 400V lines.
• 5Mbps
• OFDM Modulation : (Homeplug 1.0 Compatible)
• Built-in error correction codes.
• AT commands used for advanced configuration.
• 3.3V TTL UART, Optional RS232, RS485. USB, Ethernet, Zigbee interfaces
• Maximum packet data length : 2000bytes
• Transmission distance 300 feets without repeater
• Support 256 nodes
• Status LEDs : Power Line Activity, system, serial port.
• RoHS

On the PLC-UART motherboard, there is a 20-pin socket, users can choose different daughter boards based on the interface needs. The optional daughter modules include

• RS232
• RS485
• USB
• Ethernet

In addition, this 20-pin socket is pin-compatible with XBee module from Digi. So a XBee module can also be used on PLC-UART, and PLC-UART will become a powerline communication to Zigbee bridge

• Data Sheet