How to set up gigabit internet on MOCA Network
Raptor2679
Enthusiast - Level 2

First time poster and not all that network savvy so please excuse any descriptions that might be confusing.

I am debating whether or not to upgrade my 400/400 internet to Gigabit internet, but I'm not sure how to set this up so that I can get Gigabit internet through the MOCA network I have set up throughout my house, and wanted to see if my ideas would work. I have FIOS cable service in addition to internet.

My current set up is as follows:

- The ONT box is in the basement of my house, with an ethernet cable from the ONT into the WAN port of my G1100 router. The coaxial cable from the ONT is connected to a Verizon-branded 8-way splitter (it says MOCA 2.0 on the splitter). One coaxial cable runs from the splitter to the coaxial connection on the G1100.

- On the first floor, there is a splitter from the wall coaxial connection, with one cable from the splitter going to my set top box, and another cable going to an Actiontec Network Extender (WCB 6200Q)

- On the second floor, I have 2 Actiontec Network Extenders (same WCB 6200Q).

My concern is that while the WCB 6200Q supports Bonded MOCA 2.0 connection, from what I've read, the G1100 only supports MOCA 2.0. Other forum posts also imply that a MOCA network will default to the lowest speed on the network, which would be the MOCA 2.0. I bought an Actiontec Network Adapter (ECB6200), which supports Bonded MOCA 2.0, but not sure how to set everything up so that I bypass the coaxial connection to the G1100, but preserving the internet I need for the set top box.

Hopefully that all made sense and thanks in advance for the help.

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Re: How to set up gigabit internet on MOCA Network
Raptor2679
Enthusiast - Level 2

Got it! So as long as the Actiontec adapter is set up properly, it becomes the source of the MoCA, taking over for the G1100. Since the Actiontec adapter is bonded 2.0, everything can communicate with it at gigabit speeds, if the other extenders are bonded 2.0 as well.

Thank you again, very educational day for me today!

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Re: How to set up gigabit internet on MOCA Network
Edg1
Community Leader
Community Leader

Take the ECB6200 and place it with the G1100. Take the coax out of the G1100 and connect it to the the ECB6200. Then connect an ethernet cable from the G1100 LAN port to the ECB6200. 

Re: How to set up gigabit internet on MOCA Network
lasagna
Community Leader
Community Leader

What was suggested won't work as you'll still be on the same cable plant as a STB which is running MoCA 1.1

You need to create a scenario where you essentially have two isolated cable plants -- one which contains the STB's, the ONT, and either the Coax port of the G1100 or it could be a MoCA adapter to get your to ethernet) -- and the other which contains only the MoCA adapters and a MoCA adapter to get you to ethernet for this cable plant at the G1100.

From your description, is there a way to get a second piece of coax to the first floor location of the STB or to remove the need for that network extender?   If so, some swap out of 8-way splitter and maybe a Lopass filter or two could get where you need to be.   If not, I can think of a way to do this potentially with another bridge and a lopass filter and a splitter at the location where the STB is located but it'll be a bit more complex.

Is it possible to move the network extender at the location where the STB is located to a different location on the first floor such that it's not on the same leg of coax from the main splitter as the STB?  If so, I can think of possibly another way which I will suggest.

Re: How to set up gigabit internet on MOCA Network
Edg1
Community Leader
Community Leader

While the other poster’s solution will work it is very over complicated and unnecessary. It’s a common misconception that 1.1 devices will dumb down the network. It’s just not true. MoCA 2.5, bonded 2.0, and 2.0 all work with 1.1. 

http://www.mocalliance.org/MoCA2/specifications.htm

For example, if 2.0 devices are on a coax network with 1.1 devices, they will still communicate at 2.0 speed. A 2.0 device can only talk to a 1.1 device at 1.1 speed. 
I think the main reason that there is confusion about this is because 1.0 devices will dumb down the network. Verizon’s older STBs like the Motorola 2500 and 6416 were 1.0 and would limit the MoCA to 7 nodes even if only one was on the network. When Verizon came out with 1.1 devices you could have 15 MoCA nodes. 
Another example of two versions on the same network are the Actiontec rev I router and VMS1100/IPC1100 STBs. The Actiontec is 1.1 and the 1100s are 2.0. If you look at the MoCA table in the STB diagnostics it will show you different versions of MoCA on the same coax network. 
Both solutions provided will work. It’s up to you how to set it up. 

Re: How to set up gigabit internet on MOCA Network
Raptor2679
Enthusiast - Level 2

Thank you! I'll give this a shot to see if it works. Good to know that my current setup will allow for Gigabit internet.

One more question if I may - do I connect the coaxial cable to the "Coax In" on the adapter, or the "TV/STB Out"?

Re: How to set up gigabit internet on MOCA Network
Raptor2679
Enthusiast - Level 2

Thank you for the help. I have a Cisco CHS435 STB - is that Moca 1.1?

Also, I wanted to confirm, it sounds like what you're saying, is that even though the STB is Moca 1.1, I can still get Gigabit internet as long as there are routers that are Bonded Moca 2.0. In that case, is there any reason for me to use the adapter, to bypass the coaxial connection on the G1100? It sounds like it is unnecessary.

Re: How to set up gigabit internet on MOCA Network
Edg1
Community Leader
Community Leader

Yes the Cisco boxes are MoCA 1.1. Bonded MoCA 2.0 is backward compatible with 2.0 and 1.1, so a bonded 2.0 device will communicate at bonded 2.0 speed despite a 1.1 client in the network. 

The reason for bypassing the G1100 coax port is because it is 2.0 so bonded 2.0 devices will communicate with it at 2.0 speeds. By putting the bonded 2.0 adapter with the G1100 will enable you other bonded 2.0 adapters to all communicate at bonded 2.0 speeds which are up to a gig. If you leave the G1100 as is you will be capped around 400 mbps over the coax. 

Re: How to set up gigabit internet on MOCA Network
Raptor2679
Enthusiast - Level 2

Got it, so I will need the adapter to get gigabit speeds.

Sorry, you have been more than helpful but I would like to try to better understand, why is it that the G1100 without the adapter, which is 2.0, caps the network speed at 400mbps, but the Cisco STB, which is 1.1, doesn't cap the network speed at the 175mbps speed, which I've read is the max for 1.1? You mentioned Bonded 2.0 is backwards compatible with both 2.0 and 1.1, so am a bit confused. 

Either way, many thanks to you and the other posters for the help.

Re: How to set up gigabit internet on MOCA Network
Edg1
Community Leader
Community Leader

No problem. Whatever questions you have please post them. Basically the G1100 is the source of the MoCA. Any clients that talk to the the G1100 are limited to 2.0. The STBs are 1.1 so that max speed they would be able to get from the router would be 175 mbps. Now another 2.0 client like a MoCA adapter will talk to the G1100 at 400 mbps. A bonded 2.0 or 2.5 client will also talk to the G1100 at 400 mbps. They can support higher speeds but since the G1100 caps out at 400 mbps that is the speed they will all communicate with each other. Look at it like this...say you have a gigabit connection from FiOS and you have an older PC with a 10/100 NIC. That PC will only be able to get speeds up to a 100 mbps.

Re: How to set up gigabit internet on MOCA Network
Raptor2679
Enthusiast - Level 2

Got it! So as long as the Actiontec adapter is set up properly, it becomes the source of the MoCA, taking over for the G1100. Since the Actiontec adapter is bonded 2.0, everything can communicate with it at gigabit speeds, if the other extenders are bonded 2.0 as well.

Thank you again, very educational day for me today!