When I hear the term NAS, the image that pops into my mind is a device with a UTP connection. In fact, up until today I’d never seen a NAS that didn’t use an Ethernet connection, either wired or wireless. But there are two technologies competing with Ethernet networks for home networking: HomePlug and MoCA.
HomePlug products create a home network that works over existing powerline infrastructure, and promises up to 150 Mbps of usable bandwidth. MoCA does the same over coax cabling; the latest version of the standard (v1.1) can deliver up to 175 Mbps of bandwidth using frequencies that are not normally used for TV signals.
The HomePlug standard is mostly used to extend ethernet networks throughout a house, but MoCA is also targeted at home entertainment systems. One of the leading suppliers of MoCA chipsets, Entropic Communications, has just teamed up with ViXS Systems to create a reference implementation of a MoCA-connected NAS. Unlike traditional NAS appliances, this appears to be oriented towards storing video files, with on-the-fly HD to HD and MPEG-2 HD to H.264 AVC HDÂ transcoding capabilities. Both companies hope this will inspire OEMs to create similar products:
“Home entertainment networking is continuing to evolve and we are pleased to be partnered with Entropic, a pioneer in home networking, as we build on our respective technologies to be at the forefront of that evolution,” said Sally Daub, CEO and president, ViXS Systems Inc. “By combining Entropic’s proven MoCA solution with our advanced video processing technology, we are able to deliver a powerful, robust, and cost-effective solution to the consumer electronic market, enabling high-definition video recording capabilities as well as the sharing of both personal and premium content throughout the home over existing Coax cables.”
So don’t be surprised if you find a NAS with coax connectors in stores within one or two years.
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