Extending Ethernet Through My Home

[The Old Myron Siren]

For a while now I've had my server rack in my actual bedroom seeing as that is where my main computer is setup and I want to be hardwired on both my servers and my daily driver. However, the noise has been far too much to bear and I finally cracked and moved it into an empty bedroom across the house. This of course meant I had to move my modem and router there as well to maintain a wired connection for the server, leaving my daily driver at the mercy of WiFi. I thought about running cables through my walls and ceiling for the connection, but I also know that there are coaxial adapters exactly for this. I'm fine dropping about 100-150 bucks on adapters if it saves me the day or so of running cables through the walls. I've tried a set of power line adapters previously but I believe the way my houses power is wired, it causes issues. Even when the plugs are in the same room (and same breaker) I can't seem to get above 10-15Mbs even though they are advertised for a full gigabit. What are my options here? I found this pair of coaxial adapters and figured it should do the trick? Thank in advance guys!

[DailyProcrastinator]

In my experience powerline adapters really only work with newer wiring/newer homes, my parent house was built in the late 80's I believe and I couldn't get speeds past 15mb/s as well. In my home I just bought, the basement was unfinished until 2016 so the wiring is newer and the powerline adapter works perfectly. I do not have experience with coaxial adapters so maybe others can provide guidance. 

[Falcon1986]

2 minutes ago, The Old Myron Siren said:

For a while now I've had my server rack in my actual bedroom seeing as that is where my main computer is setup and I want to be hardwired on both my servers and my daily driver. However, the noise has been far too much to bear and I finally cracked and moved it into an empty bedroom across the house. This of course meant I had to move my modem and router there as well to maintain a wired connection for the server, leaving my daily driver at the mercy of WiFi. I thought about running cables through my walls and ceiling for the connection, but I also know that there are coaxial adapters exactly for this. I'm fine dropping about 100-150 bucks on adapters if it saves me the day or so of running cables through the walls. I've tried a set of power line adapters previously but I believe the way my houses power is wired, it causes issues. Even when the plugs are in the same room (and same breaker) I can't seem to get above 10-15Mbs even though they are advertised for a full gigabit. What are my options here? I found this pair of coaxial adapters and figured it should do the trick? Thank in advance guys!

I'm assuming that the in-wall coaxial cables were run for cable TV, which would mean that they all converge at a central point in the attic, for example, where the cable company installed a cable TV line for your house. If this is a case, I don't see those adapters working in this case as one room's coaxial endpoint isn't necessarily directly connected to another room's coaxial endpoint so you won't be able to get any communication between them.

 

Have you considered replacing the coaxial cables with ethernet? If the coaxial cables are already wired into wall conduits, use them to pull through ethernet to a central point. Crimp your cables and install wall plates. Much neater and you get the solid speed that you need. Alternatively, if the conduits are large enough to accommodate 2 cables, run the ethernet alongside the coaxial and use the appropriate dual-outlet wall plates at the walls, so you don't loose coax.

[The_russian]

9 minutes ago, Falcon1986 said:

I'm assuming that the in-wall coaxial cables were run for cable TV, which would mean that they all converge at a central point in the attic, for example, where the cable company installed a cable TV line for your house. If this is a case, I don't see those adapters working in this case as one room's coaxial endpoint isn't necessarily directly connected to another room's coaxial endpoint so you won't be able to get any communication between them.

 

Have you considered replacing the coaxial cables with ethernet? If the coaxial cables are already wired into wall conduits, use them to pull through ethernet to a central point. Crimp your cables and install wall plates. Much neater and you get the solid speed that you need. Alternatively, if the conduits are large enough to accommodate 2 cables, run the ethernet alongside the coaxial and use the appropriate dual-outlet wall plates at the walls, so you don't loose coax.

If all the coax cables are run to a central hub, you should be able to use a coupler to join two of them together. As for replacing the coax with ethernet, the coax is likely stapled or somehow kept in place behind the walls. If the coax goes straight up into the attic it shouldn't be too bad, but in my house the coax goes horizontally through the walls instead of up to the attic. 

[The Old Myron Siren]

14 minutes ago, JM21 said:

In my experience powerline adapters really only work with newer wiring/newer homes, my parent house was built in the late 80's I believe and I couldn't get speeds past 15mb/s as well. In my home I just bought, the basement was unfinished until 2016 so the wiring is newer and the powerline adapter works perfectly. I do not have experience with coaxial adapters so maybe others can provide guidance. 

I believe our house was build around 2008/2010 so its somewhat recent, but, I agree that its more than likely something to do with the wiring.

[The Old Myron Siren]

1 minute ago, The_russian said:

If all the coax cables are run to a central hub, you should be able to use a coupler to join two of them together. As for replacing the coax with ethernet, the coax is likely stapled or somehow kept in place behind the walls. If the coax goes straight up into the attic it shouldn't be too bad, but in my house the coax goes horizontally through the walls instead of up to the attic. 

I believe mine go directly downstairs. I'm on the second floor as is the room that the router and modem are in. I believe there is a panel in the garage however which is where our cable line actually comes into the house.

[The_russian]

2 minutes ago, The Old Myron Siren said:

I believe mine go directly downstairs. I'm on the second floor as is the room that the router and modem are in. I believe there is a panel in the garage however which is where our cable line actually comes into the house.

Yeah so you should be able to just use a coupler to join two of the cables together. I am in a similar situation and was considering trying MoCA, but my box where all of the cables run to is outside, and I don't want a line for my network running outside were someone could potentially connect to it. If your box is in the garage, I'd say go for it. 

[DailyProcrastinator]

35 minutes ago, The Old Myron Siren said:

I believe our house was build around 2008/2010 so its somewhat recent, but, I agree that its more than likely something to do with the wiring.

Yeah you'd think that would be recent enough, success with powerline adapters is so hit or miss... I've read that if the wiring is on different circuit breakers that may cause as issue as well. Hopefully you find a solution other than running Ethernet!

[Donut417]

8 hours ago, The Old Myron Siren said:

coaxial adapters and figured it should do the trick?

Yes they should. IF the Coax is used to deliver internet you TV to your home. MAKE SURE you buy a filter to put on the main line coming in from the cable Co. Specifically your looking for a Moca filter, they are less than $10 generally.