The Entertainment Networking Revolution

7/28/2019 The Entertainment Networking Revolution

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ver since the proliferation of data

networking products and services

in the 1990s, the eld has been

in a constant state of revolution

as humans nd faster, cheaper

and better ways to communicate.Consider the expansion of networking

from the phone wire to twisted pairEthernet cable, Wi-Fi and mobile;and the expanding capacity of thesenetworks to transmit kilobits,megabits, and now even gigabits ofdata per second. In parallel, therehas been a rapid transition from aWorld Wide Web built off personalcomputers and host servers to acloud based model that centralizes

the ow and storage of data,enhancing the way data is deliveredand received across the globe.

At present day, we are in the midstof another revolution in the homenetwork the entertainmentnetworking revolution. Previously,typical web users uploaded anddownloaded information in theform of web pages, documentsand programs. Only recently have

consumers begun streamingentertainment and communicationmedia such as YouTube, Hulu,Pandora, Netix and Skype.

Entertainment networking isdrastically different from ordinarydata networking, requiring multipletimes more bandwidth to supportthe awless transmission of audioand video to PCs, televisions, tablets

and smartphones. Not only is audioand video streaming bandwidthintensive, but increasing demandsfor high denition and 3D feeds withfaster refresh rates multiplies thedata requirements much further.

These factors help explain howNetix, only ve years afterstreaming the rst movie offits subscription-based service,accounted for almost a third of all

bandwidth use in North Americaduring peak viewing hours in 2011,making it the largest source ofInternet trafc on the continent.

When the network performs properlythe benets of entertainmentnetworking are clear. No longerare hard copies of music and videonecessary when they can be stored,accessed and streamed from the

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cloud. Video gamers can experienceawless multi-player gameplaywhile families and friends video callanyone in the world in real time withrobust home networks. Additionally,homeowners have never before hadso much access to streaming contentat an affordable price, thanks to newcable TV services and emergingweb-based services accessedthrough Ethernet connected devices.

As consumers realize the benetsof entertainment networking inincreasing numbers, new challengeshave also emerged. The revolutionoccurred so quickly that serviceproviders are upgrading theirinfrastructure at an unprecedentedpace to prepare their landlineand mobile networks for theexploding demand for data. Yet as

service providers have investedbillions of dollars upgrading theinfrastructure connecting to thehome, homeowners have fallenbehind in upgrading the networkinginfrastructure within the home.

A network is only as strong asits weakest link, which could beoutdated equipment, substandardcables or inserts, a faultyinstallation, or a weak wireless

signal from the nearest access point.Thankfully, with new technologies,updated equipment, and innovativeinfrastructure solutions, homesof any age can be equipped forthe entertainment networkingrevolution without a signicantinvestment of time and money.

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Consumers may not be familiar

with the nomenclature of

Category cabling and J45 jacks,but chances are that if theyve

ever plugged web connectivity

into a device, its through a

twisted pair Cat 5, Cat 5e, or

Cat 6 cable with an J45 jack.

The signal that most commonly

transmits over twisted pair cableis called Ethernet. This solutionprovides the fastest widely-availablelocal area network (LAN) solutionfor homeowners, with throughputcapabilities of up to a Gigabit persecond (Gbps). Using commercialgrade equipment and cables,wired Ethernet can transmit in abuilding at speeds of up to 10Gbps.

As new applications of homenetworks hit the market, innovativeuses of the twisted pair cable arepenetrating the home networkingspace. One innovative technologyis Power over Ethernet (PoE), atechnology that transmits power aswell as data to intelligent devicessuch as Wireless Access Pointsand IP Cameras. This allowsinstallers more exibility to mountproducts around the home withoutthe need to run a power cordto an outlet. This technology isintelligent enough to accept power

only when the installation is donecorrectly. This protects the smartdevices delicate circuitry fromwrongly congured power ows.

Another innovative use of thetwisted pair cable is its abilityto transmit an HDMI signal

over long distances through atechnology called HDBaseT. WithHDBaseT, a homeowner can retrota structured wiring system withequipment that can stream highdenition video, audio and fastEthernet to displays around thehome. HDBaseT equipment canalso pass infrared signals, whichallows a user to remotely controlequipment located hundreds of feetaway in a basement or closet. WithPoE and HDBaseT technologies,the twisted pair cable has shownits many additional uses beyond

Ethernet and voice transmission.

A disadvantage of Ethernet solutionsis that many homes have limitedcoverage. In homes that arentprewired with twisted pair cable,installation of new wiring in the wallsis typically costly and labor intensive.

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n the past decade, structured wiring has

become standard in new homes to bring orderto video, voice, and data distribution.

A typical structured wiring system receives the incomingcable TV, landline phone and data signal from theservice providers and routes the cables from a centrallocation to rooms around the home. Often, the centrallocation is an enclosure in the basement. Once installedcorrectly with high performance equipment, the newhomeowner is set to experience top of line video, voice and

networking performance in the present and be preparedto adapt their equipment to changing technologies.

With gigabit-speed enabled routers and switchesnow available, structured wiring system ownerscan upgrade their old equipment in only a fewminutes by removing the old module and snappingin the new one. These homeowners are also wellpositioned to benet from many emerging connectedhome and entertainment networking technologies,which can easily retrot into their enclosures.

Homes with structuredwiring systems are bestequipped to transmit thefastest and most reliabledata signals throughout

the home network.

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MoCA is an idealsolution forentertainmentnetworking, sincealmost every televisionor cable box in thehome is alreadyconnected to coax.


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ne emerging technology in wired

networking is the ability to transmit a network

over the coax cabling in the home. his technologyis often referred to as MoCA, named after the

Multimedia over Coax Alliance, the leading

standards authority developing and promoting it.

From a technical standpoint, a coax network is wellequipped to carry a MoCA signal, which travels on afrequency band unused by cable TV transmissions. Thecoax cable is also well insulated against interference,protecting against deterioration of the MoCA signal.

Formed only in 2004, MoCA continues to gain supportfrom large and small corporations and organizations inthe industry to proliferate the technology and improve itscapabilities. The most prevalent MoCA standard today is1.1, with maximum throughput of 170Mbps. The emergingMoCA 2.0 standard is able to achieve throughputs of upto 800Mbps, more than four times the 1.1 standard.

According to Parks Associates,80 percent of American homesare wired with coax cabling inmultiple rooms of the home. Thisallows the many homeownerswithout a full structured wiringnetwork to realize the benets of afast and reliable wired home network.MoCA is also an ideal solution forentertainment networking, sincealmost every television or cable box inthe home is already connected to coax.

With emerging demand for multi-room DVR, many content providersare using coax networks to enablecommunications to TVs around the homeas a value-add to solutions like VerizonsFiOS service. Independently of the serviceprovider, homeowners can use coaxnetworks to connect any Ethernet enableddevice to the web to stream shows, movies, videos andmusic off of platforms such as Hulu, Netix, YouTubeand Pandora. Newer hardware technologies such asstreaming boxes (i.e. Roku and Apple TV) and smart TVsenable even more functionality out of these networks.

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Pros

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Cons

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n the absence of adequate twisted pair or coax

terminations, homeowners can take advantage

of the ability to extend an existing thernet

network over the homes electrical power lines.

Although electricians in the 20th century didnt wire homeswith networking in mind, 21st century innovators such asthe HomePlug Powerline Alliance members developed

a standard to make powerline networking a fast,reliable, and easy-to-congure networking alternative.

The proliferation of this networking medium has facedsome resistance from professional installers andconsumers alike. After the HomePlug Power Alliancereleased its rst specication in 2001, early adopterswere frustrated by issues affecting the speed andreliability of the connection. The specication was alsoonly capable of 14Mbps speeds. Since then however, theHomePlug AV (2005) and AV2 (2012) specications have

delivered drastic improvements in speed, functionalityand reliability. The AV2 specication now advertisesmaximum throughput capabilities exceeding 500Mbps.

Out of all commercially available wired and wirelesshome network equipment, powerline modules are thesimplest to install and congure. By plugging in twonetwork modules to power outlets in the home, a networkconnection is automatically conrmed in seconds.Each module contains Ethernet ports and can act asboth the transmitter and receiver of the data signal.

New products containing integrated wireless accesspoints are adding more exibility to this solution.

Popular applications of powerline networks today are toquickly connect a single device to the network, whetherit be a video game console, Ethernet connected Blu-rayplayer, or likewise. The ability to play a multiplayer gameonline with people around the world is an increasinglypopular feature. However, even the slightest lag in asports or rst-person shooter game can signicantlyreduce the quality of game play and put the user at a

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disadvantage. As important as this may be to a teenager,mom and dad may not be enticed to wire the playroomsimply to ensure reliable gaming. Using a powerlinesolution, an existing network can easily be extended intothis room minutes after opening the packaging. Despite itsbenets, powerline technology also has its detractors. Onespecic obstacle is surge protection. A surge protector willlter out the network if it lies between the endpoints of thenetwork. Another factor affecting performance is whetherthe house has two or three-wire electrical systems. Thenewer HomePlug standards utilize all three wires tomaximize performance, so older installations with two wiresystems will have reduced performance capabilities. Onenal disadvantage to note is that electrical wires are moreprone to interference than coax and twisted pair cables.

Like all wired and wireless networking types, powerlinenetworks have unique strengths and weaknesses.Homeowners should weigh these carefully to best equiptheir home networks for their preferred applications.

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Pros

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Cons

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Out of all commerciallyavailable wiredand wireless homenetwork equipment,powerline modulesare the simplest toinstall and congure.


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Wi-Fi is the leading wireless

standard for network connectivity

in homes and commercial

buildings around the world.

According to Strategy Analytics,61 percent of .S. households

now have Wi-Fi networks.

In many contexts, the terms

wireless network and Wi-Fi

are synonymous. As such, there

is uency in the public domain

with using wireless networks

and, to a lesser degree, installing

and conguring them.

The Wi-Fi Alliance formed in

1999 to align the networking

industry towards a common goal

of transmitting data wirelessly

in a local area network (LAN).

The Alliances fourth set of 802.11

standards, 802.11n, was released

in 2009 and has maximum speed

capabilities of 300Mbps. Previous

standards were 802.11g, 802.11b and

802.11a. The 802.11n standard is the

rst standard since 1999 enabled to

broadcast over two frequency bands

(2.4GHz and 5GHz), providing greater

exibility for more complex installs.

Wi-Fi has successfully proliferated

around the world largely because it

is a trusted and reliable technology

for mobile applications. For years,

people at home and work have

connected laptop computers to

the web with Wi-Fi. More recently,

tablets, e-readers, and other portable

devices have also been connecting toWi-Fi networks. Largely because of

the 802.11n standard, many entrust

their Wi-Fi networks to stream video

and audio, play a network-connected

video game, or complete a large

download of les and programs.

On the downside, wireless networks

can have performance and security

aws. One limit of Wi- is its

broadcasting bandwidth. There

are a limited number of channels

in a broadcast spectrum that the

access point can transmit data

on. Todays devices are better able

to identify low trafc channels,

but the amount of trafc on the

spectrum is rapidly increasing as

more devices are connecting to

Wi-Fi. In areas of high population

density, bandwidth can easily run

short during peak usage hours,

consequentially decreasing network

performance. There are other factors

that can hurt network performance

as well, such as distance,

construction elements (i.e. walls)

and nearby operating appliances.

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Pros

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3. hi peoace o ot

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Cons

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Security is a concern with wireless

technology because the signal

cant easily be contained to the

property boundaries of the user.

These concerns have been partially

alleviated with specication

improvements, but a wireless network

will naturally be more at risk than a

closed wired network. Many users

also nd password protection to be

an inconvenience when connecting

new devices to the network.

The future of Wi-Fi is the 802.11ac

standard, expected to be ratied

in late 2013. The standard will

allow users to receive throughputs

exceeding 500Mbps and will be

the rst to broadcast solely on

the 5GHz frequency. The 5GHz

frequency allows for more broadcast

trafc than 2.4GHz, which should

make Wi-Fi less susceptible to

interference from other devices.

However, 5GHz radio waves have less

range than 2.4GHz. Another obstacle

for this standard is regulatory issues

that affect the availability of the

5GHz band in some parts of the U.S

and areas of the world. In summary,

between 802.11ac and 802.11n,

consumers will have two viable Wi-Fi

standards to network with wireless

enabled devices in the coming years.

Many entrust theirWi-Fi networks tostream video and

audio, play a network-connected videogame, or completea large download ofles and programs.


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.egnd./netking14

nce valued simply for their enablement of

mobile voice services, cellular networks are

now relied upon by many to access video, audio

and data over the nternet on many devices.

This category encompasses a number of familiartechnology terms, such as GSM, 3G and 4G LTE. Thenewest technology of the three is 4G LTE, capable oftransmitting download speeds of up to 100Mbps andupload speeds of up to 50Mbps. A recent upgrade toLTE that is being developed and trialed is LTE Advanced,theoretically capable of 1Gbps download speeds and500Mbps upload speeds. The signicance of LTE isits highly improved capability to perform complex

tasks on the network through a mobile device.

With Americans rapidly activating smartphones and tabletson LTE networks, mobile networks have naturally enteredthe home as an alternative way to access the Internet.In the security industry, some providers are now sellingsystems that connect to cellular networks instead oflandlines. Theoretically, the LTE technology is powerfulenough that it could displace other more established homenetworking technologies. In practice, demand for mobile

networks from smartphones and tablets alone stretchedmobile infrastructures to their limits. Although networkproviders invest billions of dollars annually upgrading theirmobile infrastructure, they are having trouble keepingup with growing demand. Users who have tried to usea mobile network during a major sporting event havelikely experienced connectivity issues due to an overloadof demand. To control demand for mobile data, manyproviders have implemented policies to cap data usage orslow down network speeds for data-hungry subscribers.

In May 2012, Verizon announced the launch of a servicecalled HomeFusion Broadband, where Verizon providesconsumers a home network that uses the 4G LTE network.The service requires professional installation of anantenna on the roof to pick up the best LTE signal. Theantenna connects to a router which can then transmit

wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi through the home. These typesof cellular home network services are expensive andlimited. Current offerings have a recurring monthlycharge comparable to a mobile data plan, along with amonthly data allowance of 10GB-30GB. Advertised speedsof the Verizon service today are 5-12Mbps for downloadsand 2-5Mbps for uploads. With Cisco calculating thatthe average American household consumed 50.3GBof data per month in 2011, cellular home networksolutions are not yet feasible for the typical household.

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Pros

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Cons

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According to recent statistics from the

Consumer lectronics Association, the

entertainment revolution is well under way.

Eight in 10 U.S households now use a home network, withmore people than ever choosing to locate their primaryhome network router in the living room over the homeofce. Thirty-one percent of U.S. broadband householdsregularly stream TV shows and movies to their TVs fromthe web, a gure that was close to zero ve years ago.

Streaming entertainment is becoming a primarysource of media for many, making the performance of

the stream as vital as the cable TV signal or the DVD/Blu-ray player. Although people are accustomed toload times, buffering, and latency out of early formsof online media, the same tolerance will not exist forthose expecting higher performance entertainment.

As the leader in connected home infrastructure,Legrand has released a full suite of networking solutionsthat will help homeowners increase the quality oftheir home entertainment experience. Building upona history of infrastructure excellence, Legrand willcontinue to provide homeowners the peace of mindthat their home is t to support the benets of an ever-changing and accelerating technological world.

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Streamingentertainment isbecoming a primarysource of media formany, making theperformance of thestream as vital as thecable TV signal or theDVD/Blu-ray player.


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Home Systems

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The Entertainment Networking Revolution

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