MoCA Technical Notes
Cang_Household
Community Leader
Community Leader

Dear fellow community members,

The following is some MoCA technical notes.

MoCA is supposed to be backward compatible, but that is not always the case in reality.

The following is a compatibility and performance matrix (work in progress).

Legend

Symbol Definition
* deteriorating performance
- extra configuration required at reduced performance
X not compatible
u2.0 unbonded MoCA 2.0, capped at 500Mbps
b2.0 bonded MoCA 2.0, capped at 1000Mbps
? lacking empirical evidence
(blank) not filled out yet
Category Official Routers Official Extenders Official MoCA Adapters goCoax ActionTec NCS
Ver./Speed CR1000A G3100 G1100 E3200 WCB6200 (FNE)^ MEA ECB5240M (FNA) Stream TV Adapter WF-803M MA2500D MA2500C ECB7250 ECB6250 WCB6200Q (NCS) ECB6200
CR1000A 2.5 2.5? u2.0? 2.5 X? 2.5 b2.0? 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 b2.0*? b2.0*?
G3100 2.5? 2.5 u2.0 2.5 X 2.5 b2.0 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 b2.0* b2.0*
G1100 u2.0? u2.0 u2.0 u2.0 u2.0 u2.0 u2.0 u2.0 u2.0 u2.0 u2.0 u2.0? u2.0 u2.0 u2.0
E3200 2.5 2.5 u2.0 2.5 X 2.5 b2.0 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5      
WCB6200 (FNE)  X? X u2.0 X b2.0 X? b2.0 X? X X X        
MEA  2.5 2.5 u2.0 2.5 X? 2.5 b2.0? 2.5              
ECB5240M (FNA)  b2.0 b2.0 u2.0 b2.0 b2.0 b2.0? b2.0 b2.0?              
Stream TV Adapter 2.5 2.5 u2.0 2.5 X? 2.5 b2.0? 2.5              
WF-803M 2.5? 2.5 u2.0? 2.5 u2.0- 2.5 b2.0? 2.5              
MA2500D 2.5? 2.5 u2.0? 2.5 u2.0-? 2.5 b2.0? 2.5              
ECB7250 2.5? 2.5 u2.0? 2.5 u2.0-? 2.5 b2.0? 2.5              
ECB6250 2.5? 2.5 u2.0 2.5 u2.0-? 2.5 b2.0? 2.5              
WCB6200 (NCS) b2.0*? b2.0* u2.0 b2.0* b2.0 b2.0*? b2.0* b2.0*?       b2.0*?      
ECB6200  b2.0*? b2.0* u2.0 b2.0*? b2.0 b2.0*? b2.0* b2.0*?       b2.0*?      

Additional Notes:

From https://forums.verizon.com/t5/Fios-Internet/G3100-and-WCB6200Q-anything-definitive/m-p/917060/highli... 

Actiontec WCB6200 (NCS non-brand specific version) with .re firmware is compatible* with G3100 over MoCA LAN, but the connection is unstable. Users report frequent ping drops and excessive latency.

Verizon WCB6200Q (Fios Network Extender, FNE) is incompatible with G3100 over MoCA LAN. This is due to hardware and firmware problems in WCB6200Q.

WCB6200Q MoCA 2.5 incompatibility can be extrapolated to all current and future MoCA 2.5 devices given currently MaxLinear is the sole MoCA 2.5 chipset vendor. MoCA 2.5 devices include G3100, E3200, CR1000A, MEA, and STVA; third-party devices include goCoax WF-803M, MA2500C/D, and Actiontec ECB6250/7250.

Given above, WCB6200Q should not be used in newer network installations unless its MoCA interface is bypassed through a compatible MoCA Ethernet bridge. Users should consider current alternatives, such as E3200 (requiring router upgrade to G3100), for achieving the same functional results.

Re: MoCA Technical Notes
dexman
Community Leader
Community Leader

I just saw the post about creating a chart/document.

You're lightning fast! 😲

Re: MoCA Technical Notes
cyraxote
Enthusiast - Level 2

What's the difference between WCB6200 (FNE) and WCB6200 (NCS)?

0 Likes
Re: MoCA Technical Notes
Cang_Household
Community Leader
Community Leader

I have updated the original post. Please see additional notes.

Re: MoCA Technical Notes
Endlessknight
Newbie

Am I reading this correctly? I have the old ONT and the G1100 router (MoCA only). Can I replace my current with a ECB6250 MoCA adapter and use a new router of my choice? 

0 Likes
Re: MoCA Technical Notes
dexman
Community Leader
Community Leader

When Fios is not being subscribed to, use of a Verizon router is not required.

If the ONT is an old model, consider upgrading to the Nokia 211 to access higher speed Internet.

0 Likes
Re: MoCA Technical Notes
Endlessknight
Newbie

I'm sorry I'm not following. What you mean but "Fios is not being subscribed to"? I currently have the triple play package tv/phone/internet from Verizon Fios. 

0 Likes
Re: MoCA Technical Notes
dexman
Community Leader
Community Leader

If a Fios subscriber has television service and the latest STB's, a Verizon router is needed to update the channel guides and perform other administrative tasks.

Can you post a picture of a set top box and your Fios ONT for us to see which models they are? My hunch is that the STBs are older units.

Side note: Submitted pictures are queued for Moderator approval. Once approved they will appear.

0 Likes
Re: MoCA Technical Notes
Endlessknight
Newbie

Sorry for the delay. Below is my STB and ONT

imageimage

0 Likes
Re: MoCA Technical Notes
dexman
Community Leader
Community Leader

I'm not 100% sure if a third-party router can be used without impacting the Cisco STB due to the fact that I never had one in all of my years of being a Fios user. I'll have to defer to one of the category leads.

I can say that the STB and the ONT are older models. Verizon currently installs Arris branded STBs and Alcatel-Lucent (Nokia) 211 ONTs.  With the Arris units, use of a Verizon router (such as the G3100) is strongly recommended.

0 Likes