cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/63691946
Looking for advice on setting up a new whole home network and the direction to take of MoCA over existing cabling vs running new Ethernet Cat6A:
Recently in a new space that has an existing HomeConnect CSMAPDU9VPI with coax cables run throughout the home, which seems like a great candidate to just use MoCA and get up and running faster:
But I am also interested in “future proofing” the network setup and replacing the coax cables that are already run with Cat6A Ethernet, all connecting to a central 10G switch / homelab setup.
Is it worth the effort to re-run all of the cables and swap out the wall plates or just go with the simple thing an run with a MoCA setup? I’d really prefer to not spend on one setup with the plan to update in the future, but maybe that’s the compromise solution to get setup and running sooner.
The CSMAPDU9VPI is currently completely isolated from the cable line to the modem (picture above is old and shows a cable connected to the IN port, this cable is no longer connected) so I don’t think I have to worry about interference with my DOCSIS 3.1 service / modem.
In theory, yeah, modern WiFi and gigabit Ethernet are about the same speed. But WiFi will always be less reliable, the bandwidth is shared rather than per device, and if you have neighbors you will lose some to interference. Also, cat6 can get you to 10 gigabit, so is much more future proof.
I hesitate to say they are the same speed because there are more variables with wifi than Ethernet, many of them outside your control. With Ethernet, you get what you build. Period.
WiFi is more optimistic. It can theoretically be fast but you cannot rely on it to perform as you plan at any given moment.
WiFi is a convenience technology and it’s great but if it’s even remotely important, it should never rely on WiFi.
Exactly, that’s the “in theory” part. In theory, 802.11ax (aka WiFi 6) can hit 1.1Gb, and 802.11be (WiFi 7) can hit 23Gb(!!) with an expensive router, while most common cheap Ethernet devices support 1Gb, though fancier ones support 2.5 or 10, and if you have the money you can get 40Gb or 100Gb devices. But you’re only going to hit those WiFi rates in an anechoic chamber with perfect antennas, placement and no other devices. And that speed is shared between all connected devices.
But a $20 Ethernet switch can support 8 devices getting a solid 1Gb connection simultaneously.
Related, I have a Roku TV that only has a 100Mb Ethernet connection but generally reports several hundred Mb over WiFi. I still only use the Ethernet connection because a 4k show only needs about 60Mb, and I never have had a problem with the Ethernet connection, while WiFi would drop out several times a week.
True.
It really depends on a lot of “what ifs”.
I’ve been through the cabling thing in multiple places since 1996…
Today I run cable as-needed. If wi-fi gets it done, I’m not putting in the effort for cable.
If wifi isn’t getting it done, I’ll run a single cable for the location with issues, and drop in a gigabit switch (if needed).
The days of running cable “just in case” are in the past, for me.