Multimedia over Coax Alliance

{{Short description|International standards consortium that publishes specifications for networking over coaxial cable}}

{{Infobox technology standard

| image = Multimedia over Coax Alliance, MoCA, logo.svg

| status = Published

| year_started = 2004{{Cite journal |last1=Monk |first1=Anton |last2=Lee |first2=Ronald |last3=Hebron |first3=Yoav |date=2013-07-12 |title=The Multimedia Over Coax Alliance |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6558525 |journal=Proceedings of the IEEE |volume=101 |issue=11 |pages=2322–2338 |doi=10.1109/JPROC.2013.2266299 |s2cid=2950192 |issn=0018-9219 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2021-01-09}}

| first_published = {{Start date|2006|02}}

| version = 2.5

| version_date = 13 April 2016

| preview = 3.0

| preview_date =

| organization =

| committee =

| editors =

| authors =

| base_standards =

| related_standards = Ethernet

| abbreviation = MoCA

| domain = Computer networking

| license = Proprietary

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

The Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) is an international standards consortium that publishes specifications for networking over coaxial cable. The technology was originally developed to distribute IP television in homes using existing cabling, but is now used as a general-purpose Ethernet link where it is inconvenient or undesirable to replace existing coaxial cable with optical fiber or twisted pair cabling.{{Cite journal |last=O'Shea |first=Dan |date=2006-11-20 |title=The IPTV battle enters the home |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/213945879 |journal=Telephony |publisher=Informa |publication-place=Chicago, United States |volume=247 |issue=19 |pages=20–21 |issn=0040-2656 |eissn=2161-8690 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2021-01-13 |id={{ProQuest|213945879}} |via=ProQuest}}{{Cite conference |last1=Zhou |first1=Shujia |last2=Song |first2=Yingxiong |last3=Lin |first3=Rujian |date=2011-09-25 |title=FTTB multimedia access solution based on MoCA technology |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6158037 |conference=2011 IEEE 13th International Conference on Communication Technology |pages=1037–1040 |doi=10.1109/ICCT.2011.6158037 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2021-01-13 }}

MoCA 1.0 was approved in 2006, MoCA 1.1 in April 2010, MoCA 2.0 in June 2010, and MoCA 2.5 in April 2016. The most recently released version of the standard, MoCA 3.0, supports speeds of up to {{val|10|u=Gbit/s}}. This technology is not yet available in customer premises equipment.{{cite web|url=https://broadbandlibrary.com/a-preview-of-10g-enabling-technologies|title=A Preview of 10G Enabling Technologies|date=February 20, 2021|first=Kinney|last=Bacon|work=Broadband Library}}

Membership

The Alliance currently has 45 members including pay TV operators, OEMs, CE manufacturers, and IC vendors.{{cite web |title= MoCA Members |website= MoCAlliance.org |url= http://www.mocalliance.org/aboutus/ourmembers.php |access-date=October 16, 2013 }}

MoCA's board of directors consists of Arris, Comcast, Cox Communications, DirecTV, Echostar, Intel, InCoax, MaxLinear and Verizon.

Technology

Within the scope of the Internet protocol suite, MoCA is a protocol that provides the link layer. In the seven-layer OSI model, it provides definitions within the data link layer (layer 2) and the physical layer (layer 1). DLNA approved of MoCA as a layer 2 protocol.[http://www.mocalliance.org/about/faqs.htm MOCA FAQs] A MoCA network can contain up to 16 nodes for MoCA 1.1 and higher, with a maximum of 8 for MoCA 1.0.http://www.mocalliance.org/technology/Final_Best-Practices-for-Installation-of-MoCA_170516rev01.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} The network provides a shared-medium, half-duplex link between all nodes using time-division multiplexing; within each timeslot, any pair of nodes communicates directly with each other using the highest mutually-supported version of the standard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gocoax.com/support|title=GoCoax | Support}}

File:MoCA-Timeline-v8-2017.gif

= Versions =

; MoCA 1.0: The first version of the standard, MoCA 1.0, was ratified in 2006 and supports transmission speeds of up to 135 Mb/s.{{Cite conference |last=Ovadia |first=Shlomo |title=Broadband Access Communication Technologies II |date=2007-09-09 |editor-last=Jain |editor-first=Raj |editor2-last=Dingel |editor2-first=Benjamin B. |editor3-last=Komaki |editor3-first=Shozo |editor4-last=Ovadia |editor4-first=Shlomo |chapter=MoCA: ubiquitous multimedia networking in the home |volume=6776 |chapter-url=http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/proceeding.aspx?doi=10.1117/12.726808 |location=Boston, MA |pages=67760C |doi=10.1117/12.726808 |chapter-url-access=subscription |access-date=2021-01-09}}

; MoCA 1.1: MoCA 1.1 provides 175 Mbit/s net throughputs (275 Mbit/s PHY rate) and operates in the 500 to 1500 MHz frequency range.{{Cite web|url=http://moca4installers.com/moca_faqs.php|title = MoCA for Installers :: MoCA FAQs}}

; MoCA 2.0: MoCA 2.0 offers actual throughputs (MAC rate) up to 1 Gbit/s. Operating frequency range is 500 to 1650 MHz. Packet error rate is 1 packet error in 100 million.{{cite web|title= Introducing MoCA 2.0 |date= June 15, 2010 |work= MoCA website |url= http://www.mocalliance.org/MoCA_2/index.php |access-date= May 25, 2012 }} MoCA 2.0 also offers lower power modes of sleep and standby and is backward compatible with MoCA 1.1.{{cite web |title=MoCA FAQs |work=MoCAlliance.org |url=http://www.mocalliance.org/aboutus/faq.php |access-date=October 17, 2013 }} In March 2017, SCTE/ISBE society and MoCA consortium began creating a new "standards operational practice" (SCTE 235) to provide MoCA 2.0 with DOCSIS 3.1 interoperability. Interoperability is necessary because both MoCA 2.0 and DOCSIS 3.1 may operate in the frequency range above 1 GHz. The standard "addresses the need to prevent degradation or failure of signals due to a shared frequency range above 1 GHz".{{Cite web |last=KMCreative |title=SCTE/ISBE Standards, MoCA Team Up on New Operational Practice for DOCSIS 3.1-MoCA Interoperability |url=http://www.mocalliance.org/news/prM_170314-SCTE-ISBE-Standards-MoCA-DOCSIS-3-1-Interoperability |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613132132/https://mocalliance.org/news/prM_170314-SCTE-ISBE-Standards-MoCA-DOCSIS-3-1-Interoperability |archive-date=2021-06-13 |access-date=2017-03-21 |website=www.mocalliance.org |date=14 March 2017 |language=en |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=SCTE 235, Operational Practice for the Coexistence of DOCSIS 3.1 Signals and MoCA Signals in the Home Environment |url=http://www.scte.org/SCTEDocs/Standards/SCTE%20235%202017.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322111717/http://www.scte.org/SCTEDocs/Standards/SCTE%20235%202017.pdf |archive-date=2017-03-22 |access-date=2017-03-21 |website=Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers Inc.}}

; MoCA 2.5: MoCA 2.5 (introduced April 13, 2016{{Cite web|url=http://www.mocalliance.org/news/prM_160416_MoCA-approved-specification-MoCA-2-5|title=Home Networking Gets a New Performance Standard|website=www.mocalliance.org|access-date=2016-04-13}}) offers actual data rates up to 2.5 Gbit/s, continues to be backward compatible with MoCA 2.0 and MoCA 1.1, and adds MoCA protected setup (MPS), Management Proxy, Enhanced Privacy, Network wide Beacon Power, and Bridge detection.{{cite web|url=http://www.mocalliance.org/news/prM_160416_MoCA-approved-specification-MoCA-2-5|title=MoCA 2.5 News|work=MoCA web site|access-date=May 10, 2016}} MoCA Access is intended for multiple dwelling units (MDUs) such as hotels, resorts, hospitals, or educational facilities. It is based on the current MoCA 2.0 standard which is capable of 1 Gbit/s net throughputs, and MoCA 2.5 which is capable of 2.5 Gbit/s.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mocalliance.org/access/index.htm|title=MoCA Access™|last=KMCreative|website=www.mocalliance.org|language=en|access-date=2017-10-02}}

; MoCA 3.0: The MoCA 3.0 standard has been released and increases the maximum throughput to 10 Gbit/s. However, this is not yet available to customers.{{cite web|url=https://broadbandlibrary.com/a-preview-of-10g-enabling-technologies|title=A Preview of 10G Enabling Technologies|date=February 20, 2021|first=Kinney|last=Bacon|work=Broadband Library}}

= Performance profiles =

class="wikitable"
! MoCA 1.0 ! MoCA 1.1 ! MoCA 2.0 ! MoCA 2.0 bonded ! MoCA 2.1 ! MoCA 2.1 bonded ! MoCA 2.5 ! MoCA 3.0
Actual throughput (Mbit/s) \| 100 \| 175 \| 500 \| 1000 \| 500 \| 1000 \| 2500 \| 10,000
Number of channels bonded \| \| \| \| 2 \| \| 2 \| 3~5 \| ≤4
Power save (standby and sleep) \| \| \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}}
MoCA protected setup; MPS \| \| \| \| \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \|
Management proxy \| \| \| \| \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \|
Enhanced privacy \| \| \| \| \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \|
Network-wide beacon power \| \| \| \| \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \|
Bridge detection \| \| \| \| \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \|

class="wikitable"

! MoCA 1.0

! MoCA 1.1

! MoCA 2.0

! MoCA 2.0
bonded

! MoCA 2.1

! MoCA 2.1
bonded

! MoCA 2.5

! MoCA 3.0

Actual throughput (Mbit/s)

| 100

| 175

| 500

| 1000

| 500

| 1000

| 2500

| 10,000

Number of channels bonded

| 2

| 3~5

| ≤4

Power save (standby and sleep)

| {{Yes}}

MoCA protected setup; MPS

| {{Yes}}

Management proxy

| {{Yes}}

Enhanced privacy

| {{Yes}}

Network-wide beacon power

| {{Yes}}

Bridge detection

| {{Yes}}

= Frequency band plan =

Channel ! Frequency, center (MHz){{Cite web\|title=MoCA 1.1 Specification for Device RF Characteristics\|url=http://www.mocalliance.org/MoCA1/specification/MoCA_Specification_for_Device_RF_Characteristics.pdf\|website=MoCAlliance.org\|publisher=Multimedia over Coax Alliance}} ! MoCA 1.1 channel ! MoCA 2.0 primary ! MoCA 2.0 secondary ! Beacon channel
class="wikitable"
EE1	450			{{Yes}}
EE2	475			{{Yes}}
E1	500	{{Yes}}		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
E2	525	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}		{{Yes}}
E3	550	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}		{{Yes}}
E4	575	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}		{{Yes}}
E5	600	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}		{{Yes}}
EE3	625		{{Yes}}
EE4	650			{{Yes}}
---	---	---	---	---	---
F1	675	{{Yes}}			{{Yes}}
F2	700	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
F3	725	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}		{{Yes}}
F4	750	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}		{{Yes}}
F5	775	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}		{{Yes}}
F6	800	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}		{{Yes}}
F7	825	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
F8	850	{{Yes}}			{{Yes}}
---	---	---	---	---	---
A1	875
B1	900
---	---	---	---	---	---
C1	925
C2	950
C3	975
C4	1000
---	---	---	---	---	---
D1	1150	{{Yes}}			{{Yes}}
D1a	1175		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D2	1200	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D2a	1225		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D3	1250	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D3a	1275		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D4	1300	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D4a	1325		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D5	1350	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D5a	1375		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D6	1400	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D6a	1425		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D7	1450	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D7a	1475		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D8	1500	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D8a	1525		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D9	1550		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D9a	1575		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D10	1600		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}
D10a	1625		{{Yes}}	{{Yes}}

Notes:

Channel C4 is commonly used for Verizon FiOS for the "WAN" link from the ONT to the router.[http://www.dslreports.com/faq/verizonfios/3.2_MOCA Verizon Online FiOS FAQ → 3.2 MOCA]
Channels D1-D8 are commonly used for "LAN" links, between set-top boxes and the router.
E band channels are commonly used by DirecTV converter boxes. The DirecTV Ethernet-to-Coax Adapter (DECA) uses MoCA on this "Mid-RF" frequency band.
D10A 100 MHz wide means it goes up to 1675 MHz, so splitters need to be 5-1675 MHz.