MoCA, Powerline, or Wifi?

[jlondon75]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and new to MoCA and Powerline networking, but I thought this would be a good forum to get feedback from folks who know WAY more about all of this than I.

I'm looking to upgrade some of my PC and home theater hardware (intend to upgrade with an HTPC), and thought this also a good time to rethink my network setup.

Once I decide to switch from a clunky multi-peripheral home theater system to an HTPC with an HD LCDTV, I will obviously need to decide between a wired or wireless connection.

My gut tells me that wired is the way to go, but this requires that I move my network hardware (modem and wireless router) from the upstairs computer room to the downstairs in the TV room (where the HTPC would be). A wired connection between them is cost-prohibitive.

I’ve thought about trying either a Powerline Ethernet adapter or MoCA Coax-Ethernet Adapter option, but just don’t have any sense of how well this might work. Which is why I thought I'd ask folks here for their thoughts.

Our home was built in the 1960’s, so while the wiring isn’t 100 years old, it isn’t a new-build either. When we had cable installed two years ago, we had it split to four different rooms, so additional splitting probably isn’t ideal – although I could presumably deactivate some of the Coax outlets and get rid of some of the splitters once we switch to a HTPC-connected wireless network.

Currently my Wireless-G network hardware is setup upstairs (a Linksys WRTU54G-TM router) in our occasionally used home office, with a wireless extender (Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G) downstairs. Most of our actual home-computing is done on laptops via wireless connection in the downstairs TV room (where the HTPC would be). I had been thinking about upgrading our router and switching from our old Wireless G network to a Wireless N network for some time (mostly to get a more powerful router with wider range, as well as the capability to keep pace with eventual upgrades/expansions of our network as our hardware invariably goes through upgrades). In fact, I just ordered a “Linksys Maximum Performance Dual-Band N900 Router E4200 v2” from Amazon to finally do so.

My intention is have all of our other computers connected either through WiFi or, if it works especially well in our home, through MoCA or Powerline. Once the HTPC is connected to our home network, however, my plan is to connect our other TV's to the network via XBox 360 consoles (strictly) for their media extender capabilities (no gamers in our home). I could probably do this through WiFi, but -- again assuming it'll work -- I'm sure wired connections through MoCA or Powerline would be better.

When the weather is nice we do a fair amount of home computing outside on our patio, so the WiFi upgrade is/was needed regardless, but if I can get better connectivity inside our home through MoCA or Powerline, I'd like to seriously consider doing so.

Any constructive thoughts, comments, concerns, suggests, etc., that folks can offer would be most welcome and appreciated.

All best,
Josh

 

[stevech]

WIreless is always the LAST resort, or used at the relatively low speeds needed for pedestrian handhelds.

I use MoCA to get IP connectivity to where my IP-capable TV/Blu-Ray DVD are, because cat5 is not viable. Works fine for me, for a long time. TV coax at the TV and in the garage, the other end of the MoCA connects to an ethernet switch I have have there.

For me, having tried it, HomePlug would be the last alternative. It's too unpredictable on the power line as noise comes/goes and things plugged in change.

 

[GeoStar]

There is one other option I am considering to cross the upstairs floor boundary, and that is Cat 5e or 6 Duct approved grey 8 pair ethernet cable.

This stuff can be put thru a duct in your house ( play with your fish tape)
and hooked to switches routers , its fire code approved ucla CSA ASA and avalible at most hardware stores.

Oh intercept it before it enters the furnace ..

 

[stevech]

wire in ducts - yes, but in most places it may be a fire code violation.
You don't want to give an insurance company an out.

 

[GeoStar]

Networking_Cables

Product

Approved for riser installation ,
I guess gas tanks in cars can blow up and
electric batteries in cars can electrocute you in a car crash too ( or the one you hit)

aaaaaaaaaahhh I agree thou (non) insurance companies are like

that bugs bunny cartoon were they added the phrase "

"must have black eye on friday the thirteenth perpetrated by a female minor while over a dispute of candy .......before claimant can submit claim.."

 

[Rob Gelphman]

MoCA, Powerline or WiFi

First, I work for MoCA so yes, I am biased but I also think I can add some color to the conversation.

What is the best technology for a home network is a great question. It is the answer that is difficult.

If the primary use pattern is mobility, than WiFi is definitely the way to go.

If ubiquity is most desired, than you should consider HomePlug.

But if reliability is most important, especially for HD video, than I suggest you consider MoCA.

In reality, you are going to want mobility, ubiquity and reliability. So you may have to get comfortable with the fact there are no silver bullets and that a combo of at least two are necessary.

Rob

 

[jerryk]

I am using MOCA to link my routers on different floors. My original plan was to run CAT 6, but that would require drilling through floors, installing outlets, pulling cable, etc. I figured I would try a $150 experiment first with MOCA. To my surprise it has worked very well. There are occasional (once or twice a year) glitches that require me to power cycle the remote MOCA unit.

Performance has been pretty good. I get close to 15 Mbps to the internet which is pretty close to the full performance of my COMCAST cable modem. Connectivity to the NAS is a little disappointing at around 80 Mbps. But, it is only disappointing because the gigabit wired connection give me close to 75 MBps. But that is on a CAT 6 network running in one room.

The bottom line is that MOCA is working fine and I cancelled my plans to run CAT 6.


jerry

 

[stevech]

My use of MoCA has been without issue. It is of course far slower than 1000BT, but the speed is sufficient for my purposes, including streaming HD video (.ts files) and operating a home theater PC- using VNC now and then, disk imaging (an hour, not minutes). I'd have to dig trenches outside to run cat5.

I replaced a WiFi bridge solution with this MoCA and of course it's therefore far more reliable. WiFi and wireless in general is always the last choice.

An infamous quote:
"Without mobility, there's no need for wireless"

 

[dannyv]

Networking_Cables

Product

Approved for riser installation ,
I guess gas tanks in cars can blow up and
electric batteries in cars can electrocute you in a car crash too ( or the one you hit)

aaaaaaaaaahhh I agree thou (non) insurance companies are like

that bugs bunny cartoon were they added the phrase "

"must have black eye on friday the thirteenth perpetrated by a female minor while over a dispute of candy .......before claimant can submit claim.."

HA GeoStar i liked your reference to the car accident and your quote. GOOD STUFF

_________________________________________________________________
San Diego Car Accident Lawyer

 

[stevech]

the one thing my Homeowner's Insurance says it covers, without disclaimers/exclusions and fine print... is a satellite falling on my roof.

"Insure the highly improbable. Collect those premiums."