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Tokar 92.5K Views
May 14, 2018 11:39 PM

Actiontec WCB3000N Single Dual-Band Wireless Extender

$9.00

$70

87% off
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Supreme Deals 18 via Amazon has Actiontec Single Dual-Band Wireless MoCA Network Extender (WCB3000N) on sale for $9.82 > now $9.01. Shipping is free with Prime or on orders of $25 or more. Thanks Tokar

Editor's Notes

Written by brisar
  • Don't have Amazon Prime? Students can get a free 6-Month Amazon Prime trial with free 2-day shipping, unlimited video streaming & more.
  • If you're not a student, there's also a free 1-Month Amazon Prime trial available.
  • The Actiontec WCB3000N extends a homeowner's Wi-Fi network to an area of the home where wireless coverage was previously weak, such as a dead zone in the 2nd floor bedroom or 1st floor family room.

Original Post

Written by Tokar
Community Notes
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Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Supreme Deals 18 via Amazon has Actiontec Single Dual-Band Wireless MoCA Network Extender (WCB3000N) on sale for $9.82 > now $9.01. Shipping is free with Prime or on orders of $25 or more. Thanks Tokar

Editor's Notes

Written by brisar
  • Don't have Amazon Prime? Students can get a free 6-Month Amazon Prime trial with free 2-day shipping, unlimited video streaming & more.
  • If you're not a student, there's also a free 1-Month Amazon Prime trial available.
  • The Actiontec WCB3000N extends a homeowner's Wi-Fi network to an area of the home where wireless coverage was previously weak, such as a dead zone in the 2nd floor bedroom or 1st floor family room.

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Written by Tokar

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243 Comments

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May 15, 2018 11:47 PM
17.8K Comments
Joined Nov 2003
deshwasiMay 15, 2018 11:47 PM
17.8K Comments
I have tivo roamio (no built-in moca) in same room as router. Rest are minis that have moca built-in. Can I connect one of these actiontec to ethernet & coax cables and connect roamio to coax and ethernet cables as well (no direct connection between roamio & actiontec)? Is that enough to get moca to minis?

in other words, if I have already created a moca network, can roamio 4-tuner connect using ethernet/coax cable without having to connect directly to the actiontec?
Last edited by deshwasi May 15, 2018 at 04:57 PM.
Original Poster
May 16, 2018 12:04 AM
1.6K Comments
Joined Jul 2005
Tokar
Original Poster
May 16, 2018 12:04 AM
1.6K Comments
Quote from xxxHolic View quoted comment :
ok,

If I have a big house that the wifi router cannot provide coverage for the whole house.
wifi repeater is crap. I don't want to use it. it cut the speed in half. terrible lag.
Powerline most of them also garbage. Need to reset few time a month.


What is the advantage of using MoCA device over the Powerline, wifi repeater?
OK, well regarding the wifi repeater thing, MoCA, and Powerline, will not degrade the wifi speed as a result of extending the network. Both powerline and Moca act LIKE an ethernet connection connected to your router giving you the ability to connect a second Wifi AP in another location (or use the powerline/moca built-in extending abilities if you get such a device, e.g. the WCB3000n). As I understand it, Wifi repeaters have to cut the Wifi speed in half to "expand"/"extend"/"repeat" the wifi network - meaning if your router is N-300, and you want to repeat it, the original signal will run at 300 but the repeated signal will only be 150. So in this regard, powerline and moca have a huge advantage over the wifi repeaters.

Now as far as the difference between powerline and moca. Powerline, of course, is over your powerlines while Moca is over your coax. The major benefit that moca has over powerline is line noise. Powerline is injecting a networking signal over powerlines which are inherently noisy and susceptible to interference (e.g. magnetic field). As a result, as you move the two powerline adapters further away from each other, the speed degrades. Originally, powerline adapters were a mere 10 mbps, but now they offer 2 gbps. So a 50% drop in speed from a 2 gbps adapter is not so bad as a 50% drop in speed from a 10 mbps adapter - you get to "suffer" from a 1 gbps speed. The PROBLEM is, even with that speed, because of the noise on the line, you will likely encounter jitter - your ping won't be rock solid 1ms. Hell, 50% may not be all the speed drop you experience. If your powerlines are old, your drop could be bigger if you intend the two adapters to be far away. For basic internet you it will be acceptable, but...coax is much more solid, has much less jitter, great pings, no speed drop as you increase distance (at least I haven't experienced it...and I have my mom's network over a huge ranch house).

Pros of Powerline over Coax:
  • Every home has power lines to use for networking. Not everyone has coax wiring (as much as one would like to believe...the cost to get these lines installed could be pretty pricey. And at that point, you might as well get ethernet wiring)
  • Powerline adapters are now up to 2 gbps. Moca 1.1 is 270 mbps total, while Moca 2.0 (bonded) is 1 gbps.
  • More adapter choices with better price points (for the new 2 gbps adapters. Obviously this WCB3000N is $10 which is a stellar price, even for coax). The new Moca 2.0 bonded devices are prohibitively expensive. A 2 pack of Moca ethernet-only adapters are $160, the upgrade to the WCB3000N, the WCB6200Q, is $150. All of them made by Actiontec. The TP-Link 2000 powerline 2-pack is $85. Zyxel is $80. Netgear is $130.
Pros of Coax over Powerline:
  • The signal is much more solid on Coax. No jitter, no noise, no interference (as long as you arent using filters, amplifiers or satellite tv)
  • Speed doesn't drop over distance
  • Signal will never drop. If you have newer coax wiring it is shielded RG6 cables, very robust. Shielding helps the signal. Even the older RG59 cabling is good - its not shielded, but it will still keep a solid signal.

Both systems suffer from the same cons (vs ethernet network):
  • Need powered adapters. Ethernet doesnt need power.
  • Need to be careful what you put on the line to avoid noise on the line (e.g. filters, amps, splitters).
  • Both act like a wired network hub as opposed to a network switch - it is not 1 gbps (Coax 2.0) coax at each adapter, it is all locations use bandwidth which maxes out at 1 gbps, or in the case of 1.1, it is 270 mbps shared.

Quote from christoh View quoted comment :
I will give ya reps tokar ,good post keep on tok'in tokar lol
I spoke too soon lol. I made Front Page for the first time ever Big Grin
Original Poster
May 16, 2018 12:08 AM
1.6K Comments
Joined Jul 2005
Tokar
Original Poster
May 16, 2018 12:08 AM
1.6K Comments
Quote from aanseun View quoted comment :
Ok, I'm intrigued by this device. Can anyone answer if these can be used as wifi extenders using the ethernet ports instead of using the coaxial port? I have an ethernet connection where I want to place this but I don't want to setup a repeater (cuts signal in half).

I want my wifi to be setup with the same wifi security at both the main router and this extender...
Oh yeah, no problem. Just plug in the WCB3000N via ethernet to your router, and you are good to go. Like someone else said, the coax and ethernet are bridged and can pick up DHCP from either source to be distributed over wifi.
May 16, 2018 12:18 AM
3.9K Comments
Joined Nov 2005
FierceDeityLinkMay 16, 2018 12:18 AM
3.9K Comments
Quote from runs_with_scissors View quoted comment :
I was looking at doing something like this and came across the Arris NVG468MQ on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Windstre...3321305446

It seems like a beast of a home router for a steal at $38 shipped. https://www.arris.com/globalasset...g468mq.pdf
Looks good to me. Would be interested in hearing from someone that owns more than one, though.
Original Poster
May 16, 2018 12:27 AM
1.6K Comments
Joined Jul 2005
Tokar
Original Poster
May 16, 2018 12:27 AM
1.6K Comments
Quote from runs_with_scissors View quoted comment :
I was looking at doing something like this and came across the Arris NVG468MQ on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Windstre...3321305446

It seems like a beast of a home router for a steal at $38 shipped. https://www.arris.com/globalasset...g468mq.pdf

It has:
  • GigE ports, 4 LAN and 1 WAN
  • MoCA 2.0 at up to 600 Mbps
  • Concurrent Dual Band Wireless
  • 2.4 GHz 3x3 Wireless N 450
  • 5 GHz 4x4 Wireless AC 1733
  • Firewall and QoS if you're using it as a router.
  • VoIP and IPTV features that are likely irrelevant/unusable

The Frontier firmware probably disallows lots of the router functions, but it looks like it could be a fantastic MoCA to Gigabit Ethernet bridge aka Wireless Network Extender.

If you disable DHCP on the LAN side, you should be able to plug a LAN port into the existing network and have 5-600Mbps of bandwidth to any number of these via MoCA.

Yes, it's more expensive than $10, but if you're going to actually use the WiFi, it seems to be well worth the upgrade. 4x4 Wireless AC should be good for several years. The WCB3000N has old, insecure (for the wireless) firmware and won't have an upgrade in the future.

Buy 4 of these on eBay for $152, get a free Google Home Mini

I'm still researching the NVG468MQ, trying to find a reason it won't work, but I haven't found one yet. I'm thinking it will be a great WiFi upgrade for my parents' house.

Thoughts?
Damn nice find. Looks like it is just MoCA 2.0, not Bonded MoCA 2.0. The difference of course is the speed. 2.0 is limited to 500, while the bonded gets up to 1 gbps. But for $38? That is a great price especially with the AC1733 (AC1750? 1733 sounds strange) and gigabit ports.

I'm guessing the MoCA 2.0 non-bonded is next to be cleared out. If you check the MoCA site (http://www.mocalliance.org/technology/index.htm) they are prepping MoCA 2.5! 2 gbps!
May 16, 2018 12:31 AM
9.5K Comments
Joined Sep 2012
BagudaMay 16, 2018 12:31 AM
9.5K Comments
I blindly bought 2 of these for $16.99 back in March based on the rave comments and still haven't used them yet. Now they are under $10 making me feel like I'm a sucker again. I'm always sad I don't have a working crystal ball to know to wait for a better price like so many others somehow knew to do.

It's almost tempting to try Citi price rewind, but it's probably not worth the effort for $13.98 back. Will these be $5 in 2 more months? These are new so they must really have a massive surplus, almost like those perpetual refurb Asus AC1900 routers from MobileDist for $48. I assume the drifting price is some sort of automated thing rather than a Supreme Deals employee frequently twiddling the price by pennies based on how many orders they are getting.
May 16, 2018 12:48 AM
168 Comments
Joined Jun 2014
runs_with_scissorsMay 16, 2018 12:48 AM
168 Comments
Quote from deshwasi View quoted comment :
I have tivo roamio (no built-in moca) in same room as router. Rest are minis that have moca built-in. Can I connect one of these actiontec to ethernet & coax cables and connect roamio to coax and ethernet cables as well (no direct connection between roamio & actiontec)? Is that enough to get moca to minis?

in other words, if I have already created a moca network, can roamio 4-tuner connect using ethernet/coax cable without having to connect directly to the actiontec?
Yes, you CAN, but it will knock the connection down to MoCa 1.1. Though you might already be using 1.1

From what I can tell, newer TiVos use MoCa 2.0, offering a shared 450Mbps connection. MoCa 1.1 is a shared 270Mbps connection.

TiVo recommends the MoCa 2.0 TiVo Bridge for the Roamio [tivo.com] at $80.According to this post [tivocommunity.com], the TiVo minis and many other TiVos are MoCa 1.1, so that should be good enough.
Certainly worth a try for $10.

Link works in preview, but not when I post it. Trying again. Cut and paste if necessary. tivocommunity.com/community/index.php?threads/network-specs-moca-ethernet.548262/#post-11146306 [tivocommunity.com]

https://www.tivocommunity.com/community/index.php?threads/network-specs-moca-ethernet.548262/#post-11146306
Last edited by runs_with_scissors May 15, 2018 at 06:29 PM.

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Original Poster
May 16, 2018 12:59 AM
1.6K Comments
Joined Jul 2005
Tokar
Original Poster
May 16, 2018 12:59 AM
1.6K Comments
Quote from Baguda View quoted comment :
I blindly bought 2 of these for $16.99 back in March based on the rave comments and still haven't used them yet. Now they are under $10 making me feel like I'm a sucker again. I'm always sad I don't have a working crystal ball to know to wait for a better price like so many others somehow knew to do.

It's almost tempting to try Citi price rewind, but it's probably not worth the effort for $13.98 back. Will these be $5 in 2 more months? These are new so they must really have a massive surplus, almost like those perpetual refurb Asus AC1900 routers from MobileDist for $48. I assume the drifting price is some sort of automated thing rather than a Supreme Deals employee frequently twiddling the price by pennies based on how many orders they are getting.
And I bought it for $30 from Office Depot on the clearance rack 3 years ago.

I also bought the ECB2200V when they were pretty early in the game...I paid $150 or so for a pack of two. Now I was absolutely desperate the replace my mom's Home Phonline Network (HPNA) which was wildly slow and susceptible to horrible interruptions from interference due to electrical surges and phone calls - and wifi is crap in my mom's house. MoCA was a godsend because it saved me from having to fix her network all the time when I went away for grad school. It was well worth the $150 at the time. Now they have gigabit adapters, blah blah.

Just use em and be happy. They are good quality items. Or just give them to a friend.
May 16, 2018 5:39 AM
695 Comments
Joined Dec 2011
good_things7May 16, 2018 5:39 AM
695 Comments
Quote from Tokar View quoted comment :
Yup. Works perfect as long as you have no amplifiers or filters on the line.
Great deal, but this is incorrect. Actually MOCA will work fine with an amplifier as long as it's MOCA compatible. Here's a couple from PCT who make excellent units:

http://www.pctstore.com/RF_Amplif...r_s/55.htm
http://www.pctstore.com/RF_Amplif...r_s/56.htm

If one has multi-room DVR installed by their cable provider and the residence has an amplified splitter, it's already MOCA compatible as MOCA is required for multi-room DVR service. If not, one can be purchased, such as the above units from PCT.

Also, a filter is desired and not an issue as long as it's properly installed at the point of entry. A filter is necessary to prevent external distribution of the MOCA network. Not having a filter is a legitimate security risk that should not be ignored. POE filters are inexpensive and can be easily found on Amazon, such as this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Filter-MoC...00DC8IEE6/.

Some of the MOCA compatible amplifiers filters such as the bypass unit above from PCT have the filter built-in.
May 16, 2018 7:18 AM
1.1K Comments
Joined Jun 2007
tiffanydawnnMay 16, 2018 7:18 AM
1.1K Comments
I have a TiVo roamio and two minis. No MoCa at the moment so just the Roamio is up and running right now. How many will I need to get my minis going?
May 16, 2018 7:35 AM
13.2K Comments
Joined Nov 2006
poohbieMay 16, 2018 7:35 AM
13.2K Comments
Quote from Tokar View quoted comment :
[*]More adapter choices with better price points (for the new 2 gbps adapters. Obviously this WCB3000N is $10 which is a stellar price, even for coax). The new Moca 2.0 bonded devices are prohibitively expensive. A 2 pack of Moca ethernet-only adapters are $160, the upgrade to the WCB3000N, the WCB6200Q, is $150. All of them made by Actiontec. The TP-Link 2000 powerline 2-pack is $85. Zyxel is $80. Netgear is $130.
Three's no point in getting the better WCB6200Q if my main router is the FiOS MI424WR Rev. I (the later one with red stripe), right?
May 16, 2018 8:37 AM
1.4K Comments
Joined Aug 2003
grimfandMay 16, 2018 8:37 AM
1.4K Comments
these dropped in price 5 times while i was ordering them. i bought it at 9.56. now they are 9.22 darn i should have waited!
lol why does the price keep fluctuating?

actually now its down to 9.05??? should i keep waiting?
Last edited by grimfand May 16, 2018 at 03:26 AM.
May 16, 2018 10:50 AM
756 Comments
Joined Nov 2011
nidoMay 16, 2018 10:50 AM
756 Comments
Quote from grimfand View quoted comment :
these dropped in price 5 times while i was ordering them. i bought it at 9.56. now they are 9.22 darn i should have waited!
lol why does the price keep fluctuating?

actually now its down to 9.05??? should i keep waiting?
Cancel and buy it again.
Pro
May 16, 2018 1:51 PM
13.9K Comments
Joined Apr 2005
TidalWaveOne
Pro
May 16, 2018 1:51 PM
13.9K Comments
Damn... they shipped too fast so I couldn't cancel and buy again (since it has now dropped to $9.00 and I paid $9.74)... even though I chose the slow shipping with $1 credit. Oh well....

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May 16, 2018 1:57 PM
668 Comments
Joined Feb 2014
euuser3207134May 16, 2018 1:57 PM
668 Comments
I looked into these years ago and at that time they were extremely cost prohibitive (Cisco branded at $ 129 each). THis is a price I can experiment with.....

My parents have an older house that is just too large to cover reliably with Wifi. I've tried Powerline but with 3 different power panels they just never worked reliably unless the outlets were right next to each other.

I'm putting in a new AC1900 router to replace an old N router so we will see if that solves the issue but I've set up network extenders for the basement, the kitchen, and the other side of the house with varying results.

Short of adding another cable modem & AP on the other side of the house....MoCa may be the solution.

So my question is......Does the Coax line need to be unused or does this device work on live lines where there is a cable feed to a stb box?? As it is a large house I'm not sure I'd be able to locate all the splitters or amplifiers on the line without taking apart the ceiling in the basement. If there is an amplifier on the line (likely for the long cable runs).....what are your options? (Replace with a compatible amplifier??)

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