MOCA Galore

This is a long overdue update to a post I made in 2013.

https://packetrider.blogspot.com/2013/12/actiontec-wcb3000n-and-ecb3500t.html

Since then, the MOCA protocol has been updated a few revisions with the latest at version 2.5. This protocol allows network traffic at gigabit speeds to go through the coax wiring. Needless to say, to get these blistering speeds, MOCA devices have to support the MOCA 2.5 standard. Actiontec has these devices. The name itself has been rebranded as ScreenBeam. Below are the MOCA 2.5 products.

https://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-MoCA-Network-Adapter-Ethernet/dp/B088KV2YYL?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

The difference between the ECB7250S02 and the ECB6250S02 is the 7250 can handle more network traffic. For a home network with less than 10 network devices, save some money and get the ECB6250S02 or its kit version ECB6250K02.    

While these devices work as advertised, they have one shortcoming. Each has only 1 network port. This means you can only connect one network device to the adapter. However, other vendors of MOCA 2.5 offer adapters that have multiple network ports. One of these is Translite Global.

https://www.transliteglobal.com/moca-distribution

https://www.amazon.com/MoCA-2-5-Gigabit-Ethernet-Ports/dp/B07Z3SB1HH?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

Despite what its website says, the "white" model with 4 network ports has been discontinued. I think I know why because my testing with the 2-port TL-MC84 adapter, there is an extra 3 ms of ping time when network traffic goes through these adapters. I suspect the CPU in these adapters cannot handle more than 2 network devices. The TL-MC84 I bought has an older firmware version. Strangely the vendor's website does not offer for download a newer firmware. I had to get it from tech support. I think it's their way of harvesting their customer's contact info for marketing purposes. No spam yet from them. If you need the newer firmware, here it is. Presumably, it's on the vendor's Google Drive.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UD8a-DJ-_6HNqTFvlGDYHaJnaTv8OAyg?usp=sharing

Incidentally, MOCA is not the only protocol that uses the coax cables to transmit Ethernet data. There is another called G.hn Ethernet Over Coax. It is newer than MOCA. I am not familiar with it, but I will research on if it is any better than MOCA. If G.hn allows PoE over the coax, it will be a big improvement over MOCA. One advantage G.hn has is it transmits its signal at lower frequencies than MOCA. Therefore, its signal can go farther. Low frequency signals can make use of older lower quality coax. Therefore if your home has very old coax that doesn't seem to work with MOCA, G.hn over coax may be a good alternative.

https://www.abiresearch.com/blog/wi-fi-vs-ghn-vs-moca-battle-home-networking-technologies-heats

https://www.triax.com/introduction-to-g-hn-eoc-technology