Actiontec MI424WR - a cheap MoCA bridge for all! - Page 28

They actually do have a diplexer built in. Look through the top. It is a Pulse C6058. But that's to split between the WAN and LAN.

Might have to check the physical characteristics...maybe I can swap it for a Pulse C6131SNL and drill another hole in the back.

But yea, we were talking about the ECB2200s.

Just a quick update on the MoCA addition that took up most of the previous page.

I received the Netgear MoCA adapters yesterday. Hooked one up to the coax outlet in the bedroom and moved a Moxi Mate (network DVR streamer) to it. No dice. So I decided not to cancel the Comcast tech visit this morning.

by the way... sorry if this is not allowed.
The third party seller from Amazon on these adapters was awesome. Adams Cable Equipment I believe. Placed the order late Wednesday and they arrived here last night. Great price, new in sealed box.

So the Comcast tech came out today and he was intrigued by the MoCA adapters. Anyway, there were three connections in the junction box that were not connected. So he connected those. Still no MoCA. He then took the wall plate off the outlet and said there was a "fitting" missing. He installed the fitting and voila... MoCA up and running.

He also had to install the fitting in the other two outlets.

I'm curious as to what these "fittings" were that had to be installed. I was so excited that the boxes were up and running I totally forgot to ask him.

Is there a way for me to test the speed/throughput of the MoCA adapters in their locations?

Just wanted to give you an update and thank you again for your patience and help. Very excited to have solid internet access throughout the house.

Jeff

The Pulse C6058 in the MI424 and the Pulse C6131SNL are different sizes. They are also connected differently. The C6058 splits the signal from the common port and sends both the high and low frequencies into the mainboard. Both of the mainboard connections are soldered in the case of my MI424, though I'm not sure I understand what the MI424 does with the low frequency signals. However, the C6131SNL sends the only high frequencies into the mainboard, and sends the low frequencies out the other F-connector.

Yea, size differences aside, it would work. The high sent to the board and low to the F-connector is desirable, as long as you never want to use the WAN capabilities of the MI424. That's what the MI424 uses the low side for - a Verizon-specific cable modem of sorts (I don't think it uses DOCSIS, but I could be wrong.)


Unfortunately I can't find a source for the C6131SNL either, so it is a moot point and my Dremel can stay in its box.

Regarding the size, it's not just outline of the diplexers that is different but also the locations of the tabs that get soldered to the mainboard. The low frequency, WAN side, of the C6058 diplexer is for coax connections to an ONT using MOCA on 1000Mhz. More info here:
http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/r18634604-
Pulse lists Avnet as a distributor for the C6131SNL, but they have no stock. So, as you said, it doesn't look like you are going to get to try this.

Hence the dremel.

Has anyone tried using one of the Actiontec's as their main router? I'm trying to set up a MoCA network in my parents large house. I have a Rev.F and E available and since they don't game or do torrents I thought I would use the Rev.F as their main router. They have Cox internet so it would be hooked up to a Surfboard modem. I'm thinking if I make the Broadband Connection (Ethernet) enabled I could use the Actiontec as the router off of the Surfboard modem. Has anyone tried this? Thanks.

Yes, I'm currently using a Rev F as my main router. And isnt the NAT table fixed in Rev F? I haven't had any issues and I am a gamer...

I believe it is. I don't have a problem with mine, but I was trying to avoid someone answering "why would you want to do that, the Actiontec is inferior to other routers." that's all. So I can connect the SB modem to the WAN. Enable the Broadband Connection (Ethernet). Hook up the Coax and disable Broadband Connection (Coax). And I should get a connection at the other Actiontec correct?

You also have to go into its "My Network" setup and enable the Coax as a bridge connection. (Not at home to check the steps involved - and my Verizon Actiontecs may have a different menu layout anyway.)

I am hoping someone can help me out with my MOCA setup

My Network Diagram

1. My NAS is running SMB/Samba
2. My T60p in Bedroom have PS3MediaServer and WMC running
3. My FreeAgent Theater Plus in Living Room can play just about everything (via DLNA and windows share)

Here's what I want to do
- stream 1080p content from T60p WMC to PS3 (calbe TV recording)
- stream 1080p content from NAS to FreeAgent Theater Plus via Windows share/Samba
- stream 1080p content from T60p PS3MediaServer to PS3 (HD content that might stutter if using FreeAgent Theater Plus/Samba combo

Here's what's happening
a. I can view netflix HD just fine using FreeAgent Theater Plus or PS3
b. I sometimes get stutter when viewing HD content on FreeAgent Theater Plus when playing from NAS via Samba

Overall, I can do mostly what I wanted to do, but I am not sure if there's room for improvement

Here are my questions
A) Is my coax connection acceptable, or I need to make changes to make it perform better?
B) how exactly do I measure network performance/throughput, given my network diagram? I read about iperf, but don't know enough to know exactly how to run, what to configure, etc, to measure performance/throughput
C) speaking of iperf, I can do all kind of tweaking to TCP/MTU/etc on PC, but how would that translate to PS3/FreeAgent Theater Plus? I doubt there's a whole lot I can change. All I want to know is for PS3 and FreeAgent Theater Plus, what kind of bandwidth it can utilize? This will give me some idea what can be streamed, and what can't. Ask another way, how do I dumb down my PC, running iperf, so I can test it as if it's a PS3 or FreeAgent Theater Plus? Hope I am making sense here... Or I am way off base with my approach?

PS: my LAN is 1 big network: 192.168.1.x. RT N16 is the primary, with DHCP server running. RT N13U, and the 2 Actiontec has DHCP server disabled

For anyone wondering, I can confirm the Netgear MCA1001 and the MI-424s (rev C and D) work together just fine, even with a MoCa password set. My only gripe is that the Netgears require you to connect them directly to a computer to configure them. The config button turns on a DHCP server, so it can't be connected to the rest of your network. When the config button is off, the Netgears do NOT get an IP address.

I have had a lot of problems with the Actiontec devices failing on me (Rev A models). I found the Netgears on eBay selling for $80, which includes a pair of devices. They have been working great for me.

Anyone want some old Rev A boxes to play with? They may or may not work for you. Pay for shipping and they are yours. PM me.

Kevin

Aren't the Rev A's notorious for power supply problems?

That's my understanding. I have 3 or 4 devices, and I think all of them have new power bricks.

xnappo, are these rev I's capable of moca2.0 or streaming faster than 100MBS?

If you look at the photos of the box on the ebay posting xnappo linked to, you'll see that the back panel shot shows a legend over the ethernet jacks that says that if both the 10 and 100 lights on a jack are lit up, that means gigabit.

I assume that speed would apply to the coax connection as well.

Of course, due diligence would be to download the manual from Actiontec or Verizon before buying one - that's where you'll find the qualifications and gotchas that the sales folks don't tell you.

That's why I asked if it was MOCA 2.0 which it looks like it is. Even then, whether it's basic or enhanced (400 or 800), neither will operate at full gig speeds. Anyone with real world benchmarks care to comment? I guess you would need 2 of these to really test.

This is exciting. I've since signed up with FIOS and currently have a Westell router/modem. The tech mentioned that they are getting rid of all the Westell stuff and going back to Actiontec. Maybe its these?

If so, there is, uhhhh, something wrong with my router. TECH SUPPORT!!!

You realize that if you're using the coax jack to connect to Verizon (FIOS only uses fiber in the street - the drop to individual customers uses coax), it won't be available for MoCA use!

You'll still need a Verizon cable modem in front of it in order to use it for MoCA.

No, I'm pretty sure you can enable both at the same time. There's a diplexer inside so both can be used simultaneously.

No you don't. I'm using it right now.

I'm having trouble visualizing the plumbing if there's only one coax jack - or are there two? That listing is gone now, so I can't see the photos any more.

Are you saying you'd use a simple splitter to connect the box and any local cable tv tuner together and to the cable wiring? I guess that could work.

But wouldn't it waste half of the MoCA signal at each location by putting its internal diplexer after the splitter connecting the box with the cable tv tuner?

I've always put my diplexer as the connection closest to where the cable comes into a room, to give the strongest MoCA connection possible.

Now you're confusing me. I have Verizon's actual modem/router in my office where it provides wired internet to the computers. Then I have an old Actiontec in the laundry room for my home server. Then I have a splitter in the living room, one goes to the Verizon cable box and one goes to my Actiontec. And finally, I have the same splitter setup in my bedroom.

I would assume though that you would need 2 of these (one at each point) to test bandwidth over MOCA.