WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.160 Wi-Fi is certainly convenient, but wired networks still have a lot of advantages, like higher 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:11.560 download speeds for files and videos, lower latency for applications like gaming, and 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:15.840 no signal drop-offs when you're too far away from your router. 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 00:00:20.520 --> 00:00:24.480 into the walls, how are the hackers supposed to enjoy a wired connection? 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 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:35.120 appealing choice might be a little known but very useful standard called MOCA. 00:00:35.120 --> 00:00:41.080 MOCA stands for Multimedia Over Coax Alliance, and it uses the coaxial cables that might 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. 00:00:45.760 --> 00:00:49.240 I mean, it makes sense that they can carry data traffic. 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:53.880 Cable internet has been around since the 1990s and can do gigabit plus download speeds these 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 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. 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 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:17.480 outlets? Why? A dongle, of course. 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 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, 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:35.240 like a PC, a smart TV, or a wireless access point. 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 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. 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 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 00:01:59.960 --> 00:02:03.600 networking that uses your home's electrical wiring? 00:02:03.600 --> 00:02:08.360 After all, everyone has electrical wiring and it's all over your house. 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. 00:02:13.480 --> 00:02:18.020 The biggest advantage of MOCA compared to powerline is speed. 00:02:18.020 --> 00:02:23.280 Because data signals sent over powerline have to deal with interference from, well, everything 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 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 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:38.920 gaming than Wi-Fi, so they're still good in an emergency. 00:02:38.920 --> 00:02:44.040 But those speeds are pretty unexciting compared to the latest MOCA adapters that can do two 00:02:44.040 --> 00:02:49.940 gigabits per second, or better, allowing high-speed client devices to take full advantage of a 00:02:49.980 --> 00:02:55.820 lightning-fast multi-gig internet connection, or even video edit off of a remote NAS. 00:02:55.820 --> 00:02:59.700 However, MOCA adapters do have some downsides. 00:02:59.700 --> 00:03:04.740 For starters, they can be costly compared to powerline solutions, and you may also need 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 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 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 00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:25.820 place one where the cable from your ISP enters your house. 00:03:25.820 --> 00:03:30.300 And despite the fact that MOCA is designed to work well with modern equipment, certain 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, 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 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 00:03:46.580 --> 00:03:49.780 kind of internet service such as Fiber to the Home. 00:03:49.780 --> 00:03:54.580 Furthermore, because coaxial cable lines are susceptible to disruptions from splitters 00:03:54.580 --> 00:04:00.940 and other devices, MOCA is still gonna fall behind the best traditional Ethernet cables, 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 00:04:07.820 --> 00:04:13.100 landlord's drywall, to install those aforementioned traditional Ethernet cables. 00:04:13.100 --> 00:04:16.420 That is, unless you really like swinging a demolition hammer around. 00:04:16.420 --> 00:04:20.740 Thanks for watching guys, like, dislike, leave a comment with ideas for future episodes, 00:04:20.740 --> 00:04:23.380 and be sure to check out our video on PowerLine Ethernet.