Flash drive to TV..?

RainbowsInTheSpray

Hello again guys.

In a recent thread someone suggested I could plug a USB stick into the back of my TV as a solution to a particular problem.

Can I assume that, to play the stick contents, it would simply be a matter of plugging it in and keeping my SKY box switched OFF... or do I need actually to disconnect the SKY box physically? Do I need to start messing about with the TV's settings each and every time I switch between input from the two sources? What control do I have over playing the contents - pausing a film, for example? Sorry, but I'm pretty naive about such things. Watching TV used to be the simplest of things, not requiring a course in advanced IT. Showing my age! 

Le_Kirk

Most modern TVs will accept a USB stick.  Just turn off (or don't turn on) Sky and, on the TV menu, scroll down to find and select the USB input (maybe called various things) and you will be able to view (generally) whatever is on the stick, certainly photos.  You may be able to play videos but it does depend upon what format the video is on the USB and what format the TV will play.  Try it and see.

getmore4less

Its in the manual
Panasonic TX-L39EM6B
https://www.panasonic.com/uk/support/discontinued-products/televisions/tx-l39em6b.html
https://www.panasonic.eu/downloads/en_GB/popup.html
this link might work
https://dlc.panasonic-europe-service.com/EUDocs/GetDoc.aspx?did=234197&fmt=PDF&lang=en&src=3&uilang=en-GB&model=TXL39EM6B

Page 21 for media on USB sticks.
Page 27 has supported media types.

JustAnotherSaver

Well from the post above it looks like someone has gone to the effort of going through your previous threads. I don't bother to do that but from it I'm guessing you have a Panasonic.

I have a Panasonic TV too.

Obviously we don't have the same TV model but from personal experience it was not as simple as plugging a drive in and job done.

I actually forget what I had to do as I don't really plug drives in direct but it took a bit of back and forth with customer support and trying various things to get it to work in the end. Quite faffy.

TheRightOne

JustAnotherSaver said:

Well from the post above it looks like someone has gone to the effort of going through your previous threads. I don't bother to do that but from it I'm guessing you have a Panasonic.

I have a Panasonic TV too.

Obviously we don't have the same TV model but from personal experience it was not as simple as plugging a drive in and job done.

I actually forget what I had to do as I don't really plug drives in direct but it took a bit of back and forth with customer support and trying various things to get it to work in the end. Quite faffy.

It is actually straightforward. Especially if you read the manual. But then it's always easy if you know how.

For instance, if I told you that the USB drive had to be formatted FAT32 and not NTFS, some would understand immediately whilst others might be left scratching their heads.
So it's straightforward if you already have read the manual and gained an understanding of what needs to happen.

But yes, the stick needs to be formatted to FAT32 spec or perhaps exFAT. The problem with FAT32 is that you cannot store files more than 4GB. So if you watch high quality FullHD(1080p) media, exFAT would be the better choice.

The OP has us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vdhw115Vh8

Carrot007

TheRightOne said:

For instance, if I told you that the USB drive had to be formatted FAT32 and not NTFS

Does it?

If so that is 1 manufacturer of the list! (not that they were on it for other reasons).

My LG is fine and happy with ntfs, not looked in the manual though so it may say the same. Manual's are usual copy/paste from previous versions and no thought made to correctness these days.

Chino

Carrot007 said:

If so that is 1 manufacturer of the list! (not that they were on it for other reasons).

Maybe do your own research and establish whether, although it was a restriction for a 2013 Panasonic model, it's still the case?

RainbowsInTheSpray

Ok everyone, thanks. Been poorly for a couple of days. Am genuinely grateful for the comments but have seen enough to be put off the whole idea. 'Just plug in the USB stick'? Oh no, you don't get away with it as easy as that... a degree in abstruse IT jargon and wotnot required. Why am I not surprised?

Thanks but no thanks. The ridiculous modern age we're living through. Someone will eventually twig that many people have more important things to do with their lives than 'formatting'...

Neil_Jones

RainbowsInTheSpray said:

Ok everyone, thanks. Been poorly for a couple of days. Am genuinely grateful for the comments but have seen enough to be put off the whole idea. 'Just plug in the USB stick'? Oh no, you don't get away with it as easy as that... a degree in abstruse IT jargon and wotnot required. Why am I not surprised?

Thanks but no thanks. The ridiculous modern age we're living through. Someone will eventually twig that many people have more important things to do with their lives than 'formatting'...

It is not "ridiculous", the TV cannot be expected to support every file system under the sun dating back to the 1960s. and all drives have to be formatted to be able to be used.  If you buy an external drive (or a USB drive) it is almost always already formatted, just plug it in to use.