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24.24.190.30
Mates,
As unhappy as I am with Time-Warner cable service- high cost, 95% worthless content, plus constant pixellation and modem reboot, I decided to try Netflix. The idea of on-demand unlimited streaming for $9/mo. seemed to be the solution to dissatisfaction with cable.
There are a variety of devices that can be used to retrieve the Netflix streaming, including the Roku dedicated boxes, games controllers, and Blu-ray players. I should have done more research, but I decided a Blu-ray player with the streaming capability was a good package: it in a sense includes a "bonus" Blu-ray/DVD/CD player. For about the same price as the Roku box, I've bought a Samsung BDP-1600. Though I have a 2005 Sony non-HD CRT (no HMDI), I figured I could use the Blu-ray player for DVD's and If I ever bought an HD TV, I'd be set.
Problem: The problem with my application is that there has to be a LAN to get the signal from Netflix off the Internet to the television machine. For me this has to be wireless. The distance from the computer to the TV is about 15' though one stud/plaster wall.
Questions: What do I need to set up a wireless network? I do know that for the BDP-1600I have to buy a proprietary ($80) USB wireless dongle, I suppose which acts as the "receiver". Then do I only need attach a wireless router to the modem at the computer? There are various standards for these- the 802 g and etc. Should this modem be an "N"? Should I upgrade my Internet to a faster speed- my service is for the "middle rate". How well do these wireless networks work? Is a there a brand of wireless router that's better- Belkin, Netgear, Linksys or whatever?
Sorry for such a basic question, but networks and Wi-Fi is one of my computer frontiers- I've never had anything to so with them.
Thanks!
Cheers,
Bambi B
Follow Ups:
I ran wires everywhere since I'm a certified lunatic. I may want to try wireless for some application in the future. This just came out.
how is your computer connecting to the internet now? You don't have wireless already? I use Time Warner Road Runner and they supplied a wireless router for my home. I also bought the Samsung BP1600 and forked out for the $80 wireless dongle. I setup the BP1600 to recognize the wireless network in my home and Netflix streams in. Are you using a high speed connection for your internet?
Bambi,
Does your blu machine have a built-in browser? I mean, how do you get your blu machine navigated through the internet to the Netflix site and connected to it so you can stream without some how having a computer as go-between? I'm struggling with the same thing right now with my setup. I have my Oppo conncected to my wirless network, but I have no idea how to make it go where I want it to. I've yet to try a blu disc that has interactive capability, so maybe once I try that things will become clearer to me about internet navigation via the Oppo. I suspect/hope that at sometime in the future, Oppo will send out a fw update that has an imbedded browser function that will allow surfing through your BD player without the need for a PC.
Sondek,
I've never had any experience with networks of any kind, and think I'm only beginning to understand a bit about the use of a Blu-ray to retrieve Netflix movies. -Comments will be partially conjectural,..
The Blu-ray player only has the ability to receive the properly formatted data stream from the network, not act as a browser.
My understanding is that To watch a Netflix streamed movie, I would need a computer and router- wired with an Ethernet cable or WI-Fi wireless. If wireless, the router needs to be of certain bandwidth- Mb per second, and protocols/formats. To watch a movie, it's necessary to use the browser on the computer from which the signal will pass through to go to the Netflix site. You select a movie that is in the download list and I think press a button on the listing that says "PLAY". After that selection, a screen on the computer informs that the movie is ready to play. I then walk into the room where the Blu-ray player and TV are, the Blu-ray will display on the TV a Netflix icon, that icon will say something like "There's a movie that's been waiting for you hours to come in here and press "PLAY", or select the icon and await directions. When the movie is running, it may be stopped, rewound, fast forwarded, slow motioned, and so, all from the Blu-ray remote.
Or, something like that,..
Cheers,
Bambi B
Bambi,
Reading and posting here yesterday spurred me to do some research. Turns out that my Oppo came loaded with something called Blu TV from a company named Dreamer Corp. I got my Oppo three or four weeks ago and have been out of town for part of the time since then and haven't really had opportunity to sit down w/it and figgure it out, so didn't really understand WTF this BluTV thing is/was. After reading up, seems as though Dreamer has just this year struck a deal with Oppo to put their software on the Oppo. The software, when Oppo is internet connected, is a kind of thin-client application that allows for connection to a portal in the cloud for the down-loading of content. In effect turning the Oppo into a kind of HD set-top box complete with a browser-like user interface. For the moment there is no real content, just some games and other mostly worthless stuff, but, and this is a big BUT ... it proves that the concept works. If you can download these games and run them, you can download and play just about anything including movies. All I need now is for content providers to sign-up to distribute their stuff via the portal. That, I know, is a helluva leap, but am looking forward to seeing where all this goes.
nt
you don't need a computer for the netflix connection, but you'll need a computer to manage your streaming account with netflix.
Have you considered power line ethernet? This is where you plug a powerline adapter near your router and plug the other near your Netflix box? It turns all the wall plugs in your home into ethernet ports for the interenet.You could have just used your PC if it is near and attached a USB wireless adapter. Those run about $12 to $18 from Monoprice.com.
I would get atleast 3MB download speeds. Anything slower than that and your picture quality will not be good.
Edits: 03/24/10
Wouldn't you be concerned about introducing noise into your AC that would degrade your audio system sound?
The data is transmitted at different frequencies. There shouldn't be any degradation of audio quality. The link explains how it works. I doubt you'd notice the difference in a wireless connection.I tried it in an apartment..it works. I'm thinking it will work much better in a single family dwelling.
Edits: 03/25/10 03/25/10
I know it's not what you were asking, but is there any reason why you can't run an ethernet cable? I bought a 25 ft one for $20 and it works great. I ran mine from the U-Verse modem through a vent directly to the blu-ray player. No interference, delays, or reboot issues.
Baba-Booey to you all!
Prisoners,
The TV is only one room away from the computer and if this house were on a raised floor instead of a slab, I'd run a wire. As it is, I'd need to snake a wire up and around doorway, and across a hall, around a corner back to the floor, and etc. This would require probably a 75'-100' cable. I know this would be more reliable- and probably cheaper than the wireless router and wireless adapter for the Samsung, but I suppose it comes down to the wire across the hallway ceiling- not my favourite decor!
One side benefit to a wireless system: I have another computer (HP 2.66 Ghz quad core/8GB RAM) in the living room for my recording that I could eventually Wi-Fi into the Internet. But, perhaps I should reconsider a cable as I'm not anxious to spend another $120 just for wireless.
TA!
Cheers,
Bambi B
Like cf said, can you drill through the baseboard? I was reluctant to try this as well but I helped a friend do it and it's not hard at all. A long drill bit, straightened wire hanger, and a buddy with a flashlight is all you need. Even if you goof it up it's not a hard fix.
Baba-Booey to you all!
Yes, if you buy one of those channel kits from Home Depot e.g., the channel on either side can cover the holes through the wall/baseboard.I have even done this to access an unused AC circuit in another room, rather than running a whole new circuit (put plug on *after* drilling holes LOL).
You would be poorly advised to take home decor tips from me though...
Edits: 03/24/10
Do what I do, drill through the wall low to the floor, and get a couple of cheap cover plates to make the holes look more "official". You can buy some fairly cheap paintable plastic channel for the cable if you can't tuck it under existing moulding etc. I only use wireless for portable devices, the wire is faster and more glitch-resistant for me. I need a lot more routers though, a 4-port can't do much when two ports may be used for chaining...another advantage of wireless, unless I stop hooking up stupid things just because they have an Ethernet port...
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