Preparing to buy a set of MoCA 2.5 adapters...

[OzarkEdge]

I'm about to order a set of ScreenBeam MoCA 2.5 adapters ECB7250:

Amazon.com: ScreenBeam Bonded MoCA 2.5 Network Adapter for Highest Speed Internet, Ethernet Over Coax - Starter Kit (Model: ECB7250K02)

ScreenBeam appears to be a retail outlet for Actiontec(?), so I'm assuming these adapters are nearly the same/good as Actiontex ECB7250s sold to ISPs, etc. (not available in the retail channel). 'Good as' including Actiontec-sourced firmware and documentation. These adapters (Actiontec) appear to use the latest MaxLinear MxL93712 chipset.

Application will be over coax dedicated to MoCA and two OTA TV antennas (coupled and preamped; no cable modem/DOCSIS signaling). I plan to add two POE/LPF/MoCA filters, one at each end to stop the MoCA signal from reaching the preamp/coupler/antennas and the TV/AVR tuners.

A few concerns:

o Any feedback on the ScreenBeam adapter choice?

o Any suggestions for sourcing the MoCA filters? The goCoax filters look good: OT-LPF-1002 | goCoax

o Can I inject the antenna preamp power at the media center end of the MoCA run (like I'm doing now), or should I place it beyond the MoCA filter at the antenna end, just below the preamp?

o I assume I can use a non-MoCA splitter beyond the MoCA filter at the media center end(?)

Thanks for any advice!

OE

 

[degrub]

DC power injector for the TV pre-amp will see some additional line loss going through two splitters, assuming they will pass DC ( i assume so) . My injector is directly off the coax from the pre-amp to minimize voltage drop before the TV signal passes to the MOCA modem AUX/TV coax connection.

which legs of the splitter are connected to what on each end ?
Looks like an additional 7-8 dB of insertion loss for the TV signal with two splitters in line.

 

[OzarkEdge]

DC power injector for the TV pre-amp will see some additional line loss going through two splitters, assuming they will pass DC ( i assume so) . My injector is directly off the coax from the pre-amp to minimize voltage drop before the TV signal passes to the MOCA modem AUX/TV coax connection.

I may move the preamp power to the preamp end since I am adding some splitter attenuation.

which legs of the splitter are connected to what on each end ?
Looks like an additional 7-8 dB of insertion loss for the TV signal with two splitters in line.

Yep.

Splitter inputs are from the TV antennas.

OE

 

[degrub]

you might have to be careful in the TV signal path with the orientation of the splitter, if i am remembering my rf correctly, as the spec indicated substantual return loss in the 5-1000 MHz range. But i may be misremembering these days.

Check the specs on the DC injector. It may already have significant filtering on the reverse path to the antenna.

 

[OzarkEdge]

you might have to be careful in the TV signal path with the orientation of the splitter, if i am remembering my rf correctly, as the spec indicated substantual return loss in the 5-1000 MHz range. But i may be misremembering these days.

Check the specs on the DC injector. It may already have significant filtering on the reverse path to the antenna.

Will do. I was wondering about splitter INs and OUTs... I guess I'll orient them for the TV signal 'flowing' to the tuners.

OE

 

[krkaufman]

ScreenBeam appears to be a retail outlet for Actiontec(?), so I'm assuming these adapters are nearly the same/good as Actiontex ECB7250s sold to ISPs, etc. (not available in the retail channel). 'Good as' including Actiontec-sourced firmware and documentation. These adapters (Actiontec) appear to use the latest MaxLinear MxL93712 chipset.

Used to be. I think it’s more that ScreenBeam was spun-off from Actuontec; last I checked, Actiontec’s ECB7250A appeared to be a rebranding of a goCoax adapter.

 

[krkaufman]

Any suggestions for sourcing the LPF filters? The goCoax filters look good: OT-LPF-1002 | goCoax

I prefer 70 dB MoCA filters for OTA scenarios, to fully snuff the MoCA signal. (edit: annoyingly, Amazon’s raised the price on these recently)

 

[OzarkEdge]

I prefer 70 dB MoCA filters for OTA scenarios, to fully snuff the MoCA signal. (edit: annoyingly, Amazon’s raised the price on these recently)

Thanks for the tip! I will consider those filters... they do have a scrunch more insertion loss.

OE

 

[OzarkEdge]

Actiontec’s ECB7250A appeared to be a rebranding of a goCoax adapter.

I'm not feeling that.

I like goCoax at face value but they just don't have enough presence for my money. I don't like white boxes... big mistake, imo, for trying to establish a beachhead market unless that market is Apple users... which doesn't equate since MoCA networking has many potential pitfalls compared to Ethernet... it's like WiFi with cables!

OE

 

[degrub]

ya should have worked with the original ethernet cable ! We became professional vampires. No Buffy, fortunately ;-)

 

[OzarkEdge]

ya should have worked with the original ethernet cable ! We became professional vampires. No Buffy, fortunately ;-)

I worked with arcnet and Netware!

OE

 

[degrub]

close enough :-D

 

[OzarkEdge]

My AiMesh now has a MoCA 2.5 wired backhaul, shared with two broadcast TV antennas.

I purchased the ScreenBeam MoCA 2.5 starter kit ECB7250K02 (Amazon.com... beware the older ECB6250... its RJ-45 port is not 2.5GbE). It included two PicoLINK MoCA 2-way splitters (MoCA compliant, bi-directional, 5-1675 Mhz 6kV, coax ports are -3.5 dB). All seem to be well-made and documented. The wall-mount holes must be hidden under 2 of the 4 rubber feet(?).

And I purchased two PPC/Belden MoCA 70dB Filters GLP-1G70CWWS (Amazon.com... Silicon weather seal, the one on the right). Again, well-made and documented. Not used.

My network media segments by location (ISP coax is separate from MoCA coax to avoid conflict with DOCSIS 3.x):

Deck
(demarc for electric, telephone, and cable services; hub for coax and basement tel wiring)
... <cable ISP coax> grounding block coupler, bonded to building Earth Ground <ISP coax to Study> ...
... <coax from Living Room Media Center (master) > SAT 8-way splitter DIRECTTV SWS8WB-P (2-2150MHz)
<coax to Garage Shop> ...
<coax to Future Media Center(s)> ...

Study (on 850VA UPS)
... <ISP coax from Deck> wall plate coupler <ISP coax over carpet> cable modem Technicolor Spectrum D3.1 2.5G eMTA ET2251 <2.5GbE> AiMesh router RT-AX88U_Pro
<1GbE> PC
<1GbE> PC
<1GbE> 8-port unmanaged switch
..<1GbE> ATA L1+L2 OBi202 (ext 101, 102; patched to 2-line house tel wiring)
..<1GbE> PTR
..<1GbE> open
..<1GbE> open
..<1GbE> open
..<1GbE> open
..<1GbE> open
..<1GbE> port 8 used for switch backhaul
<1GbE over carpet to Living Room Media Center> ...
<2.5GbE over carpet to Living Room Media Center> ...

Living Room Media Center (on 750VA UPS)
... <1GbE over carpet from Study> 8-port unmanaged switch
..<1GbE> AVR Sony 7.2 (5.0)
..<1GbE> TV Sony w/Google TV
..<1GbE> MP Roku Ultra
..<1GbE> TVT HDHomeRun Dual
..<1GbE> open
..<1GbE> open
..<1GbE> open
..<1GbE> port 8 used for switch backhaul
... <2.5GbE over carpet from Study> MoCA 2.5 adapter (master, encrypted) <coax SAT> MoCA 2-way diplexer Holland DPD2
<coax IN/OUT> wall plate coupler <coax to Deck> ...
<coax VHF/UHF> TV 2-way splitter
..<coax> TV Sony w/Google TV
..<coax> TVT HDHomeRun Dual

Future Media Center(s)
... <coax from Deck IN/OUT> MoCA 2-way diplexer Holland DPD2
<coax SAT> MoCA 2.5 adapter (slave, encrypted) <2.5GbE> TV
<coax VHF/UHF> TV

Garage Shop (on 750VA UPS)
... <coax from Deck IN/OUT> MoCA 2-way diplexer Holland DPD2
<coax SAT> MoCA 2.5 adapter (slave, encrypted) <2.5GbE> AiMesh node RT-AX86U_Pro
<1GbE> ATA L3+L4 OBi202 (ext 103)
<1GbE> open
<1GbE> open
<1GbE> open
<1GbE> open (Internet port as LAN5)
<coax direct VHF/UHF> TV antenna preamp DC power injector <coax to Garage Attic> ...

Garage Attic
... <coax from Garage Shop> TV antenna preamp w/FM trap ON <coax direct> LTE filter SiliconDust LPF-608M <coax> TV 2-way antenna coupler Winegard CC-7870
<coax*> TV antenna1 Winegard Hi-VHF UHF Outdoor TV Antenna HD7694P*
<coax*> TV antenna2 Winegard Hi-VHF UHF Outdoor TV Antenna HD7694P*

*Identical coax and antennas.
Diplexer conections: IN/OUT from/to MoCA network; SAT from/to MoCA adapter/Ethernet; VHF/UHF from/to antennas/tuners.
Maximum of 16 MoCA adapters on one network.

I accessed the master MoCA adapter webUI (admin, screenbeam; default IP 192.168.144.200 requires static IP 192.168.144.1 on wired admin PC) to update/reset the firmware (v1.18.7, all adapters), to secure the webUI login, and to enable MoCA Privacy (exposed at demarc). I then used the MPS buttons to join the slave adapter... 3s press on master; then within 2 minutes, 3s press on slave. The coax LED then goes green.

The MoCA adapter Power/Coax/RJ-45 LEDs are a flashing nuisance in a dark room/media center, so I covered them with black vinyl tape.

Robust, dedicated, full-duplex, 2.5Gbps max wired backhaul enabled... marginal, non-dedicated, wireless backhauls disabled to release all WiFi for client use only... this was a necessary AiMesh upgrade.

OE

 

[krkaufman]

And I purchased (Amazon.com) two PPC/Belden MoCA 70dB Filters GLP-1G70CWWS (Silicon Weather Seal... the one on the right). Again, well-made and documented. These are placed to block MoCA at the TV endpoints.

Well done Re: the upgrade.

Since the person for whom I’d just composed the diagrams went Buehler on me, maybe they’ll be of interest to you…

• https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/xzbwk4/_/irli539
• https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/xzbwk4/_/irlqkdt

Normally, the ant/sat diplexer workaound would be sufficient to block MoCA signals from hitting the TVs, but moot in your case since you’ve already employed MoCA filters for the task — and with superior attenuation to what the diplexer would offer. So the diplexer workaround may only be useful were you a few dB shy on signal strength at a split TV.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Well done Re: the upgrade.

Since the person for whom I’d just composed the diagrams went Buehler on me, maybe they’ll be of interest to you…

• https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/xzbwk4/_/irli539
• https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/xzbwk4/_/irlqkdt

Normally, the ant/sat diplexer workaound would be sufficient to block MoCA signals from hitting the TVs, but moot in your case since you’ve already employed MoCA filters for the task — and with superior attenuation to what the diplexer would offer. So the diplexer workaround may only be useful were you a few dB shy on signal strength at a split TV.

Interesting. My configuration seems standard now that I've determined it, and thanks to your 70dB filter recommendation. I did have to move the preamp power injector into the garage attic (for now anyway), so no longer on the media center UPS in the house and much hotter up there (preamp has survived up there for years). We'll see how it fairs... I've got a spare, and I may think of a way to drop it down into the garage space.

I did discover a FAM 8dB attenuator on my separate cable ISP coax at the demarc (Internet service only). I don't recall that being there when I moved in and cleaned up the demarc, but maybe it was... I'm paying more attention to coax details these days. With the typical homeowner adding coax elements/losses willy-nilly, I can't imagine 8dB attenuation being significant... but I'll leave it alone.

OE

 

[degrub]

too much RF power can drive a receiver unstable worst case, and just create noise otherwise that interferes with S/N.

 

[kelllogg9]

I prefer 70 dB MoCA filters for OTA scenarios, to fully snuff the MoCA signal. (edit: annoyingly, Amazon’s raised the price on these recently)

It seems these ones @ $3.99 (CAD) FS are far cheaper but with the same specs. Beldon Model # SNLP-1GCW

 

[krkaufman]

with the same soecs

Based on what specs? The listing’s “full description” lists specs for an older filter, and one with less stop-band attenuation.

“Bandstop provides a typical 35-45dB of rejection in the MoCA 1125-1525Mhz band.”

Even assuming current models, the “SNLP” model has lower attenuation, per specs.

 

[OzarkEdge]

It seems these ones @ $3.99 (CAD) FS are far cheaper but with the same specs. Beldon Model # SNLP-1GCW

Not the same spec... did you compare them?

OE

 

[tgl]

I purchased the ScreenBeam MoCA 2.5 starter kit ECB7250K02 (Amazon.com)

Are you still happy with these? Do you happen to know whether they will pass VLAN-tagged packets? (I don't need them to do anything intelligent with VLAN, just pass the traffic.)