Cable/Internet TV Connection Questions

[hcoles]

Hello all interested in various ways to get TV shows and streaming.
Here is my current setup.
I added an ethernet patch cable because getting Netflix, Amazon and Hulu didn't seem reliable. I think it is due to a not great Comcast wireless router and old Samsung TV. Things seem to be pretty stable now. I added a Roku module and I get Plex and HBO Max via wireless - that seems okay but not great.
Do I need the ethernet patch cable or will the TV get e.g. Netflix through the Comcast box? I was thinking Comcast doesn't want Netflix going in/out of their cable box.
Thanks for any comments. I know this is sort of a lame question. I just want to check before I start drilling for routing a long patch cable.

[blucille]

Depends on distances involved and what your walls are made of.

WiFi should be fine for the wireless streaming, but a lot of factors come into play. You might want to look at a WiFi mesh system to get stronger WiFi than comcast provides. Amazon’s eero is good, netgear, tplink and others all have easy to setup WiFi mesh systems that would get you better WiFi than you currently have.

[Gogar]

The tv will not get internet through the coax.

-if you feel your wireless is troublesome and it's easy to run a wire then i would.

Consider also just getting a roku with an Ethernet input and ditching the TVs apps altogether. The Tizen OS in the Samsung's is quite a bit clunkier than roku. And you'll save switching between the two.

If it's a PITA to run an Ethernet wire then you could try an Ethernet-over power line adapter. Sometimes they work great, sometimes average. Runs the internet over your home ac. "Might" be better than the wireless and is certainly convenient.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-powerline-ac1200-gigabit-ethernet-adapter-2-pack-white/4002029.p?skuId=4002029

[Pazuzu]

Xfinity? If so, get rid of the patch cable and the Roku, the cable box can do apps which includes HBO. The Roku might still be needed for Plex...plug the patch cable into the Roku.

[hcoles]

Thanks very much for the comments/info.

The TV is only 30 feet away without any walls but I think the wifi in the TV is not very good - 2012 might have been the first year of "smart" TV's. I may soon get a better TV but still I think having the ethernet patch cable feed will always be better and maybe faster. I can run the ethernet patch cable, not easy but doable.

I didn't know I could get a Roku with a RJ45 input. Do I need a hub so that the Roku and TV can be connected to the Ethernet right near the TV?

I looked at EERO but it will not support my current HP printer. You can buy printers that can be connected to the EERO network but the instructions seem daunting. Then I would have two wireless networks in the house. I looked at ethernet over power but the plugs are on different panels, not even going to the same panel so I don't think that will work.

My best option is to convert my jerry-rigged wire across the room to putting it through the wall and outside the house and then inside the attic and over to the wireless router wall.

[astrochex]

We have had success using a MOCA ethernet/coax adapter for our ethernet connection. We get the bandwidth without running an ethernet cable. The one issue we had is I had bought coax filters with too large a bandwidth that was wreaking havoc with wifi. Our provider diagnosed the problem and installed filters with a narrow bandwidth. If you go this route I can get the specs on the coax filters.

[Gogar]

Do you know what your Wi-Fi speed is near the tv?
You are correct a power line adapter won't work if the outlets come from different panels.
Roku ultra has Ethernet input.
If pazuzu is correct about apps on the cable box then obviously that would be the easiest.

[id10t]

Whenever possible wire is better than wireless for fixed-location devices, especially if you have a lot of portable devices that must use wireless.

[stomachmonkey]

Smart TVs are generally not a smart choice.

They’ll all run some proprietary OS which could limit choice of installable apps or leave you with an app lacking feature parity with the iOS/Android versions.

They are more expensive for no real benefit. The delta in price between a smart TV and it’s dumb sibling will get you a standalone device like RoKU or Apple TV.

If the TV goes tits up you have to redo everything on the replacement TV vs just plugging in your external streaming device.


WIFI is for convenience not performance. MoCA extenders are the way to go.

All residential cable providers use MoCA. MoCA runs ethernet over coax. Plenty of room in a coax pipe. It’ll support full gigabit.

Right now every live coax jack in your home can supply ethernet so go to amazon and get an Actiontek Moca adapter/ bridge.

While you can, don’t use garden variety $2.00 splitters. They max out at 1,000 mhz, spend $10 a splitter for 1,500 to 2,000 mhz.

[hcoles]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Do you know what your Wi-Fi speed is near the tv?
You are correct a power line adapter won't work if the outlets come from different panels.
Roku ultra has Ethernet input.
If pazuzu is correct about apps on the cable box then obviously that would be the easiest.

158 mbps down, 43mbps up, 7mseconds latency
On my laptop standing by the TV.

I'm trying to absorb the ethernet over coax idea. I have one coax going to the TV location now and it is plugged into the Comcast cable box. Also, need to see about if the Comcast cable box will run the Netflix, Amazon, Hulu apps. Somehow that software is there on the box or I would have to load it.

[hcoles]

Can I "split" the coax cable right near the TV and run one leg to the cable box and one leg to a Moca box and then have ethernet available right there? Then I have a way for my Smart TV to have wired ethernet plugged in with a hard wire (ethernet patch cord). Right or no? ??

[Gogar]

Well that's plenty unless it's inconsistent. Try SM's moca idea! If the modem/router and the coax that runs to the cable box are near each other you're golden.

[hcoles]

To try and understand. I can get a Moca box of some sort - it will have coax in and RJ45 ethernet out. Right?

[hcoles]

I can make a new diagram if that helps. People here like diagrams. :-) I like them also.

[stevej37]

I'm amazed at the first diagram....hth did you make that?

[hcoles]

Power Point. Power Point is not very good for making diagrams. I like Visio and used it for years and years for work but now it is expensive. IMHO Visio is very good software for drawing 2D.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by hcoles

Can I "split" the coax cable right near the TV and run one leg to the cable box and one leg to a Moca box and then have ethernet available right there? Then I have a way for my Smart TV to have wired ethernet plugged in with a hard wire (ethernet patch cord). Right or no? ??

Actually looking at your diagram you can move your WIFI / Ethernet router to any live coax drop in the house so if there is one at the TV move the router there and run ethernet straight to TV.

Most residential installers don't put the router in the best place for performance, they put it in the easiest most convenient place for them.

Around here 90% of the time they stick them inside the metal utility box in the laundry room. You could literally not pick a worse spot.

Or

https://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-MoCA-Network-Adapter-Ethernet/dp/B013J7OBUU/ref=sxin_13_ac_d_bv?ac_md=6-3-QWJvdmUgJDEyNQ%3D%3D-ac_d_bv_bv_bv&cv_ct_cx=moca%2Badapter&keywords=moca%2Badapter&pd_rd_i=B088KV2YYL&pd_rd_r=5837db25-01ce-4fc8-94cb-7e4cac971678&pd_rd_w=UjtCO&pd_rd_wg=xrq84&pf_rd_p=148e9898-1bed-4a70-9840-46f32e4185bd&pf_rd_r=QYYV6GRKZMK4PH98JFVP&qid=1639959642&sprefix=moca%2Caps%2C110&sr=1-4-f4ff053e-b1e8-4d31-8f95-56d755c862ba&th=1

And yes, splitter at TV, one leg to cable box, one to MoCA extender.

[hcoles]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Actually looking at your diagram you can move your WIFI / Ethernet router to any live coax drop in the house so if there is one at the TV move the router there and run ethernet straight to TV.

Most residential installers don't put the router in the best place for performance, they put it in the easiest most convenient place for them.

Around here 90% of the time they stick them inside the metal utility box in the laundry room. You could literally not pick a worse spot.

Or

https://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-MoCA-Network-Adapter-Ethernet/dp/B013J7OBUU/ref=sxin_13_ac_d_bv?ac_md=6-3-QWJvdmUgJDEyNQ%3D%3D-ac_d_bv_bv_bv&cv_ct_cx=moca%2Badapter&keywords=moca%2Badapter&pd_rd_i=B088KV2YYL&pd_rd_r=5837db25-01ce-4fc8-94cb-7e4cac971678&pd_rd_w=UjtCO&pd_rd_wg=xrq84&pf_rd_p=148e9898-1bed-4a70-9840-46f32e4185bd&pf_rd_r=QYYV6GRKZMK4PH98JFVP&qid=1639959642&sprefix=moca%2Caps%2C110&sr=1-4-f4ff053e-b1e8-4d31-8f95-56d755c862ba&th=1

And yes, splitter at TV, one leg to cable box, one to MoCA extender.

Thanks... I'm learning. Good point moving the Comcast gateway to right near the TV. This means I can "drive" the TV directly with an ethernet cable as a second input. However, moving the Comcast gateway to the TV makes it maybe worse wifi strength at the other end of the house where my wife's laptop and printer are. So if the MoCA single box would work that might be the easiest solution. I think I should update my diagram for y'all.

[hcoles]

While I work on the new diagram.... how would I test the speed of the coax outlet where I might be planning to hook all this stuff up?

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by hcoles

While I work on the new diagram.... how would I test the speed of the coax outlet where I might be planning to hook all this stuff up?

hook your router up and use an ethernet to your laptop. Make sure the laptop is not on wifi but on the hard line connection. If a mac, just turn wifi off up on the top bar. If PC then ask someone else.


Go to speedtest.net and check your speed.

You can then unhook and go wifi again and check the wifi speed. It's interesting to note the difference