Help a dummy with a MoCA network setup

[Project86]

I'm trying to extend a signal to a remote corner of the house. Wireless N is spotty there, Powerline doesn't work very reliably, but I know for a fact the coaxial connection nearby is good. So I figured I could do a quick MoCA setup and call it a day. But it's not working out for me, and I'm not sure why.

I picked up a few Verizon branded Actiontec routers with MoCA built in. I followed the instructions here: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=50476 since it directly pertains to the units I'm using. I got through step 13 with no problem - each Actiontec, when connected to my main router via LAN, will get internet. But when I try bridging one to the other via coaxial cable, it doesn't connect. The light tells me it has coaxial LAN but when I connect Ethernet to a laptop, I get "no internet connection". Tried the Windows network diagnostic just for grins and it tells me there's a problem with the DNS server. I'm lost as to my next step.

I'm sort of network illiterate - it's been a long time. So go easy on me if you have any ideas for what I should try next.

Thanks in advance!

 

[JackMDS]

Did you make sure that Both ActionTech have a static IP that is on the same subnet as your Internet Router and out of it DHCP server.

I f main Router is 192.168.1.1 subnet is 192.168.1.x - x is anumber between 1- 250 that is Not in the range of the DHCP that is configured in the Main Internet Router.

 

[Project86]

No, I didn't - I actually made sure to give them 192.168.0.150 and .151 so they would be within the DHCP range as my main router. So that's a mistake? I'll have to try out of range and see if that works, though it sound counterintuitive for some reason. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[ccbadd]

If you are going through a splitter on the coax make sure it is at least a 2.0Ghz splitter.

 

[kevnich2]

Those moca adapters work on Layer 2, so the ip address doesn't matter at all. As long as the splitters you're using, if any, are both capable of passing the correct frequency, it will connect. Also make sure that both coax connectors you're using are both tied into a splitter.

Also, the specific units you have are actually major overkill for what you're trying to do. A simple moca bridge from amazon would suffice ok.

With how you're using these, make sure you disable DHCP on both of those units to make them purely a moca bridge. Connect both router's up to a laptop and disable DHCP and make sure the router's IP is something that's no in use. After this, connect a splitter up to your coax jack and make sure the splitter willl pass the correct frequency or else they won't talk to each other. Then make sure you use the LAN ports and ignore the WAN as it won't do you any good.

EIther of those two from amazon would also work and wouldn't need any reconfiguration, might be a better idea but that's up to you and your budget:

Pair of moca adapters: http://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-Ethe...actiontec+moca

4 port gigabit switch with moca adapter: http://www.amazon.com/ACTIONTEC-Thea...actiontec+moca

 

[JackMDS]

Those moca adapters work on Layer 2

If I understand correctly the OP got on ebay Wireless Routers that also have Moca output.

 

[kevnich2]

If I understand correctly the OP got on ebay Wireless Routers that also have Moca output.

The moca portion is still just layer 2, as long as DHCP is disabled so the router functionality is disabled and the coax splitters pass the correct frequency. Just need to be careful and not ever reset to factory defaults

I am curious how many he purchased and how much it cost them. The moca bridges/adapters on amazon aren't that costly for what they do and require NO configuration. Just gotta make sure the physical stuff is connected and just power them on and that's it.

 

[JackMDS]

The moca portion is still just layer 2, as long as DHCP is disabled so the router functionality is disabled and the coax splitters pass the correct frequency. Just need to be careful and not ever reset to factory defaults

Thanks for the info. :biggrin:

 

[Project86]

Thanks for the ideas. I got these used from the classifieds here, for under $50 total. I was just looking for a cheap solution that would give me several ports on the "receiving" side of it. This will be perfect, assuming I get it up and running.

I'm traveling now but when I get home, I'll try setting each unit for a static ip outside of the main router dhcp range, as suggested. Hopefully that does the trick.

 

[Project86]

Wait... Rereading the posts above, I'm lost about the whole splitter aspect. I had dish network previously and the coax lines in the areas I need are confirmed to be functional based on that setup (cancelled dish but didn't change the wiring at all). So how do I know if I have a splitter in my setup?

 

[ccbadd]

If you had Dish, you might have a multi-switch instead. You really need to trace your coax wiring back to its distribution point. FYI, MoCa does not work with Dish, they use some of the same frequencies. I think they are in the 1.2 to 1.5Ghz area but I'm not sure. Here is an example of one that would work: http://www.amazon.com/4-Way-Coax-Cab...=coax+splitter
Also, never get a splitter will a bunch of extra ports that you are not going to use as it will degrade your signal, kind of like an open water faucet drops you water pressure available everywhere in the system.

 

[Project86]

Thanks for the info. To be clear - I do not have Dish any longer, and do not intend to reactivate Dish (or cable for that matter). So the frequencies shouldn't matter at this point.

Or are you suggesting that my installation, since it was Dish, may have a switch that doesn't allow MoCA signals to pass through? I didn't think it worked that way but I could be wrong.

An update to my situation - I've got the routers configured and "talking" to one another. Must have screwed up on one of the steps I guess. So I can go: Main router -> LAN to Actiontec #1 -> direct coax to Actiontec #2 -> LAN out to my laptop, and I do get internet. Which is good news! Unfortunately the coaxial cable in the the other room does not seem to connect. So I gotta trace that and make sure it is all still connected.

At one time I had a Dish VIP722. The main signal came in one room, to the 722, then went back out over the same line for their "TV 2" configuration, and ended up in the other room. So It's all connected somehow - I just need to follow the lines and check the switches I guess. Anything else to watch out for?

 

[Project86]

Just an update - I got it working! Had to go to the installation box outside my garage, check the wiring, and move some things around. I removed an unneeded splitter and made sure all the lines were on the remaining splitter. That way I didn't need to figure out which one went where, since they all connected regardless. It works, I'm getting speeds as fast as a direct cat5e connection. Thanks for the help everyone!