Issues with MoCA 2.5 - What am I doing wrong

[AndyJT1]

So, I've got 2 goCoax MoCA adaptors working over a cable (its a joined cable in the attic, but its acting as a single cable). The connection works well. But now I want to add a third goCoax, so I'm trying to use a splitter to add the third one (building a network backbone using the coax/MoCA network). The splitter I bought is a BAMF SB-2006 which supports MoCA 2.5. But when I add the splitter into the mix, I can't get the MoCA lights to confirm the connection. I've got the cable on two of the outputs with nothing on the input connector and nothing on the other 4 outputs. The only change I'm making is adding the splitter to the mix.

I'm wondering:

1) Is the splitter, even though it supports MoCA 2.5 dropping the signal too much to allow a connection?
2) Can I just use a T junction and add a third cable to the mix without using a splitter? (Somehow I doubt this, but could I?)

Any advice?

 

[degrub]

Why a 6 port splitter ? Use the smallest one that will do the job.
How many cables do you need to connect ?
Are these RG59 or RG6 coax cables ?

A sketch of the coax network showing all devices and terminations is sometimes useful for diagnostics.

What else is on the coax cables that you are trying to use ?

BTW, i suggest using a different splitter, specifically designed and Certified for MOCA 2.0. They should have lower loss between each output port. The satellite splitters like you have may not work.

Also, place a 70 dB MOCA POE filter on the inlet port to maintain improve moca signal quality. All open ports should have a 75 Ohm termination cap installed.

Here is a previous thread that may be useful

The Moca adapter is not working , please help

Hello everyone , I didn't know about Moca adapter until a couple days ago. I was and am currently using Powerline network adapter and that is working ok but I want to take it to the next level since I play competitive online games like BF5 so I bought the Actiontech Moca 2.0 ( ECB6200 ) ...

www.snbforums.com

 

[krkaufman]

The splitter I bought is a BAMF SB-2006 which supports MoCA 2.5.

Not really. See the following:

* MoCA-compatible splitter recommendations (… and warnings)

‘gist: A splitter can be optimized for satellite service or MoCA, but not both.

I've got the cable on two of the outputs with nothing on the input connector and nothing on the other 4 outputs.

As mentioned in one of the above links, even with the BAMF splitter, you may have luck if you were to add a “PoE” MoCA filter on the splitter’s input port, and cap all open/unused ports (including the MoCA filter) with 75-ohm terminators. (Using a right-sized MoCA-optimized splitter would be preferable, per your preferred topology.)

 

[AndyJT1]

Why a 6 port splitter ? Use the smallest one that will do the job.
How many cables do you need to connect ?
Are these RG59 or RG6 coax cables ?

A sketch of the coax network showing all devices and terminations is sometimes useful for diagnostics.

What else is on the coax cables that you are trying to use ?

BTW, i suggest using a different splitter, specifically designed and Certified for MOCA 2.0. They should have lower loss between each output port. The satellite splitters like you have may not work.

Also, place a 70 dB MOCA POE filter on the inlet port to maintain improve moca signal quality. All open ports should have a 75 Ohm termination cap installed.

Here is a previous thread that may be useful

The Moca adapter is not working , please help

Hello everyone , I didn't know about Moca adapter until a couple days ago. I was and am currently using Powerline network adapter and that is working ok but I want to take it to the next level since I play competitive online games like BF5 so I bought the Actiontech Moca 2.0 ( ECB6200 ) ...

www.snbforums.com

I got a 6 port as its a large house and my plan is to add at least another two MoCA adaptors in the near future, but want to get 3 working first. Already found a source for the 75 Ohm terminators. Do I really need a MoCA filter if I'm not using the input? or can I just get away with a 75 ohm terminator there?

 

[AndyJT1]

Not really. See the following:

* MoCA-compatible splitter recommendations (… and warnings)

‘gist: A splitter can be optimized for satellite service or MoCA, but not both.



As mentioned in one of the above links, even with the BAMF splitter, you may have luck if you were to add a “PoE” MoCA filter on the splitter’s input port, and cap all open/unused ports (including the MoCA filter) with 75-ohm terminators. (Using a right-sized MoCA-optimized splitter would be preferable, per your preferred topology.)

Well, when I bought it, it clearly says it support MoCA. Also, I'm not running any other signal through it, the system will be a "stand-alone" MoCA network. I've even seen YouTube videos, where people use this splitter specifically because it is MoCA compatible. Also, I'm not running any Satellite signals through it. I had to get this from the states, because I couldn't get any splitter larger than 2 ports in Europe.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KCY5MBU?tag=snbforums-20

I'm guessing the terminators are a bit like the old 10MB/s COAX network I used to support, you had to put terminators at the end of the run.

 

[degrub]

Well, when I bought it, it clearly says it support MoCA. Also, I'm not running any other signal through it, the system will be a "stand-alone" MoCA network. I've even seen YouTube videos, where people use this splitter specifically because it is MoCA compatible. Also, I'm not running any Satellite signals through it. I had to get this from the states, because I couldn't get any splitter larger than 2 ports in Europe.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KCY5MBU?tag=snbforums-20

I'm guessing the terminators are a bit like the old 10MB/s COAX network I used to support, you had to put terminators at the end of the run.

Their definition of "support" means that it covers the frequency range and will pass some signal apparently. It is not optimized for the moca band range, but more likely the satellite band range. Splitters that cover satellite signal bands, in my experience, seldom work. However, some have reported success. Also, i could not find any mention of losses for output to output which may be higher than expected for moca usage. The numbers stamped on each coax terminal are for input to output usually. There are also "zero loss " amplified splitters that support moca on the outputs in case your situation has high cable losses as well as high insertion losses from a 6 way splitter.

The fact that it does work with just a barrel connection implies that the total loss between the modems is less than the approximate 30- 40 dB power budget for a moca modem. If you can get to a diagnostic page that reports power and signal strength in the modem, that might indicate which way to go forward. The fact that you don't get sync lights indicates too much loss. You might just have a termination issue on one of the existing cables that did not consume enough power until the splitter losses were added.

BTW, many barrel connectors have a design frequency range as well.

Yes, very much same concept. Eliminate reflections on the coax by termination resistor. Make sure they are 75 ohm and not 50 ohm. MOCA is designed for 75 ohm. The POE filter does the similar, but is specific to the moca bands and provides 70 dB of drop at the roll off frequency with the better versions ( some are 35-40 dB)

Is your coax 50 ohm (common in EU) or 75 ohm ?

Drill the sheath and insert the vampire tap ! Those were the days. Cat whiskers were deadly. You can try just a terminator on the input. It may be enough.

If the location of the splitter is in conditioned space, consider a "star" topology instead of multidrop. That is a pair of moca modems for every drop - one at the splitter location and one at the end point client. Replace the splitter with an un-managed gigabit switch. Maximizes bandwidth available to any client rather than sharing bandwidth. Also, when you plan the topology, you have to consider the maximum moca modem to modem signal loss across all coax paths. It is not unusual to have one run that will fail because this was not estimated beforehand.

 

[krkaufman]

when I bought it, it clearly says it support MoCA.

The marketing can say whatever it wants to. It doesn’t change the specs of the splitter, nor the characteristics recommended for a MoCA setup.

 

[AndyJT1]

Their definition of "support" means that it covers the frequency range and will pass some signal apparently. It is not optimized for the moca band range, but more likely the satellite band range. Splitters that cover satellite signal bands, in my experience, seldom work. However, some have reported success. Also, i could not find any mention of losses for output to output which may be higher than expected for moca usage. The numbers stamped on each coax terminal are for input to output usually. There are also "zero loss " amplified splitters that support moca on the outputs in case your situation has high cable losses as well as high insertion losses from a 6 way splitter.

The fact that it does work with just a barrel connection implies that the total loss between the modems is less than the approximate 30- 40 dB power budget for a moca modem. If you can get to a diagnostic page that reports power and signal strength in the modem, that might indicate which way to go forward. The fact that you don't get sync lights indicates too much loss. You might just have a termination issue on one of the existing cables that did not consume enough power until the splitter losses were added.

BTW, many barrel connectors have a design frequency range as well.

Yes, very much same concept. Eliminate reflections on the coax by termination resistor. Make sure they are 75 ohm and not 50 ohm. MOCA is designed for 75 ohm. The POE filter does the similar, but is specific to the moca bands and provides 70 dB of drop at the roll off frequency with the better versions ( some are 35-40 dB)

Is your coax 50 ohm (common in EU) or 75 ohm ?

Drill the sheath and insert the vampire tap ! Those were the days. Cat whiskers were deadly. You can try just a terminator on the input. It may be enough.

If the location of the splitter is in conditioned space, consider a "star" topology instead of multidrop. That is a pair of moca modems for every drop - one at the splitter location and one at the end point client. Replace the splitter with an un-managed gigabit switch. Maximizes bandwidth available to any client rather than sharing bandwidth. Also, when you plan the topology, you have to consider the maximum moca modem to modem signal loss across all coax paths. It is not unusual to have one run that will fail because this was not estimated beforehand.

I'm guessing it 50 ohm cable, as it in the Czech Republic (EU) and they always used 50 ohm for TV signals, etc. It's really difficult to get splitters etc here, I had to get the splitter from the USA. I will get a pack of 75 ohm terminators though, just in case.

 

[AndyJT1]

The marketing can say whatever it wants to. It doesn’t change the specs of the splitter, nor the characteristics recommended for a MoCA setup.

So, where can I acquire a specific MoCA 2.5 splitter in Europe? Do you have any brands/models you can recommend and then I can go hunting for them?

 

[degrub]

MOCA is mostly a US thing. Probably have to import from US.
If you can find a section of the cable , it should have either printed or embossed into the jacket, the spec numbers.

The impedence mismatch will result in increased reflections which means less effective transmitted power e.g. higher effective signal loss. The modems should have overdriving limiting which should protect them from overheating. But if your modems are crispy hot, then they may fail from heat. They should be warm .

The star topology mentioned previously may work best for your case if the cable is actually 50 Ohm. Or find a "zero loss" amplified splitter certified for MOCA2 usage. There has been at least one Canadian brand mentioned in the threads here before. Maybe it is "commscope" brand.