MoCA connectivity between RF amplifiers or splitter devices

Abstract

A bi-directional RF signal amplifier includes a housing with an RF input port. A power divider network within the housing terminates to a plurality of active RF output ports. An active communications path connects the RF input port to the power divider network. A passive communications path connects the RF input port to a passive RF output port. A MoCA input/output port is provided on the housing. A MoCA signal path connects the power divider network to the MoCA input/output port, and a MoCA pass filter is located along the MoCA signal path. In another embodiment, a passive splitter includes a housing with an RF input port, a power divider network, and a plurality of CATV/MoCA RF output ports. A CATV communications path connects the RF input port to the power divider network. A MoCA input/output port is provided on the housing. A MoCA signal path connects the power divider network to the MoCA input/output port, and a MoCA pass filter is located along the MoCA signal path.

Claims

1. A bi-directional RF signal amplifier comprising: a housing; an RF input port on an exterior of said housing for communication with a CATV service provider; a power divider network within said housing and having a plurality of active RF output ports on said exterior of said housing; an active communications path within said housing connecting said RF input port to said power divider network, said active communications path including at least one power amplifier to amplify upstream CATV signals or downstream CATV signals passing along said active communications path; a passive RF output port on said exterior of said housing; a passive communications path within said housing connecting said RF input port to said passive RF output port, wherein said passive communications path has no power amplifier; a MoCA only input/output port on said exterior of said housing; and a MoCA signal path within said housing connecting said power divider network to said MoCA only input/output port, wherein said MoCA only input/output port communicates MoCA signals but does not communicate upstream CATV signals or downstream CATV signals.

2. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 1, further comprising: a MoCA pass filter within said housing and located along said MoCA signal path, said MoCA pass filter having a first node connected to said power divider network and a second node connected to said MoCA only input/output port.

3. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 2, wherein said MoCA input/output port is configured as a female coaxial port.

4. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 2, wherein said first node is connected upstream of said power divider network between said power divider network and a MoCA rejection filter of said active communications path.

5. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 2, wherein said first node is connected to a location within said power divider network, wherein said location is between an output of a first power divider of said power divider network and an input of a second power divider of said power divider network.

6. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 2, wherein said power divider network includes a plurality of connected power dividers, and wherein said first node is directly connected to only an output of an individual power divider within said power divider network.

7. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 2, wherein said power divider network includes a plurality of connected power dividers, and wherein said first node is directly connected to only an input of an individual power divider within said power divider network.

8. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 2, further comprising: a first diplexer having a common port, a high frequency port and a low frequency port, wherein said common port of said first diplexer is coupled to said RF input port and said high frequency port of said first diplexer is coupled to said power amplifier; and a second diplexer having a common port, a high frequency port and a low frequency port, wherein said high frequency port of said second diplexer is coupled to said power amplifier, and said common port of said second diplexer is coupled to said power divider network.

9. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 2, wherein said housing is a first housing, said RF input port is a first RF input port, said power divider network is a first power divider network; said plurality of active RF output ports is a first plurality of active RF output ports, said active communications path is a first active communication path, said at least one power amplifier is at least one first power amplifier, said passive RF output port is a first passive output port, said passive communications path is a first passive communications path, said MoCA only input/output port is a first MoCA only input/output port, said MoCA signal path is a first MoCA signal path, and said MoCA pass filter is a first MoCA pass filter, further comprising: a second housing; a second RF input port on an exterior of said second housing; a second power divider network within said housing and having a second plurality of active RF output ports on said exterior of said second housing; a second active communications path within said second housing connecting said second RF input port to said second power divider network, said second active communications path including at least one second power amplifier to amplify an upstream signal or a downstream signal passing along said second active communications path; a second passive RF output port on said exterior of said second housing; a second passive communications path within said second housing connecting said second RF input port to said second passive RF output port, wherein said second passive communications path has no power amplifier; a second MoCA only input/output port on said exterior of said second housing; a second MoCA signal path within said second housing connecting said second power divider network to said second MoCA only input/output port; a second MoCA pass filter within said second housing and located along said second MoCA signal path, said second MoCA pass filter having a first node connected to said second power divider network and a second node connected to said second MoCA only input/output port; and a connection link between said first MOCA only input/output port and said second MOCA only input/output port.

10. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 8, further comprising: a directional coupler interposed between said RF input port and said first diplexer, wherein an input of said directional coupler is coupled to said RF input port, a first output of said directional coupler is coupled to said common port of said first diplexer, and a second output of said directional coupler is coupled to said passive communications path leading to said passive RF output port.

11. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier of claim 9, wherein said connection link is a coaxial cable.

12. A passive splitter comprising: a housing; an RF input port on an exterior of said housing for communication with a CATV service provider; a power divider network within said housing and having a plurality of CATV/MoCA RF output ports on said exterior of said housing, wherein said power divider network includes a plurality of connected power dividers; a CATV communications path within said housing connecting said RF input port to said power divider network and communicating upstream CATV signals or downstream CATV signals; a MoCA only input/output port on said exterior of said housing; a MoCA signal path within said housing connecting said power divider network to said MoCA only input/output port; and a MoCA pass filter within said housing and located along said MoCA signal path, said MoCA pass filter having a first node connected to said power divider network and a second node connected to said MoCA only input/output port, wherein said MoCA only input/output port communicates MoCA signals but does not communicate any upstream CATV signals or downstream CATV signals.

13. The passive splitter of claim 12, wherein said first node is connected a location within said power divider network, wherein said location is between an output of a first power divider of said power divider network and an input of a second power divider of said power divider network.

14. The passive splitter of claim 12, wherein said first node is directly connected to only an output of an individual power divider within said power divider network.

15. The passive splitter of claim 12, wherein said first node is directly connected to only an input of an individual power divider within said power divider network.

16. The passive splitter of claim 12, wherein said power divider network includes: a first power divider having a first input forming an initial input for said power divider network and first and second outputs; a second power divider having a second input and third and fourth outputs, wherein said second input is connected to said first output of said first power divider; and a third power divider having a third input and fifth and sixth outputs, wherein said third input is connected to said second output of said first power divider.

17. The passive splitter of claim 16, wherein said first node of said MoCA pass filter is connected to an additional output of said first power divider.

18. The passive splitter of claim 16, wherein said power divider network further includes: a fourth power divider having a fourth input and seventh and eighth outputs, wherein said fourth input is connected to said third output of said second power divider; a fifth power divider having a fifth input and ninth and tenth outputs, wherein said fifth input is connected to said fourth output of said second power divider; a sixth power divider having a sixth input and eleventh and twelfth outputs, wherein said sixth input is connected to said fifth output of said third power divider; and a seventh power divider having a seventh input and thirteenth and fourteenth outputs, wherein said seventh input is connected to said sixth output of said third power divider, wherein said seventh, eighth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth outputs are connected to first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh CATV/MoCA RF output ports of said plurality of CATV/MoCA RF output ports, and wherein said ninth output is connected to said first node of said MoCA pass filter.

19. A method of installing a communication system within a premises comprising: installing a first bi-directional RF signal amplifier including a first RF input port and a first MoCA only input/output port in a premises; installing a second bi-directional RF signal amplifier including a second RF input port and a second MoCA only input/output port in the same premises; attaching an RF signal feed from a service provider to the first and second RF input ports of the first and second bi-directional RF signal amplifiers; and establishing a communication link between the first and second MoCA only input/output ports of the first and second bi-directional RF signal amplifiers.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein attaching the RF signal feed from the service provider to the first and second RF input ports of the first and second bi-directional RF signal amplifiers includes: providing a signal splitter; attaching the RF signal feed from the service provider to an input of the signal splitter; and attaching first and second outputs of the signal splitter to the first and second RF input ports of the first and second bi-directional RF signal amplifiers, respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limits of the present invention, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier, according to the background art;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of a housing of the bi-directional RF signal amplifier of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of two bi-directional RF signal amplifiers of FIG. 2 having their RF input ports attached to outputs of a splitter;

(5) FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier, according to the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a first alternative embodiment of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier, according to the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a second alternative embodiment of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier, according to the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a third alternative embodiment of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier, according to the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a close-up view of a power divider network, showing various connection locations for a MoCA pass filter;

(10) FIG. 9 is a top view showing two bi-directional RF signal amplifiers, of FIG. 4 or 6, connected to each other;

(11) FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier with no power divider network;

(12) FIG. 11 is a block diagram of two passive splitters connected to the bi-directional RF signal amplifier of FIG. 10, and to each other for allowing MoCA signaling between the RF output ports; and

(13) FIG. 12 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 11, but showing an alternative design for the passive splitters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(14) The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

(15) Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features may be exaggerated for clarity. Broken lines illustrate optional features or operations unless specified otherwise.

(16) The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

(17) As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, phrases such as “between X and Y” and “between about X and Y” should be interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, phrases such as “between about X and Y” mean “between about X and about Y.” As used herein, phrases such as “from about X to Y” mean “from about X to about Y.”

(18) It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”, “attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting”, etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly on”, “directly attached” to, “directly connected” to, “directly coupled” with or “directly contacting” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

(19) Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, “lateral”, “left”, “right” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the descriptors of relative spatial relationships used herein interpreted accordingly.

(20) FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a bi-directional RF signal amplifier 200, according to the present invention. Components which are the same as the components as shown in the background art of FIG. 1 have been labeled with the same reference numerals. The bi-directional RF signal amplifier 200 includes an outer housing 201 (best seen in FIG. 9). The housing 201 is the same as the housing 101 of FIG. 2, except for the presence of an additional port, namely a MoCA only input/output port 203.

(21) With reference to FIG. 4, the bi-directional RF signal amplifier 200 has an RF input port 105 on an exterior of the housing 201. A power divider network 170 includes a plurality of active RF output ports 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187 and 188 on the exterior of the housing 201. An active communications path 114 within the housing 201 connects the RF input port 105 to the power divider network 170. The active communications path 114 includes at least one power amplifier 140 and/or 142 to amplify an upstream signal or a downstream signal passing along the active communications path 114.

(22) A passive RF output port 189 is provided on the exterior of the housing 201. A passive communications path 118 within the housing 201 connects the RF input port 105 to the passive RF output port 189. The passive communications path 118 has no power amplifier.

(23) The active communications path 114 includes a first diplexer 130 having a common port, a high frequency port and a low frequency port. The common port of the first diplexer 130 is coupled to the RF input port 105. The high frequency port of the first diplexer 130 is coupled to a first power amplifier 140. A second diplexer 150 has a common port, a high frequency port and a low frequency port. The high frequency port of the second diplexer 150 is coupled to the first power amplifier 140. The common port of the second diplexer 150 is coupled to the power divider network 170.

(24) A directional coupler 110 is interposed between the RF input port 105 and the first diplexer 130. An input of the directional coupler 110 is coupled to the RF input port 105. A first output of the directional coupler 110 is coupled to the common port of the first diplexer 130, and a second output of the directional coupler 110 is coupled to the passive communications path 118 leading to the passive RF output port 189.

(25) The MoCA only input/output port 203 is also provided on the exterior of the housing 201. A MoCA signal path 205 within the housing 201 connects the power divider network 170 to the MoCA only input/output port 203. A MoCA pass filter 207 is located within the housing 201 and located along the MoCA signal path 205. The MoCA pass filter 207 has a first node 209 connected to the input 169 of the power divider network 170 and a second node 211 connected to the MoCA only input/output port 203.

(26) In FIG. 9, the MoCA only input/output port 203 is configured as a female coaxial port. In fact all of the ports of the housing 201 are configured as female coaxial ports. However, some or all of the ports need not be configured as female coaxial ports. For example, the MoCA only input/output port 203 could be configured as a socket to accept two electrical lead pins of a jumper cable. Also, the power port 190 could be configured to accept a barrel-style connector, commonly associated with an AC/DC power adapter.

(27) In FIG. 4, the first node 209 is connected directly upstream of the power divider network 170, e.g., between the power divider network 170 and the MoCA rejection filter 160 of the active communications path 114. However, this is not the only location where the first node 209 may be connected.

(28) FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, a power divider 213 is installed between the MoCA rejection filter 160 and the input 169 to the power divider network 170-A. The input to the power divider 213 is connected to the MoCA rejection filter 160. A first output of the power divider 213 is connected to the input 169 of the power divider network 170-A. A second output of the power divider 213 is connected to the first node 209 of the MoCA pass filter 207. MoCA signals exiting from the power divider network 170-A are permitted to pass between the first and second outputs of the power divider 213, as the power divider 213 may include a MoCA bypass circuit (like the bypass circuit 230, shown in the Assignee's U.S. Pat. No. 8,397,271, which is herein incorporated by reference). Further, the MoCA rejection filter 160 may be configured to reflect MoCA signals back to the power divider 213, so that the MoCA signals pass freely back through the second leg to the MoCA pass filter 207.

(29) FIG. 5 also illustrates that the power divider network 170-A may include more or fewer than eight RF output ports, and the power divider network 170-A may include three-way power dividers instead of, or in addition to, two-way power dividers. FIG. 5 also shows that the diplexer 162, shown along the passive communications path 118 in FIG. 1, may be replaced with two individual filters. Namely, a MoCA rejection filter 215 prevents MoCA signals on the passive communication path 118 from passing to the RF input port 105 (while allowing CATV upstream and downstream signals to pass between the RF input port 105 and the passive communication path 118). Also, a MoCA pass filter 217 passes MoCA signals between the power divider network 170-A and the passive communication path 118 (but prevents CATV upstream and downstream signals from passing between the active communication path 114 and the passive communication path 118).

(30) FIG. 6 illustrates that the first node 209 of the MoCA pass filter 207 may be connected to a location within the power divider network 170-B. The power divider network 170-B is almost identical to the power divider network 170 of FIG. 1, except that the first power divider 171 (a two-way power divider having an input directly connected to the input 169 of the power divider network 170) has been replaced by a three-way power divider 171′. The new third output of the first power divider 171′ is connected to the first node 209 of the MoCA pass filter 207.

(31) FIG. 7 shows yet embodiment wherein the first node 209 of the MoCA pass filter 207 is connected to a location within the power divider network 170-C. The divider network 170-C is almost identical to the power divider network 170 of FIG. 1, except that the RF output port 183 does not exist. Instead, the Node 209 has been connected to an output leg of the fifth power divider 175, so that the MoCA only input/output port 203 replaces the RF output port 183. Of course, the first node 209 could have been connected to any of the output legs of the fourth through seventh power dividers 174-177.

(32) FIG. 8 is a close-up view of the power divider network 170 of FIG. 4. Dashed boxes 219 indicate other potential connection locations for the first node 209 of the MoCA pass filter 207. In other words, the first node 209 may be attached to a location within the power divider network 170, wherein the location is between an output of a first power divider and an input of a second power divider, e.g., locations 219B, 219C, 219D, 219E, 219F and 219G. The first node 209 may be attached to a location within the power divider network, wherein the location is only before an input to a power divider, e.g., location 219A. Further, the first node 209 may be attached to a location within the power divider network, wherein the location is only after an output of a power divider, e.g., locations 219H, 219J, 219K, 219L, 219M, 219N, 219P and 219Q.

(33) FIG. 9 shows the configuration wherein the bi-directional RF signal amplifier 200 of FIG. 4 is connected to an identical bi-directional RF signal amplifier 200A. A signal line 20 from the headend 10 enters an input 30 of a splitter 40. Slightly less than fifty percent of the signal power from the headend 10 is directed toward first splitter output 50 and slightly less than fifty percent of the signal power from the headend 10 is also directed toward second splitter output 60. The first splitter output 50 is connected to a first RF input port 105 of a first RF signal amplifier 200 and the second splitter output 60 is connected to a second RF input port 105A of a second RF signal amplifier 200A.

(34) The first RF signal amplifier 200 boosts its 50% portion of the downstream signal up to a level sufficient to communicate with the eight RF output port 181-188 associated with the first RF signal amplifier 200. The second RF signal amplifier 200A boosts its 50% portion of the downstream signal up to a level sufficient to communicate with the eight RF output port 181A-188A associated with the second RF signal amplifier 200A.

(35) A connection link 221 extends between the first MOCA only input/output port 203 and the second MOCA only input/output port 203A. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the connection link 221 is a coaxial cable, however other types of wired links may be used to establish the connection, such as a twisted pair cable. Further, the connection link may be established by a wireless manner, such as a Bluetooth or WiFi connection. By the arrangement of FIG. 9, MoCA signals of the ports 181-189 of the first RF signal amplifier 200 may be communicated back and forth with the ports 181A-189A of the second RF signal amplifier 200A.

(36) FIG. 10 shows a modified bi-directional RF signal amplifier 300. The modified bi-directional RF signal amplifier 300 is the same as the bi-directional RF signal amplifier 100 (FIG. 1) except for a few modifications. The power divider network 170 and its associated RF output ports 181-188 are eliminated, including the electrical connection from the RF output port 188 to the DC linear regulator 195. The elements of the RF signal amplifier 100 are maintained up to the point of the input 169 of the power divider network 170, but the input 169 is converted into a coaxial output port 191 accessible on the outside of a housing 301 (See FIGS. 11 and 12) of the modified RF bi-directional RF signal amplifier 300. The modified bi-directional RF signal amplifier 300 is connected to one or more passive splitter units, formed as separately housed units.

(37) For example, FIG. 11 shows a first passive splitter 320 including a housing 322. An RF input port 324 is formed on an exterior of the housing 322. A power divider network 170-B includes a plurality of CATV/MoCA RF output ports 181-188 on the exterior of the housing 322. The power divider network 170-B includes the same tree-type array of plural connected power dividers 171′, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176 and 177, as shown in FIG. 6. A CATV or service provider communications path 326 is located within the housing 322 and connects the RF input port 324 to the power divider network 170-B.

(38) A MoCA only input/output port 203 is located on the exterior of the housing 322. A MoCA signal path 328 within the housing 322 connects the power divider network 170-B to the MoCA only input/output port 203. A MoCA pass filter 207 is placed within the housing 322 and located along the MoCA signal path 328. The MoCA pass filter 207 has a first node 209 connected to the power divider network 170-B and a second node 330 connected to the MoCA only input/output port 203. In FIG. 11, the first node 209 is connected to an additional or third output of the first power divider 171′.

(39) FIG. 12 shows an alternative passive splitter 360 including a housing 362. An RF input port 324 is formed on an exterior of the housing 362. A power divider network 170-C includes a plurality of CATV/MoCA RF output ports 181, 182, 184, 185, 186, 187 and 188 on the exterior of the housing 362. A CATV or service provider communications path 366 is located within the housing 362 and connects the RF input port 324 to the power divider network 170-C.

(40) A MoCA only input/output port 203 is located on the exterior of the housing 362. A MoCA signal path 368 within the housing 362 connects the power divider network 170-C to the MoCA only input/output port 203. A MoCA pass filter 207 is placed within the housing 362 and located along the MoCA signal path 368. The MoCA pass filter 207 has a first node 209 connected to the power divider network 170-C and a second node 330 connected to the MoCA only input/output port 203.

(41) The power divider network 170-C includes the same tree-type array of plural connected power dividers, as shown in FIG. 7. Particularly, the power divider network 170-C includes a first power divider 171 having a first input forming an initial input for the power divider network 170-C and first and second outputs. A second power divider 172 has a second input and third and fourth outputs, wherein the second input is connected to the first output of the first power divider 171. A third power divider 173 has a third input and fifth and sixth outputs, wherein the third input is connected to the second output of the first power divider 171.

(42) The power divider network 170-C further includes a fourth power divider 174 having a fourth input and seventh and eighth outputs, wherein the fourth input is connected to the third output of the second power divider 172. A fifth power divider 175 has a fifth input and ninth and tenth outputs, wherein the fifth input is connected to the fourth output of the second power divider 172. A sixth power divider 176 having a sixth input and eleventh and twelfth outputs, wherein the sixth input is connected to the fifth output of the third power divider 173. A seventh power divider 177 has a seventh input and thirteenth and fourteenth outputs, wherein the seventh input is connected to said sixth output of the third power divider 173. The seventh, eighth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth outputs are connected to first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh CATV/MoCA RF output ports 181, 182, 184, 185, 186, 187 and 188. The ninth output is connected to the first node 209 of the MoCA pass filter 207.

(43) However, the first node 209 may be connected to other locations within the power divider network 170-C, such as the dashed box locations 219 illustrated in FIG. 8. For example, the first node 209 may be directly connected between an input and an output of power dividers within the power divider network 170-C, or directly connected to only an input of a power divider, or directly connected to only an output of a power divider.

(44) In FIGS. 11 and 12, coaxial cables are used to connect the first and second outputs 50 and 60 of the splitter 40 to the RF input ports 324 of the first and second passive splitters 320/320A and 360/360A. Next, a coaxial cable 221 is used to link the MoCA only input/output ports 203 of the first and second passive splitters 320/320A and 360/360A. By the arrangement of FIG. 11, MoCA signals of the RF output ports 181-188 of the first passive splitter 320 may be communicated back and forth with the RF output ports 181-188 of the second passive splitter 320A. By the arrangement of FIG. 12, MoCA signals of the RF output ports 181, 182, 184, 185, 186, 187 and 188 of the first passive splitter 360 may be communicated back and forth with the RF output ports 181, 182, 184, 185, 186, 187 and 188 of the second passive splitter 360A.

(45) Now with reference to FIG. 9, a method of installing a communication system within a premises will be described. The method includes installing a first bi-directional RF signal amplifier 200 including a first RF input port 105 and a first MoCA only input/output port 203 in a premises, then installing a second bi-directional RF signal amplifier 200A including a second RF input port 105A and a second MoCA only input/output port 203A in the same premises. Then, a technician attaches an RF signal feed 20 from a service provider 10 to the first and second RF input ports 105 and 105A of the first and second bi-directional RF signal amplifiers 200 and 200A. Next, the technician establishes a communication link 221 between the first and second MoCA only input/output ports 203 and 203A of the first and second RF signal amplifiers 200 and 200A. The step of establishing can encompass a physical or wired connection between the first and second MoCA only input/output ports 203 and 203A or a wireless connection between the first and second MoCA only input/output ports 203 and 203A.

(46) In the above method, attaching the RF signal feed 10 from the service provider 10 to the first and second RF input ports 105 and 105A of the first and second bi-directional RF signal amplifiers 200 and 200A may include providing a signal splitter 40. The technician attaches the RF signal feed 20 from the service provider 10 to an input 30 of the signal splitter 40. Then, the technician attaches first and second outputs 50 and 60 of the signal splitter 40 to the first and second RF input ports 105 and 105A of the first and second bi-directional RF signal amplifiers 200 and 200A, respectively.

(47) As used herein, a MoCA pass filter may be a high pass filter which significantly attenuates or blocks the upstream and downstream communications between the service provider and customer devices, and passes frequencies above the upstream and downstream communications between the service provider and customer devices with relatively little to no attenuation. Alternatively, the MoCA pass filter may be a notch filter which functions the same as above but also significantly attenuates frequencies above the MoCA frequencies. Blocking frequencies above the MoCA frequency band can be beneficial in reducing noise issues in the system. Noise can occur from such household sources as cordless phones, cell phones, wireless alarm system sensors and cameras, WiFi routers and repeaters, connected WiFi devices, etc.

(48) The MoCA pass filter may be designed to pass frequencies in a range of 850 MHz to 1,675 MHz and to attenuate frequencies below and/or above the range. However, sometimes service providers will provide entertainment and information services and/or receive customer data in a bandwidth extending up to or exceeding about 1,000 MHz. Therefore, in another embodiment, the MoCA pass filter passes frequencies in a range of 1,125 MHz to 1,675 MHz and attenuates frequencies below and/or above the range. In either embodiment, the MoCA filter is intended to allow MoCA band frequencies to pass freely therethrough in both directions.

(49) The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.