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MoCA/Coaxial light is off...

6K views 34 replies 5 participants last post by  serial_port_me05 
#1 ·
I am looking for an expert on the MoCA connection. I have had TiVo and Verizon for the last 6-7 years, however, about 1-2 years ago (around the time I upgraded to 1 gig Ethernet), my MoCA/Coaxial light will not stay on. I have 6 minis connected via MoCA. Whenever the light goes out, I lose my minis connection, no cable in those 6 rooms. I have been working with Verizon and TiVo off and on over the last 1-2 years. There is definitely a problem with the MoCA light staying on but no one will take responsibility for it. Verizon and TiVo displace blame on each other. My setup is as follow: ONT via 2-way splitter feeds into the basement where POE filter is located which branches via 8-way splitter into the various rooms. In the master bedroom, where the TiVo box is located, the feed from the wall goes into a two-way splitter which goes to the TiVo box and the router (Verizon G-1100). In the past, Verizon has come out and via troubleshooting, they were able to get the MoCA light back on, but they don't know how they got the light back on. Today, Verizon came out again but they could not return the MoCA light to service. They stated it was the TiVo box which was the problem. TiVo has changed out 2-3 boxes over the last two years, so I am not convinced it is the box. I think there is an issue between the ONT and the MoCA signal being received via the TiVo box which the minis are clients on. Today, Verizon also stated that because I had a Verizon router trying to work with a TiVo box, that may be the reason my MoCA is not working. I told them my son had the same connection, and he had no problems. Please help!!!
 
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#2 ·
When you say the "MoCA/coaxial light will not stay on," to what are you referring, a status LED on your G1100?

As for your setup, I'm unclear on a few things...
  • What do you mean by "ONT via 2-way splitter feeds into the basement"? Why is there a 2-way splitter in use? It sounds like an 8-way splitter is connected to one of this 2-way splitter's outputs, but what is connected to the other? (A diagram of your setup, however rough, can facilitate understanding of your coax hierarchy and network connections.)
  • What is the brand & model # of the splitters in use?
  • What is the specific model of your TiVo DVR?
  • How is the TiVo DVR networked? What does its Network Status page report for its connection: Ethernet, MoCA or Ethernet+MoCA?

Answers to the above are needed, but some initial thoughts...
  • Move the "PoE" MoCA filter to the input of the initial 2-way splitter. (Assuming this 2-way splitter is needed; if the splitter isn't needed, just remove it.)
  • If connected via Ethernet to the G1100, make sure that MoCA is disabled on the TiVo DVR.
 
#3 ·
Thanks for your questions, I will try to answer as best as I can. Yes, I am referring to the green status LED on the G1100. The Verizon box on the side of the house which holds the ONT is locked so I cannot view it right now. However, what I remember when the technician had it open was that the Cable feed into the ONT and then a cable from ONT feed into a splitter into two different sections of the home...one in the basement and I believe the other one upstairs? I have all Verizon splitters and they are 5-1675mhz. My TiVo DVR is Roamio Pro. My TiVo DVR network is MoCA. It is not Ehernet+MoCA or Ethernet. Hopes this helps in your understanding of my MoCA connection.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Then just remove it (the MoCA filter); being a fiber install, you don't need a "PoE" MoCA filter to secure your network. (The MoCA signals can't travel beyond the ONT.)

p.s. A "PoE" MoCA filter can provide a performance boost for the MoCA network, allowing it to function more efficiently, but until we know exactly how your MoCA-networked boxes are connected to your coax, we have to assume that you may have boxes hanging off both outputs of your top-level 2-way splitter.
 
#9 ·
Well, it was just a guess, not having knowledge of exactly how your boxes are connected. Can you say with confidence that all your TiVo boxes and the G1100 are connected via the 8-way splitter? (i.e. That none of your MoCA-enabled devices are connected via the "upstairs" leg of the top-level 2-way splitter?)

Each mini has its own coaxial connection. I will unplug all of them and plug them up one at a time to see if I can get the MoCA light to come on
That's a good plan, but I'd go one step further and do a full power reset: powering down ALL your TiVo boxes and network gear. Then bring them online one at a time, starting with the router, then Roamio Pro, then the Minis, making sure each comes online before proceeding to the next.

Also, before going too much further changing things around, I'd recommend accessing the Network Status page on one of your MoCA-connected TiVo boxes to check your MoCA stats, including channel number, PHY rates and power levels. (example) Some stats may be available via the G1100 UI, as well.

And have you tried configuring the G1100 to use a higher frequency for the MoCA network?
 
#10 ·
Out of curiosity, is your Roamio Pro configured as a MoCA client out of choice, or is it not possible to connect it via Ethernet to the G1100? (Pondering the possibility of disabling the MoCA LAN on the G1100 and using the Roamio Pro as your MoCA bridge, as another possible test.)
 
#20 · (Edited)
I am not sure how to make my Roamio Pro as the MoCA bridge versus MoCA client.
  1. Disable MoCA on the Roamio Pro (you'll enable it, again, in a few steps);
  2. Connect the Roamio Pro via Ethernet to a LAN port on the G1100, and verify networking;
  3. Disconnect the coax from the G1100 (to avoid dual MoCA/Ethernet bridges);
  4. Enable MoCA on the Roamio Pro, choosing to set up the DVR as a MoCA bridge, optionally choosing a channel(frequency) higher than 15(1150 MHz).
You may need to reconfigure the Minis if you change the MoCA channel, though 'Auto' should allow the Minis to find the network.

--
For reference, TiVo's MoCA 1.1 channel/frequency pairings...

15: 1150 MHz (D1)
17: 1200 MHz (D2)
19: 1250 MHz (D3)
21: 1300 MHz (D4)
23: 1350 MHz (D5)
25: 1400 MHz (D6)
27: 1450 Mhz (D7)
29: 1500 MHz (D8)​
 
#18 ·
Hi Lee,
Your description of the coax runs is a bit confusing for me. I assume from your problem description that the issue is an intermittent MoCA connection, i.e., it works sometimes and then periodically goes off and back on. In addition, you had a MoCA filter somewhere in the mix while the MoCA network was working. The intermittent MoCA issue surfaced after the upgrade to Gigabit when Ethernet was switched to your Ethernet WAN connection.
The strangest thing from my view is that you have your MoCA LAN source on the same 2 way splitter as your Tivo DVR, which should connect via MoCA even if the other more remote minis fail due to greater loss.
The first thing I would do is power off all your Tivos, then do a powered reset of the G1100 by depressing the small red button on the back connections and hold it in for about 10 seconds before releasing it. In about 2 mins. start powering on the Tivo DVR and then the minis. See if your Tivos connect to the MoCA network, actually just watching after the DVR reboots should give an indication on the MoCA LAN indicator of the G1100 if it is going to work.
Not sure exactly, where the MoCA settings are on the current G1100 firmware are, but I would look in the "my network" section of the router GUI. Google will tell you how to login to your G1100 but just entering 192.186.1.1, the admin login and pw is on the label of the G1100. When you get in there see if you can find how to set a fixed/static IP for each of your Tivos, sometimes this seems to help from losing them also.
BTW if you have a helper it is not too hard to trace coax lines just by temporarily disconnecting them one at a time, once you get something working.
Also, you can disable the MoCA LAN in the G1100 settings, but it is a lot easier just to remove the coax connection on the G1100, if you choose to try the Tivo DVR as your MoCA source.
If the reset doesn't work, and you are renting your G1100, I would consider asking for a replacement.
 
#25 · (Edited)
Oh, right, where is your "PoE" MoCA filter currently located? (I'd previously suggested moving it, so I'm not sure where it's situated, at present.)

So some unknowns remain...
  • How are the coax runs actually connected, and where should the "PoE" MoCA filter be installed? (On the input of the 8-way splitter is great if you know that all MoCA nodes are downstream of the 8-way. Just remember the filter location if/when you try adding a new node in another room, should that location connect upstream of the 8-way.)
  • On what channel (at what frequency) is the MoCA network now operating?
  • What are the MoCA stats currently reporting? How does this compare to previous?
  • What's up with the G1100? Has its MoCA gone bad? Or is there noise on the coax at lower MoCA frequencies, and the G1100 can truly only operate at the lowest MoCA channel/frequency, thus the disruptions?
NOTE: If you don't replace the G1100, a standalone MoCA adapter can be had for as little as $17 via Amazon (link), to relieve the DVR of the bridging responsibility. On the other hand, if you stick with the DVR for MoCA bridging, the splitter in the Master Bedroom could be removed, since the coax run to the G1100 is no longer needed.
In the master bedroom, where the TiVo box is located, the feed from the wall goes into a two-way splitter which goes to the TiVo box and the router (Verizon G-1100).
 
#26 ·
Oh, right, where is your "PoE" MoCA filter currently located? (I'd previously suggested moving it, so I'm not sure where it's situated, at present.)

So some unknowns remain...
  • How are the coax runs actually connected, and where should the "PoE" MoCA filter be installed? (On the input of the 8-way splitter is great if you know that all MoCA nodes are downstream of the 8-way. Just remember the filter location if/when you try adding a new node in another room, should that location connect upstream of the 8-way.)
  • On what channel (at what frequency) is the MoCA network now operating?
  • What are the MoCA stats currently reporting? How does this compare to previous?
  • What's up with the G1100? Has its MoCA gone bad? Or is there noise on the coax at lower MoCA frequencies, and the G1100 can truly only operate at the lowest MoCA channel/frequency, thus the disruptions?
NOTE: If you don't replace the G1100, a standalone MoCA adapter can be had for as little as $17 via Amazon (link), to relieve the DVR of the bridging responsibility. On the other hand, if you stick with the DVR for MoCA bridging, the splitter in the Master Bedroom could be removed, since the coax run to the G1100 is no longer needed.
The PoE filter is located on the main feed coming into the basement. I looked at each feed on the 8-way splitter and they are marked with each one of my rooms in the house, thus I think I am okay with the PoE filter. I look at three minis and they are operating on channel 15. The TX PHY rates range from 275 to 280 and the RX PHY rates range from 274 to 278. I don't know what the stats on the MoCAs were initially so I cannot compare to what the MoCA stats are now. I am not sure if the MoCA on the G1100 has gone bad or not. It did not work properly but now with the Pro bridge, everything works and I am happy with the present results. Also, I removed the splitter in the Master Bedroom. I think I will go with the current setup.
 
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