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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Wi-Fi is convenient, but it struggles in certain types of homes.
- MoCA 2.5 is an alternative networking option that uses coaxial cables to deliver fast, low-latency internet speeds.
- With an adapter, you can enjoy stable, high-speed connections for streaming, work, and gaming.
I’ve always been a champion of Wi-Fi. Wireless networks are convenient, easy to set up, and, thanks to years of improvements, generally stable. As much as I prefer Wi-Fi, I’m also fully aware that it isn’t the perfect solution for everyone. There are situations where a wireless network isn’t viable, such as a home made with brick walls. Brick and stone can weaken or outright block Wi-Fi signals.
Also: Bye bye, Wi-Fi: This low-cost adapter lets you set up a wired network without running ethernet
The other option is to run a wired connection directly from the router. But when you take a close look at your house’s network, you’ll notice that the line connecting your home to your ISP is a coaxial cable. Does this mean you’ll need to rip out all that coax and replace it with a more modern system as part of an expensive upgrade? Not at all, thanks to the MoCA standard.
What is MoCA 2.5?
MoCA stands for Multimedia over Coax Alliance. It is a networking standard that uses existing coaxial cable to transmit internet data. The most recent version is MoCA 2.5, which supports connection speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps and offers low latency, typically under 2.5 milliseconds.
2.5 Gbps isn’t the fastest internet speed in the world. With the right ISP plan, equipment, and cabling, it is possible to achieve 5Gbps or more, but 2.5Gbps is more than enough for most people. Even the biggest power users are unlikely to come close to hitting that cap. My internet service is capped at 1Gbps, and despite having dozens of devices connected, my household has never hit that limit. If anything, 2.5Gbps is overkill.
What can you enjoy with MoCA 2.5?
At those speeds, you can enjoy seamless 4K streaming (and even 8K, where available), fast large file transfers, high-resolution video calls, and stable online gaming. That last is especially important because having a good online gaming experience depends heavily on connection stability. A reliable connection reduces the likelihood of lag, stuttering, and sudden disconnects.
This doesn’t mean Wi-Fi no longer has a place in this type of home. Phones and tablets, for example, can’t connect to the wider internet via coax or even Ethernet. However, for desktop, workstation, and laptop setups, MoCA 2.5 is an excellent option for people who want the reliability of a wired connection but are limited to older infrastructure. MoCA breathes new life into those old cables stuck in your walls.
Also: Slow home internet? Here are 3 things I always check first to regain fast Wi-Fi speeds
To use MoCA, you will need a special adapter. ZDNET Senior Contributing Editor Ed Bott recently wrote an update to his experiences with MoCA 2.5 and recommends the TRENDnet TMO-321C Ethernet over COAX MoCA 2.5 Adapter. Setup is straightforward: connect a coaxial cable from the coax outlet in your wall to the adapter, then run an Ethernet cable from the adapter to your PC, and voila — you’ve got internet.
That’s the gist. You will need more adapters for individual rooms. The TRENDnet model is pretty cheap at $65 a pop. One thing to note about the TRENDnet adapter is that it supports up to 1 Gbps via its Ethernet port. The company does offer a 2.5Gb model for $80. If you specifically want a MoCA adapter with a 2.5Gb Ethernet port, check out the goCoax MoCA 2.5 Adapter.