HD TV connection for viewing iPlayer etc

mikehit (e2 Member)

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10 Sep 2012 - 11:01 AM

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As you say, I am not sure if that TV has a wireless internet built-in.
If it helps, I have found the guys at PC World and Maplins very helpful with advice on these issues, but at the moment I would say the internet plugs or 'smart' DVD/freeview box are the best bet at the moment.

KingBee (e2 Member)

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13 Sep 2012 - 11:12 AM

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An update for everyone who's followed this thread thus far, and a request for further info / advice, if anyone can help.

The TP-Link Homeplugs arrived yesterday along with a 5-metre Belkin Cat 5e cable. Connected everything up, and as others have noted, that was dead simple. Paired the plugs as recommended and thought, here we go. And, indeed, I am now able to access iPlayer (but only iPlayer, and only BBC programmes to boot - no 4 OD or anything like that) on my telly, so the plugs and the connections are all working fine.

However, there are two problems. The first is that programmes take FOREVER to download: OK, so I can go off and make a cup of tea. But the second, and more frustrating aspect, is that once I have the selected programme up and running, even at standard def, a few minutes into the show and it just freezes up; starts again; freezes again; and so on. No-one can watch TV this way and not think about the most painless form of suicide.

Now, the thing is, I can download and watch programmes effortlessy on my PC, which is a fairly powerful beast, custom-built, and relatively new, so I'm assuming the problems I've described are really nothing to do with line speed (where I live I get about 9.5 Mb/s download speed); in which case, can it be the software/hardware in the TV that isn't able to keep up? As I've noted above, the TV is about 3 years old, which in the days of analogue was nothing, but in these ever-changing digital times is an eternity. Interestingly, the iPlayer screen on my PC monitor is way more sophisticated than the one I see on my TV, so I am wondering if the problem lies with the TV. I'm pretty certain it must, but I don't know enough about the technology to understand why. I can't think of anything else.

Incidentally, I take it that if I decided to buy a Humax box or similar 'smart' box in future, and use the ethernet connection on that rather than the one on the TV, the broadcast quality and availabilty of catch-up material would increase exponentially?

If anyone has any answers, I'd be very grateful. I'll be around today but away for a week from tomorrow, so if anyone can find the time to post a reply before I disappear, that would be good - otherwise, I'll pick up any replies in a week's time.

Thanks again.

KingBee (e2 Member)

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13 Sep 2012 - 3:39 PM

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Quote: You aren't getting enough through your home plugs.

Sorry Meredith, not quite sure I've got this. Are you saying that it's the fault of the television - which would be as I suspected? As in, it's all down to the low-tech software/hardware in the TV itself, and is nothing to do with the external plugs, cable or line speed? Just want to be sure I've understood your comment.