would like to stream videos from to my tv

[gunga64]

Hi,

I have a new samsung tv that I can connect a usb hard disk to my tv via usb port on the tv. I can use my tv remote to browse the usb drive and play .mkv files that I created with handbrake from my home videos I have on dvd.

This seems to work pretty good. I am supposed to be able to play mp4 videos but the tv refuses to play them but thats another story.

Anyway, I want to be able to have a device like a NAT, that I can connect to my TV that is also connected to my network at 1 GB speeds. I would then like to connect to that drive via my network so I can update and add more files to the drive without having to physically removing the drive everytime.

Does anyone know of a cheap device that supports this type of feature? I read that it needs to be dma, upnp and a nat. But most are expensive and not sure they do this feature. I would like to buy a 2 TB drive to put in this device.

Just wanted to see if anyone is doing this now and if theres a cheap way to do it?

[jagabo]

You mean a NAS (network attached storage), not NAT (network address translation). But you won't be able to attach the device to the TV via USB and the network at the same time. The problem is that you would have two operating systems (the TV and the NAS) managing the files at the same time -- a big no-no. You might be able to use a USB drive with a USB A/B switch:

http://www.amazon.com/Aluratek-2-Port-Auto-Sharing-Switch/dp/B000M3CDX2/

What you really need is a TV with an ethernet port designed to access network shares.

[gunga64]

The tv does have an ethernet port as well, documentation is not included. I guess I could look in network places and see if I can see it. Or see if theres a way to configure it.

One thing, I have a usb drive box with both ESata and USB. Maybe theres something that can be done with that.

[jagabo]

The tv does have an ethernet port as well, documentation is not included. I guess I could look in network places and see if I can see it. Or see if theres a way to configure it.

If the TV's ethernet port supports network shares (it may be only for internet access) that's your best bet. Use a NAS or computer to share files.

One thing, I have a usb drive box with both ESata and USB. Maybe theres something that can be done with that.

The problem is the same -- two different operating systems can't manage a drive at the same time.