New House Wiring sanity check

[VikingCrown]

Could someone please check and let me know if this will work? I want to use the TV out ports from the Actiontec ECB2500C moca devices to pass the cable signal through to my HTPC in the office as well as to my cable modem in the basement.

In the diagram, the solid black lines are Coax and the dashed are CAT5

Any assistance is greatly appreciated!

 

[tipstir]

Is this pre-install (idea) or do you have if implemented already?

 

[VikingCrown]

This is a pre-install idea. Moving into a new house (new to me not new construction) and this was the plan.

 

[tipstir]

This is a pre-install idea. Moving into a new house (new to me not new construction) and this was the plan.

You need need to get amp splitter so you don't have low loss -3.5db per port. That's if your CATV provider hasn't installed them into your new home yet. I highly recommend they get put in. Whatever you don't rent them from them. Get your own and put them. Rent per month cost more than they are.

 

[VikingCrown]

Cool, I can look into and amp, have any that you might recommend?

Otherwise the wiring seems like it'll be ok correct?

 

[devnull]

The router is wired incorrectly. Please see attached image for correction.

Also, it's entirely possible for you to not need an amplifier. Since the splitter is cheap, it's reasonable to attempt with the splitter before you run out and buy an amplifier. I use a Holland Electronics GHPNA-4 splitter.

If you do end up needing an amplifier, I recommend Wi3's MOCA compatible amplifier. I'm using one on my system. It's a bit expensive but it simplifies the cabling by a lot when using a MOCA system. Most CATV amps won't pass MOCA signal. Only a few do and the Wi3 unit is one of them and it is easily available. I bought mine through Home Depot's website.

 

[tipstir]

This is a pre-install idea. Moving into a new house (new to me not new construction) and this was the plan.

8-Port Bi-Directional Cable TV HDTV Amplifier Splitter Signal Booster


Electroline EDA-FT08300 8 Port TV Signal Booster/Amplifier with Active Return Path
This one above is recommended if you have CATV with Cable HS Modem Cost more that the one above. Another way you can get around this is just get 1-port type and just boost the Cable HS Modem Only. Cost is cheaper to do. These are very easy to install.

No matter what you going to do if you have many connections in your house your going to need them. Just not for to the HDTV.

They come in 1, 2, 4, 6, 8. I just installed 6 way here tonight.

 

[VikingCrown]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try without an Amp first and see how that works. I re-did the drawing to move things out of the basement and minimize hops between the xbox and the pc, how's this setup look?

Also can someone point me to a link for a good splitter that i can use, i only know i want 2.4 ghz, beyond that i'm stumped.

 

[VikingCrown]

here were some of the POE filters i was looking at, would any of them work?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PPC-MOCA-FILTER-FOR-CABLE-TV-SNLP-1GCW-MULTIROOM-WHOLE-HOUSE-ANY-ROOM-DVR-SETUP-/170829587975?pt=US_Signal_Amplifiers_Filters&hash=item27c63ca607

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MoCA-PPC-FILTER-SNLP-1G-CWWS-Multiroom-DVR-/251157708640?pt=US_Signal_Amplifiers_Filters&hash=item3a7a2a7f60

 

[thiggins]

If this is new construction, why are you not running CAT5e/6 where you want Ethernet?

 

[VikingCrown]

Its a new house to me, not new construction. Otherwise CAT5e/6 would absolutely be my choice

 

[devnull]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try without an Amp first and see how that works. I re-did the drawing to move things out of the basement and minimize hops between the xbox and the pc, how's this setup look?

Also can someone point me to a link for a good splitter that i can use, i only know i want 2.4 ghz, beyond that i'm stumped.

The new diagram looks like it will be functional, but having the cable modem closer to the service point would be best. The cable modem's upstream signal will be a lot more sensitive to loss than the MOCA signal.

In the first design, there's two splits before the modem. In your newest design, there's three.

These are the brand of splitters I use for my MOCA net.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...ps&field-keywords=Holland+Electronics+HomePNa

 

[thiggins]

Its a new house to me, not new construction. Otherwise CAT5e/6 would absolutely be my choice

Ah.

Still, if possible, I would run Ethernet to the points where you want the highest and/or most reliable bandwidth, like for uncompressed 1080P HD. MoCA is second best, but still not as good as even 100 Mbps Ethernet.

 

[VikingCrown]

Dev, definately understand the wanting the cable modem closer to the service point and I will consider that. I am more concerned about the speed of the ethernet as it relates to streaming media from the htpc to the xbox.

Are there any downsides to using the splitters you posted, they all seem to be HPNA certified, do they negatively impact MOCA in any way?

Tim, i agree, wired is ideal and I will try and get it working asap, but getting it functional as quickly after moving in is priority 1. Once i'm in for a while i'll get it wired for sure!

Any thoughts on those POE filters i posted?

thanks for all the responses!!

 

[devnull]

In your latest configuration and the one I proposed, it's the same number of coax links between the Xbox and the HTPC.

The only difference between the two diagrams is the number of splits the cable modem has to pass through.

Is there some other equipment that will be running off the switch?

The MOCA 1.1 specification states an operating frequency from 500-1500 Mhz. Most MOCA products operate on 1150-1500 Mhz. Those splitters are rated at 4-1500 Mhz. I used one for a while with no performance issues.

Here's a couple of MOCA specific splitters from Holland Electronics:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00556LI1E/?tag=snbforums-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00558UJTO/?tag=snbforums-20

 

[VikingCrown]

Dev, you are right, i didn't realize that the hops were the same. I won't know for sure until i get into the new house next week (only been through a few times so I am not 100% on what I can do easily) but if i can i'll probably use your diagram. The main thing is I am second guessing my ability to snake the ethernet cable up from the basement into the living room.

If i can do that easily, then i'll put it all in the basement and use your layout. If not i'll have to use my diagram until I can get a better feel for how I'm going to actually hard wire everything.

Thanks for those Holland MOCA splitters I'll be ordering them regardless, they look perfect!

Now i just gotta get the POE filter, did you have any thoughts on the ones i posted, or know of another place to get one?

 

[devnull]

Those POE filters look good.

You could have MOCA drops at all three points (HTPC, Xbox, Basement). That would accomplish your goals without running ethernet cable.