Patent ID: 6993317

Claim:
A method of enhancing communication signals in a communications system ( 1 ) tat uses power lines (L 1 ) as a communication pathway, wherein communication signals are subject to attenuation as they travel along the power lines over a distance, and wherein the communication signals transmitted over the power lines in a transmission direction are repeated in order to keep the communication signals from being reduced below a pre-defined level, the power lines (L 1 ) comprising a plurality of phase lines (P 1 , P 2 , P 1 , P 2 , P 3 ) disposed alongside of each other to carry alternating current electrical power in different phases relative to each other, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting the communication signals (S 0 ) on a first phase line (P 1 ); receiving the communication signals (S 0 ) from the first phase line (P 1 ) via coupling in the transmission direction; providing first signals ( 102 ) indicative of the received communication signals (S 0 ); and receiving the first signals ( 102 ) in a wireless fashion in order to provide second signals (S 2 ) on a second phase line (P 2 ), the second signals indicative of the received first signals, thereby repeating the communication signals on the second phase line, wherein the second signals (S 2 ) have a strength greater than the received communication signals (S 0 ).