Can I use powerline adapters opposed to CAT5 cable throughout house to receive clear TV signal?

[DTomas]

I have an old house that has the old Coax cable installed for our TV’s opposed to the new CAT5. Instead of rewiring my house our TV cable provider said I could use a powerline adapter, such as, NetGear Powerline 200 mini or TP-Link AV500 Nano. I would need one for each TV, which I have 3 on three different floors, and another connected to the primary cable box (4 total same model), which is also plugged into and electrical outlet. Both models worked for a while and then we started having problems with the TV’s getting really fuzzy or losing the signal altogether. We can unplug the main powerline adapter connected to the cable box wait a few seconds and re-plug it back into the wall and everything is fine again; however, an hour or a day later we experience the same problem. Does anyone know how to resolve this issue or is there is a different powerline adapter that would fix this problem? Recabling my house with CAT5 is NOT an option. Thank you.

 

[kanewolf]

If you have coax available the better option would be MoCA. There are lots of people using Actiontec devices purchased off E-Bay to do MoCA networking at home.

 

[USAFRet]

No, I do not believe you can pump a TV signal through the powerline adapters.

 

[USAFRet]

If you have coax available the better option would be MoCA. There are lots of people using Actiontec devices purchased off E-Bay to do MoCA networking at home.

He's actually talking about the opposite. He wants to get a TV signal, not an ethernet signal.
MoCA devices pump an internet signal through the house coax. I have a couple and they work pretty well.

 

[USAFRet]

I have an old house that has the old Coax cable installed for our TV’s opposed to the new CAT5. Instead of rewiring my house our TV cable provider said I could use a powerline adapter, such as, NetGear Powerline 200 mini or TP-Link AV500 Nano. I would need one for each TV, which I have 3 on three different floors, and another connected to the primary cable box (4 total same model), which is also plugged into and electrical outlet. Both models worked for a while and then we started having problems with the TV’s getting really fuzzy or losing the signal altogether. We can unplug the main powerline adapter connected to the cable box wait a few seconds and re-plug it back into the wall and everything is fine again; however, an hour or a day later we experience the same problem. Does anyone know how to resolve this issue or is there is a different powerline adapter that would fix this problem? Recabling my house with CAT5 is NOT an option. Thank you.

What type of service do you have? Cable or Fiber?
What's wrong with the existing coax for the TV's?

 

[Vlad Rose]

I thought cable TV still uses strictly Coax? That's what I'm stuck with at my home; and Charter's only option. The only thing I can think of would be from the cable box to the TV, but at that point you're using HDMI.

 

[USAFRet]

I thought cable TV still uses strictly Coax? That's what I'm stuck with at my home; and Charter's only option. The only thing I can think of would be from the cable box to the TV, but at that point you're using HDMI.

Right. The TV signal is distributed through the house on coax.
Ethernet is distributed on cat5e, electrical wires via a powerline device, or over coax via moca devices.

I'm unsure what issue is trying to be solved here.

 

[kanewolf]

I thought cable TV still uses strictly Coax? That's what I'm stuck with at my home; and Charter's only option. The only thing I can think of would be from the cable box to the TV, but at that point you're using HDMI.

Right. The TV signal is distributed through the house on coax.
Ethernet is distributed on cat5e, electrical wires via a powerline device, or over coax via moca devices.

I'm unsure what issue is trying to be solved here.

Exactly. That is why I went the MoCA route. I thought it was a smart TV internet access question.

 

[DTomas]

I thought cable TV still uses strictly Coax? That's what I'm stuck with at my home; and Charter's only option. The only thing I can think of would be from the cable box to the TV, but at that point you're using HDMI.

Right. The TV signal is distributed through the house on coax.
Ethernet is distributed on cat5e, electrical wires via a powerline device, or over coax via moca devices.

I'm unsure what issue is trying to be solved here.

 

[DTomas]

I am not sure what the differences are between the old coax cable and the new CAT5, but according to my cable company I would have to have my house rewired using CAT5 in order to receive a TV signal with this new cable box they installed. Instead of rewiring I was told I could use a powerline adapter which uses my house wiring in lew of rewiring. It works wonderfully for a while and then we get static or it goes out altogether. We can unplug and re-plug the main powerline adapter and everything is working just fine until the next occurrence which could be an hour or two days. Any ideas how to resolve this issue?

 

[g90814]

You can upgrade firmware on the powerline adapters I think, that may help.

Or you may need to buy a different model/brand and see if they work better.

Have you tried different outlets in the house? Some may work better than others. It sounds like the main one connected to the router is the problem... try moving it to different nearby outlets. You can get longer ethernet cables if needed, they are pretty cheap.

First time I've heard of using CAT5 cable rather than Coax for TV... are they Smart TVs?

 

[USAFRet]

...but according to my cable company I would have to have my house rewired using CAT5 in order to receive a TV signal with this new cable box they installed.

To me, this does not make a whole lot of sense.

I've had multiple TV+internet installs, with various technologies (cable and fiber), and I've not seen a TV situation that relies on Cat5e only (or a powerline solution).

Coax from the street, to the junction box on the house. From there, coax to the set top box(es).
Also, coax to the modem/router. Cat5e or WiFi from there to PC/Xbox/Playstation/Roku/whatever.

With my current FiOS, I could also have Cat5e direct to the modem as well as coax. But not in place of.

So...
What type of connection do you have? Cable or fiber?
How does it come into the house?
What type of set top boxes do you have?
How does the signal (for the TVs) get changed from whatever comes in from the street to Cat5e?

 

[g90814]

Also, this is the wireless networking forum... you might get more responses in the regular networking forum.

 

[USAFRet]

Also, this is the wireless networking forum... you might get more responses in the regular networking forum.

Moved. I didn't notice that.

 

[Pooneil]

I ma still unsure about the why the cable provider wants to use cat5e as not all TVs accept it while all will take coax. But if the OP wants solid, no bother video distribution, wires are the way to go. No matter what powerline adapter you use, it can be subject to interference from electrical motors or other things plugged into your AC. Web surfing and other typical computer uses are a lot more forgiving of temporary intermittent interference than is video to TVs. If you can afford wires, then install them.

 

[Vlad Rose]

By chance did the weather outside change recently; causing a heater or air conditioner to start turning on? Since those can be high draw devices, that could be a cause of some of the interference. Same if you're trying to go across the kitchen, where refrigerators and such will do the same.
I would still question the cable company's need to use Cat5e though; especially since I'm not the only one that hasn't heard of doing that and the fact Cat5e isn't shielded like coax is.