Please bare with me as I know next to nothing about networking.

The problem: I own two Xbox consoles and I would like both of them to have a wired internet connection. Xbox #1 sits next to the router, so that one is all set. Unfortunately due to space constraints, I am unable to run a CAT cable directly from the router to Xbox #2 on the other side of the house. However, every room in my house does have coax cables!

My setup: From what I can see in the basement, it seems pretty basic. It looks like our main coax line comes in to the house where it is split into 4 different coax lines, each one running to a different room in the house. I can connect the modem/router to any room’s coax line and the internet works just fine.

My research: Long story short, it looks like MoCA adapters could be exactly what I need to get a wired connection to Xbox #2 via the preexisting coax lines.

My questions:

  1. Does this sound like the appropriate use case for MoCA adapters?
  2. If the answer to the above is Yes, I’m confused exactly how it needs to be set up given that each room only has one coax cable… Do I have to use a splitter, so that one line can go directly to the modem, modem connects to router via CAT, then router to MoCA via CAT, then back to coax to connect to the second connection in the splitter so it can feed back into the coax “network”? And then obviously in the other room, I’d have another MoCA to convert the coax to Ethernet?

Thanks for any guidance you all can offer!

  •  emptyfish   ( @emptyfish@beehaw.org ) English
    1•10 months ago

    I’m a multi-year MOCA user, your use case seems appropriate. I actually have two sets of adapters in use in my home network in rooms with (inexplicably) only coax lines run. I’ve had great luck with mine, they are as fast as I need them to be for gaming, video etc. and have been extremely reliable.

    I think your description makes sense on setup, I don’t have cable modem so I didn’t have that, but it should basically be:

    1. Ethernet from router to MOCA adapter A
    2. Coax connection from MOCA A to destination room
    3. Wall coax to a splitter - it should be MOCA compatible (assuming you need tv and internet) 3a. Coax from splitter to TV (assuming you need it) 3b. Coax from splitter to MOCA adapter B
    4. Ethernet from MOCA B to device. I actually got a small 4-port dumb switch as an Ethernet splitter just in case I wanted to plug in multiple devices.

    I’d recommend getting MOCA working without the splitter first and then once you confirm, then add the splitter, it will be easier to troubleshoot if something is working. Good luck!