Connect Ethernet via coaxial cables at home.
Connect Ethernet via coaxial cables at home.
Hey there, I’m trying to figure out my next steps. I’m in a brand new build, and the builder didn’t set up Ethernet cabling. But the coax is already installed in every bedroom—definitely separate from each other. They all terminate outside the house, where the internet also arrives. In one junction box, the coax ends but the other end of the coax isn’t connected yet. I found a single ethernet cable there and some tools that seem affordable and straightforward. The only coax connection in that box is for my ISP. Inside the house near my modem, the wall has coax coming out, but it’s already been wired for phone instead of Ethernet. My main question is: how can I send a signal from my modem/AP combo back to where the coax meets, and then through the coax lines to reach the bedrooms? I’m thinking about using MoCA adapters, but that’s all I’ve got so far. I suspect coax isn’t bi-directional or duplex, so maybe removing the phone keystone and rewiring for Ethernet would work. That way I could get internet back into the junction box, then route it through the coax to the bedrooms. I’m also considering placing a PoE MoCA adapter in the junction box if one exists. Since I only need Ethernet in one room, I can terminate just the coax needed there and put the other adapter inside my room near my computer. I know I might have explained this a bit unclear—feel free to ask for more details. Any suggestions would be appreciated, whether they help or improve on what I’ve thought. P.S. The coax runs aren’t in any conduit, so I can use the wall coax as pull wires; I tried that but only got enough slack for minor issues. Edited Nov 5, 2022 by BrownZeus
When it doesn't work, cable modems won't function. If your setup includes CAT5e or CAT6 for phone use and you don't need a landline, replace it with an 8P8C/RJ45 standard. The top choice is to install CAT6 throughout the house, though this requires significant time and resources.
Thank you for the fix on the coax detail. I only have one Ethernet connection from the junction box outside to the phone port inside by the ISP. My rental doesn’t allow opening walls or adding drops. Ideally this configuration, even if it won’t be cheap, should be reversible.
Usually Moca is set up with two adapters—one linked to the router and another to the device needing Ethernet access. Some Docsis Internet Gateways already include Moca features, so availability depends on your provider and whether you receive internet through coaxial cable. This means you might need just one signal adapter instead of two. Previously cable systems were unidirectional, but the Docsis standard now supports bi-directional connections. Upload speeds typically range from 5 MHz to 42 MHz, while downloads use higher bands, often up to 950 MHz. Development is ongoing for mid-splitting to free more bandwidth for uploads, which will eventually speed them up. Moca versions 2.0 and newer cover frequencies above 1 GHz.