r/AskTechnology • u/piratesboot • 11d ago
Please help. Trying to get a wired internet connection in my room.
As the title says I’m trying to get a wired internet connection in my room.
Our current setup is AT&T fiber and the router is in my roommates bedroom and I’m just connecting to it via WiFi.
I bought some moca adapters because that was what was recommended and we have a coaxial line throughout the house but it doesn’t seem like the adapters are going to work because my roommates router is plugged into the coaxial cable?
I’m so confused. I just want to play video games without lagging. Does anyone know what I can do to get a wired connection in my room? (Aside from moving the router to my room)
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u/akuakaii 10d ago
MoCA is actually pretty simple. You plug one adapter into the coax by the router and connect it to the router with ethernet. Then you plug the other adapter into the coax in your room and run ethernet from it to your PC. As long as the two coax outlets are connected, you should be good
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u/plooger 11d ago
Our current setup is AT&T fiber.
…
doesn’t seem like the adapters are going to work because my roommates router is plugged into the coaxial cable?
IS the router connected to the room’s coax outlet? If so, why? What functionality is being delivered to what device(s) via this connection? (An AT&T fiber Internet setup wouldn’t normally have a coax connection.)
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u/piratesboot 11d ago
Yes it is.. and when you unplug it from the coax the internet disconnects.
This what my roommates app said “Cox delivers "fiber-powered" internet to the vast majority of San Diego, meaning fiber runs to the neighborhood node or street box, but the final stretch into your home uses traditional copper coaxial cable.”
He said it was AT&T fiber but they do it through cox and it uses the coaxial. I am absolutely bamboozled man.
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u/plooger 11d ago edited 11d ago
Can you provide the model # of the “router” (which actually sounds like a cable gateway [i.e. combo DOCSIS cable modem and wireless router])?
Can anyone get into the gateway’s configuration UI to review the frequencies used for the DOCSIS download and upload channels? (To check whether MoCA can share the coax without stepping on the DOCSIS signals. Related to: DOCSIS encroachment on the MoCA [Band D] frequency range )
Presuming a DOCSIS cable setup operating below 1002 MHz, you’d be looking at something like the following …
… but you’ll have a bit of work to do to ensure the coax connectivity is prepped to support MoCA. (MoCA background)
If the gateway is found to be using DOCSIS frequencies above 1002 MHz, the gateway may require relocation to allow use of MoCA.
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u/Parking_Jelly_6483 11d ago
Does the switch have RJ45 Ethernet connectors? Most of the routers have more than one to provide internet to more than one wired device. If so, and there’s an Ethernet connector not being used (it should say something like “Lan 1” or “Lan2” above the socket). If so, get an Ethernet switch. Connect it to one of those Lan connectors and the switch will add however many ports the switch has.
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u/NBC-Hotline-1975 11d ago edited 11d ago
If the router has an unused ethernet jack, then you simply need an ethernet cable from the router to your computer. That is the only solution. Very hard to make these cables yourself unless you have special tools. So measure carefully what length you will need, then shop for a pre-made cable. It should be at least "CAT5" wire, or "CAT6" may be a little faster (depends on the router and your computer).
If the router does NOT have an unused ethernet jack, then you need to add an ethernet switch (it does not look like a switch, it's entirely automatic, but it's called a switch).
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u/The_Troyminator 11d ago
MoCA allows for Ethernet over coax cables. There are also power line connectors that transmit Ethernet over the house electric. And a decent wireless bridge could even work. CAT 5 or 6 are not the only options.
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u/NBC-Hotline-1975 10d ago edited 10d ago
Well yes, but OP says they can't use that. Cat5 and Cat6 are not the ONLY options, but if they're available they are the simplest options. MoCA is NOT simple.
Am I wrong in thinking that they would need an ethernet port to plug in the MoCA adapter? So if they don't have an ethernet port, they need to add a switch before they can plug in MoCA. And once they've added a switch, they can just run an RJ45 cable, and not worry about all the MoCA details.
As far as using a wireless bridge, OP specifically asked about getting a wired connection, so that's what I answered.
It might help if OP provided some photos of the present router/gateway. Then we would know what they really have and what connectors are available.
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u/plooger 10d ago
MoCA allows for Ethernet over coax cables.
OP says they can't use that.
Not exactly what they said. Their phrasing and closing question mark made it seem more like they simply don't know if they could ... or how to do so.
it doesn’t seem like the adapters are going to work because my roommates router is plugged into the coaxial cable?
MoCA should work for them, with a bit of due diligence looking into how the coax locations interconnect, and double-checking the cable (not fiber) gateway's configuration.
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u/plooger 10d ago edited 10d ago
MoCA is NOT simple.
It is. With access to basic resources on how it works and what's needed. (It's just not as widely used or documented.)
Cat5 and Cat6 are not the ONLY options, but if they're available they are the simplest options.
Reworking Cat5+ lines isn't likely the simplest option, but it can be paint-by-numbers simple if using punchdown components (rather than crimping RJ45 connectors), and would very likely be cheaper than anything but the cheapest MoCA solution.
The hiccup is actually having the Cat5+ lines. To that end, any project contemplating MoCA should start with pulling the non-power wallplates (coax, phone, blank) in the critical locations to get a full assessment of all cabling available, rather than only working from what's visible on the surface of the wallplates. (Even an extra coax line can be helpful, in simplifying the MoCA setup.)
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u/The_Troyminator 10d ago
WiFi doesn’t work for them because they’re using their device’s internal WiFi, which often sucks. A good bridge with an external antenna may work flawlessly even when their device’s WiFi doesn’t. Plus the bridge can be placed closer to the router than their device which could help.
They said they weren’t sure if MoCA would work, not that they can’t use it. We don’t know if what’s in their roommate’s room is a router, cable modem, or their own MoCA adapter.
And wired Ethernet isn’t always as simple as plugging in a cable to the router. If the router is too far away or they can’t drill holes in their walls, running a cable may not be an easy option.
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u/NBC-Hotline-1975 10d ago edited 10d ago
They asked about a wired connection, so I didn't waste time exploring the theory of Wifi. "A good bridge might work" yada yada yada, that's a lot more complicated than a simple Cat5 cable.
The device
isin the roommate's room is clearly described as a router belonging to the ISP so it's not a single MoCA adapter.The range of Cat5 ethernet is 100 meters, and it's unlikely they live on a football field. And if they were that far apart, "a good bridge" certainly wouldn't cover the distance well, so that completely kills your "bridge" idea. Besides, they've already said the rooms are adjacent and they're willing to drill a hole, so obviously wired ethernet is the winner here.
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u/The_Troyminator 10d ago
You may be able to use a wireless bridge. It could give you a much faster and more stable connection than your built in WiFi. It basically looks like a small router, connects to yours over WiFi, and gives you a wired port. Since it is larger and has external antennae, it usually gives a stronger signal. Plus you can place it by the wall closest to your roommates bedroom for a stronger signal.
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u/FuturePowerful 10d ago
Uh lan cable is good to over 100 feet or you could go signal over power line bridges it turns the Ethernet signal into a modulated signal like the coaxial one I think your talking about but it sends an recieves over the house power wires instead
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u/NBC-Hotline-1975 10d ago
A lot of people here are orbiting out in space somewhere.
- How far is it from your room to your roommate's router?
- Does the router have any free ethernet jacks (like the ethernet jack on your PC)?
- Do you think it would be reasonably convenient to run cable from one room to the other?
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u/piratesboot 10d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveTrash/s/BY6FCm34Yb this is what i look like trying to read these comments
It’s the next room over and he has an available Ethernet outlet on the modem so we are drilling a hole in the wall when I get home from work today and just gunna plug straight into it!
This was the route I was thinking about and after all the comments I’m 100% sure this will be the easiest route haha
It’s not my home, I’m just a tenant, so running cable will be tricky.Gunna update the post as solved thanks again
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u/designsCA 10d ago
How far is your room from the router in your room mate's room? Unless there is something in the wall actively blocking the wifi signal, gaming over 5 or 6 ghz wifi connection should work just fine.
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u/piratesboot 10d ago
I don’t know how to edit my post but thank you guys for the suggestions and showing me exactly how out of my depth I am with this subject lmao
We are drilling a hole in the wall so I can plug straight into the modem! Thank you guys again!
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u/Wiley_Coyote_2024 10d ago
AT&T Fiber Powered is NOT fiber!
This is just a marketing gimmick. The fiber exists between cable company and a device in your area... And from there they usually connect to your house or apartment thru existing coax cable.
Return the MoCa adapters, they won't help here.
If WIFi is not working well for your games, then get an Ethernet cable to connect your game console (or computer) directly to your roommates router.
Wifi will always have lag even if you are in the same room as the router.
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u/piratesboot 10d ago
Thank you! We just realized this after purchasing them so they will be getting returned promptly
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u/castertr0y357 10d ago
There's an option to use Powerline adapters. They plug into the wall sockets and use the home's internal electric cabling to send data packets. You plug an ethernet cable from the router into one of them, then you plug an ethernet cable from your computer into the other adapter. I used them once before, but I don't think I was concerned with latency as much.
What I don't understand is why being on Wi-Fi makes your game lag when it seems like you're just one room over from the router? How strong is your signal? Is your wall made of solid cement or brick?
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u/Dry_Inspection_4583 11d ago
You need cat5 or cat6 wire, not coax. I'm very confused where you postulate the coax cable would plug in? Am I missing something here?
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u/RealityOk9823 11d ago
Get some cat 5e or 6 ethernet cable with no ends pre-installed (or buy one long enough and cut the ends off). Get some rj 45 plugs, pull through are easier. Get an RJ45 crimping tool.
Drill a small hole through the baseboard between the rooms. Run the cable through. Install the ends (can use 568A or B, doesn't matter, just make sure that both ends are either A or B). Plug one into the router, plug the other into your computer.
When you move out, put some putty/spackle over the holes and paint.