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  1. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    One thing I would very likely have done differently -- if I was starting from scratch on home-design stuff -- is to have built-in ethernet everywhere, for computer and video. That is probably the standard in better construction for at least the last 10 years (?) At this point, I am unwilling to do any major projects that involve going through walls and ceilings to get that sort of coverage. Wi-Fi mostly gets it done here, though there are some limitations and annoyances. I am aware of powerline adapters, and may look into that.

    I have two Panasonic TVs that include VieraCast. With one of them, I have for several years used a "NIC-stick" like this

    https://www.amazon.com/Asus-Wireless-N-Graphical-Interface-USB-N53/dp/B005SAKW9G/ref=p...EPXRFM6RMVVANK

    which goes into a USB port and provides the VieraCast, with its Netflix gateway and other apps. (Was somewhat bummed when they dropped their YouTube interface awhile back . . . but I have other ways to access that. These days, Samsung may offer the best roster of built-in apps, among smart TVs.)

    Now here is my question. In another location, I have another Panasonic tv that is a model year or two earlier. It has no USB ports, but it does have an unused RJ45 ethernet port. The manual says you can connect a router to that, but space is tight in that area, and I much preferred a very compact solution like the thumbdrive-sized NIC-stick that I've used for the other Panny. [Elsewhere, I have successfully used a USB-over-internet kit for a printer that needed a rather long cable run, and though it's impressive how well that works, this is not entirely comparable.] But even if there was some converter cable available that could make both ends of this USB-to-RJ45 connection, and translate the signals effectively, I realized that it would still not be powered. With the other setup that works, the wireless NIC gets what power it needs from the USB port. I don't think that happens with the tv's RJ-45 port. Is this scenario salvageable ? The older VieraCast on the older tv is strictly optional, though I'm curious as to whether it might have anything to offer.
    When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ -- with over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this quintessentially American art form.
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  2. What about an ethernet to wifi adpater. For example:

    https://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Ethernet-2-WiFi-Universal-Wireless-GWU637/dp/B018YPWORE/

    It does require 5V power though. You can get them with POE but I doubt the TV supports it. I'd run an ether cable between the TV and the adapter to some point where with power. Actually, I'd open up the TV, find 5V somewhere, and run it out to the adapter.
    Last edited by jagabo; 3rd Mar 2017 at 23:29.
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  3. Member
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    Would something like this work?

    https://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Universal-Ethernet-Adapter-GWU627/dp/B018YPWORE/

    [Edit] Someone else had the same idea.
    Ignore list: hello_hello, tried, TechLord, Snoopy329
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  4. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    Thanks. I think this idea is worth exploring. Power may not be a problem, as there is a full-size Monster power center feeding everything in that equipment stack, and I'm confident it must still have one or two vacant power receptacles on it.

    [A good reason to ask about such things here is that the VH members often know about some interesting gadgets or gizmos I was not familiar with.]

    The powerline adapter solution is one that was highly touted on a forum for one of the Kodi streaming boxes I got . . . but I don't know how well that tech might live up to their claims, in practice.

    One thing I should probably try first is to see if that early edition of VieraCast is even worth bothering about. That might be tested -- briefly -- with a 100' spool of Cat-5 or 6, which ought to reach where the router is upstairs. At the moment, all I have on hand is a 50' spool, but this is easily remedied. Even easier might be temporarily patching the DTV CCK (a.k.a. bridge adapter) into the tv, instead of into the DirecTV receiver where it is normally connected. If that works, it should answer the question. The later VieraCast that I have upstairs suffered quite a bit from some app defections. The only thing still of value on it is probably Netflix.
    When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ -- with over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this quintessentially American art form.
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  5. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    The Cinema Connection Kit (bridge adapter) cable swap idea did not pan out. "Overlapping IPs" and "Failed to Connect" errors. Adjusted some IP assignments, but it did not help. File that under the many things I don't know about networking. Those units are very attuned to their DTV receivers though, which makes their setup easy and nearly bulletproof, but may have some other consequences. Along the way, there was a message that the VieraCast software wants to update itself before it will do anything. So, I guess it may come down to the very long ethernet cable to answer this, one way or the other. Fine. I could use a longer spool of that anyway. I already stock a 50' length in the trunk of my car, as standard gear, along with a longer USB cable etc. Useful for troubleshooting some things.

    This is one example of the powerline adapters:

    https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Powerline-Adapter-Starter-TL-PA2010KIT/dp/B00AWRUIY4/re...=TP-Link+AV200
    When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ -- with over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this quintessentially American art form.
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  6. Member Seeker47's Avatar
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    A late update: I connected the VERY long cable for a test. Wasn't missing anything, after all. That old version of VieraCast had nothing of value left in it. Just Tagesschau (which I had thought long gone from these once-included apps), that suffered from bad picket-fencing on the audio. I don't understand German, in any case.
    When in Las Vegas, don't miss the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum http://www.pinballmuseum.org/ -- with over 150 tables from 6+ decades of this quintessentially American art form.
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