Systems, methods and apparatus for testing a data connection provided over a power supply line

A television receiver comprising:

• a power plug that couples to a first socket of an alternating-current (AC) power supply line;
• a tuner that receives video signals from a content source;
• a processor communicatively coupled to the tuner that outputs a video stream generated based on the received video signals for presentation by a display device;
• and
• a communication module coupled to the power plug and communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to communicate data with a testing apparatus coupled to a second socket of the AC power supply line, the communication module identifying a first signal strength of signals received by the communication module through the first socket and transmitting the first signal strength to the testing apparatus, the communication module further receiving a second signal strength from the testing apparatus of signals received by the testing apparatus through the second socket;
• wherein the processor furthers outputs a first indicator of the first signal strength and a second indicator of the second signal strength for presentation on the display device.

A method for testing a quality of a data connection between two devices communicatively coupled over an alternating-current (AC) power supply line, the method comprising:

• coupling a communication device to a first socket communicatively coupled to an AC power supply line;
• coupling a testing apparatus to a second socket communicatively coupled to the AC power supply line, wherein the testing apparatus identifies a first signal strength of signals received by the communication device through the AC power supply line and identifies a second signal strength of signals received by the testing apparatus through the AC power supply line;
• quantifying a first data rate of the first socket based upon the first signal strength;
• determining a quality of a data connection between the communication device and the testing apparatus based upon the first signal strength and the second signal strength;
• and
• outputting a quality indicator, by the testing apparatus, the quality indicator based upon by the quality of the data connection.

A method for testing a quality of a data connection between two devices communicatively coupled over an alternating-current (AC) power supply line, the method comprising:

• coupling a first testing apparatus to a first socket communicatively coupled to an AC power supply line;
• identifying a first signal strength of signals received by the first testing apparatus through the AC power supply line;
• coupling a second testing apparatus to a second socket communicatively coupled to the AC power supply line;
• identifying a second signal strength of signals received by the second testing apparatus through the AC power supply line;
• transmitting the first signal strength from the first testing apparatus to the second testing apparatus;
• quantifying a first data rate of the first socket based upon the first signal strength;
• quantifying a second data rate of the second socket based upon the second signal strength;
• and
• outputting the first data rate and the second data rate through the second testing apparatus.