View source for HomePNA

{{refimprove|date=August 2023}}
{{short description|Home networking organization}}
{{Home networking standards}}

The '''HomePNA Alliance''' (formerly the '''Home Phoneline Networking Alliance''', also known as '''HPNA''') is an incorporated [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit]] industry association of companies that develops and standardizes technology for [[home network]]ing over the existing [[coaxial cable]]s and [[telephone wiring]] within homes, so new wires do not need to be installed. HomePNA creates industry specifications which it then standardizes under the [[International Telecommunication Union]] (ITU) standards body.

HomePNA was developed for entertainment applications such as [[IPTV]] which require good [[quality of service]] (QoS). HomePNA promoter companies are [[AT&T Inc.]], [[Technicolor SA]], [[Pace plc]], [[Sigma Designs]], [[Motorola]], [[Cisco Systems]], Sunrise Telecom and K-Micro.<ref name="members">{{cite web |title=Members |url=http://www.homepna.org/about/members/ |access-date=August 1, 2011 |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726153122/http://www.homepna.org/about/members/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

== History ==

HomePNA 1.0 technology was developed by Tut Systems in the 1990s. The original protocols used [[balanced pair]] telephone wire. 

HomePNA 2.0 was developed by Epigram and was approved by the [[ITU]] as Recommendations G.9951, G.9952 and G.9953.

HomePNA 3.0 was developed by [[Broadcom]] (which had purchased Epigram) and Coppergate Communications and was approved by the ITU as Recommendation G.9954  in February 2005.

HomePNA 3.1 was developed by Coppergate Communications<ref name="Spec">{{citation | url = http://www.homepna.org/en/spec_download/download_request.asp | publisher = HomePNA | title = Specifications download request | access-date = 2008-04-30 | archive-date = 2008-05-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080518134644/http://www.homepna.org/en/spec_download/download_request.asp | url-status = dead }}</ref> and was approved by the ITU as Recommendation G.9954  in January 2007. HomePNA 3.1 added [[Ethernet over coax]]. HomePNA 3.1 uses frequencies above those used for [[digital subscriber line]] and analog voice calls over phone wires and below those used for broadcast and [[direct-broadcast satellite]] TV over coax, so it can coexist with those services on the same wires.

In March 2009, HomePNA announced  a liaison agreement with the [[HomeGrid Forum]] to promote the ITU-T [[G.hn]] wired home networking standard.<ref>[http://www.smartbrief.com/news/aaaa/industryBW-detail.jsp?id=045AB37A-CC0F-4F09-A67A-ACED0206B8EB HomePNA and HomeGrid Sign Liaison Agreement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001094148/http://www.smartbrief.com/news/aaaa/industryBW-detail.jsp?id=045AB37A-CC0F-4F09-A67A-ACED0206B8EB |date=2011-10-01 }}, Groups Work to Promote New ITU G.hn Global Wired Home Networking Standard</ref> In May 2013 the HomePNA alliance merged with the HomeGrid Forum.<ref>{{Cite news |title= HomeGrid Forum & HomePNA Alliance Merge |work= Press release |date= May 28, 2013 |url= http://www.homepna.org/merger/HomeGridForum_and_HomePNA_Announce_Merger.pdf |access-date= November 30, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170324193638/http://www.homepna.org/merger/HomeGridForum_and_HomePNA_Announce_Merger.pdf |archive-date= March 24, 2017 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

== Technical characteristics ==

HomePNA uses [[frequency-division multiplexing]] (FDM), which uses different frequencies for voice and data on the same wires without interfering with each other. A standard phone line has enough room to support voice, high-speed DSL and a landline phone.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title = How Phone-line Networking Works|url = http://computer.howstuffworks.com/phone-network2.htm|website = HowStuffWorks|date = 30 April 2001|access-date = 2016-02-20}}</ref>

Two custom chips designed using the HPNA specifications were developed by Broadcom: the 4100 chip can send and receive signals over 1,000 ft (305 m) on a typical phone line. The larger 4210 controller chip strips away noise and passes data on. 

A HomePNA setup would include a HomePNA card or external adapter for each computer, an external adapter, cables, and software. A [[low-pass filter]] may be needed between any phones and their respective jacks to block noise.<ref name=":0" /> HomePNA adapters come in [[Conventional PCI|PCI]], [[USB]], and [[PC Card]] formats.<ref>{{cite web|title = Alternative Networking - Phoneline|url = http://www.practicallynetworked.com/networking/alternative_net_phoneline.htm|website = www.practicallynetworked.com|access-date = 2016-02-20}}</ref>

== Alternatives ==

Alternatives to HomePNA include [[power line communication]], [[Wi-Fi]], [[DOCSIS|data over cable]], and [[Multimedia over Coax Alliance|multimedia over coax]].

== See also ==

* {{annotated link|IEEE 802.3}}
* {{annotated link|IEEE 802.11}}
* {{annotated link|IEEE 1905}}

== References ==

{{refs}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-G.9951/en ITU-T Recommendation G.9951 : Phoneline networking transceivers - Foundation] (HomePNA 2.0)
* [http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-G.9952/en ITU-T Recommendation G.9952 : Phoneline networking transceivers - Payload format and link layer requirements] (HomePNA 2.0)
* [http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-G.9953/en ITU-T Recommendation G.9953 : Phoneline networking transceivers - Isolation function] (HomePNA 2.0)
* [http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-G.9954/en ITU-T Recommendation G.9954 : Phoneline networking transceivers - Enhanced physical, media access, and link layer specifications] (HomePNA 3.0 and 3.1)
* [http://www.itu.int/rec/recommendation.asp?type=products&lang=e&parent=T-REC-G ITU-T Recommendations: Series G]

{{Home automation}}

[[Category:Computer network organizations]]
[[Category:Local loop]]