Power line communication system

A method for communication over a network of power lines, comprising:

• establishing an initial communication link within a selected frequency band over the network between a first transceiver coupled to the network and a second transceiver coupled to the network;
• transmitting a signal over the initial communication link from the first transceiver to the second transceiver at a first power level sufficiently strong that the signal can be decoded by the second transceiver, but is attenuated sufficiently when it reaches a third transceiver coupled to the network so that the third transceiver is unable to decode the signal;
• terminating the initial communication link;
• establishing a retransmission communication link between the second transceiver and the third transceiver;
• and
• transmitting the signal from the second transceiver to the third transceiver over the re-transmission communication link at a second power level so that the signal can be decoded by the third transceiver.

A method for communication over a network of power lines, comprising:

• establishing a communication link within a selected frequency band over the network of power lines between a first transceiver coupled to the network and a second transceiver coupled to the network;
• transmitting a first signal over the link from the first transceiver to the second transceiver:
• terminating the communication link;
• establishing a re-transmission communication link between the second transceiver and a third transceiver coupled to the network;
• and transmitting the first signal from the second transceiver to the third transceiver.