Patent ID: 7627402

Claim:
A method of using a computer system to design a power line communication system, comprising: using the computer system to perform at least the steps of: identifying a position of a first communications device on a medium voltage (MV) power line; identifying positions for a plurality of second communications devices on the medium voltage power line that are configured to communicate with the first communications device; outputting on a map the positions identified for the first communications device and the plurality of second communications devices; determining an anticipated attenuation for each communication link associated with at least some of the plurality of second communications devices at each of their respective positions for communicating with the first communications device; comparing the anticipated attenuation for each of said communication links with a link budget value; outputting a notification that identifies any of said communication links having an anticipated attenuation greater than the link budget value; and wherein said identifying a position of a first communications device, said identifying positions for a plurality of second communications devices, said determining, and said comparing are performed prior to an installation of said first communications device and prior to an installation of the plurality of second communications devices.