Adding Wifi/internet Ability To A Smart Tv

[Old_Geezer]

Probably a long shot but.

TV went faulty today so seeing what seemed a decent price on a full hd led tv we bought a samsung lt32e310. Sort of assumed if it was full hd it must connect to the internet, but having got it back (and against all attempts by the lack of instructions to ensure I wouldn't be able to connect the stand, I managed it) we now find it doesn't connect to the Net ! :-( (That'll learn me to spot a bargain and just go for it.)

It has a USB socket so surely there's something that can connect via WiFi to the router ? Preferably instictively so one can view steamed content from wherever without jumping through hoops.

Anyone ?

[murraymints]

connect lappie vis HDMI cable

[murraymints]

via.. then source the channel to view

[murraymints]

I often watch films from gomovies via lappie connected to TV

[mikey4444]

OG....I don't think its possible to "surf the 'net" using NOW TV. All it does, is to connect to the 'net, via your wifi. You can access things like the iplayer, but that is about it.

I have had NOW TV for about 2 years but rarely use it, as I have a 32 inch monitor on my desk top PC, and now use this to watch the telly, more than the telly itself.

[murraymints]

if you connect lappie you can see all functions on screen

[Kidas]

'surfing the net' on devices not designed principally for that purpose is questionable.
1. Some of the virtual keyboards require you to scroll arund using the arrow keys and then select letter by letter - not fun.
2. many websites today carry video, and other processor-intensive content. The chipset in the boxes tends to be under-powered for rendering that kind of material on web pages (different from streaming video content).

In general, if you want to view web pages on a TV, use your regular laptop/phone/tablet and connect either via an HDMI cable or a specific wifi app.

Your mileage may vary - that's general advice, not really knowing your level of tech-savviness. Basically, it's possible to do all kinds of things, but many of them require switching between various remotes and selecting the right input and so on.
That kind of solution is often not 'famiy-friendly' for peole who just want it to work, without thinking to hard about it.

Just saying....

[Samuraisan]

Good luck OG, sounds like a nightmare to me, I don't know what most of these things are that you are all discussing ! But I do have an AppleTV and use it a lot.

[Old_Geezer]

Just to mention, and update, I was reminded we had bought some gizmo to connect her laptop to the previous TV. I seem to recall some success but clearly insufficient as it and the cables were put away in a drawer. Too long ago to recall details but a vague memory of it suddenly failing to work.

Just found them and tried them. No instructions but connections seemed obvious. One of those times when one end (the TV) tells lies and pretends nothing's connected to HDMI whilst the other (laptop) end makes no indication it realises anything's there also.

Been trying to spot things in control panel and device manager to little success; until I tried unplugging and plugging the thing back in. Always blanked to a black screen before returning.

Eventually I hear a whirring sound, and a popup asking me what to do with the DVD drive ?!?!?!?! No idea what changed but the TV now agrees that something's on the HDMI and I can see the control panel on the TV.

I'm going to see how successful it is and if it works ok it may cover the "new" requirement, and we can get a box to cover the rest.

[Old_Geezer]

Got some youtube video running, and unlike in the past, sound comes from tv not laptop. So that's progress. Needs cable running from laptop to tv, across carpet though.

[Old_Geezer]

Now TV Smart ordered from Amazon. Seemed a good price yet unsure how often the 30 minute pause will actually be used. (I'll keep the mains cabling option in mind if we experience an issue with WiFi throughput.) Thanks all.

[Old_Geezer]

This is unbelievable !

Got the Now TV box, trying to create the unwanted account to use it. Have ZERO interest in passes, but one can't use the box without an account and can't set up the account without selecting a pass for which they threaten to take money from you for if you don't manage to cancel it when the trial period ends !

Aaaaarrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who's to say it proves possible to cancel ? It seems not possible to skip !

[Buenchico]

Accept a free 'pass' and then cancel it later.

Now TV is owned by Sky. Whatever you might think about Sky's services, the company itself is totally 'legit' and they won't take any money from you without your permission.

[ichkeria]

We had Now TV for a few months while in temporary accommodation. The attraction being that you could signup to a rolling one month contract: £44 set up fee and £20 a month for unlimited fibre broadband, phone line and access to Now tv. The latter was useful to us mainly for the access the now box gave us to internet apps like iPlayer. We had to sign up to an account of course but we were not obliged to take any of the passes.
Mikey is right tho: the one drawback was the silly little console. You could not select channels direct but had to scroll. Nonetheless it was well worth it

[Old_Geezer]

Looks like she may be obliged to but I'm not filling in that for her. And what if one misses the deadline ? Can't even contact customer desk. Service is temporarily unavailable ! All an inconvenience, a risk, and a damned cheek.

This is the second box too. The first couldn't download the activation plugin !