Actiontec Ethernet over Coax Adapter Kit for Homes without MoCA Routers

I've literally always had problems with connecting to the internet since I got my first computer back in 2002. I've always had to use wireless connectivity due to the fact that my old house was built way back in the 40's and running wires was not ideal. I have since moved into a newer house, but for some reason they didn't add LAN outlets in the rooms, and this house was built in 2006 it's still mind blowing that they didn't add it to this day. Wireless is always a good choice because it's convenient, it's an easy method and there's only one wire, unless you have an internal card. Well since I live in a bigger house, my internet was always spotty, and maxed out at 1mb if I was lucky that day, even with the latest and greatest wireless router/adapter. The router is located on the first floor to the far far left, while my room is upstairs to the far back right, causing a constant weak signal. I could've us wireless boosters or even relocated the router, but i didn't want to create more of a mess than there already is with wires/devices. So I was finally fed up with random lag spikes and disconnects, and started searching for other methods of connectivity. Of course, wired was my first choice, but that would mean running wires and spending money on cat5 cables, and I like to do things myself so it seemed good in my head but on paper it wasn't looking more and more like a headache, so I did some research (Google) and stumbled upon Powerline Adapters. Seemed simple enough, Plug into an outlet then plug an Ethernet cord from the adapter to the router, then plug the other adapter wherever you want to connect to the internet into an outlet, and plug the LAN cable from the adapter to your computer/device. I ordered it, thinking this was gonna solve my problems but no, of course not. It worked great, constant connectivity, no random spikes/disconnects but since my house had at least 10 circuits, it wasn't fast at all. I was used to getting 30/15mbps on wireless, but with this I got 7/3mbps at the most 15/7mbps, even though we have a 100mbps service. It worked for awhile then it finally crapped out on me after a year, so I was back at the start with wireless. Great.So being at step 1 again, I did more research (Google) and after seeing the same suggestions of using Wireless/Wired/Powerline I eventually found MoCA. It changed everything for me. I ordered one, because the description says "Connect through your existing Coax Cables if you have Cable Television" so I thought somehow it was like a modem that I could just connect anywhere, turns out i was wrong and you need 2, one where your modem/router is located and the other one where you want internet. So I ordered another one, and it finally arrived. I was excited and got it all setup as the instructions said, and every light lit up Green, except the Coax. I stood there with a smile, waiting for all the lights, and my smile slowly turned into a wtf face. I was pissed, getting more and more mad until I started troubleshooting and reading other peoples problems.My first guess was that there was an amplifier somewhere, so I started searching from the source. The lines come in from my basement and run up through the attic, and splits from there into each room. So I looked and looked, figuring the amp would be in the attic, but nope it wasn't there. So I went back to the source, and I must've just not realized it at first, but lo and behold there's the amplifier, right under the sources box. It was a little grey device, one side had two ports labeled RF IN and POWER, the other side said RF/POWER out. So I disconnected the RF IN and put it directly into the splitter that the cables all come from to each room. After that, voila, the Coax lights on both devices lit up and I was connected. I went to my computer, and instantly went to speedtest and tested it. I know it's not always accurate but it was reading 90/20mbps, my eyes lit up and I was wicked happy. Never again do I have to deal with lag or anything like that. After this I went to the computer where the modem/router is at and did a speedtest there too. It read 100/29mbps. I'll take the 10mbps loss anyday, this is as good as it gets.The only problems I have noticed are:1: When my TV is on and I'm using the internet, the speeds go down to about 50/15mbps which still isn't bad, plus there's no lag so it's not a problem.2: Sometimes while I'm watching TV the picture will basically pause, then it will start again except the picture will be all messed up and then go back to normal after a few seconds. This happens 2-3 times and hour. I'm going to use a splitter instead of having it come from the MoCA box. I'll post results when I do it.TL;DR This has been the best thing I've purchased in awhile, it's like a hidden gem and it's awesome. If you can't run wires and wireless/powerline isn't working for you, get MoCA. It'll be the best choice you can make, other then running Ethernet through your house. If it doesn't work right away, check for an amplifier, and bypass it.

Actiontec ECB2500CK01 is a plug-n-play MoCA product if you do a little home work to understand your own coax cabling.I was researching ways to build my home network and it turned out that MoCA is a good solution if you do not subscribe to Satellite TV services (however, Direct TV has an alternative MoCA device allows you to use MoCA with Satellite service). For people who do not like to drill holes and lay down Ethernet cables, this is the way to go. However, as I mentioned I did a little home work before I put this into use. here is what I did to prepare for this product.1. Understand MoCA topology. Go to MOCA alliance site and read docs about MoCA.2. Making sure your coax cable wiring is ready for it.Verify your cable wiring and you have access to the splitter which led to both rooms which you need to connect to. Note: not every coax outlet is already wired up for you. I knew this from the beginning that I only had two coax outlets wired up, one for my master bedroom, one for my living room. One thing to watch out for is if you have amplifier between two MoCA adapters the amplifier may mess up MoCA signals. My goal here is to provide a connection between my study room, which is where my DSL connection start from, and my living room. Although I had coax cable run to my study room but there was no coax connector at all (just cable) and my central splitter which is located in my cable box has only two outlets and rest of the coax cable are not prepared with connectors. This means I need to do my own coax cabling. So I bought coax cable tools and connectors (DataShark 70018 Cable TV "F" Compression Bundle) and a 4 port coax splitter which accepts signals from 5MHz ~ 2000MHz. Then it turned out coax connector preparation was not that hard. I also bought a connection checker so I can identify which cable leads to which room and verify my connection. These are fairly cheap products that do the work I need them to. Finally, I connect the cable that I know leads to my study room with the new 4 port splitter so the cable outlet in my study room can be linked to my living room. 3. Get a Point of Entry Filter This filter does not come with Actiontec ECB2500CK01, you need to purchase them separately. This does NOT mean Actiontec ECB2500CK01 needs this this filter to work, in fact, this pair of MoCA adapters work without the filter. What this filter does is it filters out MoCA signals flying above 1000MHz, so in essence, it prevents your MoCA signal from leaking out of your LAN as well as reflect your MoCA signals so ideally improve your MoCA signal strength. I purchased PPC SNLP-1G from eBay. However, please be noted that there are some splitters that have POE filter built-in, so in this case, you may not need a separate POE filter. I connect the filter to the "in" on the 4 port splitter and connect the other end of the filter to the cable which comes from cable company.Enough for preparation, now here is what my setup is:In my study room, I connect an adapter with its coax-in which leads to coax cable outlet on the wall. Then I connect an Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on the adapter and connect the other end to my DSL router. Then I connect the power cord to the adapter with the AC provided.In my living room, I connect the other adapter with its coax-in which leads to coax cable outlet on the wall. Then I connect its coax-out which leads to my cable company's set-top box. Then I connect its Ethernet port to the Ethernet port on either my PS3/XBOX/TV/Laptop. Finally hook this adapter with power cord. By this time, I see two lights are on (power and coax connection light).Enjoy your MoCA network:I tested it with my laptop and PS3 and it works like a charm. Note: in case you wonder when is the third light turns on, you need to turn on your machine you'd like to be connected to your LAN/Internet so that you will see three green lights on the adapter given that all things are set up right.Pros:Easy to setup. Works stable, much more stable and faster than WIFI.Cons:Installation menu tries to simplify the process but lacks some details (e.g. I was confused when only two bulbs are green when both adapters were on and connected to Ethernet port, I expect three bulbs to be green. Later I realized that only when you turn on your device that is accessing network connection through Ethernet, the third bulb in the middle turns on).

I had some Power over Ethernet, actually a couple generations and brands and could never get a consistent speed. Sometime it was great, sometimes horrible or dead. I switched to the cable versions above am happy. Speeds are great for streaming AppleTV @720dp and any xbox, YouTube etc. I have another airport express hard wired to my network and get the same speeds off each. Overall, exactly as described. Tip, do google the manual and set the security. Not hard at all and very worth doing.

Works exactly as advertised, solved everything in delivering internet all over the house.

Second one I have bought. Hook it up and it works. Solid 100Mbps speeds and way more stable then WiFi. I use dedicated coax cable for my setup so I am not sure how well it works with a cable box.

Rapid delivery. Works exactly as advertised. Perfect for expanding wired network to a location beyond wifi range and with no hard-wired Ethernet connection.

works great !!!