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Dish Network starts rolling out Hopper / Joey multiroom DVR setup today (video)

Richard Lawler — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:25:00 EST

We're still not sure what inspired Dish Network to choose a kangaroo theme for its new multiroom DVR setup -- going as far as bringing out a live baby 'roo during its CES 2012 unveiling -- but if there's room in your home and heart for the Hopper (XiP813) and Joey (XiP110) boxes, they're available now. As we saw in our hands-on in January, they have a UI similar to the previous 922 boxes, with a few new screens added for new features and icon-based tile navigation. The Hopper DVR itself packs a 2TB drive which is put to use by PrimeTime Anytime, a feature that records three hours of network programming every night (using only one of its three tuners, thanks to the magic of satellite transponders) and stores them for eight days, just in case you missed something. The Joey multiroom extender boxes bring the video to other spots in the house and can be wired up over the existing coax thanks to MoCA technology. The price for all of this is a whole home DVR fee of $10 per month for the Hopper, and $7 per month for each Joey, while subscribers on the America's Top 200 plan or higher can get a free installation with up to three extenders. The folks over at SatelliteGuys.us got some early hands-on time and have posted detailed impressions, hit the link below for those or check out the press release and our CES video demo after the break. Oh, and the Exede-powered satellite broadband package that was announced at CES? We're hearing that's still on the slate for this summer, although the potential LTE portion may have to wait a while.

[Thanks, Mr. Brightside]

Continue reading Dish Network starts rolling out Hopper / Joey multiroom DVR setup today (video)

Dish Network starts rolling out Hopper / Joey multiroom DVR setup today (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wi3 Wipnet may solve your connectivity complications at home, for a price

Jose Andrade — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:28:00 EST

The Moca (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) standards haven't yet solved our home networking problems, but things may be about to change. Wi3 is here at the CES 2012 to exhibit its Wipnet technology, which can use your home's coax backbone to transmit data at a speed of up to 175Mbps. The devices should go for sale in April, with four different configurations with one or two Ethernet ports (Wip1000 and Wip1500), Ethernet and WiFi (Wip2000) or Ethernet and HDMI (for client / server services - Wip2500), and with a price of about $175 without WiFi, and additional $50 for the wireless option. They may also be included in wall sockets, on wall mounts or even on standalone boxes for small New York apartments that can't be reconfigured.

The Wi3 people are also developing a box that can send the power over coax, beside additional services (like internet connectivity), but for now each box needs to be powered independently, and they also have a different filter to make sure your data does not leave your home using the neighborhood coax lines. Like what you see? Don't judge till you peek the shots below.

Gallery: Wi3 Wipnet hands-on

Continue reading Wi3 Wipnet may solve your connectivity complications at home, for a price

Wi3 Wipnet may solve your connectivity complications at home, for a price originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Qualcomm's sounding off about powerline networking for 2012

Daniel Cooper — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:31:00 EST

Qualcomm's taking to the stage at CES to unveil a new chip designed to make power-line communications less of a last-resort for people in lead-lined houses. The Qualcomm Atheros QCA6410 is a single chip designed to make powerline gear much smaller and cheaper than current models. It's also taking the moment to throw weight behind the IEEE 1905.1 hybrid networking standard, which'll be supported in the Hy-Fi portfolio of networking CPUs that coordinates WiFi, Powerline, Ethernet and Multimedia over Coax connections to make sure you can tweet about your new t-shirt in every square inch of your home. PR's after the break, folks.

Continue reading Qualcomm's sounding off about powerline networking for 2012

Qualcomm's sounding off about powerline networking for 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dish Network Hopper DVR and Joey extender hands-on

Ben Drawbaugh — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:05:00 EST

The 2TB HD DVR, Hopper, that can record up to six shows at once looks like any other set-top box we've ever seen with the regular suspects in back. The Joey extender on the other hand, looks more like a SD digital TV adapter than a HD extender set-top and can easily be mounted to the back of a TV and connect to the Hopper via coax instead of requiring a network drop. The RF remote looks the same as Dish customers are accustomed to, but this one works with ZigBee. The boxes weren't connected but the presentation showed screen shots that reminded us of the VIP 922.

Gallery: Dish Network Hopper DVR and Joey extender hands-on

Dish Network Hopper DVR and Joey extender hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broadcom befriends Sling and Myriad, outs new set-top and streaming chips

Sharif Sakr — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:39:00 EST

Busy days at Broadcom, which has already forgotten about its earlier 5G WiFi announcement and launched a barrage of new chips for set-top boxes and home networking. The line-up supports the latest MoCA 2.0 standard for greater network bandwidth over coax wiring, but even more interesting is what some of the SoCs can do for smart TV and streaming. The BCM7425 dual-tuner HD gateway SoC will support Sling Media's "place-shifting" platform, potentially making it easier for set-top manufacturers to enable TV streaming to mobile devices. A similar deal has been inked with Myriad over its clever Alien Vue software (shown above), allowing Broadcom-equipped boxes to run apps designed for Google TV and HTML 5 without the need for extra dedicated hardware. In short, if your service provider fails to make TV content smarter or easier to access in 2012, they won't be able to blame it on Broadcom. Further details in the PR combo after the break and at the source link.

Continue reading Broadcom befriends Sling and Myriad, outs new set-top and streaming chips

Broadcom befriends Sling and Myriad, outs new set-top and streaming chips originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat

Ross Rubin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:14:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

In the decade that WiFi has blanketed home networks across the United States, several technologies aimed at using existing wiring in the home have met with limited success. These have included MoCA (Multimedia over Coax, which has been adopted by some service providers for implementing multi-room DVRs) and HomePNA (originally for phone lines but later expanded to coax cable as well). At least three dueling standards have also sought to bring high-speed connectivity over electrical wiring. HomePlug, the most successful of these, has had several iterations. The latest - HomePlug AV - is rated at a theoretical throughput of 200 Mbits/sec. However, power line technologies have been held back by high prices and occasional interoperability problems.

But a new approach seeks to be the one protocol to rule them all, operating over phone lines, power lines or coax. Dubbed G.hn, the ITU standard promises up to 1Gbps theoretical throughput, with real-world usage over electrical lines expected to reach between 250Mbps and 400Mbps. If that sounds appealing to you, you're not alone. Service providers like the idea of G.hn since it allows them more flexibility than previous efforts. In fact, they like it so much that -- despite G.hn's capacity -- they have insisted on quality of service standards that could limit or prevent consumers from installing it themselves after they buy adapters from retailers.

Continue reading Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat

Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HomePlug and IEEE want our home networks to play nice, talk to each other

Terrence O'Brien — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:39:00 EST

HomePlug hasn't exactly struck it big on the home networking scene but, with so many disparate options (none of which play very nice together) it's not hard to see why. The Powerline Alliance is throwing its support behind a new IEEE standard, P1905, that may ease our consumer pain and make the outlet connectivity tech a better fit for our ~~dungeons~~ living rooms. The goal is to create a layer that sits atop the various wired and wireless hookups that blanket our homes and let them easily share data. Bridging the gap between HomePlug, HomePlug AV, Ethernet, WiFi, and MoCA is an ambitious task to tackle, but we've got faith our gadgets can get along.

Continue reading HomePlug and IEEE want our home networks to play nice, talk to each other

HomePlug and IEEE want our home networks to play nice, talk to each other originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo Premiere Q and Preview boxes are official along with an updated iPad app

Richard Lawler — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:18:00 EST

An early release over the weekend took any surprise out of the news, but now TiVo has officially announced its plans for the new TiVo Premiere Q and TiVo Preview set-top boxes and an update for its iPad app at the 2011 NCTA Cable Show. Both boxes are firsts for TiVo, the Premiere Q (pictured above) because it has four tuners and can stream video to up to three other boxes in the home, and the Preview because it lacks a hard drive or any DVR capabilities entirely. The Preview can function on its own or as a multiroom thin client streaming from TiVo DVRs, and both promise full integration with video on-demand and other cable-provided services. There's no word on any retail plans and as expected RCN and Suddenlink will be the first to offer the boxes. The TiVo iPad app is also getting a cable-friendly makeover with a new version that can browse video on-demand offerings and flick them to any available TiVos for viewing, just like it does for internet video. We complained about the slow pace of updates for the existing Premiere DVR yesterday, so we'll try to have a fresh outlook on the official announcements (PR and more pictures are after the break) and consider a future where TiVo isn't tied to DVRs or being offered at retail.

Update: @BrennokBob points out a post on DSLReports revealing the Premiere Q will ship (at least for RCN) with a 500GB hard drive, up from 320GB on the standard Premiere but less than the 1TB of the XL model or Virgin's TiVo in the UK.

Continue reading TiVo Premiere Q and Preview boxes are official along with an updated iPad app

TiVo Premiere Q and Preview boxes are official along with an updated iPad app originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comcast's quad-tuner Xfinity Spectrum DVR with internet access revealed by the FCC

Richard Lawler — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:17:00 EST

Say hello to the future of DVRs, at least from Comcast, as its as-yet unannounced Xfinity Spectrum box passed through the FCC's database shortly after having its existence revealed by the Wall Street Journal. A quick peek at the production-ready manual reveals there's plenty of new features here, including a new guide design including IMDB-style cast & crew info as well as access to internet services. While it's hardware makes this Pace RNG-210n a 500GB HD DVR with four tuners, MoCA and IP access, one of the biggest changes is a software makeover means it pops up notifications prompted by your Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Configurable at Xfinity.com/Spectrum, it looks like it will only pull in information when people you follow share pictures, video, or link to info about TV shows and movies, with "most" viewable right on the box itself, plus the option to share what you're watching on those services. There's less details available about that "apps" section of the menu but weather, traffic, music and games are promised, take a quick peek at the most interesting sections including a look at the guide, remote and box in our gallery or check out the FCC filings yourself for more details -- it's hard to tell if the changes will make all our issues with cable provided set tops go away, but pretty much any new guide has to be better than what's there now, right?

[Thanks, cypherstream]

Gallery: Comcast Xfinity Spectrum DVR in FCC

Gallery: Highlights from Comcast Xfinity Spectrum DVR user manual

Comcast's quad-tuner Xfinity Spectrum DVR with internet access revealed by the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon FiOS set-top boxes getting a new HD guide, external storage and more in Q4

Richard Lawler — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:30:00 EST

Streaming and downloading TV content to mobiles is nice, but we enjoy watching TV... on the TV, and Verizon had plenty of that to talk about today as well. Due in Q4 along with its FlexView app for mobile VOD access, version 1.9 of its FiOS TV guide software will finally add a 16x9 HDTV-filling guide to those Motorola boxes and it looks like many of our suggestions (and yours, according to Director of Product Management Joe Ambeault) made it in. Beyond a fresh coat of paint (although, with animated transitions, highly customizable viewing and browsing options and 3D-ish elements it's shaping up to be a very nice fresh coat of paint), the real meat is in the enhanced DVR features.

New updates include support for external storage (up to 1TB eSATA per DVR), automatic DVD-style chaptering on recordings, and an undelete button to bring back mistakenly removed recordings. Also freshened is its MoCA-powered multiroom setup that now shows all recordings from any box or external storage all in one list. About the only thing we can find missing from the new software is any sort of support for conflict resolution across DVRs or using all tuners as a pool, but it's otherwise robust, with each box handling up to 4 streams (2 in, 2 out) at once, and 7 connected devices (6 boxes plus one router) per home. Check out a couple more screens after the break, though skipping directly to house shopping in FiOS-connected neighborhoods may make for more efficient use of your time.

Continue reading Verizon FiOS set-top boxes getting a new HD guide, external storage and more in Q4

Verizon FiOS set-top boxes getting a new HD guide, external storage and more in Q4 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comcast starts offering multiroom features, 500GB hard drives with AnyRoom DVR

Richard Lawler — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:21:00 EST

Oregon and Southwest Washington are enjoying more than just the launch of Comcast's updated A28 guide today, the company also announced it has begun offering Anyroom DVR (not to be confused with Anyroom On Demand) setups in the area. It's a pretty standard MoCA implementation, one central HD DVR that allows customers to watch and control recorded programming from other hard drive-less set-top boxes in the same house. Comcast say Anyroom DVR is available in 20 markets including the Bay area, Western Mass, Augusta, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Little Rock and others, while forum posts on DSLReports indicate promos have been spotted in Chicago and Pennsylvania with a price tag of $19.95 for the main DVR, and the usual fees for the other boxes (maximum of 3).

We ~~couldn't get an official confirmation on the amount of storage available~~ 500GB is an all too welcome improvement over the 160GB / 250GB drives still sitting in most standard DVRs Comcast issues or the FiOS one we tested a while back, outpaces the 250GB / 320GB options in AT&T's U-verse setups and would put it on par with DirecTV's HR24 (can be upgraded) and the new Cox Plus Package. Sure, it's a little late to record every World Cup match in HD (or 3D) but we're sure you'll find something to fill the space.

Update: Check after the break for specs on the main DVR and networked set-top boxes. (Thanks, Robert!)

Continue reading Comcast starts offering multiroom features, 500GB hard drives with AnyRoom DVR

Comcast starts offering multiroom features, 500GB hard drives with AnyRoom DVR originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ADB set-back box squeezes a DVR on SDHC card behind your HDTV

Richard Lawler — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:26:00 EST

The space and weight requirements to fit a tru2way cable box behind an LCD or plasma HDTV would seem to rule out DVR functions, but ADB showed off a second generation set-back box that does just that. Dubbed Phantom, it can hold an SDHC card with programs either recorded elsewhere, or it can record directly to the card itself. Light Reading mentions there's also MoCA support to stream from standard DVRs, so while it's unlikely you'd have a memory card big enough to hold all the HDTV programs we watch, whether you're old school sneakernetting or going multiroom it can be your hidden HD DVR. The ADB-4820C it designed for Sony HDTVs that we saw at CES 2009 never appeared, but the company said at The Cable Show the Phantom could be available by late this year or early 2011, with potential targets in the hotel industry or direct retail sales.

ADB set-back box squeezes a DVR on SDHC card behind your HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 May 2010 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cox 'Plus Package' brings advanced Trio UI, 500GB multiroom DVR and more HD channels

Richard Lawler — Mon, 10 May 2010 12:52:00 EST

Cox is ready to make a major leap forward in its user interface -- goodbye SARA and Passport, we won't miss you -- with the newly developed "Plus Package" rolling out in limited areas during Q2 and throughout its service area by the end of the year. For the hardware Cox is bringing a Whole Home DVR solution to bear based on a Cisco 8642 HD/DVR with 500GB (3x more than the sizes currently offered) of storage, and MoCA-connected 1642 HD receivers, which are also necessary to tune to the new HD channels on the way delivered over Switched Digital Video (SDV) in the 860-MHz band.

The star of the show however is the new "Trio" program guide (video embedded after the break), a 16:9 interface that spaces out program info over three panes -- channels on the left, programs in the middle, details on the right. TV programs can also be sorted grid-style, by themes, HD-only or favorite channels, while VOD lists titles, box art and detailed info in the three window style. There's personalization for up to eight members of a household, as well as TiVo-style suggestions and related programming searches based on metadata. An exec told Multichannel News the new tru2way-built software started by realizing that "our guides were, in fact, broken" and this all-new approach is a step towards fixing that. Besides the TiVos and Moxis of the world, other service providers with similar setups include DirecTV, FiOS, Dish Network and U-verse and while we'd definitely like to see that middle pane expanded a bit to show more of each title, Cox could be the first cable company offering a set-top box that actually competes with any of them.

Gallery: Cox Advanced TV Plus Package

Continue reading Cox 'Plus Package' brings advanced Trio UI, 500GB multiroom DVR and more HD channels

Cox 'Plus Package' brings advanced Trio UI, 500GB multiroom DVR and more HD channels originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DirecTV's new H24 HD receiver is one step closer to reality

Ben Drawbaugh — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:34:00 EST

We got a taste of DirecTV's new multi-room nirvana at CES but while we wait there is a new HD receiver. The H24 can act as both an HD satellite receiver but although it looks the same it isn't the same as HD DVR thin client via MoCA and RVU we saw at CES. Our friend Doug at DBSTalk.com had a chance to play with it and shared a first look with the world. The little guy is considerably smaller than its predecessors, is faster, and has DirecTV's flavor of MoCA called DECA (DirecTV Ethernet Coaxial Adapter) baked in -- regular MoCA isn't compatible with satellite. With coax networking built in one wire is all you need to use it as an HD receiver or to access internet enabled feature without running a CAT5 or depending on WiFi. One other item of note is that the new version of the ugly, cheesy, DirecTV remote now programs itself, useful for your mom, but not for you Harmony loving types.

**UPDATE** The H24 will not be an RVU thin client, just a new HD reciever, so we updated the post for accuracy.

DirecTV's new H24 HD receiver is one step closer to reality originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A video demo of RVU extending a DirecTV DVR to another room

Ben Drawbaugh — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:44:00 EST

We've been exited about the multiroom capabilities of the new RVU protocol built on top of DLNA since the alliance was announced -- DirecTV let its intentions of releasing products in 2010 known at the same time. Up until now we haven't actually been able to see it in action, but today we caught a great demo at the Entropic's booth, and it's cool. The demo showed a totally new DirecTV DVR connected to multiple TVs. The first TV was connected via HDMI and thanks to the wonders of MoCA, the others via coax. What is cool is that they all have the exact same experience and you can use it in up to 8 rooms, but only four TVs at the same time (one on the DVR, three via coax). Any TV with RVU built in -- Samsung and Sony are both a part of the RVU Alliance -- works without a set-top box, but for everything there's a small client. The new DVR obvioulsy needs more than two tuners to support all these clients but that information isn't public yet, but we were told it would be more than two tuners -- our guess is between four and eight. We were impressed and admit that this and 3D are two reasons we'll be seriously considering DirecTV as our HD provider.

Gallery: DirecTV RVU demo

Continue reading A video demo of RVU extending a DirecTV DVR to another room

A video demo of RVU extending a DirecTV DVR to another room originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo, Sony and others to FCC: 'gateways' should replace CableCARD

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:56:00 EST

All the comments to the FCC in response to the call for ideas to replace the failed CableCARD idea were due this week so we spent a little time reading a few of them and found some overwhelming trends. Everyone seems to applaud the death of CableCARD and is pushing for an end to the associated mandates as well as those related to 1394. Neither of these two ideas worked out as planned as is evident by the fact that most consumers don't use them. What's more interesting though is the recommendations and none were as detailed and thought out as TiVo's -- although we admit we didn't read them all. The idea TiVo and others are getting behind is what might be known as a gateway, which we envision would look a lot like a cable modem. The key here is that while various gateways would be available depending on the medium your preferred provider used (coax, satellite, fiber), they'd all share a common interface on the consumer side and as you might expect this common interface would be of the IP variety with standard internet protocols like HTTP and SSL on top of it.

Continue reading TiVo, Sony and others to FCC: 'gateways' should replace CableCARD

TiVo, Sony and others to FCC: 'gateways' should replace CableCARD originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broadcom's new DVR chip could make all our dreams come true

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST

We look to our TV provider and companies like TiVo and Moxi to bring us DVRs, but the one thing just about every DVR has in common is a Broadcom chip makes them tick. So while the rest of the box varies by a lot, if the System on a Chip (SoC) doesn't support it, then it probably isn't there -- assuming another chip isn't added for a specific task. So you can understand why we got so excited when we saw the specs on the latest SoC, the BCM7125, announced by Broadcom at the Cable-Tec Expo. It of course supports tru2way and CableCARD, but more interestingly; MoCA 1.1, DLNA, Flash (as in video streaming), DOCSIS 3.0, and a 3D graphics engine. This means that little little guy could be the key to a multi-room DVR without running wires, that will play Hulu directly from the internet as well as stream content from PlayOn, all via a great looking user interface. So yeah, it has potential. The sad news is that there's no way to know how long we'll have to wait before a DVR is released that'll actually take advantage it.

Filed under: Industry, DVRs

Broadcom's new DVR chip could make all our dreams come true originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pace and Rovi work together to make a standard set-top a true multi-room DVR

Ben Drawbaugh — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:51:00 EST

There aren't many times where we're caught off guard by a new product enough to think, why didn't we think of that, but this is one of them. The set-top-box manufacture, Pace, has just launched one of the coolest multi-room DVR solutions we've ever heard of. Not only does it over come the limitations of other so called solutions by not being limited to two tuners (for the whole house), a 160 GB hard drive, copy control flags (it streams, not copies) and a scattered recorded TV list; but it doesn't require even a single extra wire to be run in your house -- no, it doesn't use WiFi. What Pace has done is to work with Rovi and load up new software on its standard dual tuner HD set-top, the DC700X. This new software paired with a MoCA 1.1 NAS (pictured above) makes every DC700X set-top in the house a multi-room DVR. If this sounds like what you've been waiting for, then you'll want to click through past the jump to learn all about it -- or just to see another picture.

UPDATE - Pace announced deals with Buckeye Cablevision, Mediacom Communications, NCTC and Sunflower Broadband to deploy this.

Continue reading Pace and Rovi work together to make a standard set-top a true multi-room DVR

Filed under: Industry, Cable

Pace and Rovi work together to make a standard set-top a true multi-room DVR originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First MoCA 1.1 cable set-top-box gets certified

Ben Drawbaugh — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:18:00 EST

If you loved using the existing coax in your home to network your devices together at 110Mbps, then you'll love MoCA 1.1 even more -- testing has shown it can reach speeds of 175Mbps and up the number of participate devices to 16. The real challenge with MoCA right now though is that there aren't many devices out there that support it and those that do cost a pretty penny -- well worth it if you can't run CAT5 cables though. Advanced Digital Broadcast, and Entropic made a little progress today however by getting the first MoCA 1.1 set-top-box certified, which we're hoping is just the first of many devices to jump on the MoCA bandwagon. Because as cool as it sounds to have an Ethernet jack on the back of your HDTV or game console, it doesn't do most any good because there's only a coax cable running to their equipment.

Filed under: Industry, Cable

First MoCA 1.1 cable set-top-box gets certified originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget HD's recession antidote: win a Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter

Ben Drawbaugh — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST

This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget HD didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. Up for grabs today is the Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter, which makes it easy to setup an high speed network anywhere you already have coax cable run. Best of all it does it without interfering with your cable TV. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff!

Big thanks to Netgear for providing the cheer!

The rules:

Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter. Approximate value is $200.
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
Entries can be submitted until July, 29th, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Full rules can be found here.

Filed under: Misc, Other hardware

Engadget HD's recession antidote: win a Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter reviewed by Engadget HD

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:39:00 EST

Have you ever wondered why you can't use the existing coax cable in your house to stream things like HD around the house? Sure WiFi and powerline modules work for some, but unfortunately they don't for everyone. So if you're still looking for a way to stream data like HD around your house and are at wit's end, head over to Engadget HD to learn how the Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet bridge handled the most demanding HD needs.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Networking

Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter reviewed by Engadget HD originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter review

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST

Although we were just kids when all the world's computers connected to each other via a coax cable, we still recognize the throughput potential of the medium. This and the fact that just about every home in America already has coax running through its walls has always made us wonder why we couldn't utilize those wires to connect our computers. If you've wondered the same thing, then MoCA might just be for you. It is a CableLabe specification that allows devices to utilize the unused bandwidth on the coax at your house to send bits where no other medium can. So if you're sick of trying to stream HD via Wifi and power-line technologies, you're going to really want to click through and read about how these babies work.

Continue reading Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter review

Filed under: Features, Misc, Media streamers

Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear's MoCA coax-ethernet adapter kit now available, explained with bizarre cartoon

Ross Miller — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:43:00 EST

Netgear's coaxial-hijacking adapter kit MCAB1001 MoCA is now available. The pair of devices, which turns your cable outlets into a home networking solution with transfer speeds up to 270 Mbps, is retailing on the company's online shop for a penny under $190, and if you'd like to watch an infomercial on how it works, chock full of oddly-chosen metaphors and trippy visuals, we've got the perfect read link for you just below.

Read - Product page
Read - "MoCA in a Nutshell" video

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Ports, Others

Netgear's MoCA coax-ethernet adapter kit now available, explained with bizarre cartoon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear's MoCA coax-ethernet adapter kit now available, explained with bizarre cartoon

Ross Miller — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:43:00 EST

Filed under: Networking

Netgear's MoCA coax-ethernet adapter kit now available, explained with bizarre cartoon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D-Link finally ships the DXN-221 Coax Ethernet adapter

Nilay Patel — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:17:00 EST

It's taken almost a year, but D-Link is finally shipping its DXN-221 Coax Ethernet network adapter. The MoCA-certified box does exactly what it says -- it turns your existing coax cabling into a giant Ethernet network without interfering with TV signals, allowing you to get hardwired network speeds anywhere in your house without having to run Cat6. A pair will set you back $239 at retail, but it looks like D-Link is selling them direct for $156.

[Via HotHardware]

Filed under: Networking

D-Link finally ships the DXN-221 Coax Ethernet adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D-Link finally ships the DXN-221 Coax Ethernet adapter

Nilay Patel — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Other hardware

D-Link finally ships the DXN-221 Coax Ethernet adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cox prepping a multi-room DVR for sometime this year

Steven Kim — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:26:00 EST

Cox Communications will be bringing its own multiroom option to its DVR lineup, but it's keeping quiet about some significant details -- namely, the debut market and timing. Aside from our inability to get excited about a feature that may not be coming to our service area for an undetermined price, Cox is at least hitting some key points for the new multiroom option, including support for HD, larger hard drive capacity and sharing content around your home using MoCA technology. Tru2way was not mentioned specifically for the "next generation guide" software also promised for the DVR, but we wouldn't be surprised to see that make the cut. So yeah, Cox is ticking off some checkboxes, and we'll keep hoping for a really good cable company DVR; but as most folks who have compared a TiVo with the cable co DVR will tell you, usability isn't necessarily spelled out in the feature list.

Filed under: Industry, DVRs, Set-top boxes, Cable

Cox prepping a multi-room DVR for sometime this year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola, Time Warner mixing up multiroom, tru2way cable setups due later this year

Richard Lawler — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:39:00 EST

Ok, we've seen multiroom setups, mostly from IPTV providers, and tru2way has had a limited rollout so far, but Time Warner Cable and Motorola are teaming up to be the first to bring the two together in customers homes. Follow Me TV is already available on FiOS, but the Dolby Digital Plus-supporting DCX3400-M DVR we saw at CES in '08 and DXC-3200M set-top box will make it happen on cable, shifting high definition video around the house via Multimedia over Coaxial Alliance (MoCA) connections. Hopefully tru2way's interoperability lets customers choose what equipment makes up their home video network, not just the cable company, but we should find out more after launch later this year.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Motorola, Time Warner mixing up multiroom, tru2way cable setups due later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola, Time Warner mixing up multiroom, tru2way cable setups due later this year

Richard Lawler — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:39:00 EST

Filed under: DVRs, Set-top boxes, Cable

Motorola, Time Warner mixing up multiroom, tru2way cable setups due later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic again giving tru2way a boost at Cable Show '09

Richard Lawler — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:15:00 EST

Panasonic has consistently been one of the companies backing tru2way with the most hardware, and this year's Cable Show is no different. First up, its tru2way compatible plasma HDTVs are now on sale in Atlanta, with additional rollouts planned for the rest of '09 -- put host city Washington D.C. on the list for sure, since since Comcast has hooked the booth up to a live feed for demonstrations as previously seen in Denver. Don't have the scratch for a whole new TV just to experience the new tech? Say hello to the PCH2180 Advanced Multi-tuner tru2way set-top receiver (pictured) that's now shipping, an HD-DVR ready for multistream CableCARDs and includes a DOCSIS modem, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and VC-1 compatibility plus MoCA networking capabilities. Panasonic's taken the time to tie it to a prototype Easy Touch multitouch remote (video embedded after the break) that we were digging at CEATEC and CES alike, with this kind of investment the NCTA might be able to make us forget January's disappointment.

Gallery: Panasonic EZTouch multi-touch remote

Continue reading Panasonic again giving tru2way a boost at Cable Show '09

Filed under: DVRs, Remotes, Set-top boxes, Panasonic

Panasonic again giving tru2way a boost at Cable Show '09 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear's Coax-Ethernet Adapter up for pre-order

Darren Murph — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:53:00 EST

Netgear quietly introduced us to its MCAB1001 MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter (among other things) at CES this year, but the curiously useful device has just now set itself up for pre-ordering. Put simply, this is the device to get for those who both loathe wireless (and all those inexplicable dropouts) and can't pony up the courage / fundage / willpower to wire their home with Ethernet. By enabling users to extend Ethernet signals over existing in-wall coax cabling, you can easily pass along web content, Blu-ray / DVD material or practically any other digital signal over the coax network that's (hopefully) already established within your domicile's walls. Yeah, $229.99 is a bit pricey, but go price out a house full of Ethernet and then reevaluate.

[Thanks, Matt]

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Ports, Others

Netgear's Coax-Ethernet Adapter up for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear's Coax-Ethernet Adapter up for pre-order

Darren Murph — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:53:00 EST

Filed under: Networking

Netgear's Coax-Ethernet Adapter up for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broadcom produces MoCA-integrated SoC for HD STBs

Darren Murph — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:37:00 EST

Ready to sling recorded content around your home via the coaxial wiring in your home? Broadcom is. The outfit has just introduced the industry's first MoCA-integrated SoC solution for use in high-def set-top-boxes and gateway applications, which would theoretically "transform a subscriber's existing coax cable infrastructure into a whole-home media distribution network." If you still can't piece together the potential here, we're talking whole-home digital media distribution over one's existing coax network, and DLNA support is thrown in too. Who knows when your cable company will decide to adopt an STB with this within, but tomorrow would be good.

Filed under: DVRs, Set-top boxes

Broadcom produces MoCA-integrated SoC for HD STBs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thomson developing tru2way hardware

Richard Lawler — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:59:00 EST

In a CES surprisingly slim on new tru2way information, Thomson's revealed that it's working on a new set-top box for cable operators. Until it gets through CableLabs certification, what's on display is an OCAP / MoCa (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) set-top box running enable TV widget software pulling news info from the Internet to a TV. Further down the line a triple tuner tru2way DVR is expected, but not until 2010 so patience will clearly be key.

Filed under: Set-top boxes, Others, Cable, Internet

Thomson developing tru2way hardware originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cisco nearing 8600 multiroom tru2way box tests

Richard Lawler — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:31:00 EST

Still waiting for multiroom HD streaming from your cable company? Cisco's contender, the Explorer 8600 is apparently expected to start trials in Q2, giving customers a taste of the MoCa 1.1, 500GB storing, tru2way enabled experience they've been wanting. Multichannel News says DLNA and DTCP support is in the package powered by a new more powerful 6th gen processor, and should be ready for a real rollout in the third quarter. Cisco, please don't disappoint us.

Filed under: Set-top boxes, Cable

Cisco nearing 8600 multiroom tru2way box tests originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VUDU certifies MoCA Ethernet-to-coax bridge for HD streaming

Darren Murph — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:36:00 EST

Hard to say how much of an impact this will have -- after all, VUDU's already expressed its love for wire-free applications -- but the aforesaid movie set-top-box company has certified MoCA as a wired home networking solution for HD streaming. We get the impression that users looking to pipe VUDU content through their existing in-wall coaxial network can just pickup a MoCA Ethernet-to-Coax bridge, but as always, YMMV.

Filed under: DVRs, Set-top boxes

VUDU certifies MoCA Ethernet-to-coax bridge for HD streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear's CES showcase: powerline / MoCA gear, Internet TV player

Darren Murph — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST

Netgear isn't kidding around here at CES, and if you thought three new routers was the extent of it, you're sorely mistaken. The company is also debuting its new Internet TV Player (ITV2000; pictured), which is essentially an internet set-top-box that brings online media to the TV with all sorts of elegance. It'll be able to stream content from CNN, ESPN, NBA, TMZ, YouTube, Google, Yahoo and MetaCafe, though we're going to need a little Hulu mixed in before we take it seriously. We're also being reintroduced to the Digital Entertainer Elite (EVA9150) box, and in slightly less interesting news, we've got the XAV1004 Powerline AV adapter with 4-port Ethernet Switch holding it down within you walls. Lastly, we've got the MCAB1001 MoCA coax-Ethernet adapter kit and the WNMR834 Wireless-N MoCA router, both of which enable users to rely on their existing in-home cabling to distribute signals over Ethernet. All the gory details (minus price and availability, naturally) are just past the break.

Gallery: Netgear's CES showcase: powerline / MoCA gear, Internet TV player

Continue reading Netgear's CES showcase: powerline / MoCA gear, Internet TV player

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Others

Netgear's CES showcase: powerline / MoCA gear, Internet TV player originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DLNA gives thumbs-up to MoCA standard for new guidelines

Darren Murph — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST

You know that DLNA support that your media streamer has, which currently only supports WiFi and Ethernet as approved LAN standards? Yeah? Well MoCA is about to join in. Yep, the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) has given the green light to the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) technology standard for "incorporation into the next version of its Networked Interoperability Guidelines," which should be out in early 2009. The guidelines will aim to "unite various consumer electronics, personal computer and mobile device technologies into a cohesive home networking environment," and being that MoCA is an open initiative intended to distribute multimedia over a home's existing coaxial network, it's a wonder the two haven't linked up earlier. Who says coax is dying?

Filed under: Industry, Regulatory, Cables, Other formats, Cable

DLNA gives thumbs-up to MoCA standard for new guidelines originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D-Link introduces DXN-221 Coax Ethernet Adapter Kit

Darren Murph — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:56:00 EST

D-Link's no stranger to HD streaming, and the outfit is proving that it's still got game by announcing the Coax Ethernet Adapter Kit. The Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA)-certified package consists of two DXN-220 adapters, each of which boast coaxial F-type connectors and an Ethernet port meant to give internet / network access to various rooms without worry over wireless connections flaking out on you. As you can tell, this one was designed to expand home networks without requiring any additional wiring (if you're pre-wired for cable, that is), and being that it operates in the 800MHz to 1,500MHz range, there won't be any interference with cable TV transmissions or the like. The DXN-221 kit -- which includes a pair of the aforementioned adapters -- will be available in Q3 for $199.99, while individual adapters can be purchased for $109.99 apiece.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Networking

D-Link introduces DXN-221 Coax Ethernet Adapter Kit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 May 2008 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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