Characteristics of the PLC channel: Reciprocity, symmetry and port decoupling for impedance matching

This paper analyzes the reciprocity, symmetry and port decoupling effect in real home PLC networks. The reciprocity has an impact on the fact that the input and output ports of a PLC link are decoupled, and the study on the symmetry can explain the reason for the decoupling effect. The analysis of experimental data in the band 2-100 MHz shows that the PLC channel is reciprocal and that the input-output ports are largely decoupled. In turn, the port decoupling property implies that impedance matching at the transmitter and receiver ports can be implemented independently one from the other. That is, the choice of the receiver impedance does not have effect on the choice of the transmitter impedance and vice versa, in home broad band PLC systems.