MoCA Installation and
Troubleshooting Reference Guide
Overview
Introduction
This document contains installation guidelines, performance verification steps,
and troubleshooting measures for devices that support a multi-room network
over Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA®). Multi-room networks allow client
devices (non-DVR set-tops) to stream content from a server device (DVR set-top)
that has recorded linear content.
Features
Support is provided for the following features on each MoCA device:
Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) content
Between two nodes, a streaming rate of greater than 250 Mbps (PHY rate)
Trick modes (FF, REW, SLO-MO, and PAUSE)
Up to three clients per server
MoCA Devices
The information in this guide applies to the following MoCA devices:
DVRs
9865HDC set-tops
8742HDC and 8642HDC set-tops
Non-DVRs
4742HDC and 4642HDC set-tops
1642HDC set-tops
Purpose
After reading this document, you will understand where to install the MoCA POE
(Point of Entry) filter and MoCA set-tops with respect to cable splitters and
amplifiers. You will also be able to verify links between MoCA set-tops and
troubleshoot faulty installations.
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Installation Basics
Scope
This document does not address MoCA-compliant cable modem gateways. This
document only addresses standalone DOCSIS 2.0 and DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems
that are not MoCA compliant.
Audience
This document is intended for field technicians.
Audience
This document is intended for field technicians.
[
Document Version
This is the third formal release of this document.
In This Document
Installation Basics ....................................................................................................... 3
Home Wiring Examples ............................................................................................. 4
Performance Verification ........................................................................................... 7
Preventing Interference with Cable Modems ....................................................... 12
Installation Problems ................................................................................................ 13
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................ 17
Appendix A ............................................................................................................... 19
Appendix B ................................................................................................................ 22
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Installation Basics
Installation Basics
A basic installation procedure involves the following:
Install the MoCA Point of Entry (POE) filter
Check QAM levels at each outlet
Boot the set-tops and verify the MoCA links
These topics are covered in the following sections.
Install POE Filter
The POE filter is a 1002 MHz low-pass filter which is installed at the subscriber drop.
It prevents interference between MoCA devices in homes connected to the same tap.
As shown in Basic Installation (on page 4), you should connect the POE filter
between the ground block and the splitter.
Verify QAM Levels
Verify that the QAM signal level of the highest frequency QAM channel (i. e.,
channel 158) is adequate at each outlet used in the installation. If this is not the case,
the home wiring should be corrected before continuing.
Verify MoCA Links
Set-tops should automatically form a MoCA network after two or more MoCA
devices boot up. Once a set-top has joined the network, its MoCA link indicator*
illuminates (see the front-panel call-outs in the set-top guides listed below):
Cisco Explorer 9800 Hybrid Video Gateway Series (part number OL-26440-01) for the
9865HDC set-tops
Cisco Explorer 8640HD, 8642HD, 8650HD, and 8652HD High-Definition DVR Set-
Tops Quick Reference (part number 78-4026879-01) for the 8640HD and 8642HD
set-tops
Cisco Explorer 8640HDC, 8642HDC, 8650HDC, and 8652HDC High-Definition Set-
Tops with Multi-Stream CableCARD (M-Card) Interface Quick Reference (part
number 78-4026878-01) for the 8642HDC set-tops
Cisco Explorer 4642HD and 4652HD High-Definition Set-Tops Quick Reference (part
number 78-4029078-02) for the 4642HD set-tops
Cisco Explorer 4642HDC and 4652HDC High-Definition Set-Tops with Multi-Stream
CableCARD Interface Quick Reference (part number 78-4029076-01) for the
4642HDC set-tops
* The 164x set-tops do not have a MoCA indicator. To verify the MoCA link, you must refer to DRIVERS
- MoCA SUMMARY PG 1 (see Node Summary and Network Summary (on page 8)).
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Home Wiring Examples
Home Wiring Examples
The diagrams in this section show home wiring examples that typically provide
good MoCA performance.
Note: As in each of these diagrams, the POE filter should always be installed before
the first split.
Basic Installation
With Cable Modem (Example A)
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Home Wiring Examples
With Cable Modem (Example B)
With Home Amplifier
Important: Home amplifiers can cause MoCA problems. You should use a MoCAcompliant amplifier when an amplifier is required. (A MoCA-compliant amplifier
has an internal POE filter, as shown in the diagram.)
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Home Wiring Examples
With Long Cable Runs
Note: The POE filter should be as close to the coaxial distribution point as possible.
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Performance Verification
Performance Verification
MoCA performance is verified by viewing the set-top diagnostic screens. To enter
diagnostic mode, follow one of the following procedures based on the set-top you
are using.
For 87xx, 86xx 46xx, and 16xx Set-Tops
1 Press and hold the set-top power button until the power indicator flashes.
2 Release the power button.
3 Press the power button again. The first diagnostic page opens.
4 Scroll to the MoCA diagnostic screens. The first one is called DRIVERS - MOCA
SUMMARY PG1.
To scroll through the diagnostic screens, press the set-top volume control
buttons (86xx and 46xx set-tops) or the Page Up/Down buttons on the
remote (164x set-tops).
To exit diagnostic mode, press the set-top Exit button (86xx and 46xx
set-tops) or the Exit button on the remote (164x set-tops).
Use the following diagnostic information to verify the performance of each MoCA
set-top in the home. Start with the DVR set-top, since its performance is critical to the
non-DVR set-tops that depend on it for multi-room content distribution.
Note: Each set-top is referred to as a MoCA node; a given set-top refers to itself as
the local node. See Appendix A (on page 19) for definitions of all MoCA diagnostic
screen parameters.
For 9865 Set-Tops
1 Press and hold the EXIT button on the remote until the power indicator flashes.
2 Press the remote down button () twice.
3 Press the number 2 on the remote. The diagnostic menu opens.
4 Scroll down to the Home Networking menu selection (this is where the MoCA
diagnostics are).
Access the Home Networking pages using the remote left () and right ()
arrows.
Pages 4 - 7 have useful MoCA diagnostic information.
To exit diagnostic mode, press the EXIT button on the remote.
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Performance Verification
Node Summary and Network Summary
To view Node Summary and Network Summary statistics, scroll to the first MoCA
diagnostics page, DRIVERS - MoCA SUMMARY PG 1. Then verify the desired field
values as shown in the table.
Field Name
Description
Possible Values
Enable
Indicates whether MoCA is
enabled on this set-top
True—preferred value
False
Note: Status is controlled at the
headend.
Brdcast PHY
Rate
Data rate used for packets
broadcast to all other nodes
[Integer > 0]
Note: Minimum value is 200 Mbps,
lower rates require fixing the home
coaxial wiring.
Wait at least 30 seconds after Link
Up is achieved then verify
Broadcast PHY Rate.
Status
Status of the MoCA network
Link Up—preferred value
No Link
Disabled
Note: Link Up indicates that the
node has successfully joined the
network.
Link Privacy
Indicates the status of Link
Privacy
Enabled—preferred value
Disabled
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