When carrying the Internet connection To all corners of the house, the ideal is to have a good installation based on Ethernet cables, but since this is not always possible, the most common thing is that we use wireless systems with WiFi, which are simpler and faster to use.
However, since many times Wi-Fi connections have speed and stability issues, we may prefer to use a wired connection using the cables that we already have deployed and installed at home. For this we can opt for PLC adapters that use the home electrical network to send information, or another lesser-known trend that uses coaxial cables.
What are coaxial-Ethernet extenders
Most of today’s homes have some kind of installation inside to carry the television signal classic, analog or digital, coming from the antenna to one or several rooms of the house using coaxial cables.
The idea with these coaxial-Ethernet adapters is to take advantage of this deployment of already installed cables to be able to extend a home network signal without having to deploy new wiring, thus achieving a kind of point to point ethernet extender to go to different rooms.
They are usually small equipment, in the form of a “black box” that we can place almost anywhere, even hanging on the wall, and practically offer no configuration or management options. They just plug in, plug in, and voila, they should begin to do their job.
In general, the adapters have one or several sockets for coaxial cable to which we must connect the terminations of the wall outlets that we already have at home, and they also have a Ethernet input that should go to the router or the equipment that we want to connect (for example a PC or a television), as well as a power socket that we will connect to a socket.
Advantages and disadvantages
Its main advantage is the ease of installation and use. It is enough to take them out of the box, connect them in the rooms where we want to take the Ethernet network and that’s it, little else needs to be done.
In addition, the most modern and powerful models like the new one from Asus that we saw a few days ago, have a high data transmission speed of up to 2.5Gbpsso we can use them for any activity that we intend to carry out online.
As a drawback we find that not all homes are ready for them to work correctly, since we need a direct wiring, point to point, between the two ends of the network that we are going to create. If there are signal splitters, amplifiers and the like, something very typical to take the TV signal to different areas of the house, the performance may drop considerably or directly we can not establish the Ethernet network.
Then there is the matter of price. It is a very specific product that goes to a very specific audience and this causes the price of most models to skyrocket. above 150 eurosespecially if we are looking for a model from a well-known manufacturer.
Ethernet coaxial adapters: what to look for when buying
If we have decided to set up our local network using one of these adapters in one or several sections of the house, it is convenient take into account these preliminary considerations:
- Before buying any device, it is advisable review our installation and verify that between the rooms where we want to take the signal we have a direct wiringwithout partitions or other intermediary equipment that can hinder the Ethernet network.
- Adapter Usage Type: there are models designed specifically to transmit the signal of the IP security cameras They are cheaper but offer fewer features. If we want it for a leading Ethernet network, we will have to look for an adapter focused on this type of use.
- Transmission speed: the most basic and inexpensive adapters can offer very limited speeds of “up to 10/100Mbps” that later in practice decrease considerably as it happens with the PLC. If we want to obtain great speeds we will have to go to gigabit models so that later, with the losses, we have more than 200-400Mbps stable.
- Number of connectors available: there are models with a single coaxial socket on each adapter and others that allow several sockets to, for example, bring the television signal to the room simultaneously, in addition to the Ethernet signal.
- Signal filtering: In the most advanced models, some interference filtering system from other services that may be using the same coaxial cable, such as cable modems. If we have one of these, it will be convenient for us to have this type of filters.
- Electrical consumption: Being a device that is going to be plugged in all day spending electricity, it is convenient to take a good look at the consumption that marks in the specifications when comparing between models.
- Power supply: They can have it already integrated in the case, need a cable that goes to a plug or even be powered by Ethernet cable (PoE). In all cases, it is convenient to check if the power supply comes in the package and if the cable has the necessary length for our use case or we will have to prepare an extension cable.
interesting models
Comtrend GCA-6000 Powerline
This model of Comtrend GCA-6000 It is one of the few “name brand” that are already on sale and consists of a set of two devices that promise speeds of up to 1200Mbps. Each adapter has two coaxial sockets, one of them to maintain the TV signal, an Ethernet output and the power socket. Its price is 191.87 euros.
Comtrend G.hn Powerline 1200Mbps Ethernet over Coax Kit I Enhanced Streaming and Gaming I 2 Pack (GCA-6000KIT)
DIGITUS PoE+ Extender
This DIGITUS set consists of a transmission and reception unit for the IP data transmission over coaxial cables up to 500 meters. The transmitter unit itself can be powered by a PoE input signal existing or by an external 54 volt DC power supply not included in the package, while the receiver is powered by PoE. It has a top speed of up to 100Mbps and a price of 186.67 euros the couple.
DIGITUS PoE + extender set – range with RJ45 up to 400 m / with coaxial up to 500 m – Fast Ethernet up to 100 Mbit / s
LINOVISION POE Over Coax
East POE IP over coax converter from LINOVISION can be used to upgrade an existing analog surveillance system to a new IP model while using the existing coaxial cable. It acts as MoCA (Multimedia over Coax) in a point to point connectiontransmits video/audio/data/control signal through a coaxial cable, as if it were used with twisted pair, with a maximum speed of up to 100Mbps. Its price for the kit of two units is 99.99 euros.
LINOVISION POE Over Coax Max 3000ft Power and Data Transmission Over Regular RG59 Coaxial Cable for Upgrading Analog Surveillance System to IP Surveillance System …