Wanting to extend our network downstairs : Ethernet over Coax or Powerline adapter

[mbrittb00]

We currently have our main router located upstairs in the central hall. This is about the most centrally located I could locate the router. The majority of our devices that are hardwired are all upstairs, so running network lines to them through the attic is fairly simple. Unfortunately our master bedroom is down stairs (on a corner of the house). As such we have historically had some occasional signal quality issues / reliability issues . I have tried signal boosters / repeaters (i.e. Linksys RE2000) but they didn't seem to improve much. I even converted one of my old routers into a repeated using dd-wrt firmware. However for reliability (especially for online gaming) I would prefer to have a wired signal. Additionally the only thing we use Coax for is our Internet, and we have Coax cables running to various rooms in the house (both upstairs and down). Which has led me initially to give Ethernet over Coax a try. I had obtained a pair of Direct TV Ethernet /Coax adapters

https://www.amazon.com/PACK-Broadband-Ethernet-Generation-Supplies/dp/B01AYMGPIO/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1507310395&sr=1-6&keywords=ethernet+over+coax+adapter

And have the the connection setup, and for the most part it is working beautifully. Since the product I'm using wasn't specifically designed for the purpose I'm using it for, I wanted to see if there was a better produce I should consider, and or if using a Powerline Adapter would work better. I've heard both good and bad about Powerline Adapters.

Thanks ahead of time for any info you can provide.

 

[boosted1g]

So there is generation 1 and generation 2 of powerline adapters.
Most people with issues where using generation 1, as generation 2 can work through ground wires as well, and easily cross electrical phases.

Now with that said, if you have dirty power then a powerline adapter is not going to work well at all for you.

AV1000 powerline adapter should get a real world speed of about 250-350mbps speed for file transfers so if that is a good step up over your current solution then I would look at powerline adapter.

Although another option to consider is to just pop out an Ethernet line into conduit to run down side of house from attic to your bedroom.

 

[mbrittb00]

I've thought about running a line down the side of the house in conduit, but ...

How do you determine 1st generation vs 2nd generation Power-line adapters?

Also, do you have any experience with Ethernet over Coax.

 

[boosted1g]

Some newer gen models will actually say av2 in them, but pretty much any of them at av1000 or faster will be generation 2. Now that 1000 is max speed for both up and down, and there is some real world loss. So you really get 500-700 mbps tx and rx out of the adapter which means 1 direction (what your download speed will be) is 250-350 mbps.

Have not dablled much with Ethernet over Coax outside of those directv adapters. They work but they are not as fast as powerline adapters (assuming no heavy interference).

 

[mbrittb00]

Thanks for the info. The only speed testing I've done on my current configuration is via a speed test website (i.e. speedtest.net). The speed I'm getting is comparable to what I am getting on other devices that are wired directly to the router. So the main limiting factor is the ISP. Since 99% of everything in the house is directly to the outside world, LAN speed is much less of a concern. I think my current setup is sufficient, howerver, the "route" my line as to take (through another room, out to the cable box, back into the master, then to my tv/Xbox) is of some concern. A lot of potential points of failure. I may end up giving Powerline adapters a shot to simplify things if nothing else. Plus it is also expandable beyond where my coax currently runs.

Thanks again.