Also, PLC modems (at least the Qualcomm ones afaik) are SPI modules which (due to drivers) expose an Ethernet interface to Linux. The PLC utils package up commands for the MCU on these chips in Ethernet frames. This also allows things to mostly work remotely.
PLC modems require firmware and configuration. The firmware is hard to come by, Qualcomm is not sharing it with a redistributable license :(, though can be extracted from devices that do not have an EEPROM to store this firmware (the chips reference designs often have an EEPROM, but Linux can load the firmware from the filesystem quite easily (kernel does not yet do this automatically, PLC utils are needed, but that fix is just a patch away ...)
The configuration bit to the firmware also does 'initial calibration' (the chip also does a little runtime calibration) to ensure PLC communication can work, especially in noisy environments.
ISO15118, a DC/V2G/V2H/Plug-and-Charge standard for EV's (optionally) heavily relies on PLC for communication with an EVSE (charging station, Supply Equipment). It basically creates an Ethernet connection between the two, where a high-level TCP/IPv6 based protocol is then used (15118).
Just some extra data for this lesser known/obscure tech :)
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[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 29.5 ms ] threadNot "PowerLine" the fancy status and prompt utility.
PLC modems require firmware and configuration. The firmware is hard to come by, Qualcomm is not sharing it with a redistributable license :(, though can be extracted from devices that do not have an EEPROM to store this firmware (the chips reference designs often have an EEPROM, but Linux can load the firmware from the filesystem quite easily (kernel does not yet do this automatically, PLC utils are needed, but that fix is just a patch away ...)
The configuration bit to the firmware also does 'initial calibration' (the chip also does a little runtime calibration) to ensure PLC communication can work, especially in noisy environments.
ISO15118, a DC/V2G/V2H/Plug-and-Charge standard for EV's (optionally) heavily relies on PLC for communication with an EVSE (charging station, Supply Equipment). It basically creates an Ethernet connection between the two, where a high-level TCP/IPv6 based protocol is then used (15118).
Just some extra data for this lesser known/obscure tech :)