What is MoCA and why do I want it?

What is MoCA?

MoCA (stands for Multimedia over Coax Alliance) is a technology that uses the existing coaxial cables already in most people’s homes. In essence, MoCA creates a wired Internet home network, but without the headache of drilling holes or running wires.

Because MoCA technology is wired, it also delivers a reliable, low-lag, and ultra-high-speed connection. All of these are critical to a good streaming video or online gaming experience. 

With MoCA Network Adapters or MoCA WiFi Extenders, you can turn your home network into an “Internet Autobahn” with speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps* and latency as low as 3.5 ms.

* Requires an Ethernet port.

The WiFi vs Wired

WiFi speeds can vary a lot and sometimes even drop altogether in “dead zones” of your home.  One rule of thumb you can follow is that if the device sits still, wire it up. If the device is portable and moves often – like a laptop – connect to WiFi.  Consider going back to a wired internet connection here and there. Most homes already have at least one coax outlet that can support a wired connection. So, all you need to enhance your home network are cables and something like a high-speed MoCA adapter to get the faster speeds and reliable connection you want throughout your home.

WiFi is without a doubt more convenient, but you’ll be happy when you’re gaming or streaming without interruptions.

How Does MoCA Work?

Coaxial cables are the wires that connect TVs to set-top boxes and to paid TV services. Most homes have a least two or more coaxial ports.  With MoCA technology, your home’s existing coaxial wiring is instantly converted into an Ethernet network that delivers high speed Internet access to the many devices in your home. The result is a powerful whole-home network and the benefits of a wired connection, without having to run new Ethernet cables through the walls.

MoCA Adapters come in pairs and send Internet data (including video streams) through the coaxial wiring in your home.  You just connect a first MoCA Adapter to your modem/router and the second to your media player near a coaxial port. Some modems/routers are already MoCA enabled; in this case you will need a only single MoCA Adapter at the other end.

Sometimes media players are not close to a coaxial port. In this case a MoCA Network Extender may be used instead of a second MoCA Adapter. You will connect one MoCA Adapter to your modem/router. Then you connect a MoCA Network Extender to a coaxial port somewhere in your home that is closer to your media player. A good part of your home network is then wired, making it much faster and less subject to interference. The Network Extender sends out a Wi-Fi signal from that point to your media player as well as to other devices in the home.

With support for the latest bonded MoCA 2.5 standard, the ScreenBeam ECB7250 MoCA Adapter supports speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, more than enough bandwidth for HD video, online gaming, and other demanding applications. You get the reliability and performance of a wired connection without the expense of wiring the home for 2.5 Gbps Ethernet.

MoCA Beats Out Standard Mesh WiFi

WiFi networks with good speed can still have poor quality due to high latency or lag times. Low network quality is especially not ideal for gamers who seek a reliable, stable signal with quick response time.

Standard mesh WiFi networks on average have higher latency than wired networks (including MoCA), which means gamers may experience delays and signal interruption. A standard mesh repeater also only extends the WiFi signal while taking up some of the bandwidth for its connection. On the other hand, a WiFi Network Extender with MoCA uses a wired connection to your router* through a home’s existing coaxial wiring. This creates a super-fast backhaul while saving all the Wi-Fi bandwidth for your mobile devices. In the end, you get a reliable, superhighway for your WiFi traffic without dead zones.

* If the router is not MoCA enabled, you will need to pair the MoCA network extender with a MoCA network adapter.

What are Some MoCA Options?

For the most reliable home network, look into a WiFi Network Extender with MoCA as long as your home has coaxial wiring. A good alternative is MoCA Network Adapters.

* Devices or APs must have an Ethernet port.

By simply using MoCA Network Adapters or MoCA WiFi Extenders, you can make your home network much more reliable and get speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps*. Learn more about MoCA Network Adapters and WiFi Extenders on ScreenBeam’s Complete Guide to MoCA.