MoCA Network (Ethernet over Coaxial)

[Celephais]

Anyone have any experience with MoCA networks? I'm looking for a more reliable connection in my room, which is currently connected via Wi-Fi, and routing Cat-5/6 is not an option, but I do have a coxial cable plug.

Basically I want to make sure that I will only need two MoAC bridges (Looking at http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-MCAB1001-Coax-Ethernet-Adapter-Black/dp/B001N85NMI/ref=pd_cp_e_1 or http://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-Ethernet-Over-Coax-Adapter/dp/B0022NHMZY/ref=pd_cp_e_2) with this setup:
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af213/GuinnessKMF2/NetMap1.png

Or is MoCA directional, requiring I move the Cable Modem into the basement before the original split?

(As for time spent making the diagram, I was bored)

[Bobmuhthol]

Never used MoCA but if your end goal is simply getting a good connection in your room why not use ethernet over power?

[Drew]

Never used MoCA but if your end goal is simply getting a good connection in your room why not use ethernet over power?


This is also what I was thinking.

[Celephais]

Never used MoCA but if your end goal is simply getting a good connection in your room why not use ethernet over power?


This is also what I was thinking.
I've been looking into this as well, but what I've read shows better bandwidth/reliablity through MoCA and that coaxial is much less of a cludge, as the frequency on the coaxial is already set aside for this kind of thing (the same frequency is used by Verizon for the 'resume dvr playback anywhere' feature and some others).

Does anyone have any experience with ethernet over power? Reliablity/bandwidth issues? As it stands right now with WiFi bandwidth hasn't been a major issue, but I get dropped occasionally, and it's happened a few times while on VoIP phone calls (considering how infrequently I'm on the phone I'd say the extra demands of the VoIP calls have caused some drops, which is exactly the worst time for it to happen).

[EasternBrand]

When I saw this thread I assumed it was about one of the Museums of Contemporary Art.

/tech fail

[BigWorm]

Can't offer any insight on MoCA, but what kind of problems are you seeing with you WiFi connection? If you are currently running an 802.11b/g setup, it would probably be cheaper and you would get better throughput if you upgraded your WiFi to 802.11n. Would probably make more sense to by an extra router and set it up as a wireless client bridge.

[Celephais]

In generally I'm just not a fan of WiFi, security is on the radar as a concern but not my main reason (For all I know MoCA could be insecure). Really reliablity is top concern, I'm working from home full time, (jesus as I typed this my connection got cut) and that includes VoIP and livemeetings. Interuptions are pretty unacceptable.

[Xaerve]

Get a WAP - or upgrade to pre-n. You probably have a shitty router is the issue.

[Clove]

I've run WiFi for years without issue. Wireless N is the bomb. You could have a bad router. I would try (in order):

1 Changing your network channels. Interferrence from neighboring routers is classic
2 Purchase another router and bridge from your room to your access point
3 Change the location of your access point router aka move the antenna around
4 Throw out your router and buy one that works

:D

[Cephalopod]

Old buildings in Boston have a lot of trouble between floors and a lot of walls -- it may be similar with Cambridge.

Wireless-N MIMO routers tend to blow through that problem.

A problem you'll run into with MoCA is that the in-wall coax is probably going to be too shitty. If you can't run Cat5/6, I doubt you can run 'good' coax capable of supporting this kind of extension.

[Tordane]

I invested recently in a wireless N network upgrade and I've been completely impressed over my old B/G. I spent more then I probably needed to, but after reading reviews...the products below impressed me.

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-AirPort-Simultaneous-Dual-Band-MC340LL/dp/B002TLTG9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1260289394&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MB321LL-A-Airport-Express/dp/B0015YJOK2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1260289440&sr=8-4

I placed the Router in the computer room on front side of my house, and the express on the back side of the house. Having the dual band, and complete strong coverage across the entire 1800sqft house has been wonderful. TiVo's are swapping shows super fast, downloading from server and other machines also has been a breeze. The only issue I had was with Win7 on my wife's laptop, but it was easily solved by turning off her IP6.

[Sean of the Thread]

Get a WAP - or upgrade to pre-n. You probably have a shitty router is the issue.


I kind of agree with this.

Also aesthetics aside why not run some cat as an alternative? We all saw teh room you grew up in playing GS.

It's only surpassed by Alfster's dungeon and just barely.

[Celephais]

Current router is a Linksys WRT54G, but it's running stock firmware. Typically I do change the channel so I'm less likely to get interference but it's been reset recently and I don't think I re-changed it.

I've run WiFi for years without issue. Wireless N is the bomb. You could have a bad router. I would try (in order):

1 Changing your network channels. Interferrence from neighboring routers is classic
2 Purchase another router and bridge from your room to your access point
3 Change the location of your access point router aka move the antenna around
4 Throw out your router and buy one that works

:D
Signal quality is excellent from a "number of bars" prespective, but I know how unofficial that is. I just have a thing against wireless in general, but I could try an N router.


I kind of agree with this.

Also aesthetics aside why not run some cat as an alternative? We all saw teh room you grew up in playing GS.

It's only surpassed by Alfster's dungeon and just barely.
Are you confusing me with Bob or something? Don't think I've ever posted my room (the video making fun of paco showed my monitors but that was it). I may be a dork but I try to keep a clean pad, exposed wires are not an option for me (and it would be a terrible the path it would have to travel).

[Sean of the Thread]

No no sorry.

Also I'm proud of you as you must be getting laid now since you're worried about wires.

[Bobmuhthol]

N has been published, it's not a draft anymore. Just saying.

Install dd-wrt on your 54g and you should be able to increase the power output enough to give yourself a much better signal.

[Clove]

You might want to look for a Linux firmware for your Linksys. Linksys has notoriously bad drivers. A few of our IT guys had a horrible time with some Linksys routers until they flashed them.

You may have a really good signal... from your neighbors house. Change the wireless channel.

Dude. Seriously. Wireless. It's this millenium.

[Celephais]

That's why I mentioned stock firmware, I've looked into the handful of community firmwares, but for the cost of a new N router it doesn't seem worth the bother.

Wired performance is king, especially for something like my desktop. Granted my other issues w/ being unable to put in new wire drops kind of corners me on the issue. Anyway I'll report back once I get an N router.

[Clove]

Performance vs. convenience. To be fair I've always wired my desktops to my wireless routers, but my brothers when they were in college and moving their desktops OFTEN usually opted for more convenient wireless cards in their towers.

We all use laptops at our house presently so it's a no-brainer. Wireless access point also managing a shared network printer and a 1.5TB network drive. All the laptops have partitions on the network drive they back up to and one common network partition for throwing up pictures and junk and stuff. Finally I have a wireless bridge attached to my satellite tuner/DVR so I can dl on-demand content and stream MP3's to the surround receiver from any laptop, anywhere in the house. The music streaming is nice, except when I'm forced to listen to Selena while someone does her homework.

Granted, I sacrifice performance but I find it is SO worth it for the flexibility and convenience.

[Celephais]

I have two desktops (well one's dead and used as a server), and a 17" 'desktop replacement' laptop in my room. I hardly ever take the laptop out of my room unless it's leaving on business, so I don't utilize the wireless in the rest of the house. I'd have no issues 'docking' my laptop.

My housemates take advantage of the wireless from a sit on the couch and watch TV while working, I just like a more distraction free enviroment if I'm working.

I would absolutely love to put in a few cat6 drops, and would if I owned instead of rented, and I may do it anyway if I can find a clean way to do it (the wiring in the basement is a mess, and there are no wire pulls or anything to help me out). I have hardwood floor so hiding it under the edge of the carpet isn't an option, and along trimming looks tackey. I have no problem putting a jack in drywall, but I don't really have a way to route it to the basement... I haven't looked in the attic, our lease says we're not allowed in the attic, but F that shit... I'll take a snoop around next chance I get.

Plan is still to get an N router, but I'm likely waiting till after christmas.

[AnticorRifling]

Build a cantenna and be awesome.

[Clove]

Yeah I dock my laptop most of the time too Cele. Really the performance of wireless is more than adequate so much so that any difference is more than compensated for by convenience.

[BigWorm]

N has been published, it's not a draft anymore. Just saying.

Install dd-wrt on your 54g and you should be able to increase the power output enough to give yourself a much better signal.

Totally agree about DD-WRT. Turns your $50 router into a commercial grade router. Gonna have to disagree with uping the transmit power since this is a red herring. The limiting factor on most wifi connections is the transmit power of the client, not of the AP. This is what most people fail to realize about cell phone connections as well; its all fine and dandy that you can receive the signal the tower is sending, but you have to able to talk back to the tower as well to do anything meaningful.

I honestly think Celephais is going to see the best results with an upgraded Wifi router setup. I have two WRT350Ns running DD-WRT that work great in my house. However, I don't think Linksys makes those anymore and last time I checked it could be tough to find a cheap 802.11n/gigibit router than can run DD-WRT.

[Bobmuhthol]

So buy a directional antenna for your PC too. Problem solved.

[Clove]

Or just buy a Mac...

[Bobmuhthol]

lol what?

[BigWorm]

So buy a directional antenna for your PC too. Problem solved.

I would recommend getting two routers and setting the second one up as a client bridge. Then you have a gigabit ethernet switch transparently bridged to the same network as everything else that connections directly into the router running as an AP. Running DD-WRT on my routers in this setup, they are stable and never require a periodic reset or powercycle like the stock firmware usually does. The connection rarely if ever drops, so its easy to forgot you are bridging over WiFi. This also eliminates the need for a separate wifi adapter for each PC/Game Console/etc in the same general area, since they can all just use ethernet to connect to the client router. But you also still have the flexibility of connecting to the AP router as a normal wifi client with things like laptops and smartphones.

[Clove]

Bridging is a good idea in Cele's situation. Maybe recycle the router he's intending to replace with an N router as a bridge for his tower.

[BigWorm]

There's a powerline networking solution for sale on woot (http://www.woot.com/) today.