Entropic Powers Channel Master's Internet-to-TV Adapters

Powered by Entropic Communications’ home-networking silicon, Channel Master’s new Internet-to-TV adapter kits, based on the multimedia over coax (MoCA) standard, allow consumers and home-electronics installers to network connected TVs and Internet devices from any room to the broadband router through the existing coax wiring in the home.?

Channel Master’s adapters – either single or 4-port – support high definition (HD) streaming for multi-room DVR, over-the-top (OTT) services and online gaming.

Most new Internet-capable TVs have an Ethernet port, and some are Wi-Fi-capable, says Vinay Gokhale, senior vice president/marketing and business?development at Entropic.

The easiest way for people to connect to the Internet is usually via Wi-Fi, but problems can occur with wireless connections when watching video because of buffering. "Video transmission over wireless is inherently unreliable," says Gokhale. "You can use the Ethernet jack on the TV and plug into that Ethernet jack a MoCA-to-Ethernet adapter, and that box plugs into the coax outlet. You have a much more reliable link between that TV and the broadband connection. The quality requirements for video are very high."

As a co-founder of MoCA, Entropic is bullish on the standard. Gokhale says whole-home DVRs that utilize MoCA lifted Entropic’s business off the ground. With more than 90 percent of U.S. homes having coax wiring, and with MoCA penetration at around 10 percent and growing, "We see this going to much higher numbers," he adds. "Everyone knows you can plug into an Ethernet jack. It’s just going to be assumed you have a MoCA network."

Channel Master’s Internet-to-TV adapters can be purchased at Fry’s Electronics, Ace Hardware, True Value, Crutchfield, Walmart.com, CircuitCity.com and CompUSA.com.

?-Linda Hardesty