ASUS Announces the MA-25 Coax-to-Ethernet MoCA Adapter With Support for 2.5 Gbps Ethernet

[TheLostSwede]

ASUS today announced the MA-25 Coax-to-Ethernet MoCA Adapter, a device that uses pre-existing coaxial wiring in the home to provide wired and wireless internet connections that are fast, stable and protected. The adapter enables wiring normally set aside for cable TV to be leveraged to build a fast and reliable MoCA network in locations with thick walls and multiple floors that may affect the performance of a purely wireless network.

With the MA-25, users can enjoy up to 2.5 Gbps wired backhaul connections, with an easy band-mode switch to avoid signal interference with DOCSIS 3.1 cable modems. The MoCA Protected Setup (MPS) feature lets users securely add devices to the network with the press of one button, similarly to how WPS is used with wireless networks. Gamers may also find that a MoCA network delivers reduced latency, faster downloads and fewer lag spikes.




Installation is designed to be easy, courtesy of a right-angled cable accessory that lets the user mount the MA-25 without needing to use any tools. The MA-25 also features four mounting holes for scenarios where reinforced installation may be desirable. And it can be connected to a nearby WiFi router to wirelessly extend a home network, eliminate dead zones and reduce the potential hassles of Ethernet cable management.

As part of a deep commitment to sustainability, ASUS has invested in green product R&D for many years, acquiring strict international certifications along the way for environmentally friendly practices. The exterior housing of the MA-25 is 69% post-consumer recycled plastic that provides strong signal protection, and the paper-based packaging is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The box is also designed to double as a cable organizer, once its contents have been removed.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Haile Selassie]

In normal world we call these Media Converters. These are nothing new but it's good to see 2.5GbE making headway.

 

[TheLostSwede]

In normal world we call these Media Converters. These are nothing new but it's good to see 2.5GbE making headway.

Well, the "new" is 2.5 Gbps support...
But this is more than just a media converter, as it can co-exist with cable signals on the coax cables.

 

[Chaitanya]

And yet there are hardly any mainstream manufacturers making PON teemination devices.

Edit: there are few ISPs here who use coax and this can help in getting rid of those old Motorola modems with "rental" charges from said ISP.

 

[MrDweezil]

Well, the "new" is 2.5 Gbps support...
But this is more than just a media converter, as it can co-exist with cable signals on the coax cables.

Even that isn't new, I bought 2.5 adapters a year ago.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Even that isn't new, I bought 2.5 adapters a year ago.

A MOCA to 2.5 Gbps Ethernet?

 

[MrDweezil]

A MOCA to 2.5 Gbps Ethernet?

Yeah, a pair of these ones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09RB1QYR9?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&th=1

They work great in my house and clicked this story to see if there was something new going on with the tech, but it seems like just the same thing that's already sold from different manufacturers.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

And yet there are hardly any mainstream manufacturers making PON teemination devices.

Edit: there are few ISPs here who use coax and this can help in getting rid of those old Motorola modems with "rental" charges from said ISP.

Wait, this can replace the Comcast Cable modems? That would be something worth looking into more.

 

[ERazer]

great option if you live in an older house w/o ethernet lines or an apartment and can't run a line.

 

[dirtyferret]

and the cost? It's coming from Asus so I'm sure whatever we think it will be, it will be more expensive.

 

[Chaitanya]

Wait, this can replace the Comcast Cable modems? That would be something worth looking into more.

I thought it was modem for ISPs who use Coax but reading through manual its like those Powerline networking solutions but for Coax(not sure who has so much Coax cabling in their house) which seems like a very small niche solution. I really want to see good modems/termination devices for ISPs who provide coax or fiber connections.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Yeah, a pair of these ones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09RB1QYR9?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&th=1

They work great in my house and clicked this story to see if there was something new going on with the tech, but it seems like just the same thing that's already sold from different manufacturers.

Fair enough.

I thought it was modem for ISPs who use Coax but reading through manual its like those Powerline networking solutions but for Coax(not sure who has so much Coax cabling in their house) which seems like a very small niche solution. I really want to see good modems/termination devices for ISPs who provide coax or fiber connections.

Quite common in some US homes from my understanding. I have coax to all floors (small but tall building), but uncertain if it's all wired together, as the original owner damaged a lot of the wiring in the house.

 

[TechLurker]

I thought it was modem for ISPs who use Coax but reading through manual its like those Powerline networking solutions but for Coax(not sure who has so much Coax cabling in their house) which seems like a very small niche solution. I really want to see good modems/termination devices for ISPs who provide coax or fiber connections.

Most modern homes in the US are still built with Coax by default (that is, most stock homes built without a buyer, and some custom homes with an ignorant buyer); and usually only 1 or two Ethernet hardlines since most don't want to deal with the extra cost of wired Ethernet and prefer to use WiFi. At least, that's according to two different house builders I talked to about 2-6 years back (once for my parent's new home, once for my own home). This is in the US southwest, so it may be different elsewhere. And the biggest reason according to the builders is simply cable cost; coax is still cheaper to lay down than Cat5/6, and again, the average Joe is happy with Wi-Fi.

1 Coax line per bedroom + the Living Room or Family Den. As for the dedicated Ethernet line, it's usually from the expected main area (the den or living room where the family TV would sit) to the "office room", since the cable modem/router would be set up there and a Coax splitter sending the Cable TV to the primary TV box. Then if the ISP is nice, they'll jack in the router to the office, and let the homeowner know that they have one internet hardline for their office.

The general idea being that most ISP/Cable providers use Coax from the pre-laid mains underground or in the overhead lines to the house, then follow that path to the central area where the modem/wi-fi router would sit. Then they would just add a MoCA box to each room that was to get their own TV, if the homeowner wants that, and connect them all via a splitter. Then it's up to the homeowner to add their own Wi-Fi systems or pay for the ISP or 3rd party shop to add them in. It's only the tech-savvy homeowners who would either pay the extra cost to get Cat5/6 lines laid down and terminated during construction, or pay for the retrofit after construction.

 

[timta2]

I thought it was modem for ISPs who use Coax but reading through manual its like those Powerline networking solutions but for Coax(not sure who has so much Coax cabling in their house) which seems like a very small niche solution. I really want to see good modems/termination devices for ISPs who provide coax or fiber connections.

I would have went back and edited my original comment, where I was wrong. Or at least apologize in the follow-up post, since what you said was wrong.

 

[bonehead123]

Quite common in some US homes from my understanding. I have coax to all floors

AFAIK, just about any home in the US that has or has had cable tv and/or internet service is, or was at one time, wired with coax, and probably to nearly every main room/bedroom too....

Mine surely was, until I decided to "cut the (cable TV) cord" many moons ago and ripped out all the coax, EXCEPT the single incoming line that supplies my internet service, which of course goes to the modem, then to my router, and then to all my devices....

 

[mashie]

They should have called this 10BASE2.5 as a homage to 10BASE2 "ThinNet Ethernet".

 

[Gummislay3r1969]

Wait, this can replace the Comcast Cable modems? That would be something worth looking into more.

Uhh, no. Actually, these & other moca adapters compliment Comcast Gateways. Notice I said "gateway" NOT modem. It's been a minute since I "retired" my DOCSIS 3.0 modem that (unfortunately) didn't have moca support baked in. Furthermore, bout a year ago, the grid went down & for intents and purposes my modem and gaming routers never fully worked after that.

Let's cut to the chase: I have a love/hate relationship with Comcast. The whole "fried modem" deal is well documented online. THAT'S the "hate" part. Going to wifi6e (for "free"?) is the not so much "hate" part AND the XB7/8 have moca support baked in. I also reluctantly "upgraded" to unlimited data. It costs a penny but "miraculously" all my problems went away.

Long story (shorter?): moca adapters can be used outside of gateways. But, if I'm not mistaken that configuration needs 2 to receive/transmit. I have 2 Actiontec 2.5gb that are connected, but haven't put through the paces. Those have been ran independent of the other cabling in the house. I also have ran cat 6 for 2 Orbi access points. They seem slow, but I'm using a T400 (whitelisted) on a pcie wifi6 card. Maybe if I went with an m.2 card things might speed up...‍‍‍

Sorry to ramble on. Hope my story helps someone.

 

[bigbrave]

What's so ridiculous about this article is the mention of the green packaging & the effort ASUS uses to get it. lmao.