Wi-Fi & connectivity

[Seabrook]

I have a TV in the basement with a FIOS cable connection but I no longer have Verizon FIOS TV (just internet).  Would I be able to connect a Roku streaming stick using the FIOS internet connection rather than rely on a signal from the FIOS router which is on the floor above?

[atc98092]

The Roku Ultra has an Ethernet connection, which is the only type of wired connection available. If you are referring to a coax cable connection, no there's no way to use that. And in reality, it won't have an Internet connection available there anyway. The first cable box installed is going to pull the Internet connection from the cable, and it's highly unlikely that FIOS supports adding a second box with separate Internet access. You get one Internet connection from your fiber connection, and it's already used on your router upstairs. 

The Roku Stick (all versions) are WiFi only. The Express 4K+ supports a 3rd party USB Ethernet adapter, so it could be used with a wired Ethernet connection same as the Ultra. Your existing FIOS router likely offers several Ethernet jacks, so you could perhaps run an Ethernet cable from the router to your basement location and use that. You could also use that Ethernet cable and add another WiFi access point in the basement to improve your signal there. Many routers have the ability to be configured as an access point, which then also gives you several wired connections in the same location using the ports on the router. 

[Strega2]

Well, there is MoCA.  These essentially put ethernet on coax cables, so if those coax cables are conveniently located, then a MoCA adapter or two could be used.  I say one or two, because looking at some Verizon installation pages, it looks like they might be using MoCA out of their boxes.  For example, I see pages like this one where they are selling MoCA adapters and they seem to be indicating that you need just one, since their router already has that functionality on its end.  However, I’ve never been a FIOS user and there seem to be multiple versions of various FIOS components, so please check carefully.

[Seabrook]

Thank you for your response but it didn't help me since I know nothing about MoCA.  I'm just looking for an answer to my question.  I guess your answer was "no".

[atc98092]

If you mean connecting the coax directly to a Roku, then the answer is no. In fact, there's no streaming device that would accept that sort of connection.

MoCA is pretty easy to use, you simply install a box at each end of the coax and attach an Ethernet cable to each box. One would connect to your existing router and one would be available in your basement location. But as mentioned, it can't be used to connect a Stick directly, since it does not have an Ethernet jack and doesn't support a 3rd party adapter. You could connect an Ultra directly to the Ethernet cable, or add a WiFi access point as I mentioned before. 

[Strega2]

No, my answer was not at all "no". (Was that sarcasm?)

However, I will say that streaming TV gizmos and solutions do generally take a little more DIY and willingness to google about a bit, than a traditional cable TV solution. Since I've never had FIOS, I'm hoping that you know more about it than I do, however, as an integrated TV/Internet-type thing, it's quite possible to have FIOS come in and "make it so", which works great as long as you exclusively use their stuff. But if you want to branch out a bit, then some investigation, such as visiting the page I linked above may be needed.

[OwnerofDevices]

I ran an ethernet cable from the upstairs to the basement. But, you could use a moca adapter with a verizon router. I am a Verizon customer and I familiar with the setup.

[OwnerofDevices]

Using an ethernet cable is a little easier than using a moca adapter because moca adapters are not plug and play like plug like an ethernet cable. Using an ethernet cable you simply plug one end into your router and the other end into your device in the basement or a switch.

[Seabrook]

Thank you for your response.

Actually I meant connecting the FIOS cable (ethernet) to the basement TV and then plugging in the Roku stick to the HDMI port to see if that configuration would allow the Roku to access the internet for its streaming content.  The answer apparently is NO.

[Seabrook]

Thank you for your response.  I'll install the Roku and an extender and see if the the Wifi signal from the floor above  is sufficient.