Bottom-up transfer function generator for broadband PLC statistical channel modeling

Abstract

We follow a bottom-up approach for modelling the channel transfer function aiming at realizing a fast statistical channel simulator. The simulator is derived from transmission line theory. It computes the transfer function via a fast procedure that calculates the voltage ratio between the receiver port and the transmitter port given a real or randomly generated network topology. The approach allows not only taking into account the cable characteristics, the number and length of branches, but also the effect of loads. In particular the effect of time-variant loads that cause the channel transfer function to be time-variant.