How To Convert Coax to Ethernet – A Detailed Guide

Even today, Wi-Fi can barely match the reliability of a wired Ethernet connection. The problem? Setting up Ethernet wiring across your home isn’t an easy task. But if your house already has coaxial wiring, you may be in for a treat. The challenge? Coaxial isn’t the best option for compatibility. The solution? You can start by converting coax to Ethernet. Here is a detailed guide on how to do that.

Why Convert Coax to Ethernet?

Here are a few reasons to convert coax to Ethernet.

First, although many houses may have existing coaxial wiring, coax is not the most compatible option. Except for select routers/modems, not many networking devices ship with a coaxial port. So, these days, the existing wiring goes to waste. However, this wiring is powerful enough to accommodate Ethernet signals when you use the proper converter/adaptor hardware. Ethernet signals are faster than coax and Wi-Fi.

Second, setting up coax over Ethernet is better than Wi-Fi connections, even mesh Wi-Fi systems. Instead of arranging mesh systems that rely on wireless networks, you can use coax points as Ethernet ends. So, these Ethernet endpoints will offer access to the network even when you have a wired-only device. You can expect better latency when it comes to gaming devices as well.

Third, converting coax to Ethernet using MoCA adaptors is more affordable than redoing Ethernet wiring from the get-go. Sure, complete Ethernet wiring can offer better performance and latency while also future-proofing the network. However, given that Ethernet over MoCA can deliver speeds as high as 2.5 Gbps, you’d want to consider the option.

I believe these reasons are compelling enough to make the shift. That is, unless you are building a new house from scratch or doing a complete rewiring. In that case, it makes sense to go for a complete Ethernet-based infrastructure instead of relying on MoCA adaptors.

What Are MoCA Adapters?

MoCA in this context stands for Multimedia over Coax Alliance. This industry standard was designed so that coaxial wiring could be used as the wired infrastructure for multimedia transfer, including Ethernet. As I said, Ethernet and Coaxial cables do not use the same ports/connectors. It means you cannot connect a coaxial cable to an Ethernet port or vice versa. However, MoCA adaptors offer a solution.

Like how other adaptors work, MoCA adaptors become the intermediary between coaxial and Ethernet. On one side of the adaptor, you can plug in the Ethernet cable and connect the Coaxial cable on the other side. Now, you end up with an Ethernet port on both sides, making it easy to connect any two Ethernet-enabled devices.

Let’s imagine you have an Ethernet-enabled smart TV, a Wi-Fi router, and existing coaxial wiring at your home. Instead of relying on a wireless connection, which can be unstable and slower at times, you can use MoCA adaptors at both sides to utilize the power of an existing wired connection. This way, your smart TV will become a part of the Local Area Network.

Converting Coax To Ethernet with MoCA Adapters

Here is how you can convert coax to Ethernet using MoCA adaptors.

Things You Need:

• 2x MoCA Adaptors for two ends
• 2x Ethernet cables for two ends
• 2x Coax cables for two ends
• 2x Coax outlets near the router and the device

This list is not fixed, though. For instance, you may have a modem/router with coaxial output. Alternatively, some network devices ship with MoCA inside. For example, the G3100 router-modem combo from Verizon ships with MoCA, allowing you to use the coaxial cable for wired connections. If you have this modem, you need to purchase only one MoCA adaptor.

Once you have procured these components, you can follow the steps given below.

1. Make sure you have kept the router and the target device close to the coaxial outlet. Otherwise, you would need a longer coax and Ethernet cable to set up everything.
2. First, you need to unbox the MoCA adaptor, which should be connected to power. It is best to connect it to an uninterrupted power supply so that you can enjoy network access without interruptions.
3. To set up everything near the Wi-Fi router, take one of the coax cables you have and connect one of its ends to the MoCA adaptor. Based on where you are, the second end must be connected to the coaxial outlet. After this, take the Ethernet cable and connect one end to the router’s Ethernet port and the other end to the MoCA adaptor.
4. At this point, you can turn on the power. This means you have connected and configured your first MoCA adaptor.
5. Now, we shall move to the target device. Once again, use a coaxial cable to connect the coax outlet to the MoCA adaptor. On the other side, connect the Ethernet cable and plug the other end of the Ethernet cable to the target device. The first example could be a smart TV. Even if the device has only a USB-C port, you can use another adapter.

That’s it. You have now converted coax to Ethernet using a pair of MoCA adaptors. Its structure looks like:

Router > Ethernet Cable > MoCA Adaptor > Coax Cable > Coax Outlet > Coax Wiring > Coax Outlet > Coax Cable > MoCA Adaptor > Ethernet Cable > Target device.

Advantages of Using MoCA Adapters

Several advantages exist when using MoCA adaptors. Some of them are:

• Less Expensive: In most cases, using MoCA adaptors is less expensive than rewiring your entire house with Ethernet. Keep in mind that rewiring would not be a possibility in some cases. While adaptors can be expensive, you end up saving money anyway.
• Convenience: Compared to the hectic task of rewiring, MoCA adaptors offer convenience to the user. For one, you don’t have to worry about dealing with outlets. As long as you have a working pair of MoCA adaptors, you are good to go.
• Compatibility: Using MoCA adaptors does not cause any compatibility issues per se. You can set up and manage any device that has an Ethernet port. The adaptor takes care of the efficient conversion of signals.
• Secure: MoCA adaptors do not compromise security, either. You can find multiple security layers and encryption tech that make MoCA connections as reliable as a pure Ethernet system. You can easily configure up to 16 MoCA adaptors within a network as well.

In addition to these, MoCA adaptors, when used for Ethernet over Coax, can offer impressive speeds as well—more about that in the next section.

How Fast Is Ethernet Over Coax?

The speed you get from Ethernet over Coax depends on a few factors.

First and foremost, it depends on the MoCA adaptor and the version of MoCA it supports:

• MoCA 2.5 has the theoretical upper limit of 2.5Gbps
• MoCA 2.0 has the theoretical upper limit of 1Gbps

However, the speed you get on the target device also depends on how it interacts with Ethernet. If the device has a 1 Gbps port, you can’t expect 2.5Gbps speed, of course. So, if you want the best speed from Ethernet over Coax, you must have a MoCA 2.5 adaptor and a device with a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port.

Keep in mind that these numbers are theoretical at best. Several factors, such as the condition of the coaxial wiring and the router’s performance, will impact the final speeds you get on the target device.

Wrapping Up

I hope this guide provided you with a 360-degree image of converting coax to Ethernet. I have also explained the basics you should know about MoCA adaptors. Given the presence of existing coaxial wiring, it makes a lot of sense to explore MoCA.