Presentation on MoCA

Created on June 21, 2022

Agenda

  • IP Connections
  • MoCA® – The Alliance
  • MoCA ® – The Technology Standard
  • MoCA® in retrofit environments
  • How and when to install MoCA technology

IP Connections

  • What IP systems are you installing right now?
  • What streaming video applications are your customers using right now?
  • How are you installing these systems for your customers?

IP Challenge in Typical Home Entertainment Installs


The Ideal Networked Home

  • Uses existing home wiring (plant)
  • Coexists with cable, telco/IPTV, satellite
  • Provides high capacity (100 Mb/s – 1 Gb/s)
  • Offers low latency, jitter and loss; supports real-time applications
  • Delivers Reliable, Secure, Ubiquitous services…available throughout the entire home
  • Allows communication between all connected home devices

Typical Applications of the Ideal Networked Home

  • Video-On-Demand
  • Multi-Player Gaming 
  • Modem to TV Gaming
  • Internet Video
  • Personal Content Sharing
  • 3G/4G Cellular Wireless “3 Screens”
  • Home Security
  • Home Automation
  • Smart Grid Applications

Coax is the best delivery medium for home networking

  • Ever see an Ethernet or WiFi connection behind a TV?
    • Coax is next to every TV entertainment center
    • Coax is next to every Cable Modem
    • Coax is used by nearly every major operator to deploy triple play services
  • Your customers want multiple glitch-free streams of HD video. This requires a robust and high net-throughput network.
  • Coaxial cabling already exists in 90% North American homes.
  • Coax is shielded from noise and interference (especially compared to wireless).

This is where MoCA comes in…

  • MoCA technology occupies unused frequency spectrum…adjacent to cable television carriers.
  • MoCA technology offers performance suited for transporting multimedia content
    • Net Throughput = 175 Mb/s
    • Low Packet Loss Rate (< 1e-5)
    • Low Latency (< 10 ms)
    • Low Jitter (< 1 ms)

“For those who can’t string Gigabit Ethernet, MoCA is clearly the only choice when high performance is needed. ” Tom’s Hardware, 11/30/09

The MoCA Advantage Retrofit Environments

  • MoCA leverages existing coax
    • Ubiquitous in the home
    • Wide Base (90% of US homes)
    • Low Cost
    • Not tied to a specific service provider
  • No need to pull multiple wires
  • Saves you time/money
  • Allows for more installs with less home destruction or reconstruction

Who is MoCA The Organization

  • A non profit technology alliance
  • Established January 2004 by some of the most respected service providers and OEMs in the world
  • Promotes distribution of multiple streams of HD content throughout the home using existing coax
  • Only alliance with appeal to all three pay TV segments (telco, cable, DBS)
  • Deployed: Comcast, Cox, DirecTV, Verizon’s FiOS TV
  • In Trial: TWC, Mediacom, Sunflower, Buckeye
  • Committed: Cincinnati Bell
  • More than 70 certified products (STBs, ONTs, BHRs, ECBs)
  • Recently established liaison agreement with HomePlug
  • Incorporated into DLNA’s Interoperability Guidelines
  • Member of OPASTCO (US tier 2 telcos and cable) and CEDIA (installers and integrators)

What is MoCA The Technology Standard

  • A universal global industry standard protocol which defines transmission of HD video quality content from outlet-to-outlet over existing home coaxial wiring
  • MoCA coax technology standard is designed to guarantee ubiquity, reliability, security, high throughput
    • 175 Mbps Throughput (270 Mbps Phy Rate for MoCA 1.1)
    • Minimal signal degradation through long distances in the home

More than 80 Certified Products…

…MoCA IC Solutions

…Set Top Boxes, NAS

…Ethernet Bridges, Gateways

MoCA and Alternatives

Technologies
Value Proposition
Drawbacks
Wireless (WiFi)
Mobility
Reliability is a challenge
Prone to interference
Unlicensed band
Powerline
(HomePlug, HDPLC, UPA)
Ubiquity of outlets
Performance not on par with MoCA
Prone to high interference
Low outlet coverage performance
Phoneline
(HomePNA)
Ubiquity of phone jacks
Performance can not match MoCA
Does not work in cable modem environment
No endorsement by US satellite providers
Niche market (telco only)
Technology deadends. No HPNA 4.0.
Coax
(MoCA)
Proven performance and Reliability
In use by all three pay TV segments.
MoCA 2.0 ratified
Reliant on coaxial outlet penetration

Horizontal Communications

Traditional services use a “Vertical” communications path : Multi-Tap Outlet

  • MoCA enables simultaneous “Horizontal” communications:

Outlet <–> Outlet

“Splitter Jumping”

  • MoCA enables new content sharing services such as Multi-Room recordings or PC-to-TV

Physical Operating Conditions

MoCA Plant Assumptions


  • 300 feet max cable from multi-tap to first splitter

  • 25 dB max attenuation (@ 750 MHz) between first splitter and outlet

  • 300 feet max cable between first splitter and outlet (+other splitters)

  • No amplifiers in the path between desired outlets

  • CATV analog and digital signal levels at outlets are within system specifications

MoCA Network Topology

MoCA Devices Form Full-Mesh/Peer-to-Peer Network

  • MoCA 1.1 : 16 devices max

Example of MoCA Network w/ 4 Devices

  • Each Gateways or Client STB connected to coax outlet
  • 6 unique coax links (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 2/3, 2/4, 3/4)
  • 12 unique MoCA connections must be managed – bi- directional links established


MoCA Network Overview Usable Data Rate

MoCA allows Scalable Data Rate per Link

  • MoCA 1.1 : < 175 Mbps Aggregate Network Date Rate

Typical Multi-Room Gateway Data Rate Usage

  • Assume a single gateway connected to 3 client STBs
  • Each STB link is bi-directional = control + data (video)
    • Video is MPEG2 HD @ 20 Mbps per stream
    • Control is <1 Mbps
  • Total MoCA BW consumed is 3 x (20+1) = 63 Mbps
  • MoCA data rate remaining for other services: 175 Mbps – 63 Mbps = 112 Mbps


MoCA Physical Layer (PHY) Data Rate

MoCA PHY Rate provides indication of connection quality

  • ~250 Mbps max PHY Data Rate (equivalent to 11g 54Mbps)
  • Max PHY Rate for <55 dB Path Loss
  • 55% – 70% of PHY Rate is Usable Data Rate (WiFi is typically 20%)


MoCA Frequency Planning

  • MoCA network communications occur in a single 50 MHz BW channel
    • Same 50 MHz BW channel for all Tx/Rx (TDD/TDMA)
    • Broadband noise-like signal (similar to QAM)
    • One MoCA device becomes Network Controller (NC) and manages all network communications in the 50 MHz channel
    • Guaranteed Low Packet Error Rate (<1e-5) allows broadcast video quality user experience
  • MoCA channel coexistent w/ all operator primary services bands
    • Optional band plans defined by MoCA from 500–1500 MHz
    • Special MoCA products for DBS services

MoCA Frequency Band

4 Band Channel Plan: 500 – 1500 MHz

  • Operator/Service Provider exclusive bands
  • D-Band allows Retail products
  • Only 1 MoCA network allowed per band
BandCenter FrequencyChannel StepUsage
A875 MHzOperator Only (DBS)
B900 MHzOperator Only (DBS)
C925 – 1000 MHz25 MHzOperator Only (MSO, Telco)
D1150 – 1500 MHz50 MHzOperator + Retail
L & PSK500 – 2500 MHz50 MHzOperator Only

MoCA Frequency Coexistence

  • Coax and splitters support reliable communications above 860 MHz
  • Coexistence with existing services
    • UHV/VHF video to 806 or 860 MHz
    • Satellite DBS services from 950 MHz
    • MoCA channels are 50MHz wide

MoCA Network Additional Features

  • Network Latency
    • 8 nodes (MoCA 1.0): <3.5 ms avg w/ 80% loading
    • 16 nodes (MoCA 1.1): <4.5 ms avg w/ 80% loading
  • Quality of Service Support
    • MoCA 1.1 : UPnP 3.0 based Parameterized QoS (PQoS)
  • Network Privacy
    • Single DES 56-bit encryption
    • Device Security Password for Network Admission

MoCA Service Provider Installs

MoCA in a CATV Environment

MoCA is designed to operate in a digital cable ready home

0 dBmV min Analog Carrier Levels @ outlets

-15 dBmV min Digital Carrier Levels @ outlets

<25 dB TAP to outlet loss in CATV band

MoCA Point-of-Entry (POE) Filter in a CATV Environment

  • Simple Passive Device does not affect DS/US CATV services
    • 1002 MHz passive low-pass filter with <1 dB loss in CATV band
    • >35 dB rejection in MoCA D-band
  • Provides Physical Isolation of homes connected to common Multi-Tap
    • Improved MoCA Outlet Coverage
      • Reduces root-splitter isolation (POE is a reflector @ MoCA freqs)
      • Reduces average installation time
    • Plant Leakage Mitigation
      • Prevents MoCA signal energy from affecting homes on common TAP
      • Prevents out of band ingress energy from affecting operation of MoCA home
    • Privacy
      • Snooping & Service Theft Prevention
    • Common Frequency Plan
      • All MSO homes can operate on the same channel
      • Network predictability and fast recovery

…POE Filters

MoCA in a Telco Environment

  • All products with integrated MoCA interfaces
  • Multi-Band MoCA networks
    • C & D bands
  • Optical Network Terminal (ONT)
    • MoCA network with BHR in C-band
  • Broadband Home Router (BHR)
    • MoCA network with ONT in C-band
    • MoCA network with Gateways & Client STBs in D-band
  • Gateways & Client STBs
    • MoCA network with BHR in D-band

MoCA in a DBS Environment

MoCA Home Wiring Overview

Trunk and Branch Wiring

Typical All-Passive *Digi-Ready Home – No Changes Required for MoCA

Trunk and Branch w/ Drop Amp

Typical Drop-Amp *Digi-Ready Home – No Changes Required for MoCA


Trunk and Branch w/ Line Amplifier

Typical Line-Amp *Digi-Ready Home – Changes Required for MoCA Operation

  • Option 1: Replace Line Amp with MoCA Type A or B Line Amp
  • Option 2: If eMTA in Rm 1, replace Line Amp with MoCA Type D or E Drop Amp

Testing the MoCA Environment

As presented by Spirent Communications
  • Prequalification of all outlets – MoCA ready
  • Ensure qualification testing
  • Measure specific Phy rates
  • Multiple use of gateways for MoCA network

MoCA Testing

Audio/Video Quality Testing Over MoCA

As presented by Spirent Communications


MoCA Network Qualification Testing

Quick tests to ensure network is functioning properly 

As presented by Spirent Communications

  • Combines coaxial cable, data rate and bit loading tests.

  • Uses thresholds and analyzes measurement results to determine whether or not the MoCA network is operating properly.

  • Pass/fail metrics provide quick problem identification.

  • Measurements may be stored to create “birth certificate” for the customer’s MoCA network.

  • Verifies bi-directional data rates, number/type of nodes, and IP/MoCA packet loss.

MoCA Data Rate Testing

Does a bi-directional issue exist between nodes?
As presented by Spirent Communications
  • Connect test set to the coaxial network and determine the data rate between each node
  • Verify transmit and receive data rates
  • Compare data rates to acceptable minimums needed to support multimedia services

MoCA Transport Testing

Does the equipment’s MoCA interface function properly? 

As presented by Spirent Communications

  • Connect test set directly to customer equipment using verified coaxial cable

  • Determine the transmit/receive data rates attained between the test set and the customer equipment

  • Verify that data rates exceed the minimum acceptable values

  • Replace customer equipment should data rates fall below benchmark

MoCA Coaxial Cable Testing

Between Nodes

As presented by Spirent Communications
  • Connect test set to outlets and splitters to check each coaxial cable segment

  • Determine the data rates attained at each segment to isolate physical issues

    • Splitters or filters

    • Un-terminated cables

    • Cable faults

    • Damaged cables or connectors

    • Attenuation due to cable length

    • Amplifiers without MoCA bypass

  • Locate areas of the spectrum with reduced bit loading which are affected by noise or interference

  • Identify the suspected source—multipath interference, L-band carriers (satellite)…

…Certified Test Equipment

 




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