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MoCA, A Great Way to Supercharge PS4
The newly unveiled PlayStation 4 (PS4) is “Sony’s most powerful platform ever” according to Sony Computer Entertainment president and group CEO Andrew House. However, it will be the PS4’s ability to stay attuned to consumer’s changing behavior and the gamer’s change of play that will make it standout. One of PS4’s priorities is “ease of access regardless of location or device” that will drive the need for a robust home network. Adding a MoCA coax to Ethernet adapter in the home can bring out the best of the platform’s capabilities.
Clearly, Sony’s ambition for PlayStation 4 to deliver a revolutionary experience for gamers and average consumers relies on reaching the Internet reliably and consistently. PS4 promises a new way to receive games, to deliver and view content, a new gamer’s social networking with real-time peer interactivity – all delivered through the Internet. Bringing the Internet directly to the PS4 is the only way to take advantages of these new and exciting features.
The consumer’s PS4 experience will certainly be influenced by the performance of their in-home network. Using Wi-Fi to connect the PS4 to the Internet is the way that first comes to mind. However, with Wi-Fi’s range challenges, contention with cellular phone radios for the same frequency band and bandwidth, its proximity with microwave ovens, and the sharing of bandwidth with DECT wireless phones, Wi-Fi could be PS4’s Achilles heel. Contrary, MoCA Ethernet adapters are not affected by these constraints and can provide a direct connection to the internet without adding new any wires.
Today,“Gaming consoles have transformed into entertainment hubs for people to stream movies or YouTube videos” from the internet. Unknown to most consumers, MoCA networks already exist in many US pay-TV cable, satellite and Verizon FIOS homes. Many of these game consoles can already be found in these MoCA enabled homes (cable, satellite, and IP STB’s that support multi-room DVR). Adding a MoCA adapter to the back of a PlayStation 4 brings the Internet directly to the back of the game console and connects it to the existing MoCA network. Once on the network the game console can also be used for sharing photos, home movies and any other personal media on the TV.
Moreover, MoCA is not solely applicable to MoCA enabled households. MoCA can be added to any household with an Internet connection and cable TV wiring – otherwise known as coax wires. In the US, for example, over 90% of the homes have coax that can support MoCA. Therefore in the majority of homes, the Internet can be extended directly to where it’s being used (living room, bedroom, den, family room) vs. receiving it from across the house wirelessly where the signal can be greatly attenuated due to the distance and obstructions such as walls and floors.
Gaming consoles capable of video streaming have become an integral part of our lives and we expect PS4 to affect us similarly. Designed to entertain, these consoles have become gateways of electronic interactivity that take us to different places, sometimes to different worlds through the power of our imagination, some software, maybe a cloud, but certainly through the Internet. However, existing home networking technologies have left us wanting more. Limited network speed and the lack of available bandwidth have forced us to accept poor images, buffering, and dropped programs. But MoCA can change that.
Today MoCA delivers up to 175 Mbps for on-demand, interactive games, and the streaming of video’s and music through the homes cable TV wiring. The fact that MoCA is the choice of most multi-room DVR companies for networking is a strong endorsement of its capabilities. In the very near future, MoCA will reach speeds of 1 Gbps. Who knows what else the future will bring us with a blazing network connection, maybe holographic characters in our home? Remember, all we want is great user experience: no delays! No buffering! No stuck downloads – MoCA is here today.
USA Today: Mini TiVo may make you fall back in love with TiVo
After a long wait it’s finally here! The TiVo Mini is the first non-DVR set-top box with the TiVo badge, and MoCA makes it all possible. Now you only need 1 DVR and can add Mini’s in every room where you want the TiVo service. USA Today gave the Mini a test drive and MoCA fit right in:
The other recommended alternative is to take advantage of something called MoCA, not a coffee-flavored drink but rather networking technology. I was lucky. MoCA, which stands for Multimedia over Coax Alliance, is built into my FiOS router. So all I had to do was connect a coax cable to the Mini.
Read the full review here.
SAMSUNG and Verizon Release FiOS TV App – Perfect for FiOS Coax Adapter
FiOS customers can now use compatible Samsung Smart TV’s and Smart Blu-ray players to stream live TV channels as well as Flex View video-on-demand through the FiOS TV App. iPad and Xbox360 users are already familiar with this feature which is already available, but they can now take advantage of the App on their new Samsung TVs and Blu-ray players. The FiOS Coax-Network Adapter (based on MoCA) is perfect for connecting the TV or Blu-ray using the same wired networking through the coax that’s used by the FiOS set-top box. Why bother with WiFi when FiOS users have access to MoCA networking already built into the FiOS BHR (router) at 170Mbps speeds.
FiOS is just the first Pay TV provider to offer support for Live TV apps on networked CE devices like TVs, Xbox360, Bluray, etc… just like they do for iPads. MoCA networking is the “Go-To” solution for connecting those devices via wired coax cable to deliver HD video as smooth and reliably as through any set-top box.
See the Samsung press release here.
Read about the FiOS TV App here.
Study: N. Amer. No. 1 in home networking devices, thanks to MoCA | News | CED Magazine
It’s no secret now that MoCA has made such a big impact on the home networking market that it’s driving most of the market growth especially in North America.
What might be surprising to folks in the US is that MoCA is probably in their router, set-top box, or DVR and they might not even know it. Everyone from DirecTV to Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon FiOS, and recently DISH Network have been deploying MoCA networks into millions of consumers homes. The next wave of MoCA growth will be in connecting your Xbox, PS3, PC, iPad, and other Internet device to the MoCA network through a MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter or Coax-WiFi adapter.
Stay tuned to MoCAblog for the latest news regarding new MoCA products and exciting developments.
Read the article here.
Sony PS3 becomes a Time Warner Set-Top Box by using MoCA
Xbox isn’t the only game console starting to be used as a set-top box as it’s recent announcements with Verizon FiOS TV and Comcast XFINITY TV indicate. Sony’s Playstation 3 is also starting to take on set-top box (STB) features starting with the ability to play back recordings from a Time Warner DVR. If you already use Time Warner’s Whole Home DVR service (which uses MoCA networking) then it looks like you can also connect your PS3 to the same network using a MoCA Ethernet-to-Coax adapter to the PS3 and another MoCA adapter to connect your router to the MoCA network. Now you can use your PS3 in your game room or kid’s bedroom to watch your recorded TV shows in addition to Netflix, VUDU and online gaming. Here’s what you need:
- Time Warner Whole Home DVR service
- Playstation 3 (with DTCP-IP enabled)
- MoCA Adapter Kit (one connected to the PS3, the other to your router)
Now that your PS3 is networked to the DVR, the DVR will show up on your PS3 as a media server (SamSTB below).
And you can select the DVR media server to access the recorded TV shows, listed by recording date, and start playing them on your PS3 in HD quality or however the shows were recorded just like it was a STB.
Fast forward, rewind, pause all work similarly to as if the content came off a networked drive and the only real drawback is that sometimes the PS3 will show a TV show that has been deleted from the DVR, but for some reason still shows up on the list. The other obvious difference with an actual STB is the lack of Live TV on the PS3, possibly one day TWC will have a PS3 app similar to the Live TV app they have for the iPad.
The PS3 DVR feature is another small step for connected CE devices to start accessing the Cable or Satellite TV service you pay for every month. Besides iPad apps and Xbox TV, another example is the Samsung SmarTV which acts like a full fledged set-top box with Live TV and DVR features when connected to DirecTV’s new RVU Server via a MoCA network.
Since MoCA is the de facto standard for Cable and Satellite TV networking, don’t be surprised to see even more benefits to connecting your CE devices to a wired MoCA network using MoCA Ethernet-to-Coax adapters.
Mark Cuban Calls Out MoCA: The TV Business Keeps Getting Stronger ! « blog maverick
You know you’ve entered the mainstream when you get called out by NBA World Champion Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban. On his blog, Cuban makes the case for traditional TV as the engine for online video growth not a competitor. It’s a very compelling argument from a guy who made a billion dollars selling broadcast.com to Yahoo! back in the day. Where Cuban goes both right/wrong is during his critique of the OTT technology standards, he calls out MoCA (Yay!) but lumps it in with WiFi (Boo!) when he talks about how people won’t wait around for buffering. We totally agree – which is why good old reliable MoCA networking solves that problem. Either way, when “MoCA” gets mentioned with “Tebow” – you know your name is getting out there. Next stop, the Kardashians!
And last but not least, MOCA, DLNA and good old fashioned wi fi is always going to be a hassle. No one has perfect wi fi at their apartment or house. It always screws up. That may be acceptable to a price sensitive market. But when people want to see Tebow Tebow, buffering just wont cut it.
via The TV Business Keeps Getting Stronger ! « blog maverick.
Home Networks Get New Options | PCWorld
Home Networks Get New Options | PCWorld.
Another post-CES article that details the 3 major networking options available today – WiFi, MoCA and Powerline. MoCA is the fastest growing home networking standard worldwide, and new adapters like the Wi3 WiPNET will enable over 35M US households with MoCA coax networking by 2015 according to IMS market research.
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 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.
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:
