The current forecast for home entertainment networking suggests the continuation of multiple parallel technologies, standards and mediums, with choices based on ease of use and applications. “Let the marketplace decide,” is the rallying war cry on this competitive path toward hypothetical industry standardisation.

However, we recommend a different, more agreeable course founded upon shared interests and mutual benefit for providers, manufacturers and consumers alike.

Too many technologies are purporting to be standards, especially for home entertainment networking. But, consumers want home entertainment networking solutions, not another standard. They want whole home connectivity that includes gaming, HD video, telephone service, internet and data access. They want to purchase, with confidence, a system that is easy to install and inexpensive. They could care less about technologies or standards.

Consider the current state of the home networking standards ‘industry’:

• There are currently standards for every wired medium found in the home; power lines, phone lines and coax. Each of these standards has formed corresponding alliances promoting their medium and technology. Some standards even specify more than one medium.

• Likewise, there are numerous standards in the wireless realm. There are standards for the local area network (LAN), the personal area network (PAN) and display link. Some standards are ‘whole house’ while others are intended for the first (or last) 30ft (9m). Some are primarily cable replacements.

• Some standards only work in certain broadband industry segments and are barred from others due to technology and interference issues.

• There are standards for whole home entertainment networking and there are standards for short range, high definition video transfer. Some standards appear more suited for implementation in service provider channels and some can only be found on a retail shelf.

• There are several standard bodies attempting to unite the various standard bodies.

Is it any wonder the end consumer is confused? We, as an industry, offer too many standards and not enough solutions. It is solutions that are of interest to consumers and it is at that level that we should be competing.

Competition does not need to create confusion to thrive, but confusion is evidence of competing ideas. Too many standards foster misunderstanding and redundancy. They can serve to bind customers to their point of entry generating discontent. If we are not careful, consumers will wash their hands of the whole affair.

A standard is more than a specification. Technical merits are the cornerstone of the evaluation process, as are organisational effectiveness and economic benefits. Market size, immediate and downstream economic value and management by industry leaders should also be considered when evaluating and adopting standards. Thus, the solution must include real‐time HD video distribution within homes.

To say that the home entertainment network is and will be a blend of technologies, standards and mediums has become cliché. This thinking does not take into account the problem of moving high definition video from room to room or screen to screen in real time. In addition to considerations such as overall performance, quality of service, operating frequency and availability, economic benefits, ability to function in multiple industry segments and environments, we must not lose sight of the fact that the solution must ensure real‐time HD video distribution within homes.

Coax is the key

We believe that no one standard will dominate the home entertainment networking marketplace. However, the ones that stick around will not interfere with other mediums, technologies or devices in use. They must appeal to multiple geographies and industry segments. These standards will also provide value throughout the entire chain. The dominant home entertainment networking standards will also use the ideal medium designed for video in the first place – coax.

A standard provides a framework within which innovation thrives. While service providers try them all, endless trials further delay deployments and the consumer grows ever more confused. When an industry accepts a standard it is an indication of maturity and confidence. It is beneficial to the industry and their customers to begin finalising those home entertainment networking standards.

Home networks are and will continue to be a blend of standards and technologies, each with their advantages and disadvantages. A home entertainment network is defined as multiple streams of standard and high definition content distributed anywhere, anytime. There are numerous other technologies and mediums vying for supremacy but not all are created equal and not all are suitable for high definition video. Many of these mediums are voice and data centric and forced fit to serve video. The best medium for video delivery around the home is still the one that is well understood by service providers and consumers and has been in the house for more than 50 years – coax.

Cable, satellite and even telecom operators have been using existing in‐home coaxial wiring to distribute analogue video throughout the home for years. Coaxial cable already exists in more than 90% of US households and is prominent in many countries. It is understood by service providers and consumer alike that coax is for video!
Coaxial cable is ideal for carrying electrical signals because it is a shielded wire, meaning that the signal being carried is not subject to interference from outside sources. Because coax is designed to carry TV signals, coax outlets have historically been placed in close proximity to the consumer’s desired TV viewing locations such as the living room, family room and bedroom. Many service providers are already reaping the benefits of coax‐based networking technology enabling them to send multiple streams of high‐definition content to practically any room in the house.

MoCA provides the answer

Unlike wireless networks which require sophisticated encryption schemes and lengthy setup, MoCA encrypts the signals automatically. MoCA transmits signals over a shielded cable; therefore you can be assured that your data, personal information and digital media are safe from interference and theft. Best of all, this means you don’t have to become a security expert. By combining shielded wiring, easy isolation from neighbours and automatically enabled security protocols, MoCA’s home and entertainment networking technology is designed to be a safe and secure component of hybrid home networks.

Conclusion

Home networks are evolving to support high quality video viewing experiences. The entertainment network needs to ensure freedom from interference with a sustained performance over a well-behaved medium.

The home network will be a blend of wireless and wired implementations. Wireless for voice and data and coax for video. The standard for coax is MoCA.

Rob Gelphman, [email protected], is the chair of the marketing work group for MoCA, the standard for home entertainment networks over coax. Rob has been in marketing communications for more than 20 years serving companies in consumer electronics, digital media and networking and communications.
Contact
MoCA ‐ Multimedia over Coax Alliance
www.mocalliance.org