Power line communications device and method

A method of communicating data signals over a power line carrying a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

• receiving downstream data signals;
• amplifying the downstream data signals;
• coupling said amplified data signals to the power line;
• wherein at least some of the downstream data signals traverse a first data path from a point of said receiving to the power line and are not demodulated along the first data path;
• receiving upstream data signals from the power line;
• amplifying the upstream data signals;
• and
• transmitting the upstream data signals via a non-power line communication medium;
• and
• wherein at least some of the upstream data signals traverse a second data path from the power line to the non-power line.communication medium and are not demodulated along the second data path.

A device for communicating data signals over a power line carrying a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

• a first port configured to be communicate over the power line;
• a second port configured to communicate via one or more fiber optic conductors;
• an electro-optic conversion circuit communicatively coupled to said second port;
• a first amplifying circuit having an input and an output and configured to amplify data signals in a first frequency band, said output of said first amplifying circuit being communicatively coupled to said first port and said input of said first amplifying circuit being communicatively coupled to said electro-optic conversion circuit;
• and
• a second amplifying circuit configured to amplify data signals in a second frequency band;
• said output of said second amplifying circuit being communicatively coupled to said electro-optic conversion circuit and said input of said second amplifying circuit being communicatively coupled to said first port;
• and
• wherein at least some data signals traverse from said first port to said second port without being demodulated.