Homeplug - im confused!

gazza975526570

Ive got a Sony TV in the living room - i understand Sony sell a dongle to access internet via it but that a cheaper option is using homeplugs.

I already have wireless broadband so can someone in simple terms explain why i cant access it via the normal wireless broadband and that i should be able to via homeplug?

Can someone also explain in simple terms how it works and what i would need to do as im just going round in circles in google and still unsure. Any links to the relevant product i would need to buy would also help

Thanks in advance of any info

jayme1

if the TV doesn't have wifi built in then it can't connect to your wireless router (that's why sony sell the dongle to make the TV wireless)

if the router is near (or you have an ethernet cable long enough) just connect the router to the TV
if the router is not close enough to the TV then homeplugs are an option, homeplugs use your house electrical wiring as an ethernet, you plug one in near your router and connect an ethernet cable from the router to the homeplug, and connect the 2nd homeplug near the TV and run an ethernet from that on to the TV, therefore giving you a 'virtual' ethernet cable from the router to the TV

gazza975526570

Thanks - OK well the router is in the hallway and the tv in the lounge and i dont want wires running between the two - so is it homplugs i need? Do you literally just plug them in?

John_Gray

gazza975526570 wrote: »

Thanks - OK well the router is in the hallway and the tv in the lounge and i dont want wires running between the two - so is it homplugs i need? Do you literally just plug them in?

Yes, you actually plug them in, and connect an ethernet patch cable from the router homeplug to one of the router ports, and a patch cable from the TV to the TV homeplug. The ethernet 'signal' goes via the ring main between the two homeplugs.

Just as Jayme1 said!

grumpycrab

Homeplugs are fine but does mean you need 2 homeplugs and 2 ethernet cables. Is ethernet the only way your Sony TV can connect to the internet?

googler

Model number of the TV might help....

penrhyn

A pair of max value homeplugs from Amazon include a couple of ethernet patch cords.

Internet TVs connect via ethernet and/or a wireless dongle, what else would there be?

grumpycrab

penrhyn wrote: »

...
Internet TVs connect via ethernet and/or a wireless dongle, what else would there be?

Sorry, not familiar with Internet TV so a question. Are Sony "TV wireless internet" dongles bespoke or USB or ethernet? (a non-bespoke USB dongle might be cheaper; or perhaps bandwidth may be an issue?).

EDIT: ignore above, Sony TVs, apparently, don't like dongles - best with Homeplugs.

penrhyn

As you posted, a model number from the OP would be helpful. I connect my Samsung TV using ethernet. The wireless option uses a bespoke USB dongle.

Whitefiver

I have a Sony Bravia (last year's model) connected via a pair of homeplugs and it works a treat. Most are indeed plug and play - set up in seconds.

Last time I looked Sony were wanting about £75 for their bespoke Wi-fi dongle, and that was the only one that you could use.

Make sure you get a reasonable speed - not sure the 85mbps ones would work, I have 200mbps ones and HD from iPlayer is fine.

Hope that helps,

White.

macman

And remember that you'll need a reliable line speed of 2MBps minimum to stream from iPlayer.
I'd go for 200MBps Homeplugs any day over a wi-fi dongle. or for a bit more you can get the newer 500MBps ones.
The thing to remember with these is that they should always be plugged into the wall socket, and not into a trailing extension lead.