Equipment

[missprim]

What sort of equipment would I need to watch iplayer on my TV?
Would I need to connect to my PC with something.
Excuse me if I sound thick but I've no idea how these things work so will need instructions in the vein of, well first of all ....................
Many thanks.

[murraymints]

as far as I am aware iplayer can only be viewed via internet..you would therefore need a smart tv with internet connection...or just watch on PC/laptop..

[VHG]

A number of ways of doing it.

You can connect a laptop to the TV with a cable (HDMI cable if your laptop and TV have slots for them, or other cables if not).

Then connect your laptop to your wi fi router. You can then show your laptop screen on the TV.

So if you look at iplayer on your laptop you can display it on your TV.

A Wii games machince already has wi fi built in so you can connect your Wii to your router and then watch the iPlayer on that on TV.

Some "smart" TVs also let you watch the iPlayer directly, but it needs to be a modern TV to do that ("a "smart" TV).

These are just some of the ways - an xBox or PS3 will also probably let you do it that I have not got either to try it.

[bazwillrun]

There are various ways of doing it.

Probably the simplest and cheapest would be to use an HDMI lead , but
without knowing what equipment you have its hard to say.

Ideally your graphics card on your PC will need an HDMI socket and your TV will need an HDMI socket.

There are other ways but we would still need to know your setup.

[VHG]

I should point out if you have a desktop PC near the TV you can also connect that to the TV, same as you connect a laptop.

It is just easier with a laptop as it is more portable and more likely to be wi fi enabled. Most desktop PCs arent wi fi enabled so need to be near the TV to connect the wires.

Search the internet for "connecting a laptop to the TV". The solution will depend what connectors your laptop has, and what connectors your TV has.

[missprim]

Well I don't have a lap top or a wi fi.
My computer is in one room and my main TV is in another room which is where the comfy sofa is.
I can watch iplayer on my PC but there is nowhere comfy to sit in this room so was wondering if I can run a cable??? from my PC to the TV in the other room.

[SMP]

Our blu ray player lets us watch bbc iplayer and you tube.

[VHG]

You could run a cable from the PC to the TV, but it is not very practical is it?

First you will have a big long cable running through the house.

Secondly you could only control the iPlayer while sitting in front of the PC, so you would have to keep running back and forth between PC and TV.

So I would suggest:

1) Assuming you already have broadband, and if you have not got one already, get a ROUTER.

You may already have a router without even knowing it. It is what you plug the cable in from your PC to get broadband.

It MAY just be a modem, but you need a router. And most modern routers have wi fi built in.

2) Once you have a router get a laptop. You can get any cheap laptop that is wi fi enabled (even second hand).

You can then sit on your comfy sofa with the laptop on your lap, controlling the iPlayer, and watching the image on the TV.

[missprim]

Thanks guys.

[ChuckFickens]

http://www.play.com/E...ls.html?_$ja=&cur=258

[ChuckFickens]

That's not a wireless box BTW, so you'd need to run an Ethernet cable from wherever your broadband router is to the box.

[missprim]

This is the TV I have
http://www.panasonic....x.html?trackInfo=true

I noticed it has an ethernet thingy at the back and a USB port.
Didn't want to have to buy extra equipment like blu ray, laptop etc.

[sunny-dave]

It appears to have built in internet access capability using something called "Viera Cast".

You just need to run a LAN lead to the set from your router (or use a pair of powerline adapters if the cable run is to difficult).

[ChuckFickens]

If you connect the TV using the ethernet cable to your broadband and if you have it connected to a satellite dish for freesat you can get iplayer like that.

[sunny-dave]

http://www.panasonic....ex.html#anker_3726931

[ChuckFickens]

Viera Cast doesn't include iplayer as one of their services, and it's a walled environment so you can't access any service outside Viera Cast :(

It is on the red button on freesat though.