Cleaning up and installing MOCA

[HankNet]

Hi,
I'd like to install MOCA to deliver better wifi throughout my home. I currently leverage a wireless router, and a DDWRT router, but still not reaching the crevices of the home that it needs to.

I've purchased 2 MOCA adapters: Actiontec ECB2500's. Was thrilled to install, and alas it didnt work. I want to get to the point where I can put wifi routers in the various corners of the house and get full coverage and fast speeds for things like backups, etc.

I have made and attached a network diagram of the (1) BEFORE, (2) the FAILED ATTEMPT, and after some research on this forum, what (3) I INTEND TO TRY NEXT.

However before I do that, I would love advice to know if this will work, but also to hear any opinions on cleaning up the spaghetti. I'd happily invest a few bucks to tidy this up, assuming it works!

I use Comcast, which I think should work.

All of the splitters are rated 5-1000 MHz. And the Amp is a 5-1000 MHz surge protected amp (which was there when I moved in, I just assume its required).

Any thoughts, comments, and guidance would be much appreciated! Thanks.

 

[CaptainSTX]

I sure with the right tweaks you will be able to get this setup to work.

I am having a little problem following your wiring plan as the Actiontec ECB2500 I have has just a single F-fitting. The way your diagrams are drawn it appears that your adapters have pass through and/or dual ports.

Because of the cascade of splitters you are going to have to be sure that everything is up to spec to make your setup work at the end points.

First your splitters could be a problem. My Actiontec is working at 1100 Mhz. While your splitters are rated at 1000 Mhz, they might work because their probably is some slop in the design. I would look for some 3000 Mhz splitters and eliminate this as a potential source of problems.

Second your AMP could also be a problem as it should have the ability to pass bandwidth at some frequency higher than 1000 Mhz. It also needs to be two way capable if you are going to pass data through it.

In designing your network think as the first MOCA adapter as an injector which is going to take data on an Ethernet feed and send it down your coaxial network where the second adapter will convert it back to Ethernet.

If I was building your network I would build it layer by layer . First start of with a vary simple setup; modem, router splitter MOCA adapter one then another MOCA adapter then test. Look at both data speeds and video quality. Also if your cable system is interactive test if you can order PPV and video on demand from the cable box. Once you get the first branch built and working keep expanding.

I am not sure how well any setup will work running through three or more splitters. Having an actual meter to look at signal levels both downstream and upstream would make installation simpler but with trial and error you should get there.

Finally see if there is anywhere in your home you could run either coaxial or Ethernet cables to eliminate a splitter.

You can have up to sixteen MOCA adapters on a network. If necessary you can install inexpensive unmanaged switches to extend Ethernet runs.

In the end if you can get strong signals to your end points you will have a much more reliable network the using WiFi alone.

 

[HankNet]

Thanks Captain. I was hoping my wiring plan was simple - surprised to hear your ECB2500 only has one F-fitting (coax right?).

I think the directions in the package are pretty poor, as well as online. They dumb it down so much, almost for the grandmother who only knows about what is coming out of her wall. my modem and router are nowhere near a wall outlet, but that shouldnt matter, hence am stringing together at the source when it comes into the house, assuming everything downstream then is wired.

I'm going to troubleshoot more, like you say, build a mini-network first. I read somewhere else that the COAX LIGHT is only supposed to go on when both are installed. When I had both installed, I didnt look at the coax light, only afterwards when I was troubleshooting.

I had a look for a 5-3000Mhz amp, couldnt readily find one. Funny how the amp is AFTER the splitter in my current config, sorta tells me that the modem might need like you say something beyond 1000Mhz, so maybe my proposed one wouldnt work.

Ugh, I see hours of pain in my future working on this! Thanks for the tips and encouragement.

I sure with the right tweaks you will be able to get this setup to work.

I am having a little problem following your wiring plan as the Actiontec ECB2500 I have has just a single F-fitting. The way your diagrams are drawn it appears that your adapters have pass through and/or dual ports.
.....

 

[willmatt]

Make sure you have ECB2500 MoCA Adapters and not HCB1000 Home PNA adapters.

Make sure you have ECB2500 MoCA Adapters and not HCB1000 Home PNA adapters. There should be a label on the bottom of each unit with the model number.

Please note the ECB2500 MoCA Adapters have two Coaxial connectors while the HCB1000 Home PNA adapters have one coaxial connector. They use different frequencies and are not interchangeable.
Link to ECB2500 - http://www.actiontec.com/products/datasheets/EthCoaxMoCAadptr_2500c_ds3.pdf

MoCA Network frequency range: 1125MHz to 1525MHz

Link to HCB1000 - http://www.actiontec.com/products/datasheets/HPNAadptrECB1000datasheet.pdf

The HCB1000 operates at HPNA v3.1 spectral mode B (12-28MHz): 2, 4, 8, 16 MBaud (4Mbps -160Mbps). (This is a FIXED setting and can NOT be changed, dynamically or manually.) This is in the same frequency band as upstream signals from the cable modem and digital set top boxes.

 

[Hucsman]

I think that your problems is the amp, probably isn't bidirectional; maybe you should get something like this. That is probably the reason why the modem was setup in a different branch than the rest of the network, beecause the amp wouldn't let it communicate back.

Also, it looks like your 3 way splitter (D) isn't necessary. I don't know the cable run, but couldn't you replace it with an F barrel connector directly to the first 2 way splitter after it?

 

[HankNet]

Make sure you have ECB2500 MoCA Adapters and not HCB1000 Home PNA adapters.

Thanks, I do in fact use ECB2500's.

I got the whole thing working now, per my "Stage 3" in the diagram. So I put the amp up front and string'd together the MOCA/Modem/Router on one chain, and now the entire coax is a wired network, assuming I use MOCA in any room.

I got frustrated looking at the simple diagrams that even Actiontec put out there - they oversimplify the setup as if the only thing a person knows is "there is a plug coming out of the wall". I hope my diagram helps others make sense of taking a cable (Comcast for me) feed and making a home network.

Thanks to everyone for their help.