Steam Link and MoCHA/TiVo/Coaxial

[sjynyc67]

Sorry if this was discussed/asked elsewhere. First off, I am NOT extremely knowledgeable about pc/media hardware... I know the basics. I'm curious if my "TiVo Mini" could be used as ethernet cable. Let me explain my set up:

For the most part, everything is in my bedroom: Cable Modem (RCN), desktop PC, router (wireless), Smart TV, and TiVo Premiere. The desktop pc is connected to the router.. as well as the Tivo (which is also connected to coaxial).

In the Living room (one floor apartment), there is a Smart TV, and TiVo Mini. (the Mini is simply a device that lets you tap into the bedroom Tivo... but is not a true DVR itself). The TiVo mini is connected to the main TiVo by coaxial (and the main TV is connected to the router as I said earlier).

I read that my main TiVo box has "MoCHA" built into it. The Tivo Mini is connected to the TV with HDMI yet it has an open slot for Ethernet and USB.

So.. my question is...instead of running a ethernet cable... could I connect the Steam Link INTO the TiVo mini since the main TiVo has "MoCHA" built in. I am assuming the TV mini is part of the network since it is connecting to the main TiVo box. So, could I use the mini's ethernet connection to have a wired (coaxial MoCHA) connection to my network?

Is it possible? Am I making any sense??

[noodle]

I'll admit that I don't know anything about the TiVo Mini device, but from reading up a bit on the internet, my understanding is that the MoCA feature it utilizes is just for connecting itself to an existing MoCA network, created by an existing TiVo DVR that also has the MoCA feature. I don't believe the Mini itself can be used to provide a network connection to other devices (like a Steam Link).

In other words - instead of having to run an ethernet cable to the Mini to allow it to stream video from the DVR, so long as you have a TiVo DVR with MoCA feature (like the Bolt, Roamio Pro, Roamio Plus, or Premiere XL4) and it has a network connection from your router, and is also connected to your home's coax network, you can bridge internet from the MoCA-enabled TiVo DVR to your Mini.

I have a set of Netgear MoCA adapters that I use in my house (MCAB1001), and they work okay. They are completely standalone, not part of a in home DVR solution. Here's here's a cheaper alternative[www.amazon.com] as Netgear doesn't make my adapters anymore.

I get about 4ms of latency using my MoCA adapters, and about 200 Mbps. I use MoCA to provide an internet connection to my 2nd floor via my coax, from the basement - and I have a Steam machine connected that has acted as a streaming client over this connection without difficulty.

[sjynyc67]

Thanks! I'll look into those adapters. I really want to avoid drilling holes and running a 70 ft+ ether cable if I dont have to. (Though I guess I should really see how wireless looks.. who knows.. it might be ok).

[noodle]

Originally posted by sjynyc67:

Thanks! I'll look into those adapters. I really want to avoid drilling holes and running a 70 ft+ ether cable if I dont have to. (Though I guess I should really see how wireless looks.. who knows.. it might be ok).

for the record, my wireless latency is less than my MoCA connection (1.5ms or less, and stable). 5 GHz 802.11 N and AC also have higher 'real world' transfer speeds than my MoCA usually gets. If you have the ability to give it a shot, I would.

From what I understand, the ethernet jack on the Steam Link is only 100 Mbit/s capable anyway. You don't need that much speed - what you do want is the lowest latency possible. If you can get something around 4 ~ 5 ms or lower, wireless or otherwise, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Just my opinion, YMMV.