Multi-router ethernet extention

[TFProtoform157]

I am going to be starting my online animation graduate program in the fall, and my dad and I are looking at rearranging our dining room into my new office space.  Because I am both a PC gamer and my grad program requires powerful hardware and a good internet connection, I ideally want ethernet in my office. We recently got a new router after our last one’s wireless transmitter died (ethernet still worked though), so we more-or-less have a spare router. Next to my office, there’s an unused coax port on the wall, which we had used several years ago to watch TV. (we have Cox for both internet and cable, so the coax port has at least shown it handles a signal from them?... I don’t know if that’s helpful or not.)

Even though our new router is much more powerful and has more bandwidth, several devices still can’t take advantage of that, and/or there is still quite a bit of signal degradation (the router is on the opposite side of the house on the first floor, and is not centrally located in the building. my new office is on the first floor, my dad's office is right above me on the second floor, and we are both on the opposite side of the house from the transmitter). My dad’s computer didn’t gain anything at all since it can only detect 2.4gHz. So, if there was a way to set up the second ethernet, my dad can also benefit from it.

I wouldn’t mind if I end up boosting the WIFI signal, but I am mostly interested in just setting up a second ethernet connection. There are no ethernet ports in our house, and having a ethernet cable run halfway across my house isn’t a feasible option. I know that there are wireless signal boosters on the market that you can just plug into the wall, but I don’t know if there is a wired solution. I am not as knowledgeable about networking as I am with PC's, so I apologize if my question is unrealistic. To sum up, is there a way to set up a second ethernet connection, (through the spare coax or otherwise), without having to set up another network? Or any tips or suggestions you can offer me?

[Mira Yurizaki]

You could try powerline network adapters.

[brwainer]

There are a few ways to use the coax in this situation:

1. Run a completely seperate modem - this means that the two router’s networks would be isolated, and you’d be paying for two service plans (unless they give a discount for a second one like adding another phone line to a cellphone plan)
2. Buy a pair of MoCA adaptors, which are like powerline but use Coax. MoCA 2.0 is capable of coexisting with DOCSIS3 and TV signals on the same coax. I believe Actiontec makes the only consumer available MoCA 2.0 adaptors
3. Upgrade to Cox’s Panoramic Wifi modem and get a Panoramic extender for the office. Technically this is using MoCA for the in-house connection, but it is way less complicated than doing MoCA yourself. The Panoramic Wifi system is comparable to many of the mesh wifi options around when those mesh systems are using a wired backhaul instead of wireless. The extenders provide two gigabit ethernet ports, and you can attach a normal switch if more are needed. https://www.cox.com/residential/education-center/internet/equipment.html

[TFProtoform157]

Thanks! I'll look into those!

[dalekphalm]

On 2018-03-16 at 12:42 PM, brwainer said:

There are a few ways to use the coax in this situation:

1. Run a completely seperate modem - this means that the two router’s networks would be isolated, and you’d be paying for two service plans (unless they give a discount for a second one like adding another phone line to a cellphone plan)
2. Buy a pair of MoCA adaptors, which are like powerline but use Coax. MoCA 2.0 is capable of coexisting with DOCSIS3 and TV signals on the same coax. I believe Actiontec makes the only consumer available MoCA 2.0 adaptors
3. Upgrade to Cox’s Panoramic Wifi modem and get a Panoramic extender for the office. Technically this is using MoCA for the in-house connection, but it is way less complicated than doing MoCA yourself. The Panoramic Wifi system is comparable to many of the mesh wifi options around when those mesh systems are using a wired backhaul instead of wireless. The extenders provide two gigabit ethernet ports, and you can attach a normal switch if more are needed. https://www.cox.com/residential/education-center/internet/equipment.html

Great suggestions. I’d highly recommend the Cox Moca solution since it’s less hassle and it would be supported by them. 

 

Though @TFProtoform157 if you’re more of a DIY person, doing Moca yourself might be interesting. 

[ltguy]

https://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-Bonded-Ethernet-Adapter-ECB6200S02/dp/B013J7OBUU/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1521368373&sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=adaptec+moca

[brwainer]

30 minutes ago, ltguy said:

https://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-Bonded-Ethernet-Adapter-ECB6200S02/dp/B013J7OBUU/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1521368373&sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=adaptec+moca

Yep, that’s the one I was talking about in my Option 2.