Hi,

I tried a search but couldn't find anything useful to my query. I've just bought a Sony TV with internet connection available and already own a Sony Blu-Ray player also with internet connection available but the router is based downstairs and both the TV and Blu-Ray will be based upstairs, so i'm looking for a none too expensive solution to hook them both up to the internet and was hoping someone could throw some ideas my way please??

Many thanks in advance for any help,

John

Just to add, i can't have cables running up the stairs.

You could try the internet plugs that that go into your mains sockets as that would solve the problem.

wireless bridge or a wireless router would do it if you can stick it in bridge mode

Bought THESE for my Mum and Dad who needed a similar solution and they are incredible! Took 30 seconds to set up and give superfast, solid connection. Well recommended.

I have used the same as joenitro suggests, not the same brand, but the same type of thing. They work fantastically.

Either that or I have my Sony TV linked up to the wireless system through a Sony dongle:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-UWABR100-Bringing-Wireless-Internet/dp/B0036XX4G0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321037954&sr=8-1

i'd also vouch for powerline's, there just so simple to use, one connected via cat5 cable to the router and the other anywhere else in the house (providing your circuit isnt split and most modern houses arent) with a cat5 going to the device. you can even buy them with wifi built in too to extend wifi for other things and also add more plugs anytime you need them, i have 3 connected 24/7

i bought mine off fleabay for about £15 a pair, google comtrend powerlines as bt gave loads away with their box's and peeps just sold them, not the best make but they work fine and are cheap

200 meg ones are MORE than adequate, 85 would do

I have one of these. 5 mins to setup and works perfectly. Even got one for my dad's PC downstairs

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-Universal-Wifi-Internet-Adapter/dp/B003VIWJYI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1321039210&sr=1-1

I have one of these. 5 mins to setup and works perfectly. Even got one for my dad's PC downstairs

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-Universal-Wifi-Internet-Adapter/dp/B003VIWJYI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1321039210&sr=1-1

I did take a look at this but looking at it, you can only set up one piece of equipment with it.

With regards to the sony usb adaptor, i read the reviews and some of them are quite critical of the signal range and it is also only for 1 thing at a time but have you ever had any problems with it??

Go powerline plugs for the best solution if I were you. I turned off my wireless and I use them (German Devolo plugs) all over the house. Got fed up of wifi signal being blasted off course by passing radio traffic, didn't want cables all over the house. I've set them up for my neighbours to, in every room for TV's, computers, blu-ray players etc. Get the 200mbps versions at least, not the 85mbps ones otherwise streaming HD video isn't so smooth. You can get upto 1000mbps versions now also but I shouldn't think you would need that version. They are rock solid and you can encrypt the signal at the push of a button, but there isn't much chance your signal will get beyond your house circuits anyway as everyone is on different phases each side of you. Much safer than wifi.

another thing with powerlines, if you need more than 1 item connected then get a switch

I have SKY for tv and broadband, so I blagged a £40 bridge device from them. This is a WiFi mini sub-router of sorts (well its easy to thnk of it like that) and very easily connects to your main wifi router (mine is upstairs). You then simply plug it into your SKY box and you get the Internet features such as Anytime+. But, what I did next was to buy a dirt cheap 'switcher' and plug that in line with the Bridge device and SKY box and you simply plug all your internet thingies that want a feed, into the switcher. So my telly, Humax, PVR, Receiver etc are all Internet connected now all for the princely sum of a free Bridge device and a cheap £15 switcher. Works a treat and is easy to install.

The reason you need a 'switcher' with the SKY Bridge device is it only has one output, so the switcher acts a bit like a digital parallel box and lets you connect more things to it (it a clever Hub thingie).

Edited 12 November, 201114 yr by Lady Elanore

what did you say to get the freebie? just say the wifi was poor and its spoiling your sky experience??

I did take a look at this but looking at it, you can only set up one piece of equipment with it.

With regards to the sony usb adaptor, i read the reviews and some of them are quite critical of the signal range and it is also only for 1 thing at a time but have you ever had any problems with it??

Did look at the Sony dongle but was twice the price of the Netgear adapter. Just buy one for each device or swap it between devices when you want to use it. Problem solved

I'd not heard of these Homeplugs before reading this post, i currently have a 10mb Virgin fibre optic cable broadband connection, but my main desktop pc is currently connecting wirelessly, so although i get a 10meg service, due to the wirless signal getting some interferance from time to time, sometimes the service my desktop gets can be as low as 2meg. So, would i be better off getting one of these homeplug solutions?? I mean, i just did 3 speed tests at speedtest.net 1st was 9.75mb 2nd 5.63mb and 3rd 9.51mb.... so i'm guessing i'd get a much more stable result with one of these homeplugs?

Steve, yes you would be much much better off. I had the Virgin 10meg service (now have the 30mbit service) wirelessly connected to my desktop, and it used to vary all the time from 3mb to 9.7mb. It would be all over the place and was very frustrating. I then decided to do away with wireless (well just switched it off) and use the Devolo powerline plugs. I bought the 200mbps version in a pack of two. Right away my signal was full speed all the time to my desktop and I can plug in a laptop or my desktop in any room where there is a powerpoint. My tv is connected to the internet using a powerline plug too. You can push the encryption buttons to protect the network. They work with any operating system, it doesn't matter what you use. It's simple and effective. There are no drawbacks, no interference with other electricals etc. These plugs have been about for several years now and we use them at work on parts of our network. Fantastic. Go for them.

Edited 13 November, 201114 yr by Estate Man

no interference with other electricals etc.

not quite true, they recommend you dont plug these into an extension, especially a surge protected one. if you must use an extension then buy a passthrough type homeplug and put that into the mains socket and connect the extension to the homeplug. its worth knowing this before you buy so you buy the correct type for your needs

what did you say to get the freebie? just say the wifi was poor and its spoiling your sky experience??

I smiled sweetly at them as I order my new 1tb box and said gimmie gimmie gimmie

not quite true, they recommend you dont plug these into an extension, especially a surge protected one. if you must use an extension then buy a passthrough type homeplug and put that into the mains socket and connect the extension to the homeplug. its worth knowing this before you buy so you buy the correct type for your needs

You are quite right about the extension thingy MM and a good point to make especially about checking your socket needs before you buy. But I meant the plugs don't interfere with ordinary elctricals in the house, eg. your toaster, radio, tv etc etc. On the point about extensions, I do run one in a surge protector without any problems although as Mad Monk says, they don't recommend it. The reason for this is purely because the powerline plug can pick up 'noise' from the EM fields around it and it can potentially slow your signal. However, I've not actually found any detectable loss in broadband speed. What I did notice was that if you are setting up two new powerline plugs with encryption and one is in a surger protector, it makes it's more awkward for the plugs to find each other on your network. Sometimes they just won't find each other if the surge is involved. But once connected, they seem to be fine, full speed. I found it best to set them up without the surge protector.

You can get two pairs of the Comtrends and sync them together -it's a little more complicated to set up but works just fine for me -there's nothing stopping you plugging two of them in next to each other in to the same double socket -it's actually easier to set them up this way initially and then move them to their final locations once they have paired up.

Edited 13 November, 201114 yr by greenstripe

You can get two pairs of the Comtrends and sync them together -it's a little more complicated to set up but works just fine for me -there's nothing stopping you plugging two of them in next to each other in to the same double socket -it's actually easier to set them up this way initially and then move them to their final locations once they have paired up.

thats exactly what i did , both pairs cost me about £35 off fleabay, think one was 15 and the other 20, just pot luck with thiat site but still cheaper than new and worked well now for several years. syncing these is no more than pressing a button on the front, once one is the master its just making the others a slave off this master

I smiled sweetly at them as I order my new 1tb box and said gimmie gimmie gimmie

thats me out then, i am mad you know :evil:

Edited 14 November, 201114 yr by the mad monk

Thanks for the replies everyone.

As it isn't my router, staying with a work colleague after moving to Surrey for a now ex-girlfriend, so didn't want to go down the route of plugging things into the router, etc, even though that was the cheapest and best looking option.

Thanks again.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

As it isn't my router, staying with a work colleague after moving to Surrey for a now ex-girlfriend, so didn't want to go down the route of plugging things into the router, etc, even though that was the cheapest and best looking option.

Thanks again.

The WiFi bridge is a good solution then. You just put the password into the bridge device and away you go