1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,160 Wi-Fi is certainly convenient, but wired networks still have a lot of advantages, like higher 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:11,560 download speeds for files and videos, lower latency for applications like gaming, and 3 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,840 no signal drop-offs when you're too far away from your router. 4 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:20,520 But unless you happen to live in a new fangled building with Ethernet jacks like these built 5 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,480 into the walls, how are the hackers supposed to enjoy a wired connection? 6 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:29,520 I mean, you could be like this guy and turn your house into a cable spaghetti, but a more 7 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:35,120 appealing choice might be a little known but very useful standard called MOCA. 8 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:41,080 MOCA stands for Multimedia Over Coax Alliance, and it uses the coaxial cables that might 9 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:45,760 already be inside your walls. You know, the same ones that you can use for cable TV. 10 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:49,240 I mean, it makes sense that they can carry data traffic. 11 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:53,880 Cable internet has been around since the 1990s and can do gigabit plus download speeds these 12 00:00:53,880 --> 00:01:02,360 days. But how? Well, like cable internet, MOCA uses a different frequency to send data through your coaxial 13 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:09,000 cables. That way, your cable TV signal won't interfere with your network data and vice versa. 14 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:14,480 But how exactly do you connect a device with an Ethernet jack to one of those cable wall 15 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,480 outlets? Why? A dongle, of course. 16 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:25,400 Specifically, one that looks like this. You plug in an Ethernet cable from your router, then you connect the adapter to that coaxial 17 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:31,680 cable outlet in your wall. Then you do the same thing on the other end for any device you're trying to get online, 18 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,240 like a PC, a smart TV, or a wireless access point. 19 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:43,200 Oh, that last one is key. MOCA is great for extending your Wi-Fi range for phones or other devices that can't easily 20 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:49,760 take advantage of a wired connection. It is shockingly simple to set up and is encrypted for your security. 21 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,920 Some routers even have MOCA built in which can potentially save you the cost of an adapter 22 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:59,960 at one end. But hold on a minute, doesn't this sound like a less convenient version of powerline 23 00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:03,600 networking that uses your home's electrical wiring? 24 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:08,360 After all, everyone has electrical wiring and it's all over your house. 25 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:13,480 Not everyone has coax, and even the people who do have far fewer ports in their house. 26 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:18,020 The biggest advantage of MOCA compared to powerline is speed. 27 00:02:18,020 --> 00:02:23,280 Because data signals sent over powerline have to deal with interference from, well, everything 28 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:28,600 else in your home that uses electricity, they're usually limited to top speeds of a few hundred 29 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:35,000 megabits per second. That doesn't make them worthless, they can often have much better ping consistency for 30 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,920 gaming than Wi-Fi, so they're still good in an emergency. 31 00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:44,040 But those speeds are pretty unexciting compared to the latest MOCA adapters that can do two 32 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:49,940 gigabits per second, or better, allowing high-speed client devices to take full advantage of a 33 00:02:49,980 --> 00:02:55,820 lightning-fast multi-gig internet connection, or even video edit off of a remote NAS. 34 00:02:55,820 --> 00:02:59,700 However, MOCA adapters do have some downsides. 35 00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:04,740 For starters, they can be costly compared to powerline solutions, and you may also need 36 00:03:04,740 --> 00:03:11,100 a small device called a point of entry or PoE filter if you have either cable TV or cable 37 00:03:11,100 --> 00:03:17,260 internet service coming into your home. These filters keep MOCA signals from interfering with anything that your neighbors are doing 38 00:03:17,340 --> 00:03:21,900 with the cable line and are commonly suggested as a way to solve performance issues if you 39 00:03:21,900 --> 00:03:25,820 place one where the cable from your ISP enters your house. 40 00:03:25,820 --> 00:03:30,300 And despite the fact that MOCA is designed to work well with modern equipment, certain 41 00:03:30,300 --> 00:03:36,180 older cable modems and TV set-top boxes can get kinda cranky when a MOCA signal hits them, 42 00:03:36,180 --> 00:03:40,700 so a filter on the modem or cable box itself might be a good idea if you're experiencing 43 00:03:40,700 --> 00:03:46,580 problems. But this of course won't be an issue if you don't watch cable TV or if you have a different 44 00:03:46,580 --> 00:03:49,780 kind of internet service such as Fiber to the Home. 45 00:03:49,780 --> 00:03:54,580 Furthermore, because coaxial cable lines are susceptible to disruptions from splitters 46 00:03:54,580 --> 00:04:00,940 and other devices, MOCA is still gonna fall behind the best traditional Ethernet cables, 47 00:04:00,940 --> 00:04:07,820 while costing more. It's just a heck of a lot more practical than trying to rip out your drywall, or your 48 00:04:07,820 --> 00:04:13,100 landlord's drywall, to install those aforementioned traditional Ethernet cables. 49 00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:16,420 That is, unless you really like swinging a demolition hammer around. 50 00:04:16,420 --> 00:04:20,740 Thanks for watching guys, like, dislike, leave a comment with ideas for future episodes, 51 00:04:20,740 --> 00:04:23,380 and be sure to check out our video on PowerLine Ethernet.