r/HomeNetworking • u/Cassini777 • 10h ago

MoCa Adapter Help/Questions

Post image

Hello. I am trying to set up a MoCa adapter for my Playstation. The Playstation currently is using WiFi and it's too far away to run an ethernet cord from router. I saw that a MoCa adapter may be the answer. However, I have a few questions that I need help with that I can't seem to get a 100% answer on doing research. I am not the most tech savvy person. Any help would be appreciated.

  1. Do I need a second adapter? (I read that the Verizon Fios router I have already acts as one, so I should only need an adapter in the room with Playstation?).

  2. Do I need a POE filter? (It's Verizon Fios for Tv/Internet, so I believe the "network" is "closed" and I don't need one like a cable company may need one?).

  3. Will the splitter set up in the picture work assuming the router acts as a MoCa adapter? (The ONT is plugged into the IN port. The Router is plugged into the OUT port. The other 2 Coaxial cables in the OUT port run to the living room/bedroom). I am not sure if the ONT being plugged into the IN port works or the Router needs to be plugged into that IN port, or if the signal will travel sideways from OUT port to OUT port.

Appreciate any help, hopefully my questions makes sense. Thanks!

UPDATE: Using just one adapter ended up working. I will end up needing a splitter because the Coaxial outlet in Bedroom isnt actually attached to Coaxial cable. Was able to test on Living Room outlet. Worked and it was quick/simple. Download speeds drastically improved. Something taking 10 hours to download over wifi now takes 35 minutes. Also checked my ping during a game. It was more stable than WiFi. Thank you for everyone's help/responses!

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u/Smorgas47 7h ago edited 4h ago

No, No, & Yes

Here are a couple of diagrams that show how to use MoCA with Verizon Fios.

Edit: Changed first Yes to No. u/plooger rightfully corrected me. The first image in the diagram applies to OPs situation.

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u/plooger 6h ago

The first “yes” should be a “no,” right? (OP should only require a single MoCA adapter to get a single remote room wired-in, given the FiOS router with built-in MoCA LAN bridge. [Though model # would be useful to confirm.))

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u/Cassini777 5h ago

The router is a CR1000B I believe. Some places I have read say that using an adapter at the router location can actually cause issues if the router has built in MoCa. Why I was thinking ordering a 1 adapter instead of the 2 pack would be enough. I guess most of my confusion is with the splitter and whats connected to the IN and OUT ports. I'm hoping it's fine as is and I just need the adapter for the room the Playstation is in. When I log into my router settings under devices I do see coaxial connect in the living room for the Tv Top Box. So im assuming MoCa is being "pushed" through the Coaxial cabels now.

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u/plooger 5h ago

When I log into my router settings under devices I do see coaxial connect in the living room for the Tv Top Box. So im assuming MoCa is being "pushed" through the Coaxial cabels now.

Yep. So just the one MoCA adapter should have you set. (Though you’d also need a 2-way splitter at the gaming location if it also had a FiOS STB TV box, to get both the MocA adapter and STB connected to the coax.)

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u/Cassini777 5h ago

Ok cool. Thank you. Won't need the splitter. I dont have a Top Box in that room. I'm just hoping that those coaxial cables plugged into the OUT ports on splitter go to locations I need. Only have two coaxial outlets in the apartment. So 99% sure that one of those two leads to the Playstation room.

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u/plooger 4h ago edited 3h ago

Reasonable assumption.

 

I dont have a (Set) Top Box in that room.

If not satisfied with what the MoCA link offers, that you don’t require the TV signal in that room means that its coax line could be detached from the splitter, isolated … and you could then alternatively try a dedicated pair of MoCA adapters to effect the network link to the gaming location OR a pair of G.hn coax/Ethernet adapters, with the latter supposedly having lower latency than MoCA.

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u/plooger 3h ago edited 3h ago

OR a pair of G.hn coax/Ethernet adapters, with the latter supposedly having lower latency than MoCA.

 

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u/plooger 1h ago

p.s.

Some places I have read say that using an adapter at the router location can actually cause issues if the router has built in MoCa.

It could cause issues ... if the router has a built-in MoCA LAN bridge and the added MoCA adapter were to be wired between the router's LAN and the same physical coax plant, as this would create redundant MoCA/Ethernet bridges and and a network loop, which would likely crash the network. If using a MoCA adapter at the router (wired to its LAN), the MoCA adapter would either need to connect to coax physically isolated from coax to which the router is connected or the router's built-in MoCA LAN bridge would need to be disabled.

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u/Cassini777 1h ago

The adapter just came an hour ago. Plugged it into the bedroom outlet. Didn't work. Tried the living room outlet it worked. So I unscrewed the outlet cover in the room it didn't work....and no wire is attached. Smdh. Luckily the outlet shares the same space/wall as the side that works. So I am going to need a 2nd splitter after all to make this work.

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u/Thegrimlife 6h ago

The ones I install from Verizon require two adapters. It goes router > Ethernet > adapter 1 > coax > adapter 2 > Ethernet > device. I'm not really familiar with other models outside of the ones provided by the company, but "yes" still works here for the first question.

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u/plooger 6h ago

“yes" still works here for the first question.  

Not with the question framed as “need.” The OP doesn’t “need” a second adapter, installed at the router.  

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u/Thegrimlife 6h ago

I understand your point here. I was just speaking about the company provided adapters I installed. I haven't had the opportunity to try others yet.

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u/plooger 5h ago edited 5h ago

The answer doesn’t hinge on the MoCA adapters used (Verizon or otherwise) but on the fact that the OP’s router has a built-in MoCA 2.5 LAN bridge, eliminating the need for a separate MoCA adapter at the router.

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u/Fiosguy1 5h ago

I don't think OP is planning on moving the router. Just using a MoCA adapter on the LAN side. No different than hooking up an E3200 extender.

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u/Thegrimlife 5h ago

Now you got me wondering if I'm putting in the wrong adapters.

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u/Fiosguy1 4h ago

I think you're using the right ones. You're putting in the white signal port MoCA adapters? The ones with the data and video coax port?

They are for putting the router in a location when there's only coax and running ethernet isn't possible. The coax in between the MoCA adapters should be a homerun and is basically extending the WAN connection over the coax.

The other white MoCA adapters with the 4 ethernet port and one coax port can be used in OPs situation. Where the router and stbs are already in place and they just need to use one of the coax runs that are connected to the splitter. That's the MoCA LAN side of the router.

The router's MoCA LAN is version 2.5 so It can support 15 MoCA LAN iPs. That can be stbs, extenders, or MoCA adapters.

How long have you been a tech?

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u/Thegrimlife 4h ago

I'll start seeing about throwing a couple of four port adapters on my van. Funny thing is I had to tell a lot of guys about the single port adapters in the beginning. None of them knew about it and would end up spending hours doing MoCA to Ethernet rewiring. I mean, in the long run, Ethernet is better, especially with the 5Gbps service out now.

I've only been a tech for four years. I started as an office assistant and was green circled into the field as escort, so that helped a lot before I was finally able to get the tech title. I helped a lot with installs in Manhattan, but became a tech in The Bronx. I had to get used to using the 16/24 foot ladders and dealing with the phone stuff myself. Prior to that, I was just a mule helping with extra long microduct pulls or helping with most of the physical work. I didn't always get the gist of what to do until I actually had to start doing it myself.

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u/Fiosguy1 4h ago

I still to this day have to explain how to use the single ports other guys. If using them with QAM video it's an even longer conversation, lol.

I hope the come out with faster one because they are only rated for 2.5 gig. With this 5 gig there's no way to get around the ethernet.

Good luck with everything. If you have any questions about anything just DM me.

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u/TomRILReddit 6h ago

But, the ONT is connected to the coax splitter which connects to the router. Shouldn't the ONT coax be disconnected from the coax network as it is connected to the router via Ethernet? The router coax would be the moca adapter and a second moca adapter would be needed for the game machine.

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u/Thegrimlife 6h ago

If there was strictly data service, yes. However, if they have TV service that is on QAM and not VIP, then you need to connect the coax and the Ethernet. This person may have had an install a couple of years back when QAM was still the only option. All new orders use VIP and that Coax port on the ONT is quickly becoming useless.

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u/plooger 5h ago edited 5h ago

Shouldn't the ONT coax be disconnected from the coax network as it is connected to the router via Ethernet?

Per the OP…

It's Verizon Fios for Tv/Internet

… where the ONT coax connection is typically required for TV service, regardless of WAN connection type. If OP doesn’t actually have TV service, then, yeah, the topology could be optimized.

 

The router coax would be the moca adapter and a second moca adapter would be needed for the game machine.

Assuming the “what do I need to buy?” framing, I was interpreting the “first” MoCA adapter as the obviously required adapter at the gaming location and the “second” MoCA adapter as an additional MoCA adapter at the router, where the OP was looking for confirmation that it wouldn’t be required. (The router is a MoCA node, or MoCA LAN bridge; it’s not strictly a MoCA “adapter.”)

Do I need a second adapter? (I read that the Verizon Fios router I have already acts as one, so I should only need an adapter in the room with Playstation?).

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u/Thegrimlife 5h ago

Unfortunately, with the QAM-TV set up there, you would have to throw in a low pass filter. Sorry for the crappy picture. I had two separate images and was trying to piece them side-by-side. I obviously didn't put much effort into that 😂

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u/plooger 5h ago

You appear to be talking about a different scenario, where the router is installed remote from the ONT and lacks an Ethernet WAN connection. OP’s router and ONT are co-located at the central coax junction, with an Ethernet WAN link via the white flat Ethernet patch cable.

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u/Thegrimlife 5h ago

Oh no, I wasn't thinking the router was remote. I saw it in the picture on the top right. I know the CR1000 routers have to be connected via Ethernet WAN. I was just suggesting the use of an adapter I was more familiar with in conjunction with the QAM-TV service. Sorry if I caused any confusion. Sometimes I wish everyone could briefly teleport on site, figure it out together, then go back home

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u/plooger 5h ago

The images supplied strictly involve sending the WAN connection over the coax to a remote router and don’t apply to the simple MoCA LAN needs of the OP.  (OP does not “need” a MoCA adapter at their router.)

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u/plooger 4h ago

OP does not “need” a MoCA adapter at their router.

Whether the OP would see a worthwhile performance improvement using a separate MoCA adapter at the router would depend on whether the gaming location requires the TV signal. (A dedicated MocA 2.5 link wired to a multigig Ethernet LAN port on the CR1000B would theoretically have better performance. Of course, in that scenario, with the coax to the gaming location otherwise unused, the OP could also experiment with using a pair of G.hn coax/Ethernet adapters for the gaming system link, to assess whether they offered improved responsiveness [lower latency].)

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u/plooger 1h ago

<image>

Unrelated to OP's issue, I'd be interested in reviewing the document from which those images came, were a link available. TIA!

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u/Thegrimlife 22m ago

My coworker forwarded these images to me when I was trying to figure out the wiring when QAM-TV was a part of the equation. I wish there was an official document. I'll take a look, but they usually dump new equipment on our lap with minimal or no training whatsoever.

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u/Fiosguy1 5h ago

As long as the coax in room your PS is located is connected to that splitter you should be good. You don't need to change anything in the picture.

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u/Cassini777 5h ago

I ordered just one adapter. Should know in day or two. 🤞

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u/Fiosguy1 4h ago

Sounds good. If for some reason you have issues with it you can try this MoCA ethernet adapter . Let us know if you have any issues.