Multimedia Over Coax vs. BroadR-Reach for EoC Applications

Understanding the Differences Between MoCA (Multimedia Over Coax Alliance) and BroadR-Reach Technology for Ethernet over Coax Applications

What is MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance)?

Multimedia Over Coax Alliance (MoCA), founded in 2004, was developed by the Multimedia over Coax Alliance as a standard for networking over coaxial cable. The technology was originally developed for residential applications to distribute IP television in homes using the existing coax cabling. Today, MoCA devices are also used as an Ethernet link using a coax cable.

What are the Limitations of MoCA Devices?

The maximum transmission distance for a MoCA device depends on the version of MoCA being used and the quality of the existing coaxial cable infrastructure. It’s worth noting that the actual transmission distance can be affected by various factors, such as the quality of the coaxial cable. The greater the distance, the lower the available bandwidth. Additionally, the presence of splitters or other devices, the type of MoCA adapter used, and the level of interference from other electronic devices will also affect the transmission quality.

The transmission speeds will also differ between the varying products available on the market. The MoCA transmission provides a shared half-duplex link between all directly connected devices. Therefore, the number and type of MoCA devices and endpoints will affect the overall available bandwidth and speed.

MoCA Technology Standards

MoCA 1.0 has a maximum distance of around 300 meters (984 feet) and supports transmission speeds of up to 135Mbps.
MoCA 2.0 has a maximum distance of around 185 meters (607 feet) and supports transmission speeds of up to 1Gbps.
MoCA 2.5, the third version of MoCA, has a maximum distance of around 500 meters (1,640 feet) and can support transmission speeds of up to 2.5Gbps.

What is BroadR-Reach?

Developed by Broadcom, BroadR-Reach technology is an Ethernet physical layer that was originally designed for Ethernet over twisted-pair wiring in automotive applications. NVT Phybridge leveraged BroadR-Reach technology to develop a product set that builds on the BroadR-Reach signal format to allow for fast Ethernet transmission over single-pair UTP, multi-pair UTP, and coax cable at extended distances.

The NVT Phybridge CLEER24-10G switch extends Ethernet over new or existing coax wiring infrastructure, providing Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) connectivity over distances of up to 915 meters (3,000 feet) and 10Mbps up to 1,820 meters (6,000 feet).

Is BroadR-Reach Better than MoCA?

The short answer is yes, especially for commercial, industrial, and enterprise applications.

Unlike MoCA, the CLEER24-10G switch (using BroadR-Reach technology) provides a dedicated 100Mbps full-duplex transmission per downlink port. Therefore, there is no bandwidth sharing or degradation. Additionally, the CLEER24-10G switch offers a longer range than MoCA devices.

Both the CLEER24-10G switch and MoCA technologies are designed to provide high-speed data transfer, but they are intended for different types of use cases and employ different transmission technologies. The CLEER24-10G managed switch is an enterprise-grade solution delivering PoE+ with layer 3 functionality, while most MoCA devices are single-channel, unmanaged devices.

While MoCA is traditionally a home networking solution that uses existing coaxial cable, the CLEER24-10G switch provides robust and secure Ethernet over Coax at extreme distances, perfect for industrial, commercial, and enterprise network applications. Unlike MoCA devices that do not scale well due to their signaling format and crosstalk issues, the CLEER24-10G switch (using BroadR-Reach technology) provides industry-leading scalability and performance, even at extended distances.

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