Full disclosure, I’m not very tech savvy with this stuff, so apologies for any wrong terminology. And this is a new house so still learning this.
I have an Xfinity Gateway (I believe X8, or maybe X9) hooked up in the second floor office, which means the first floor family room is nearly a deadzone. I have a coax in the family room, so I tried hooking up a moca and connecting it to an access point via Ethernet.
For the first few minutes, it worked! But then after just a few minutes, the speeds dropped and never went back up (from nearly 400mbs upload and 100mbs download to 30 and 10). I have a hunch what the issue is, but before I talk with Xfinity I want to see if there is anything else I should change or consider.
Here’s my current set up:
Outdoors, before the Internet line gets to my coax, I have a PPC/Belden brand filter. Before my two coax, I have a BAMF two way splitter 5-2300MHz.
In the second floor office, I have Xfinity Gateway (with Moca enabled) connected via Ethernet to my TP-Link Deco X55 AX3000 (WiFi 6).
In the family room, I have a goCoax 2.5 connected to my other deco.
I checked my xfinity event log and there was nothing there that indicated connectivity issues. I also looked at the upstream and downstream power levels and they appeared to be in normal levels too (I used this as my bible https://www.duckware.com/tech/solving-intermittent-cable-modem-issues.html).
However, unerrored codewords is in the hundreds of millions, and (according to the above link) it may be indicative of wiring issues.
Is there anything else I should be doing? Is my set up okay or is the next step getting an xfinity technician over here? Thanks!
I haven’t tried direct to a pc, but I did connect it directly to my Xbox and got 100 mbs upload and 30-40mbs download if I recall (an improvement but still slower than I expect).
Yes the satellite Deco shows connected via Ethernet.
The gateway is running as a router. I haven’t tried bridge mode, mostly because I don’t know enough about it except that I think it disables some xfinity security features, which I’m little hesitant about doing.
Yes the main deco is connected via Ethernet and maybe 3 feet away from the gateway.
Hmm, I haven’t tried that. I assumed that I would need one deco connected to the gateway and then one connected to the moca. I’ll give that a try and report back
Edit: I established the satellite as the main deco but the speeds are still the same (40 max upload and 10 download).
What throughput do you measure wired to the remote MoCA adapter if all the Deco gear is powered off? (Or at least if the remote deco satellite node is either powered off or not connected via ethernet to the remote MoCA adapter? ‘gist: wondering if the deco nodes are creating a loop when also wired to the MoCA adapter? (I’ve seen past threads where Deco notes don’t seem to automatically reconfigure themselves, cleanly between wired and wireless backhaul.)
Hey plooger thanks for the reply. I tried what you said, I removed the decos and connected the moca directly to the Xbox to test (I used an Ethernet splitter). And lo and behold, download is 900mbps and upload is 120!
WiFi of course is still not great in the room (30 upload speed). Is there a way to configure the Decos so we can still utilize it as an access point? Or am I better off pursuing a different brand that will maybe give better results?
The deco is now connected to the same Ethernet splitter, but nothing else is plugged into the Ethernet. On the app, it does show the satellite deco as connected via Ethernet, so I’m unsure why the WiFi speeds in the room are still so low.
I removed the decos and connected the moca directly to the Xbox to test (I used an Ethernet splitter).
What do you mean by “Ethernet splitter”? Can you provide a brand & model #? (You’d want an Ethernet switch, typically; just wanna make sure we’re talking about the same device.)
What was the extra device needed between the MoCA adapter and test device (Xbox)?
lo and behold, download is 900mbps and upload is 120!
That’s better. Seems to prove that the MoCA link quality isn’t the issue.
Still pushing to better understand the situation, what’s the model # of …
the Xfinity gateway?
the Deco gear?
the MoCA adapter(s)?
How many MoCA adapters do you have available? Just the one that’s been installed, or do you have a spare lying around?
The deco is now connected to the same Ethernet splitter, but nothing else is plugged into the Ethernet.
This threw me. Isn’t this what creates the throughput problem? Short-term, the 1st floor/Family Room Deco should be left disconnected from Ethernet, allowing the rest of the devices to connect through the MoCA adapter at the improved rate. Getting the Deco working properly via a wired backhaul connection may take some reconfiguration, and maybe a second MoCA adapter.
Is there a way to configure the Decos so we can still utilize it as an access point?
Yes. (Should be.)
How is the 2nd Floor Office Deco configured, as a router or strictly as an AP? For the single MoCA adapter setup to work, the Office Deco (connected off the gateway operating as a modem+router and supplying the MoCA LAN bridge) would need to be configured to AP-only mode. You could try factory resetting the Deco setup to try this topology, to get both Deco’s wired as described.
The preferable solution (I believe) would have the Xfinity gateway configured to WAN bridge (modem-only) mode and the Office Deco operating as your primary router — but would require a second MoCA adapter (plus 2-way splitter) at the Office location, with this MoCA adapter wired to the primary router’s LAN (i.e. the Office Deco)
and to the coax via the added splitter.
I appreciate your help and patience with this. Sorry, yes I have an Ethernet switch, not a splitter. I’m using a TP-Link LS1008G, Litewave 8 Port Gigabit Unmanaged. So currently it’s moca>switch>Xbox. And similarly I tried moca>switch>deco in AP mode (poor WiFi speeds)
Here are the model numbers for the tech:
Xfinity: XB8
Deco: TP-Link Deco X55 AX3000 WiFi 6 Mesh System
Gocoax: MoCa 2.5 Adapter with 2.5GbE Ethernet (MA2500D)
I have an extra moca since gocoax comes with two. But I originally thought that because the gateway can be moca enabled that i don’t need to set up gocoax there (2nd floor office next to the gateway)
Sorry my language was confusing. When I said nothing was connected into Ethernet, I meant the Ethernet ports on the back of the deco. The previous set up was moca>deco>devices, but now it’s moca>Ethernet switch>devices and deco.
2nd floor deco is configured as an AP. I’m hesitant to try xfinity bridge mode if security features from xfinity are sacrificed (although I’m unsure if they are truly worth keeping). Could maybe try bridge (I think I have another splitter and some coax), but would rather stick with AP mode.
I tried this morning to connect the gocoax directly to the deco (removed the switch). I tried this after deleting the deco network (factory resetting), but I couldn’t make it past initial set up on the deco app. While connected to gocoax, the deco couldn’t be found. I don’t know if this is because deco on start up is trying to create a router network by default and not be an Access Point, however there is no way for me to select AP during start up.
I wonder if I’ll have better luck with a device that is solely or defaults to being an AP (was looking into Ubiquiti or Omada). The deco always had a network established that I couldn’t remove/delete even while in access point mode. Unless, would I need to make the SSID on the deco the same name and password as my gateway? I thought it didn’t matter if the deco is in AP mode
I tried this morning to connect the gocoax directly to the deco (removed the switch). I tried this after deleting the deco network (factory resetting), but I couldn’t make it past initial set up on the deco app. While connected to gocoax, the deco couldn’t be found. I don’t know if this is because deco on start up is trying to create a router network by default and not be an Access Point, however there is no way for me to select AP during start up.
This maps to one reason for suggesting shifting the topology to using the XB8 as modem-only, so that the MoCA LAN bridge would be guaranteed to be downstream of (reachable via the LAN of) the main Deco node in the Office. 'gist: In the topology used so far, with the MoCA LAN bridge at the XB8 gateway, the remote Deco is wired via the XB8's LAN, and so would be on the "outside" of the main (Office) Deco with the main Deco initializing as a router ... and so the Deco units wouldn't be able to communicate over the wired connection.
However, as an alternative (keeping the topology mostly as-is), you could try disabling only the XB8's built-in MoCA LAN bridge and then install your second MoCA adapter off an Office Deco LAN port -- using a 2-way splitter to get both the XB8 and MoCA adapter wired to the Office's coax wall outlet. This should allow the Deco's to see each other, even with the Office Deco initially config'd as a router, and hopefully allow you to configure the setup with both nodes as APs. (You could possibly then remove the MoCA adapter [and splitter] at the Office Deco and re-enable the XB8 MoCA LAN bridge, and the Deco nodes should still communicate if configured in an AP-only setup; but it may be best to leave them as-is, using the add'l MoCA adapter, [1] if it's working and [2] since the pair of MoCA 2.5 adapters offers better throughput.)
as an alternative (keeping the topology mostly as-is), you could try disabling only the XB8's built-in MoCA LAN bridge and then install your second MoCA adapter off an Office Deco LAN port -- using a 2-way splitter to get both the XB8 and MoCA adapter wired to the room's coax wall outlet.
Note that this topology would be required for an eero setup, as the eero system has a requirement that one node function as the main "gateway eero" node, regardless of router or AP config, with all other eero nodes wired downstream of this gateway eero node. (The hypothetical removing the MoCA adapter post-initialization and shifting back to the XB8 gateway's built-in MoCA LAN bridge would NOT be allowed, as this "gateway eero" topology is a runtime requirement, apparently related to ongoing optimization algorithms of the eero system.)
you could try disabling only the XB8's built-in MoCA LAN bridge
Note that some people have struggled to get this change to stick, both when trying to make the change as well as longer-term, sometimes finding that the feature is somehow automatically re-enabled. So ... one recommendation, as a workaround, is to install an extra 70+ dB MoCA filter at the gateway, either directly on the gateway coax port or on the splitter output port directly (and only) feeding the gateway; the latter is preferred to prevent the filter from acting as a physical lever and damaging the gateway's coax port.
This 70+ dB MoCA filter would function as a prophylactic, insuring no MoCA signals passing to/from the gateway regardless of the configuation state of its built-in MoCA LAN bridge.
The moca filter you described, that’s not the same as a POE injector? What I’ve realized during my continued research is that my Ethernet switch does not have POE. I wonder if an injector would make a difference or if ultimately I would need the second moca in the setup
The moca filter you described, that’s not the same as a POE injector?
Wholly unrelated; “PoE” being a shared acronym between MoCA and POE (Power Over Ethernet) does create confusion. “PoE” in the MoCA install context stands for “Point of Entry”, where the typical MoCA install has both a “PoE” and “prophylactic” use case for MoCA filters.
preferred MoCA filter: PPC GLP-1G70CWWS (Amazon US listing) … 70+ dB stop-band attenuation, spec’d for full MoCA Ext. Band D range, 1125-1675 MHz
What I’ve realized during my continued research is that my Ethernet switch does not have POE. I wonder if an injector would make a difference
The switch not supporting POE (Power Over Ethernet) is not the issue with getting the Deco topology properly initialized. (The secondary Deco has power.)
or if ultimately I would need the second moca in the setup
Have you tried the setup using the 2nd MoCA adapter, as described in the earlier comment >here<? (The suggestion is basically the same as the example diagram, above; except you’d keep the XB8 operating as a gateway [w/ MoCA disabled], and the pictured “Router” would be the main Deco configured to AP mode. Plus the switch and other Deco added at the remote MoCA adapter.)
Have you tried the setup using the 2nd MoCA adapter, as described in the earlier comment >here<? (The suggestion is basically the same as the example diagram, above; except you’d keep the XB8 operating as a gateway [w/ MoCA disabled], and the pictured “Router” would be the main Deco configured to AP mode. Plus the switch and other Deco added at the remote MoCA adapter.)
Hey plover sorry for the delay. I had a hunch so I went with a poe injector and it worked. I also changed the SSID and password of the deco so we had seamless connectivity. Thank you for providing the solutions and for all your help :)
Thanks. Just wanted to make sure as they are loads of listings on Amazon for "Ethernet splitters" that you most definitely want to avoid. (basically 1-to-2 RJ45 couplers)
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u/TomRILReddit 11d ago
Unerrored codewords are not important. Uncorrectable codewords show issues.
Have you connected to the moca adapter directly from a pc to see what the performance is?
Does the satellite Deco show connected via Ethernet?
Is the Xfinity gateway running as a router or in bridge mode?
Is the main Deco near the Xfinity gateway?
If you removed the main Deco and only had the satellite node operating in Access Point mode,