Question Novice Smart TV question

[robbo400]

Hi,
Apologies for a basic question.

My internet/WiFi speed is very poor but yesterday I added the TP-Link Powerline WiFi 3 meaning I now have a wired connection to each TV via the nearby electric socket. It has transformed my viewing on my main TV as I can now watch programmes on BBC iPlayer and ITVx etc with no buffering at all which previously made them unwatchable.

My question concerns my smaller TV in the kitchen where I do spend a lot of time. It is an older Smart TV from around 2013 (Samsung UE22H5600AK) and doesn't have the Apps for ITVx, Channel 4, My 5 or U and others- all of which I am keen to watch. I have been told today by Samsung's support team that I will be unable to download those Apps to my TV as the technology on my model is too old to support them.

Others have suggested an Amazon Fire Stick or a dedicated Streamer (eg: Roku Express). My concern is that these both seem to connect via WiFi only which will take me back to my original problem of poor internet speed and buffering pictures. I have looked at changing TV (I can get this size for between £150-200) but the TVs on sale seem to have WiFi only connection - no ethernet port. Also, my TV had picture resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) whereas todays models have only 720p (1366 x 768 pixels) and I don't really want to take a step backwards in picture quality

Any suggestions on which way to go/other ideas? Many thanks

 

[daveh75]

Amazon sell ethernet adapters for Firesticks

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-Ethernet-Adaptor-Remote-models/dp/B01LXP5TXI

As do, or at least Google did for their Chromecasts.

There are also third party adapters available for Roku, Firestick and Chromecasts, like this for example

https://www.amazon.co.uk/UGREEN-Ethernet-Adaptor-Chromecast-Network/dp/B01N1X28F1?ref_=ast_sto_dp

 

[Minkey1]

Hi,
Apologies for a basic question.

My internet/WiFi speed is very poor but yesterday I added the TP-Link Powerline WiFi 3 meaning I now have a wired connection to each TV via the nearby electric socket. It has transformed my viewing on my main TV as I can now watch programmes on BBC iPlayer and ITVx etc with no buffering at all which previously made them unwatchable.

My question concerns my smaller TV in the kitchen where I do spend a lot of time. It is an older Smart TV from around 2013 (Samsung UE22H5600AK) and doesn't have the Apps for ITVx, Channel 4, My 5 or U and others- all of which I am keen to watch. I have been told today by Samsung's support team that I will be unable to download those Apps to my TV as the technology on my model is too old to support them.

Others have suggested an Amazon Fire Stick or a dedicated Streamer (eg: Roku Express). My concern is that these both seem to connect via WiFi only which will take me back to my original problem of poor internet speed and buffering pictures. I have looked at changing TV (I can get this size for between £150-200) but the TVs on sale seem to have WiFi only connection - no ethernet port. Also, my TV had picture resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) whereas todays models have only 720p (1366 x 768 pixels) and I don't really want to take a step backwards in picture quality

Any suggestions on which way to go/other ideas? Many thanks

If you have a TV there you’ll have a power socket. Wouldn’t powerline work there, and get smarts over an Ethernet adaptor to an HDMI plug in streamer?

We have a similar issue with a non smart 19” Samsung in the kitchen which *has* to fit in a unit. Nothing more modern will fit. They’re all bigger. Fortunately WiFi is good and a new EETV mini box has transformed it.

 

[jjbomber]

Hi,

Others have suggested an Amazon Fire Stick or a dedicated Streamer (eg: Roku Express). My concern is that these both seem to connect via WiFi only which will take me back to my original problem of poor internet speed and buffering pictures.

TV Cube rather than the firestick.

 

[robbo400]

Thanks Minkey and jj bomber.

Minkey, your proposed solution was what I had been trying to describe. Thanks for clarifying it with correct terminology!

jj, the TVCube looks much better but costs at least as much as a new TV of that size (I've now found a 24" Samsung model with ethernet connection although still 720p rather than 1080p)

Amazon have the Fire Stick 4k (latest generation) on sale at £35 and together with their Ethernet adaptor will cost £50. I think I'll go for this solution as a temporary fix over the coming months and then see if these Freely TVs take off in the same way that Freeview did back in the day before buying a new TV

 

[Minkey1]

Thanks Minkey and jj bomber.

Minkey, your proposed solution was what I had been trying to describe. Thanks for clarifying it with correct terminology!

No worries. To my mind HD 720/1080 isn’t as crucial on the smaller TVs. That said, I’m even watching Day of the Jackal from Now at 720 on our 55” and it looks OK 🤷🏼

Good luck.

 

[jjbomber]

Thanks Minkey and jj bomber.

jj, the TVCube looks much better but costs at least as much as a new TV of that size

Flea-bay?

 

[Jasonovich]

Hi,
Apologies for a basic question.

My internet/WiFi speed is very poor but yesterday I added the TP-Link Powerline WiFi 3 meaning I now have a wired connection to each TV via the nearby electric socket. It has transformed my viewing on my main TV as I can now watch programmes on BBC iPlayer and ITVx etc with no buffering at all which previously made them unwatchable.

My question concerns my smaller TV in the kitchen where I do spend a lot of time. It is an older Smart TV from around 2013 (Samsung UE22H5600AK) and doesn't have the Apps for ITVx, Channel 4, My 5 or U and others- all of which I am keen to watch. I have been told today by Samsung's support team that I will be unable to download those Apps to my TV as the technology on my model is too old to support them.

Others have suggested an Amazon Fire Stick or a dedicated Streamer (eg: Roku Express). My concern is that these both seem to connect via WiFi only which will take me back to my original problem of poor internet speed and buffering pictures. I have looked at changing TV (I can get this size for between £150-200) but the TVs on sale seem to have WiFi only connection - no ethernet port. Also, my TV had picture resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) whereas todays models have only 720p (1366 x 768 pixels) and I don't really want to take a step backwards in picture quality

Any suggestions on which way to go/other ideas? Many thanks

I prefer ethernet mains line connection to WiFi, much more secure and stable. I have Devolo Magic Lan 2 plugged in socket for every device requiring internet connection ( 4 Devolo's).
Theses require connection via ethernet cable. One Develo connects to the router, same as TP-Link Powerline WiFi but without the wireless.

The TV in the diner, is connected to Android TV media player, plugged into ethernet switch and this is routed to the ethernet plug on the Devolo. I like these because it is encrypted and only work with the same Magic Lans of the same matching model.
A bit pricy but worth the investment. There are other ethernet mains adapters that are OK also.

I mentioned Android TV Player, you can connect this to your TV via the HDMI. This will give you access to BBC Player, ITV hub, YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, Rakuten, Disney, Hulu, all that smart tv functionality on Android OS and much of everything for your viewing needs.

Hope this helps.


Cats love it

 

[daveh75]

The guy that advocates the use of cat 8 cables for hifi uses (electrically noisy) devices to send ethernet signals over unshielded and untwisted cables not designed to carry them 🙄

 

[flashgordon1952]

I am not a fan of wif fi or ethernet connectors I have direct cable ( quality) to my PC like i do with the amazon and Sky