Coax-Ethernet adapter advice

kathayes · Jun 5, 2014

I have Time Warner cable and everything goes through coaxial cable with them. I have very few ethernet ports in the walls in my home, though I have coaxial cables ports in almost each room that they can make active. I want to move my wireless router to another room, though I will need to purchase a Coax-Ethernet adapter such as this one: http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-MCAB1001-Coax-Ethernet-Adapter-Black/dp/B001N85NMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401986768&sr=8-1&keywords=MCA1001v2

1.) Aside from the cost, are there any disadvantages to doing this? Will using an adapter like this slow my network down?

2.) Are there any other adapters like this that you can recommend?

Thanks!

boosted1g · Jun 5, 2014

Why dont you just move the modem and the wireless router to the other room?

I dont know why they need to "make it active" it should flow like this:
Line in from Time warner -> Coax splitter -> lines going to each room.
If this is a home there is what is refered to as a demarc, it is where the coax comes into the house and there should be a cable splitter right there. FYI there could also be other cable splitters in the house. Whatever hack wired my home had 2 additional splitters in the walls and crappy twist on connectors and low grade coax cable, ended up redoing the whole house and combined it and ethernet into one junction box.

kathayes · Jun 5, 2014

I may need to keep the modem in its current location, though if I move it into another room I was told by Time Warner that they will need to make the coaxial port in the other room "active". Not sure if they are full of it, I haven't tested that yet.

However, in my office I have a wireless extender (ethernet ports on it only) that I also use for wireless printing. It is currently not connected to ethernet because there is no ethernet cables conveniently located, so it is just pulling the wireless signal it can find and extending it (not ideal and I'm sure the signal it is finding and extending is weak). I do have a coaxial port on the wall and if I can get one of these coaxial-ethernet adapters I could then plug ethernet directly into my wireless extender and in theory achieve much higher speeds.

I'm just wondering if there is a downside to these adapters besides price and if it makes the connection much slower by going through the adapter? If so, perhaps my current setup in the office with it just finding a wireless signal would be about the same?

Thanks.

boosted1g · Jun 5, 2014

It will limit the conneciton speed but it might not matter at all, depending on what you do. If you do fullbackups over the network it is going to be noticiably slower, Internet wise you should notice zero difference becuse it is still much faster then your internet speed.

If you are in a house either they are full of it, or the line is disconnected to the splitter.
If you have access to the point where the cable enters your house then I would check it.

You can use a powerline adapter instead of the MoCA ones, which send ethernet signal over the power line. The MoCA adapters are a little faster, but a decent powerline kit will only run you $50. What activities do you do over your home network so I can make the best suggestion for you. You said there are a few ethernet ports in the house, where are they, and where do they tie into, there should be some point where they all merge.

kathayes · Jun 5, 2014

I do not currently do full backups over the network, though it might be something I may consider doing in the future. I do transfer files back-and-forth between my computers over the network quite often. I'd like to be able to transfer folders containing up to 25-30GB of photos and videos from one computer to another over the network.

The ethernet ports in my house are in inconvenient locations, there is one in a wall in my breakfast nook, and one in the office in a port coming out of the floor. It is designed so a desk goes over it and the ethernet cable can just plug into the computer under the desk, though I do not have a desk there now and do not want to run a cable from the port in the floor for obvious reasons, it will not take long to trip over it and break my head. As far as access to the point where the cables enter the house and where the ethernet ports tie into and merge, that is waaaaaaaay beyond my capabilities.

1.) Based on all this, do you think I consider MoCA or some powerline adapter? If powerline adapter, is there any ones in particular?

2.) Why will full backups over the network end up being "noticeably slower" if I use the ethernet-coaxial adapter?

Thanks for your help.

USAFRet · Jun 5, 2014

kathayes :

Assuming your system is MoCA, that should work.
From the street, the coax goes where? Into a modem/router thing? And then ethernet after that?
Please describe the actual modem/router you have (make/model)

If so...that device should work.

However....That is wildly overpriced. I just had my FiOS service moved from one house to the other, and the installer gave me one of these free.
http://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-Ethernet-Adapter-Service-ECB2500C/dp/B008C1JC4O

boosted1g · Jun 5, 2014

The moca will be slower for network backups vs ethernet because ethernet can go at 1000mbps (assuming router and computers are all 1000mbps capable) while the moca at best will be 100mbps . Now if nothing will be communicating over ethernet then it does not matter as that is still faster then wireless. I asked about large file transfers because that is about the only thing that can utilize your max network speeds.

If you where to utilize the ethernet cables you would have to go to where they merge and put your router or a switch there, it is really simple to hook stuff up even if it seems overwhelming.

The two pack USAFRet suggested is a good kit
Here is the powerline kit: http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-PA4010KIT-Powerline-Adapter-Starter/dp/B00AWRUICG

Its quadruple the cost but the Moca adapter should have better real world performance, i have not personally used either product so I cant say how much of a differnce they will be.

I would still just try to put the modem in the other room before i buy anything.

Now are you wanting to move your wireless router for better wireless coverage, or some other convenience??
If it is for wifi coverage, depending on the size of the home you might just want to get a second wireless router and we can help you configure it to be an access point so it will all be one big network. Also if your router is the modem/router that TWC leases you, it is a crappy router that does not have the same range as other routers.

kathayes · Jun 6, 2014

I am currently using a modem I’m renting from Time Warner, and it is an Arris CM820A, though I just purchased a Motorola DOCSIS 3.0 Surfboard extreme. I am using a first generation Apple Airport Extreme N as my main wireless router.

The device you recommended:
http://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-Ethernet-Adapter-Service-ECB2500C/dp/B008C1JC4O

states that “Compatible with most Cable TV services. Does not work in satellite TV homes.” I have DirecTV. It also states “Note: This is a single adapter solution for Verizon FiOS users and users who already have one MoCA adapter installed.” So I’m guessing this will not work for me since I have Time Warner and not Verizon FiOS?

USAFRet :

kathayes · Jun 6, 2014

I’m guessing the location where the ethernet cables and coaxial merge is in the current location of the junction box in my closet? How do you normally locate the place where they merge?

The power line kit you suggested looks like it will work. Why are the power line kits slower then the Moca ones? Should I consider getting the 500Mbps or 600Mbps? Is there anything else out there I might consider before buying a few of these?

I want to move the wireless router out of its current location because I’m trying to prepare the room as a nursery. The house is large and I’m currently using an Apple Airport Express N in my office as a wireless extender, however, it is not plugged into coaxial or ethernet because there is no ethernet in the spot (that is what this whole problem I’m having is about) though there is coaxial, though I would need to buy a coaxial-ethernet adapter to connect the Airport Express to (it only has ethernet ports). The Express (extender) is currently just pulling signals out of the air and extending them, and it is also connected directly to a printer via usb cable so I can print wirelessly.

boosted1g :

abailey · Jun 6, 2014

If you have Direct TV you are in luck, price wise. MOCA won't work with Direct TV but DECA will. Instead of the crazy high price for MOCA, a DECA adapter is only like $9.00 per side (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DVK1ITI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3P06TDB3CDPD0&coliid=I5J7HZ7LLDGVA ).
The reason ethernet over COAX is better than powerline adapters is that powerline adapters have to deal with much more interference and junctions than does COAX.

kathayes · Jun 6, 2014

For clarification, does this adapter simply plug into the coaxial port on my wall and then enable me to plug an ethernet device into it?

abailey :

abailey · Jun 6, 2014

kathayes :

Yes, but make sure you plan out your setup logically. What I mean is this. If you want to move your wireless router away from your cable modem, you would come out of the modem using an ethernet cable, plug it into one of these adapters and then into the COAX. Then in the room you move your router to you would come out COAX to another one of these adapters and come out of the adapter ethernet to your router. This would allow you to move your router, but now you have used your COAX lines to extend the modem to router so you can not now use the same lines to extend from your router to your ethernet devices. If you wanted to use your COAX to extend your ethernet to devices around the house you would need to leave the router next to the modem so that you could hook your modem directly into your router with an ethernet cable, then come out of your router into the DECA device and then to COAX. It is kind of hard to explain without a visual. Your house setup sounds like it is like mine where you have at least 2 different COAX networks in house. You have a COAX line coming from your cable company to your modem. This is separate from the rest of your COAX that is running your Direct TV. This is why your cable company says they would have to make a different COAX port active if you move your modem. They would need to crossconnect their COAX with the COAX line in the room you want to move the modem too. Also this new room could not be a room where you are using a Direct TV on the COAX already.
Ok so ask more questions as I am sure it is probably clear as mud now, lol. Where you have the modem now, are there two COAX lines in that room?

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