apobull
join:2001-05-03
Manchester, MD
|  Connecting Blu Ray Player to Internet
I am looking to purchase a Blu Ray player with Profile 2.0 support. The issue I have is how I can connect it to the Internet. It will be used in the family room where I don't have a network jack available close by. Therefore, I either have to run a long cable over into my kitchen area where I have an AP / router that I could plug into or go with some sort of wireless solution. While the former is straightforward enough, I'd rather not run a long cable across the wall and over. Thus, could I go with some sort of wireless solution?
The player I'm looking at (Sony) has a USB port but that will be needed for a flash stick / BD Live support. Even if it was available, I don't think a wireless adapter would work there anyhow. The only other option that comes to mind is purchasing another AP and connecting from there into the Blu Ray player and then setting up a bridge over to the kitchen area AP. Is this feasible? If so, is it simple enough to setup the bridge as I haven't set one up before? As an aside, all my current AP's are Linksys brand running DD-WRT. |
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McSummation
Mmmm, Zeebas Are Tastee.
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-13
Round Rock, TX | Is it the internet you want to connect to or simply connect the player to the TV wirelessly? |
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apobull
join:2001-05-03
Manchester, MD
| said by McSummation  :Is it the internet you want to connect to or simply connect the player to the TV wirelessly? Sorry for not being clearer there. This is simply to provide the Blu Ray player access to the Internet for firmware updates along with accessing BD Live content |
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dbmaven
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join:1999-10-26
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| reply to apobull
Presuming that the Blu-Ray unit you're looking at has an ethernet port, and your existing wireless access point provides a good enough signal to the proposed Blu-Ray location, all you need is a 'Wireless Bridge'. Some also call them 'Wireless Gaming Adapters'.
People with DirecTV DVRs have this same situation - the unit has an ethernet port, but is not located near a place that is easy or convenient to get a wired connection.
Linksys has things like the WET54g and the WGA54g - other vendors make similar items, and "draft-N" appliances are also available now. |
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apobull
join:2001-05-03
Manchester, MD
| said by dbmaven :Presuming that the Blu-Ray unit you're looking at has an ethernet port, and your existing wireless access point provides a good enough signal to the proposed Blu-Ray location, all you need is a 'Wireless Bridge'. Some also call them 'Wireless Gaming Adapters'. People with DirecTV DVRs have this same situation - the unit has an ethernet port, but is not located near a place that is easy or convenient to get a wired connection. Linksys has things like the WET54g and the WGA54g - other vendors make similar items, and "draft-N" appliances are also available now. Thanks much for the info. Considering they cost more (at least at Newegg anyhow) than say a WRT54GL, is there any reason I couldn't use that instead or will it just be much easier to go with the bridge instead? |
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dbmaven
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| I know it is doable with the WRT54's - but IIRC you need 3rd party firmware. If you're inclined that way, it's a cheaper alternative.
The wireless bridges/gaming adapters are much easier. If you know what you're doing, even with a 'non-standard' network setup (e.g. I use 192.168.2.x in my private network) you can be up and running in 20 minutes or less. |
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apobull
join:2001-05-03
Manchester, MD
| said by dbmaven :I know it is doable with the WRT54's - but IIRC you need 3rd party firmware. If you're inclined that way, it's a cheaper alternative. The wireless bridges/gaming adapters are much easier. If you know what you're doing, even with a 'non-standard' network setup (e.g. I use 192.168. 2.x in my private network) you can be up and running in 20 minutes or less. I'm already using DD-WRT on my other 54G's so I'll at least consider that though for simplicity, I may just go with the bridge. |
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CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County | reply to dbmaven
WRT54GL does 3rd party firmware fine - the later WRT54G(S) are much more difficult to use with 3rd party firmware. |
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apobull
join:2001-05-03
Manchester, MD | I would be getting a WRT54GL if I went this route. In looking at the config options for DD-WRT, there's both Client and Repeater bridge options / roles. I am presuming it's the Client bridge option that I would want to go with? |
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Bink
join:2006-05-14
Denver, CO | reply to apobull
I know this doesn’t answer your question, but the PS3 might meet all your needs in one shot—Blu-ray, Profile 2.0, wireless and then some all in one device. My PS3 connects to the Internet via wireless and BD-Live works fine. |
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apobull
join:2001-05-03
Manchester, MD
| said by Bink :I know this doesn’t answer your question, but the PS3 might meet all your needs in one shot—Blu-ray, Profile 2.0, wireless and then some all in one device. My PS3 connects to the Internet via wireless and BD-Live works fine. In fact it does. After discussing with a friend who has a PS3, I have decided to go that route since I can browse from it as well and install a LInux distro if I want more full featured browsing capabilities. |
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apobull
join:2001-05-03
Manchester, MD
| reply to apobull
Just had a quick follow-up here that I was hoping someone could clarify.
I now have a PS3, which I'll use as my Blu-ray player among other things. If I want to take advantage of the PS3's wired gigabit port, could I setup a wireless router (with DD-wrt in bridge mode), run a cable from the wireless router to a gigabit switch, and then connect my PS3 into that switch or use a pre-n gigabit router in bridge mode to do the same? Dlink's DIR-655 seemed like an option but from what I've read here and elsewhere, it doesn't seem like it would do what I want. I'd prefer the gigabit connection if I can but would need to still integrate something wireless to get this working (if it's even possible) |
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billaustin
Bill
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join:2001-10-13
North Las Vegas, NV | If you want gigabit speeds, the connection will have to be wired. |
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switchman
join:1999-11-06
Grand Prairie, TX
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | For basic simple connectivity, not streaming video, you could use a Ethernet over power adapter.
I use the Airlink 101 version. For basic ethernet services, they are fine. If you are going to stream video or any other high bandwidth real time traffic, don't bother with these. Go with the 200Mb/s version or a direct wire.
Every application will be different because it is influenced by outside factors, i.e. noise on the power line, devises plugged in to power line, etc. The cable is still the best overall method.
If you decide to go with the 85Mb/s version, Fry's puts them on sale about every 6 weeks or so for ~$25-$29 each. Even with shipping, they would still be cheaper than the $50+ prices you will normally find them for.
Here is the Fry's link, »shop4.frys.com/product/5596790;j···_RSLT_PG,
FRYS item#: 5596790 |
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vinaykagarwa
join:2008-12-09
Cupertino, CA
| reply to apobull
The devices needed for wireless connection of Blu-ray players are called by many names including wireless bridge, wireless game controller, wireless access point, and AP client. Even their prices vary all over since it is hard to compare them. I ended up creating a page at »www.rayinblu.com/blu-ray-wireless that lists all the Blu-ray wireless connection options available and their pricing. Hope this helps. |
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jeisenberg
New Year's Eve
join:2001-07-06
Windsor, ON
·Cogeco Cable
·Cogeco Voip
| I bought a Blu-Ray player less than two weeks ago and considered the same problem. I tried purchasing an Apple AirPort Express (»www.apple.com/airportexpress/) wireless bridge with the intention of receiving a signal from my Wireless-N router and feeding the signal through the AirPort Express' ethernet port to the Blu-Ray device.
Although the concept "worked" (i.e. the Blu-Ray player reported that it was connected to the internet through the Ethernet port), I was never able to get enough bandwidth to make the device happy. There were no firewalls or anything else to muck up the wireless system; and when I disconnected the AirPort Express and directly connected via wire to my router, it worked perfectly - no complaints.
So, this is not a definitive answer, but for me, "wireless" access from the Blu-Ray player didn't work. |
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