zenonp
join:2004-04-09
New York, NY | reply to DrDrew
Re: Streaming video on TV cable Okay DrDrew, so you're the person I need to ask. There does not appear to be an ethernet connector on my cable box -- so where is the ethernet connection you mentioned? There must be a connection to your Blu Ray (probably through the Cable Out connector on the cable box) and then some further connection to an ethernet port. That's where I get lost: Where is this ethernet and what does it connect to/from? |
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DrDrew
join:2009-01-28
Apple Valley, CA
kudos:5
1 edit | said by zenonp:Okay DrDrew, so you're the person I need to ask. There does not appear to be an ethernet connector on my cable box -- so where is the ethernet connection you mentioned? There must be a connection to your Blu Ray (probably through the Cable Out connector on the cable box) and then some further connection to an ethernet port. That's where I get lost: Where is this ethernet and what does it connect to/from? You can't stream outside video sources through the cable box. The ethernet jack on the cable box is disabled and unused. The cable box is for cable content only. My cable box simply connects to the coax jack in my bedroom with cable box output to the TV via HDMI.
My Panasonic BluRay player has an ethernet port on it. It's connected to the ethernet wall jack in my bedroom. The ethernet connection feeding that wall jack is connected to the router in the garage connected to my cable modem. Output to the TV is via HDMI as well.
I had used the cat5 cable originally installed for just phone wiring to also run a 10/100 ethernet jacks to the same wall plates in my home a couple years ago. |
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zenonp
join:2004-04-09
New York, NY | said by DrDrew:said by zenonp:Okay DrDrew, so you're the person I need to ask. There does not appear to be an ethernet connector on my cable box -- so where is the ethernet connection you mentioned? There must be a connection to your Blu Ray (probably through the Cable Out connector on the cable box) and then some further connection to an ethernet port. That's where I get lost: Where is this ethernet and what does it connect to/from? You can't stream outside video sources through the cable box. The ethernet jack on the cable box is disabled and unused. The cable box is for cable content only. My cable box simply connects to the coax jack in my bedroom with cable box output to the TV via HDMI. My Panasonic BluRay player has an ethernet port on it. It's connected to the ethernet wall jack in my bedroom. The ethernet connection feeding that wall jack is connected to the router in the garage connected to my cable modem. Output to the TV is via HDMI as well. I had used the cat5 cable originally installed for just phone wiring to also run a 10/100 ethernet jacks to the same wall plates in my home a couple years ago. What you say makes sense and is what I used to believe before I read the following sentence in the March 10 issue of ConsumerReports: "It's finally possible to get online content on your TV using a computer or buying yet another black box designed solely for that purpose. " In fairness it then continues, "A growing number of internet-capable TVs and Blu Ray players allow you to stream video from the Web to your big screen via a broadband connection." -- so as you say, it's not via the cable TV connection. So it does not help me because my internet router is far away and that was my problem to start with. But maybe there is a way to connect the router to the cable at or before the cable box? Would I need an additional internet modem, or can boxes such as Roku, Roku, or some Blu Ray players connect directly to the cable? If not, that makes the first sentence fom ConsumerReports a lie! |
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DrDrew
join:2009-01-28
Apple Valley, CA
kudos:5
2 edits | Roku is a "black box" solely designed to get online content on your TV, my BluRay player is not. Some TVs and game systems have similar VOD service offerings built-in or as an add on option, so dedicated boxes like Roku are not needed.
All of the solutions still need an existing broadband connection though, be it cable, DSL, fiber, or something else. They don't have a broadband modem in them to access the net directly through the cable or phone line.
It sounds like you want to use your coax as a data network in your home in place of ethernet or wifi. If that is the case, you need a MOCA bridge kit like this:
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···83312224
Connect one end to your device near your TV, the other to your router or broadband connection. It turns your home coax network into a LAN.
CR isn't lying, you just don't understand their point of view.
If you want to stream movies through your cable box, order something from the box's OnDemand menu. Non-cable VOD systems or other streaming aren't supported by the cable box. |
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zenonp
join:2004-04-09
New York, NY | said by DrDrew:Roku is a "black box" solely designed to get online content on your TV, my BluRay player is not. Some TVs and game systems have similar VOD service offerings built-in or as an add on option, so dedicated boxes like Roku are not needed. All of the solutions still need an existing broadband connection though, be it cable, DSL, fiber, or something else. They don't have a broadband modem in them to access the net directly through the cable or phone line. It sounds like you want to use your coax as a data network in your home in place of ethernet or wifi. If that is the case, you need a MOCA bridge kit like this: » www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···83312224Connect one end to your device near your TV, the other to your router or broadband connection. It turns your home coax network into a LAN. CR isn't lying, you just don't understand their point of view. If you want to stream movies through your cable box, order something from the box's OnDemand menu. Non-cable VOD systems or other streaming aren't supported by the cable box. My brother suggested a fix which I think is like your suggestion (although I don't know what a MOCA bridge is and it does not come up on your URL). It sounds to me like a router that uses Wireless as its input rather than an ethernet plug so it can receive WiFi more robustly. He says: "Essentially an Ethernet bridge is like a wireless router (in fact it's the same hardware), but the "Internet" port is not plugged in to anything. Instead, the bridge connects to the actual router over wireless. This gives you the ability to have plug-in wired Ethernet connections at a remote location, using a robust wireless device as the service point. He built his own using a Linksys WRT54-GL router and loading 3rd party Tomato firmware on it. (Somebody should give this guy a job he is really good at anything computer-related). Is this the sort of thing you had in mind?
Thanks for the help! |
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DrDrew
join:2009-01-28
Apple Valley, CA
kudos:5 | A wireless bridge would work too, it'd be cheaper than my suggestion.
But I meant this:
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···Tpk=moca |
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watice
join:2008-11-01
New York, NY | reply to zenonp
"My problem is I can't readily connect to my TV from my computer because they are far apart -- too far for reliable WiFi or laying an ethernet cable -- "
How far? A wireless bridge would work, but if I were you, I'd lay down ethernet. cat5 runs fine for about 320 ft. and it's way more cheaper and reliable than a wireless bridge. |
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zenonp
join:2004-04-09
New York, NY | reply to DrDrew
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zenonp
join:2004-04-09
New York, NY | reply to DrDrew
said by DrDrew:A wireless bridge would work too, it'd be cheaper than my suggestion. The earlier posts were in the interest of finding a way to get a Blu Ray player I am about to buy (Panasonic DMP-BD85K from Amazon) to stream video (esp Netflix). The discussion of this unit on various forums seemed to indicate that it does not support Netflix or some other sources they advertised and that the USB dongle Wifi might not be as sensitive as a built in. So I called Panasonic, waited for the prescribed 30 minutes for support and got someone to admit that it does not yet support Netflix -- the unit had been put out before their agreement with Netflix went into force, which will be March 30. And the WiFi dongle, I am told, is actually better than most -- it has a better antenna and it has a USB cord lead so it can be moved to a sweet spot.
I thought I would let the folks at this forum know since you were nice enough to explain the intricacies of streaming to me. |
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