Connecting Tv To Internet

[foxyferret]

I have a Panasonic tv model TX-P42UT30B and want to connect it to the internet. The Panasonic dongle is too expensive. Can anyone recommend a different one that would fit? Someone said the ones you plug in the wall are better. I would be happy to receive advice with either a dongle or a plug in adaptor. Thanks.

[Buenchico]

What do actually want to connect it to the internet for? If it's simply to watch catch-up TV services and things like Youtube, consider a Now TV Box. It will cost you £14.99 for the box alone (which gives you those catch-up services, plus Youtube and internet radio channels, etc) or you can also add in a subscription to other services [see link] for an extra tenner. Even better, buy your box from Asda where you'll get one of the subscription packages included anyway for a total of just £15:
https://www.nowtv.com/box

The Now TV box gives any TV set 'smart' capability without the need for any other device (except, of course, your router). However if you want to stream content from your mobile phone or computer to your TV set, then consider Chromecast:
http://www.google.co.uk/chrome/devices/chromecast/

[foxyferret]

Very interesting. There seem to be loads of channels on the tv that come up with the message "your tv is compatible but not connected to the internet". I will have a look at both your suggestions Buenchico, thank you for your help.

[Khandro]

If you have a router, that's all you need, you just plug in a small receiving device into a usb port on the back of your Panasonic TV and access Viera

[VHG]

According to the Panasonic TV manual that I read online you can plug a LAN cable straight into the back of the TV.

If your router is in another room then you can indeed use the adapters that plug into the mains and you can connect your TV to your router via these adapters using LAN cables.

A direct connection via LAN cables is usually faster than a wi fi connection anyway.

[VHG]

Note there is an option to update the software on this TV and it is probably a good idea to do this as the "smart TV" software has probably been updated since this TV came out.

[Khandro]

You don't get ALL the channels using Panasonic Viera. and that nowtv box doesn't look well endowed. Another way if you have a laptop with a VGA output socket you can connect it to your TV and go directly online

[foxyferret]

Thank you all for your help. It has given more ideas for me to look at than I knew about. Cheers everyone.

[mikey4444]

I have been using NOWTV for a few months and its OK'ish, and its quite cheap but it is far from perfect. The faffing around that you need to do to enter text via the tiny handsets would drive a saint mad !

This might be a bit left-field but you could connect a laptop to the TV, so that you have the advantage of a big screen ?