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Internet Connections for your HD DVD players

1156 Views 19 Replies 10 Participants Last post by wildfire99, Jun 2, 2007

TomsHT

Discussion Starter · May 19, 2007

I wanted to ask how every one connects there HD players to the internet currently?

Also if you will be changing to an improved connection in the future with all the internet extras due out soon?

Is wireless good enough with all the internet features that will soon be available to the HD player such as downloading trailes etc?

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

BuGsArEtAsTy

· #2 · May 19, 2007

Wireless is fine of course. That's what I use for my Xbox 360. Remember, 802.11g is faster than than what most people have for internet speed. Even 802.11b is fast enough if it's a good connection.

The only problem is getting wireless to a standalone with no wireless support. You'll have to buy a wireless game adapter or one of those routers that can made made to act as a wireless Ethernet bridge or something like that. These things tend to be expensive, but I did buy an 802.11b 2wire wireless ethernet client for about $25 on eBhey.

P.S. Where's the poll?

P.P.S. I wonder if high end 3rd generation HD DVD players will include 802.11g/n support. That would be a good selling point.

gooki

· #3 · May 19, 2007

Ethernet - direct to adsl router.

No plans for upgrading in the future.

Rambler358

· #4 · May 20, 2007

Netgear XE104 Powerline adapter - works like a charm.

Fezmid

· #5 · May 20, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by BuGsArEtAsTy /forum/post/0

P.P.S. I wonder if high end 3rd generation HD DVD players will include 802.11g/n support. That would be a good selling point.

If they do, they just better not remove the wired port like they did with the Wii.

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cnickersonjr

· #6 · May 20, 2007

Ethernet cable to my DSL modem. Which has wireless, but I prefer the ethernet connection.

No plans of improved connection, as I feel ethernet is the best.

jpeter1093

· #7 · May 20, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by TomsHT /forum/post/0

I wanted to ask how every one connects there HD players to the internet currently?

Also if you will be changing to an improved connection in the future with all the internet extras due out soon?

Is wireless good enough with all the internet features that will soon be available to the HD player such as downloading trailes etc?

What are all the

Quote:
internet extras

?

TomsHT

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 20, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by BuGsArEtAsTy /forum/post/0

P.S. Where's the poll?

P.P.S. I wonder if high end 3rd generation HD DVD players will include 802.11g/n support. That would be a good selling point.

What poll are you refering too?

As for wireless, my two questions about them would be first would it be fast enough for video transfers such as trailer downloads and second would be in an dedicated HT room that is thourghly insulated for sound, will a wireless connection even work?

Fezmid

· #9 · May 20, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by TomsHT /forum/post/0

What poll are you refering too?

As for wireless, my two questions about them would be first would it be fast enough for video transfers such as trailer downloads and second would be in an dedicated HT room that is thourghly insulated for sound, will a wireless connection even work?

Wireless would definitely be fast enough. Most broadband connections are only about 2-4Mbps. Even the old 802.11b was 11Mbps if I recall. 802.11g is 54Mbps, so in both cases your internal network is many times faster than your actual internet connection.

As for sound proofed rooms - wireless internet uses radio waves, so if you can use a cordless phone in the room, yiou shouldn't have any problems.

CW

TomsHT

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 20, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by jpeter1093 /forum/post/0

What are all the ?

Just a few specifically mentioned so far such as Blood Diamond July 3rd having web enabled features that will include online polls and interactive mapping features (I think Google earth but not positive), Freedom: Vol. 1 June 26th is mentioned to be coming with web features but I havent seen anything specific or official with this one.

Additionally on thelookandsoundofperfect.com you can see a video of some online features that Universal demo'ed at CES that had some really cool features such as the ability to send movie clips from one player to another and also the ability to download live movie trailers from menu options on the disc.

I think things like these poll features may seem small but I also think it is the initial start to a technology that will soon dominated home entertainment and not only want to be a part of it but also show that even this early there is interest from the consumers of internet interactivity.

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TomsHT

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 20, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by gooki /forum/post/0

Ethernet - direct to adsl router.

No plans for upgrading in the future.

Is that a temp connection that leaves no internet to the rest of you house while the HD DVD player is connected?

I could see that working for a temp solution but was trying to think more long term such as giving my HT room its own internet connection but not sure how much I should invest in it since it would still have limited usage for the time being.

TomsHT

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 20, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fezmid /forum/post/0

Wireless would definitely be fast enough. Most broadband connections are only about 2-4Mbps. Even the old 802.11b was 11Mbps if I recall. 802.11g is 54Mbps, so in both cases your internal network is many times faster than your actual internet connection.

As for sound proofed rooms - wireless internet uses radio waves, so if you can use a cordless phone in the room, yiou shouldn't have any problems.

CW

Thanks Fezmid

Ok I seen some suggestions for routers and receiver/adapters. If I decide to go that way I would like to ask more about what is the most used & recommended.

Running an ethernet cable isnt a problem, my main house computer is in my 1st floor office I could easily run a cable through the floor and into the dedicated HT room located in the basement but what needs to be set up then as far as a network to give both a connection at the same time?

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BuGsArEtAsTy

· #13 · May 20, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by TomsHT /forum/post/0

What poll are you refering too?

A poll asking what internet connection we're using.

Quote:
As for wireless, my two questions about them would be first would it be fast enough for video transfers such as trailer downloads

Yes, but it even 802.11g may be unreliable for streaming HD video.

Quote:
and second would be in an dedicated HT room that is thourghly insulated for sound, will a wireless connection even work?

Stuff like foam/fabric sound insulation shouldn't affect wireless that much I'm thinking. What'd affect it more is cement and metal.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TomsHT /forum/post/0

Running an ethernet cable isnt a problem, my main house computer is in my 1st floor office I could easily run a cable through the floor and into the dedicated HT room located in the basement but what needs to be set up then as far as a network to give both a connection at the same time?

If you can run wired, then DEFINITELY run wired. It costs about $25 for a router, which you'll need to split/route the connection to multiple devices.

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2

hawkeye3.1

· #14 · May 20, 2007

I have been temporarily using a shared wireless connection through my laptop, but it seems to take longer to download firmware than others experience. To establish a connection I have to select the 384kbps DSL/cable network speed player setting. Is this interface inherently slower than using an ethernet bridge/game adapter?

I am also considering co-locating my cable modem and router with the player so I can just connect with an ethernet cable. Hoping the additional 40' of coax and splitters will not cause modem problems.

BuGsArEtAsTy

· #15 · May 20, 2007

I downloaded my HD DVD update for my Xbox 360 add-on in less than 15 seconds via wireless.

TomsHT

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 20, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by BuGsArEtAsTy /forum/post/0

A poll asking what internet connection we're using.

Yes, but it even 802.11g may be unreliable for streaming HD video.

Stuff like foam/fabric sound insulation shouldn't affect wireless that much I'm thinking. What'd affect it more is cement and metal.

If you can run wired, then DEFINITELY run wired. It costs about $25 for a router, which you'll need to split/route the connection to multiple devices.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BuGsArEtAsTy /forum/post/0

If you can run wired, then DEFINITELY run wired. It costs about $25 for a router, which you'll need to split/route the connection to multiple devices.

Hi Bugs and thanks for taking the time to answer.

Ok I'm thinking wired may be the better way to go. Is there degradation over distance with the ethernet wire? I probably have about 100-200' run.

I left a slight space between the frammed walls and foundation walls on 2 sides of the room to make future changes easier. Running around the room has me using more wire but I wouldnt have to worry about phishing wires thru walls/ceiling then.

I do have a wireless network currently set up even though the router does need replacing at the moment. My current router has not be re-newing the IP daily and needing constant rebooting here.

So can someone recommend a good router that will check for new IP address plus be able to used for these two hard lines plus wireless network for the rest of the house?

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lwt42

· #17 · May 20, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by TomsHT /forum/post/0

Hi Bugs and thanks for taking the time to answer.

Ok I'm thinking wired may be the better way to go. Is there degradation over distance with the ethernet wire? I probably have about 100-200' run.

Ethernet is digital, so it's got a lot of room for error.

It's good out to 100 meters (328') generally. Use good cable if you have to go long -- or do to 50 meter segments and put a hub/switch in the middle.

At the same time, I've use Linksys access points (not routers) in "bridge mode" and they look just like a really long ethernet cable. You can do the same trick with an AP in "client mode" talking to most (not all) "consumer grade" wireless routers.

Works just fine. I wouldn't worry about either. I've been doing this for my "day job" for more than a decade.

I mentioned Linksys only because I know their stuff -- I've used NetGear and DLink, and the biggest difference is how they default, and what auto-configures how. I don't think any one is better than any other.

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TomsHT

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jun 2, 2007

Wow I think more have helped with suggestions then those who have answered about current connection set-ups. I'll ask again and see if anymore responses come in.

I wanted to ask how every one connects there HD players to the internet currently?

Also if you will be changing to an improved connection in the future with all the internet extras due out soon?

TomsHT

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jun 2, 2007

As previously mentioned my internet connection is through cable service directly to my 1st floor office.

I was thinking rather then running 150' of Ethernet cable from my office to my equipment rack is there other possibilities considering I already have a cable line & cable box in the same rack in the basement HT room?

Can I use the cable line itself for multiple internet connections without much trouble? Or would that be a separate modem & bill to the cable company for each one?

Whether I hardwire the HT room or not I would still need to get a new router for wireless connections in the rest of my house so I would appreciate some good recommendations.

My current router is a Netgear WGR614. This is a hassle because my kids are endlessly driving me up the wall to reboot my system because of dropped connections. I want some that will shut the kids up before I shoot them.

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wildfire99

· #20 · Jun 2, 2007

I drag a really, really long Ethernet cable that I call "the solution" from the central network hub to the player whenever I actually need to download something.

For the theater I'll probably run a second access point for wifi and set up a second mini network via standard cat5, so I get the benefits of ease of hookup with the simplicity of not having to hack open a wall to run a wire from the central hub to the theater room (this is a rental).

The central hub is simply a wireless router, a switch, and a cable modem hooked up to the nearest convenient coax outlet. The nice thing is whenever the microwave is on or the wifi decides to die for a while I at least have my wire connections still going.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

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