Short answer: Ethernet cable is the best option if you can run it. If the rooms already have TV coax outlets, MoCA adapters reuse that cable and are the next best choice. Powerline adapters use your electrical wiring and work anywhere there’s an outlet, but their speed depends most on your home’s wiring.
Ethernet cable
A dedicated cable is the most reliable choice. Ordinary Category 5e cable is enough for 2.5 Gb/s: the IEEE 802.3bz objectives target 2.5 Gb/s up to at least 100 m on Cat5e. That’s longer than any run inside a typical home. For faster speeds, see 2.5G, 5G and 10G Ethernet.
MoCA: networking over TV coax
MoCA adapters send Ethernet over the coaxial cable used for cable TV. The MoCA alliance describes using existing coax for Wi-Fi backhaul, and claims MoCA 2.5 delivers 2.5 Gbps actual throughput with under 2.5 ms latency. Those are the alliance’s own figures, not independent measurements. You need a coax outlet in both rooms and an adapter at each end.
Powerline: networking over electrical wiring
Powerline adapters plug into wall outlets and carry data over your electrical wiring, working in sets of two or more under the HomePlug AV or AV2 standards. They’re the easiest to set up, and the most variable. TP-Link says powerline works best when both adapters are on the same electrical system: separate panels or phases weaken the signal, older or degraded wiring slows it, and adapters should go straight into wall outlets rather than power strips or surge protectors.
Treat the number on the box as a ceiling. TP-Link says ratings like AV1000 are theoretical maximums, and actual throughput is lower, depending on wiring, electrical noise and distance.
Comparison
| Ethernet | MoCA | Powerline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uses | New or existing network cable | TV coax outlets | Electrical outlets |
| Consistency | Highest | High (alliance claims 2.5 Gbps) | Varies with wiring |
| Main limitation | Running the cable | Needs coax in both rooms | Wiring quality, panels, power strips |
Use them to connect mesh units and access points
Any of these can link a mesh unit or access point back to your router, instead of relying on Wi-Fi. TP-Link notes that a wired backhaul doesn’t use the wireless bandwidth your devices share. See mesh backhaul explained.
If none of these will work, a mesh system with good wireless placement is the alternative: see mesh Wi-Fi vs router vs extender.