Switching from Virgin to Sky. Can I use Ethernet to COAX adapters at either existing cable run?

[JohnnyH70]

Hi,

I am switching from Virginmedia to Sky in a few weeks. I'm having fibre installed. Currently my VM hub sits in the back of the house and the coax cable runs behind skirting boards, walls, floors etc. from the input at the front of the house.

Question I have is can I use Ethernet to coax converters at either end of the existing cable to connect the ONT to the Hub? Would save a lot of messing about with adding new cable runs.

Thanks in advance.

[Chrisee]

@JohnnyH70 I think it unlikely as gigabit ethernet uses 4 conductors and most adapters only support 10/100Mb/s I can see more expensive adapters with a higher raring which might work but I have nonexpereince of the technoloogy.

[TimmyBGood · Accepted solution]

@JohnnyH70 

I guess you can try it and see: whether it becomes a bottleneck depends on what speed of Sky broadband you subscribe to.

As @Chrisee indicates, such a connection is likely to have a maximum speed much lower than real ethernet (and note the somewhat disingenuous marketing used by the manufacturers: fitting a gigabit ethernet socket doesn't mean the system as a whole is actually capable of gigabit transfer)

[JohnnyH70]

Thanks both for your input. I think I'll try but rather than plugging direct into the ONT I may leave the hub by it and extend to the next room via the coax and a switch. Seems to be quite a common solution in the US as they have coax throughout their homes in a lot of cases. 

I'll report back should I try it.