I'm planning to leave Virgin Media and use a 5G router with a SIM card instead. The 5G router will be upstairs, while I'd like to keep a separate Wi‑Fi router downstairs. The existing coaxial cable runs under the flooring to the Virgin Media socket, and I'd prefer to reuse it rather than install visible Ethernet cable through the living room.
My proposed setup is: 5G router upstairs connected by Ethernet to a MoCA adapter, with the MoCA signal travelling through the coaxial cable to a second MoCA adapter downstairs. That adapter would then connect by Ethernet to the Wi‑Fi router. I may need to extend the existing coaxial run from the downstairs socket to the upstairs room using another cable routed outside the house and an F/F coupler.
Would this arrangement work, and is there anything important I should consider when extending the coax outdoors? The 5G router would handle the mobile connection, while only the downstairs router would provide Wi‑Fi.
2 Answers
Two routers are fine here, provided the 5G unit can operate in modem, bridge, or passthrough mode. Connect its Ethernet output to the upstairs MoCA adapter, then connect the downstairs adapter to the WAN or Internet port of the Wi‑Fi router. Let the downstairs router handle DHCP and your local network so you do not create a double-NAT setup.
Before committing, test the existing coax with the two MoCA adapters. Any splitters, old sockets, damaged cable, or disconnected sections can prevent the link from working. With the Virgin equipment removed, the coax should just be treated as a private point-to-point cable between the adapters.
That setup should work as long as the coax forms one continuous, properly connected run between the two MoCA adapters. Since the cable will be outside, use coax specifically rated for outdoor installation and weatherproof every exterior connection carefully. Also check that the couplers and adapters support the frequency range required by your MoCA equipment.
If you have the option to install a cable from scratch, outdoor-rated Cat6 would generally be the better choice: it is simpler, faster, and avoids the extra MoCA hardware. But reusing the existing coax is reasonable if running Ethernet would be difficult.
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