Does MoCA work if we use our own modem?
Hello! I have been researching newer mesh networking systems for a few days now and think I've landed on the Asus XT12 or ET12. Currently I am using a Netgear CM1000 modem (1gb) and the Netgear XR50...
Forum Discussion
Well the good news is it looks like decent coaxial. Can't be sure if it's RG6 without seeing the writing on the coaxial wiring but it doesn't look too old and has good compression connectors. You should be able to use that.
The bad news is I had a thought about what I told you last night. Basically you can't have a separate loop for your MoCA because the MoCA adapter and modem have to be running off the same outlet. I also see two coaxial coming out of that splitter. I assume one goes to the room the modem is in and one goes to the phone modem? Is that right? If so, is the phone modem in a room where you game and want the 2nd MoCA adapter for the AP to connect to? If so, you at least know what coaxial you want to connect to the new MoCA splitter. If not, you need some way of tracking which coaxial goes where. You could do it through trial and error by moving the modem into where you want the 2nd MoCA adapter and try connecting different coaxial to the splitter until the modem comes online. Another way to test it is with a cable tester. Basically you connect one piece to the outlet you want to know where it goes, which produces a signal in the line, then use the other piece to attach coaxial wire to until you see that signal in the tool. Once you know which one is which, you can set up the coaxial by using the picture above. Don't forget the MoCA splitters. You should be able to reuse the MoCA filter.
Yeah they ran a brand new line from the service pole to the box/splitter and then a new line off the splitter into the house that leads to the modem. It's the coax that runs to the downstairs bedroom that i'm more worried about age/quality-wise. Thank you for linking that coax tool btw!
I just ran upstairs to check how it is wired in the bedroom w the modem/phone/router. The main line comes from the outside of the house up through the ceiling to the coax wall jack which then goes to the "in" port on a 3 way mocha splitter under the desk (No POE filter on this splitter or modem or anything - so no POE filters effectively on any of the runs?), from there one line goes "out" to the cable modem on top of the desk and another goes "out" to the phone modem that is under the desk. So all of that is on one line from the outside.
As for the 3 way splitter in the outside enclosure... the "in" port is connected to a POE filter with like 6 inches of coax cable off the filter that isn't actually connected to anything. The actual main line coming in is connected to one of the "out" ports and then the line into the house itself is coming off of another "out" port.
The second line i want to utilize for the 2nd mesh device is downstairs in our bedroom where i work/game most of the time. I found the coax jack behind our dresser with power beside it so i would just need to use a short coax cable to the floor below it where i set the adapter and purchase some CAT8 ethernet to run around half of the room (~20ft?) to the AP on my desk. From the AP i'd run CAT8 from its 3 lan ports to two Xboxes and my PC.
The actual main line coming in is connected to one of the "out" ports
Hmm, how is that even working then? Certainly not the "proper" way of doing it. Have you been having any problems with your phone or internet?
As for the splitter inside, when you say 3 way, do you mean 1 input and 2 outputs? A "3way" usually refers to a splitter with 3 outputs. If actually a 3way then you should be able to use the 3rd output to go to the MoCA adapter. Then replace the outside splitter with a 2way MoCA splitter (which should actually strengthen/improve your signal). The tricky part is finding the coaxial that leads to the downstair bedroom. The cable tester should help with that but you could try doing it visually.
PS. If I don't reply anymore today know that I am going through a decent snowstorm right now. Might lose power.
To be honest i've been having problems with my internet since we moved here 9 years ago... i live by a lake outside of town a bit so i expect the internet to be iffy sometimes but even when it IS working well (600+ down / 30+ up 5ghz via my phone wifi next to router) i can still get kinda high ping and latency. 2.4Ghz is slower but has lower latency and doesn't show packet loss via my Xbox even downstairs, while 5Ghz is faster but then has higher latency and packet loss even on devices upstairs somewhat close to the router.
I often experience annoying but mild rubber banding in games like COD/Apex/Fortnite etc when playing online. I've had multiple technicians (both contractors and actual cox techs) come out to look over everything from the pole to the modem over and over again. Some tweak this or that, change out some parts, and this is where i currently sit.
That's partly why i'm down this rabbit hole at the moment, internet has been acting up a bit again even through hard reboots etc and cox online shows no issues in my area. Firmwares are up to date. So i figured maybe a new router/mesh system and possibly modem could help fix it since its all about 5 years old? But now that we're talking through this maybe my home isn't wired correctly coming in from the pole? Or putting a POE filter somewhere in the setup could help and i wouldn't even need new equipment till wifi 7 is more mainstream? I mean if i could just get a consistent connection without higher latency ping and packet loss on 5Ghz then i'd prob be ok for now.
Sorry - for the splitter inside it has 1 input and 3 outputs. One output goes to the cable modem, the second output goes to the cisco phone modem, and then the third output has a weird piece screwed into it that is sorta long and all metal that slides back and forth a bit when you pull on it. No idea what it is or why it's there? But that output doesn't go to a cable.
I've had multiple technicians
Really? Multiple techs and no one thought to replace the splitter in the house box with a coupler? I think that is why the 2 outputs of the coaxial are being used, to basically turn the splitter into a coupler. However the open ports on that splitter act as a antenna, picking up any noise in the area. Even if you don't install MoCA, I suggest replacing the splitter with a coaxial coupler. You might be able to pick one up at a Cox store but any hardware store or Walmart should have them. However if you go with MoCA you should replace it with a 2way MoCA splitter.
As for the splitter inside, that is good. Sounds like they have a terminator on the unused leg of the splitter. You should be able to remove it and use that leg for your 1st MoCA adapter. If it looks different, look for any label on it or take a picture? Either way, as long as it is removable, it shouldn't be a problem.
Could you post your signal levels from the modem? I am curious what the signal levels are now since you would be adding a 2 way splitter to the system, which would lower your signal by 3.5dB(half). I posted about this before, but retracted it when I remembered you had a splitter in the house box already. However now that I know how it was hooked up(as a coupler), it changes things.
