What Are MoCA Networks?
If you’ve ever streamed a TV show from your cable box or used a cloud-based DVR provided by your cable company to watch something you’ve recorded, you’ve already seen how a MoCA network works. The devices wire your router into your home’s coaxial networks. Then you can connect a second adapter to a media player directly to another coaxial port or a network extender to the port. You don’t need cable internet, just an internet connection and coaxial wiring in your house. Coaxial cables also called “coax,” are cables with an inner conductor, an insulating layer, and an outside conducting sheath. You’ll commonly encounter it as the “cable” in cable TV; the connector is a pin in the middle with a nut around it that you tighten around a screw.
Is MoCA Better Than Wi-Fi?
MoCA can be better than Wi-Fi depending on your needs, but it’s also a complement to Wi-Fi systems. Since it’s a wired network, MoCA can be faster than exclusively using Wi-Fi extenders and mesh networks. Suppose a coax port is wired into an area far from the router, like an upstairs bedroom or a garage. In that case, MoCA can provide an internet signal in those areas where other technologies may be limited or blocked by steel, concrete, or other construction materials.
Will MoCA Interfere With My Wi-Fi Network?
Since MoCA systems use the wiring in your house, they won’t generally interfere with over-the-air signals, such as Wi-Fi or your cellular network. You can connect a wireless extender to a MoCA adapter for a faster signal.
How Do I Set Up A MoCA Network?
To set up a MoCA network, you’ll either need to connect a MoCA adapter to your current router or upgrade to a router with MoCA built-in and connect it to a coaxial port already wired into your home. Then, attach another MoCA adapter to a convenient coax port, such as an upstairs office, and connect it with an Ethernet cable to any device you want, like a Wi-Fi extender.
Should I Install A MoCA Network?
MoCA is best for:
Large homes and newer homes, as MoCA doesn’t have a limited signal range like extenders or mesh networksHomes with interference problems with wireless networksIf you don’t need a wireless network and want to connect to the internet through a wired connection without installing Ethernet cables or threading cables from a router through your house
They’ll work in any home with a functioning coaxial network. If you want more speed and less lag, they’re worth a try.
