from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Home Phoneline Networking Alliance
HomePNA
<communications, networking, protocol, standard> (HomePNA) A
non-profit association of more than 100 technology companies
working together to ensure adoption of a phone line
{networking} standard which should provide high-speed,
affordable home networking.
The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) was founded
in June 1998 by {3Com}, {AMD}, {AT&T Wireless Services},
{Compaq}, Conexant, Epigram, {Hewlett-Packard}, {IBM},
{Intel}, {Lucent Technologies}, Rockwell Semiconductor
Systems, and Tut Systems. The membership now spans the
networking, telecommunications, {hardware}, {software}, and
consumer electronics industries.
The alliance was originally formed because of the increasing
demand for home networking caused by the growing number of
homes with multiple PCs (and other devices) to connect
together to provide facilities such as shared {Internet}
access, {networked gaming}, and sharing of {peripherals},
{files} and {applications}.
The member companies aimed to develop {open standards} to
ensure compatibility between different manufacturers'
products. They also decided that this should be done using
the phone wiring that already existed in people's homes. The
concept of "no new wires" networking meant installation was
simpler.
HomePNA's original specifications could be used to create a 1
{Mbps} (megabits per second) {Ethernet}-compatible {LAN} with
no {hubs}, {routers}, {splitters} or {terminations}. Adapters
would allow any computer (or other device) with an Ethernet
port to be linked to the home network. Up to 25 PCs,
peripherals and network devices can be connected to such a
network.
On 1999-12-01, the HomePNA announced a new release of its
networking technology specification, called Home PNA 2.0.
Like the first specification, it uses existing phone lines,
but it can operate at speeds up to 10 Mbps. The new version
is {backwardly compatible} with the original 1 Mbps HomePNA
technology, and is designed to provide faster networks
suitable for future voice, video and data applications.
HomePNA.org (http://homepna.org/). HomePNA.Com
(http://HomePNA.com/).
(2000-03-24)