Mesh Wi-Fi has come a long way in recent years, and the promise of fast, reliable wireless networking is undeniably attractive. The market sells a system that will end troublesome dead spots and blanket your home in the kind of Wi-Fi that is simply impossible when using a single access point. But the reality can be very different indeed.
No matter how many access points you fill your home with, Wi-Fi is still Wi-Fi. Mesh Wi-Fi can still be scuppered by thick walls, electronic interference, and signal degradation. That being said, there are times when mesh Wi-Fi can provide everything it promises. But it does so at a cost that can run into the many hundreds — and thousands — of dollars. But there’s good news because there is an alternative that offers the best of both worlds. Multimedia over Coax (MoCA) adapters bring the performance and reliability of a wired network, and you can still use Wi-Fi if you need it. Best of all, it’s incredibly cost-effective.
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The hidden copper in your walls
How MoCA outperforms wireless backhauls
Mesh Wi-Fi setups generally suffer from the same fundamental problem. No matter how many access points the mesh system is made up of, they’ll always need to communicate with each other. This connection is called the backhaul, and in the case of most consumer mesh systems, that backhaul is a wireless one.
While the wireless backhauls used by modern mesh setups are fast, they are still beholden to the laws of physics. And wireless backhauls simply aren’t as reliable as using a cable. And that’s where MoCA adapters come in.
MoCA technology uses shielded copper coaxial cables instead of Wi-Fi, so it’s more reliable. And because data is transmitted over a cable instead of through the air, it won’t be affected every time you turn the microwave on. It can also be incredibly fast with speeds of up to 2.5Gbps.
Even better, you might already have coax in your home, because it’s also used to transmit video signals. If your home is set up for multi-room TV, there’s a good chance a coax cable does the heavy lifting. With MoCA, you can repurpose that cable for something much more useful.
- What’s Included
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2 x network adapters
- Manufacturer
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ScreenBeam
- Type
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MoCA Network Adapter Kit
- Performance
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2.5Gbps
This ScreenBeam Bonded MoCA 2.5 Network Adapter starter kit includes two adapters, so you’ll have everything that you need to get started.
Maximizing coverage without the mesh premium
Deploying access points for a fraction of the cost
MoCA adapters come in pairs, one for each end of the coax cable. Not to be confused with temperamental powerline adapters, MoCA adapters plug into an AC outlet but don’t use your electricity cables to transmit data.
Each adapter has at least one Ethernet port, so you can connect one to your router and the other to whatever you like. That could be a computer or a media device. But it could also be a wireless access point, which makes MoCA a reliable way to send Wi-Fi to areas of your home your router doesn’t normally reach.
In this configuration, your network will function similarly to a mesh network, but with one important caveat. This approach uses a wired MoCA backhaul, so it won’t suffer from any of the issues a traditional mesh system will.
Going the MoCA route will also be considerably cheaper. While mesh systems can cost upwards of a thousand dollars, a pair of MoCA adapters rated for 2.5Gbps costs around $120-$140. You can buy a capable Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 access point for less than $100. Combined, there’s no contest — this approach offers incredible value when compared to a mesh Wi-Fi setup, and you can add extra MoCA adapters to bring fast, wired networking to another room as well.
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Embrace the cable
Good mesh Wi-Fi systems have a place in the market, but whether they should have a place in your home is a matter for debate. If you’re a renter or your ISP gives you a mesh system as part of your plan, going another route may be a hard sell.
But if you own your home, and you want to save some money while also enjoying reliable, wired networking speeds, you should definitely check out MoCA adapters. And if you’re moving into a new home, consider checking for those little coax ports as you go from room to room. You might be surprised how often they make an appearance.
Just don’t let on to the realtor what they are. They might increase the price when they realize what they’re sitting on.