MoCA Roundup at CES 2012
CES 2012 brought a bundle of great news involving MoCA home networking and here are just a few of the big stories.
DISH Network Starts Using MoCA Networking
MoCAlliance’s Channel – YouTube.
MoCA Alliance has a number of great videos including the DISH announcement of their new Whole Home DVR which uses MoCA networking, and videos from the Wi3 and Channel Master booths.
TiVo Updates to Multiroom Streaming on Premiere DVRs
TiVo started to update the new multiroom streaming (MRS) software in their Premiere DVRs which allows streaming saved shows from TiVo-to-TiVo without having to “download” video anymore. Not only does this create a more complete Whole Home DVR experience, but allows access to more shows that might have been blocked by copy restrictions. TiVo recommends a Wired network connection, either Ethernet or MoCA, so expect a lot more TiVo users to be upgrading from WiFi to a reliable wired MoCA connection.
Actiontec Shows First Multi-band MoCA Networking Adapter
The folks at Actiontec who build the MoCA routers and adapters for Verizon FiOS, have now come up with a new MoCA adapter that works in either Cable, Verizon, or DirecTV networks. Called the Multi-band MoCA adapter, it works like the standard Ethernet-to-Coax adapter except now you don’t have to select between a Cable/VZ-only or DirecTV DECA, you can just use a single adapter for either network! It’s also insurance if you decide to switch between Cable and Satellite, and could be bundled with a game console or connected TV at your local electronics store.
Samsung Includes DirecTV RVU Support on All 2012 Smart TVs
Samsung threw even more support behind the RVU standard by announcing support for DirecTV in all of it’s new Smart TVs. RVU is the standard that allows your TV to have it’s own set-top box features, connecting to a central RVU DVR server (the DirecTV HR34 Home Media Center) via Ethernet or MoCA networking. The TV can then access DVR shows, Live DirecTV, PPV, etc… just as if it was connected to a set-top box. Since the RVU software is basically just an App that runs on the Smart TV, don’t be surprised to see more support for DirecTV on other connected devices like bluray players, game consoles, tablets and smartphones.
MyGica Introduces New MoCA Ethernet Over Coax Kit
MyGica, known for it’s TV and PC video products, launched a new MoCA Ethernet Over Coax Kit to complement it’s lineup of USB video capture products and Android set-top box. The kit includes 2 Ethernet-over-Coax adapters, is compatible with MoCA 1.1 networks, and ships directly from their online partner at a great value. New users who are considering MoCA networking now have a lot of options to choose the solution that fits them best.
Wi3 WiPNET: EE Times Top 10 CE innovation gadgets at CES
Top 10 CE innovation gadgets at CES.
More accolades for Wi3 WiPNET, this time from EE Times which selected the Top 10 CE gadgets from the list of 32 Innovations award categories. MoCA networking becomes more popular at the CES show every year and this year will showcase more new MoCA products than ever.
Wi3 MoCA Product Wins CES 2012 Innovations Award: Discovery News
Faster Home Networks Using Coaxial : Discovery News.
CES 2012 Innovations Award Winners
Building on the success of it’s WiPNET product, Wi3 announced that it had won the CES 2012 Best of Innovations Award in the Home Networking category. The WiPNET replaces the coax outlet in your home and is described by Discovery Channel News:
Each patented in-wall sleeve and interchangeable cartridge features two Ethernet ports and is professionally installed in 5 minutes without ripping apart or drilling into sheetrock. Even better, the system is future-proof. As the technology evolves, you’ll be able to customize/upgrade your home media set-up by simply swapping in a new cartridge.
WiPNET has also won 2011 CEDIA Manufacturers’ Excellence Finalist, 2011 Resi Award for Industrial Design, 2011 CE Pro Best Technologies Award, and Communications Technology 2011 Platinum Award. Congratulations to Wi3 and their amazing MoCA-based product.
TiVo Premiere Elite at Best Buy Magnolia – 1st MoCA CE Product
Quad Tuning TiVo Premiere Elite Now Available – Zatznotfunny
The first (MoCA enabled) TiVo Elite’s have shown up at Best Buy Magnolia stores and they are already sold out and backordered online. In fact, in the first week of availability there are already numerous reviews, forum discussions, unboxing videos, and general discussion all mostly positive about the new features. 4 digital tuner, 2 TB of storage, Multiroom streaming, dual core processor and MoCA home networking make up the most advanced TiVo DVR to date. Not to be overlooked is that TiVo Elite is the first MoCA-enabled consumer electronics product to be sold at retail and is compatible with other MoCA Home Networking products from NETGEAR, D-LINK, Channel Master, and Actiontec.
See the TiVo Elite unboxed video below:
Pace, DirecTV Prep Launch of Home Media Center :: Communications Technology
Pace, DirecTV Prep Launch of Home Media Center :: Communications Technology.
The trend towards a big Media Server in the home that will provide all HD video services to your connected TVs, game consoles, iPad/tablet, or smartphone is building momentum. DirecTV and Pace will launch the first RVU servers that will complement the Samsung RVU TVs that were launched earlier this year. Of course, MoCA plays a big part in connecting all of the devices together whether it be to a Smart TV in another room, a wireless access point to bring service to an iPad, or an IP set-top box for your old legacy TV through a MoCA Adapter.
TiVo also announced their monster 4-tuner DVR which will play the same Media Center role for TiVo subscribers (also using MoCA connectivity). The next step will be all new apps available for the client devices – more TVs, STBs, and mobile devices that will work with the DirecTV or TiVo servers. Stay tuned!
NFL goes OTT on PS3
DIRECTV and PlayStation Bring NFL Sunday Ticket to PS3 – PlayStation Blog.
Once upon a time, if you were a lowly cable subscriber you had to suffer through the NFL season watching your local team and some other random game on Sundays. Now through the miracle of OTT Internet video, relief is finally here (Oakland/SF Bay Area fans rejoice!), NFL Sunday Ticket is available via any broadband connected PS3 (for a small fee of course). DirecTV is allowing non-DirecTV subscribers to sign up for 17 weeks of out-of-market NFL games, the Redzone channel, and mobile access for $340 for the entire season. That’s just $20 / week, about the price of 2 movie tickets, for an all-you-can-eat NFL buffet.
This just happens to coincide with the recent PS3 price drop to $250 for the basic console. And since every game is streamed over the Internet at full HD quality, it’s a no brainer to use MoCA Coax Networking to ensure a HDTV quality picture every Sunday and beyond. In addition, networking your PS3 with MoCA gives you stutter free online gaming with no interference versus a wireless connection.
Read the announcement here.
MoCA Tech Back at CEDIA Expo, and Bigger Than Ever
The CEDIA EXPO 2011 is coming up, Sept 7-10 in Indianapolis, IN, and this year promises even more MoCA exhibitors and products than ever before. Last year it was DirecTV that was launching their new whole home DVR service and this year should include even more MoCA surprises. See the announcement from MoCA Alliance website below:
MoCA® makes it simple.
Join MoCA at Booth 327, CEDIA Expo 2011, September 8 – 10, Indianapolis Convention Center, Indianapolis, IND
Use MoCA and make money in retrofit video and connected TV installs.
HOW?
- See our live demo and training at CEDIA Expo, Booth 327.
- Attend our money making, retrofit install training session: FREE!
Friday, September 9 @ 10:00 AM OR 2:00PM. Marriot Colorado. Click here to add to your planner. (http://cedia11.mapyourshow.com/5_0/sessions/sessiondetails.cfm?ScheduledSessionID=18ADC6)
Indianapolis, Indiana
CEDIA EXPO, Indianapolis Marriott® Downtown Marriott – Colorado room
350 West Maryland Street
Want a free pass to EXPO? Email Robertas@mocalliance.org before Sept. 1, 2011.
Get the CEDIA Expo app:
Verizon FiOS Coax Networking Adapters Now Shipping! Yes, It’s MoCA.
JR.com: Actiontec Verizon Coax Network Adapter
Verizon FiOS customers are lucky enough to enjoy the fastest broadband speeds available nationwide, but now they can access their fast Internet through a WIRED network anywhere in the house using Verizon FiOS Coax-to-Ethernet Adapters. Produced by Actiontec, who also builds the Verizon FiOS BHR Router, the Verizon FiOS Adapter uses coax cabling in the home to enable an Ethernet port in any room of the house. Need an Ethernet port to connect your new Smart TV – no problem, put a FiOS adapter behind the TV! Want a wired network to hook up your PS3 to stream HD movies or download games – install FiOS in the bedroom! If you need 4 Ethernet ports for your Bluray, Xbox, Slingbox, Apple TV, just add an inexpensive Ethernet 4-Port Switch to expand the number of ports.
Most FiOS customers don’t know they have a MoCA network already running in their home so they can magically access their networks using this official Verizon-branded MoCA adapter (and other MoCA compatible adapters). The Verizon adapter (Actiontec model ECB2200V) is available online at various resellers including J&R through Amazon.
TiVo unveils Premiere Q quad-tuner DVR (w MoCA!) | The Digital Home – CNET News
TiVo unveils Premiere Q quad-tuner DVR | The Digital Home – CNET News.
It took a while, but MoCA-enabled TiVos are finally here! TiVo unveiled the Premiere Q quad-tuner DVR and Preview client set-top (which streams from any Premiere DVR) making both boxes available to cable operators for now which a retail version possibly coming very soon after (see TiVo Premiere Q Headed To Retail As Premier Elite). Specs include MoCA networking built into both the Premiere Q and Preview allowing both devices to stream video throughout the home and from the Internet for over-the-top programming. TiVo is touting the first hybrid cable + Internet TV multiroom DVR system combining the best of both broadcasting and broadband entertainment all made possible by MoCA coax networking!
Read the article here.
MoCA – Officially The Fastest Growing Home Networking Technology
Infonetics Home Networking Devices
Reports from the big market research firms are starting to confirm what should be obvious to home networking enthusiasts – that MoCA coax networking is the fastest growing home networking technology around. Here’ s the Instat take:
MoCA experienced the greatest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46% over the 2007 through 2010 time period.
and here is what Infonetics had to say:
The small but fast-growing MoCA coax-Ethernet adapter segment posted the highest revenue growth in 2010, up 93%
Given that MoCA is the technology behind new Multiroom DVR and Over-the-Top VOD services from DirecTV, Verizon FiOS, Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, etc… it’s not a stretch to imagine that MoCA may start catching up with WiFi in US Pay TV households.
From a recent Cisco router announcement:
According to industry research group IDC, only 39% of US homes have wireless, while only 11% are using Wireless-N technology.
MoCA will quickly surpass 10M US homes sometime this year so the prospect of catching and passing 11N is a very real possibility. Passing 11N may have been unimaginable just a few years ago, but MoCA coax networking may now be the best kept secret in home networking.
