All recent and upcoming blockbuster movies including Iron Man, Kung Fu Panda, WALL-E, and The Dark Knight are published in the BD-Live (Profile 2.0) format where the player gets updated content from the publisher’s server. All new Blu-ray players have this capability and they don’t cost any more than the other models. So, if you buy a Blu-ray player, get a BD-Live capable one and make sure to connect it to Internet.
BD-Live Players
The players’ built-in software, also known as firmware, is under active development. For the best entertainment experience, update the player’s firmware to the latest version.
Comparison of players can be found here.
Connecting Blu-ray Player or Xbox to Internet
Each BD-Live player or Xbox provides an Ethernet port (RJ-45) for Internet connection but not a wireless LAN (except for PlayStation 3). This is somewhat frustrating since we are used to hardware like laptops that come with built in wireless LAN. You can connect a BD-Live player or Xbox to Internet in one of these 3 ways:
Ethernet cable
The most reliable and the least expensive method. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to get the cable connection.
If currently you have a single computer connected to your DSL or cable modem, you would need to buy a Router. Routers typically provide 4 ports to connect up to 4 wired devices. Note that almost all routers have wireless built in which may come in handy if you get wireless devices like laptop in future. Also note that wired connection speed does not depend upon the router's wireless type. We recommend buying Wireless N (expensive but fast) or Wireless G (cheaper and fast enough) routers but not Wireless A (not compatible) or Wireless B (too slow). Wireless G routers cost about $50 (WRT54G2).
Although a router is preferred, a switch may also be used here. See this for differences between them.
Power Line Ethernet adapters
This method uses power lines as the transmission medium. For the first connection, you would need 2 of these adapters but only one for each subsequent connection. This is a good method if you don’t have or want a wireless LAN. This method can cost more than wireless LAN if many connections are needed.
Wireless LAN
It is the most common home networking method. You should note that a computer network adapters will not work with your Blu-ray player or Xbox since it does not have a computer operating system and can not run the network adapter software. The device you need may called a Bridge, Access Point, AP Client, or Gaming Adapter. It needs the following features:
- Ethernet port (Rj-45) connection
- Own power supply since Rj-45 port doesn’t provide power
- Operate without software except for configuration
Also note that you must configure these devices on a computer before connecting them to your Blu-ray player or Xbox.
Technically oriented folks may also want check out OpenWrt and DD-WRT which provide open source firmware to convert any of the supported wireless routers into wireless bridge or AP Client.
Wireless-N 108 Mbit/sec, compatible with wireless-G
Wireless-G 54 Mbit/sec
Last updated April 13, 2009
Connecting DMP-60k through XBox Wireless gaming Adapter
My recently purchased Panasonic DMP-60K is on it's way to my home and I have a question about hooking it up through a wireless gaming adapter. I currently have an Xbox 360 connected (wirelessly) to my wireless router (Netgear WGR614 V4) through a Microsoft Xbox wireless gaming adapter. I have a Linksys EZXS55W 5 port workgroup switch laying around. Would it work if I hooked the Xbox wireless adapter into the switch and then the Xbox 360 and DMP-60K into the switch ports? I know my Xbox will still connect through the switch (I've tried it), but will the blu-ray player? Only one device will be on at a time. Thanks
Yes, it should work
Try it out and let us know.
It does!
I just hooked up the blu-ray as I explained above, and it works perfectly! I would imagine that this set-up would work with any game-ready wireless adapter.
connecting LG home theater Blu Ray system to wireless network
looking for a bit of help. we have a wireless apple time capsule that also acts as our wifi base station. it is connected from our dsl modem. we have multiple laptops that connect to the network. i want to connect my blu ray home theater system (LG model LHB953) to the wireless network so i can stream my netflix and pandora radio. we have a dell wireless broadband router lying around (WRTA-108GD). can i use this? if so, what exactly do i need to do? i lack tech savvy but i can follow directions. if this will not work, what is going to be the easiest way for me to get this done? i am willing to spend $100 or so. thank you for the help!!
Easiest is to buy a device from Section 3 Above
Sorry for the late reply as we have been moving our data center. Using a router for this purpose requires you to use some third party open source (free) software (listed in Section 3 of our support page). We don't recommend that for people who are not very comfortable with software and hardware since it is unlikely that everything will go right the first time around.
For about $50, you can buy one of the devices listed in Section 3 (prices given there are only from Yahoo and you are likely to get much better price elsewhere). Configuring it should not be difficult - just remember to configure it in "Client" mode on a PC before connecting to the Blu-ray player.
Good luck.
Bridge setup question
Do I have to set the SSID of the bridge that's connected to my Blu-Ray to the same SSID of my wireless router? What the channel?
Thanks!
Yes, you have to set SSID
Yes, you have to set the SSID to the same as that of your router. Setting SSID automatically takes care of the channel. The encryption (WEP/WPA) must also be set to make it work.
Sony Blu-Ray
I have a sony blu-ray and a sony bravia. I'm trying to connect my bluray player to the internet. My internet is Rogers Portable Wireless hooked up to Apple Airport Express. How do I go about doing this?
Do I have to buy a special chip or something? I've connected it but I don't even really know what's the use for connecting it but I've been told I should connect it to the internet to receive more options when viewing movies.
Can someone help? I have wackloads of technology that I love tinkering with lol but NO idea how to really use it to the full advantage.
Constar
You need a router or any device from section 3-Wireless LAN
It seems that your Airport Express is being used as a router which allows connecting to other wireless devices.
You have 2 options.
1. Connect your Blu-ray player wired - buy a router that has wired output capability. In that case, you Airport Express will be used for some other purpose.
2. Connect Blu-ray player wirelessly - for this, you can buy another router or buy another device from section 3 above. If you buy another router, configure Airport Express in "client" mode. Otherwise, configure the just bought device in the client mode.
Good luck.
bd-p1600 is cool
Get ready for the ultimate interactive film experience. The SAMSUNG BD-P1600 has lets me take full advantage of interactive features like downloadable video content, ringtones, games and more. Download additional content from the internet or even chat with friends when watching the same movie.
Thank samsung my life has better
Sony BDP350 and Apple Airport
Hi guys I have read your post but it still seems confusing. Sorry Newbie here. can someone help me out?
I just bought a Sony BDP350 Blu-ray Player and I want to connect it wirelessly. My cable modem goes into an Apple Airport Express. I have three computers and an xbox 360 all wirelessly connected to the internet through this single Apple Airport Express.
What do I need to buy so that the Sony BDP350 Player will connect to the airport Express also.
Thank You
Pablo
You need another device listed in section 3 - Wireless LAN
Your current Airport Express is being used as router. You need another device from the section 3-Wireless LAN that will be used to convert BDP350's wired LAN to wireless LAN. You would need to configure this new device in the mode that is generally referred to as "client mode."
SAME ISSUE
I also have a Sony Bluray player and I also have a SONY bravia tv, with an Apple Airport Express.
How do I reconfigure the "device" aka "client mode"?
If you could possibly give me a step by step on how to do this I would be so so happy!
Sony Blu Ray to Apple
I have a linksys router upstairs, apple time caspule in basement. about 30 feet away i have sony blu ray 350 and sony bravia tv. i bought a apple airport express and connected it via ethernet to blu ray, and it should pick up signal from either linksys upstairs or time capsule in basement. i am on imac which has time capsule and was able to locate and begin configuring airport, howevever it keeps asking me to switch wireless networks....what do i do?
Connect Samsung BDP-1600 via wireless network
I just bought a Samsung BDP-1600. I want to connect it to the internet via my wireless home network. My cable modem is connected to my Linksys WRT300N router (192.168.1.1) downstairs. I also have a desktop computer hard wired to a Netgear wireless WGPS606 print server (192.168.0.1) downstairs. My laptop connects to the newtork via its wireless networking card.
The Samsung BDP-1600 is located upstairs. I have an old Netgear wireless WGR614v2 router that I would like to resurrect and connect my Blu-ray to the internet (hardwire connection). What settings do I need to tweak on the router to get the Samsung BDP-1600 hooked up to the internet?
Thanks in advance.
You may have to buy another device
As far as we can tell, WGR614v2 can not be used for this purpose. So you have two options
1. Try open source firmware listed in section 3-Wireless LAN
2. Buy a device listed in section 3-Wireless LAN
Good luck.
I have a Netgear wireless
I have a Netgear wireless router running off of a comcast modem. I bought a WAP54G and flashed DD WRT v24 to it but I can not seem to be able to configure it to pick up my network. I want to hook up my Sony S350 to the WAP54G. I have treid several ways to configure it and it finds my network and joins it doing a site survey but I can not seem to be able to connect to the internet. Once I have it set up I will try to use it on my laptop to no avail, can anyone give me some suggestions please.
Thank you,
Bill
Have you tried WAP54G with its own firmware?
WAP54G should work with its original firmware. Try
1. Flash the manufacturer's latest firmware on it.
2. Connect to a computer and configure it for you network including security settings. Make sure you can actually communicate using WAP54G by disabling other Internet connections to the computer.
3. Connect to S350 and let S350 set the IP address automatically.
Good luck.
Cable modem
Would it work if I bought another cable modem lilke the one providingg service for my pc and hooked it up instead of going wireless? I could also go with a router in the room I have my Samsung BD-R2500 in but the cost is almost the same.
Cabel modem is unlikely to work
Since the cable modem has to provide an external IP address, it is unlikely that you can add another cable modem (without signing up for a second account with monthly fees).
A router would work. You would install the router near the cable modem and run LAN cables from the router to your PC and to Blu-ray player.
Thanks
I am already wireless so I'll just add a router near the Blue Ray to pick that up using the excellent instructions you gave hear. Thanks for all your efforts.
Will a Wireless -G USB
Will a Wireless -G USB adapter work in the Blu Ray Player to connect it to the router? (I have an Airport Extreme router)
USB adapter not likely to work
USB adapters require software support from the player. It will work only if the player specifies that it does support USB network adapter.
Airport AX question...can I have more than one?
I have an Airport Express Base Staion with 802.11n and AirTunes that I currently use in my office for wireless printer sharing between my Mini and my Macbook. Can I use another Airport Express Base Station of the same variety behind my audio console for my Panasonic BD35 and to stream iTunes?
Multiple clients are OK
Multiple Airport AX clients should be no problem at all.
network setting
I also have a Samsung BR player (P1500). I have attempted to connect it to the internet by using a bridge to pull form my wireless (I do not have wiring anywhere close to the TV). The wireless router works. The wireless brige works (Hawking). However the BR player will connect to the internet and keeps telling me to check the network setting. I tried the DHCP "on" and that did not work. My questions are 1. Does my wireless router or bridge IP address go in the IP address location (or a new different number); 2. Which number goes in the Gateway?, What is a DNS and were does that number come from?
As you can tell I know nothing. Any help would be appreciated.
Update P1500 firmware first
1) Make sure you update the firmware of P1500 first. Original P1500 were not BD Live capable. So their Internet connection may not work without firmware update. You can download the firmware on a PC, burn it on a CD and then put the CD in the P1500. That should update firmware.
2) Configure and test your bridge on a computer. Make sure you can actually access Internet through the bridge on a computer (by disabling all other network connections).
3) DNS Server is your router (typically 192.168.0.1). You can see the address on a Windows computer by typing ipconfig/all on a command prompt.
4) The IP address for the player (if DHCP is off) is for your home network. The first 3 numbers typically are 192.168.1. The last number should not be in automatically assigned range that starts from 100. Safe numbers can be 50-99 and 200-240.
Good luck.
The syntax for ipconfig
The syntax for ipconfig is:
ipconfig /all (you need the space)
Help Struck with wires
Awhile ago I brought a router (WRT54G2) to make my house wireless. Everything seems to work accept the Adapter (WET54G) for my Blu-Ray DVD player (Samsung BD-P2550) I can not get the two to talk to each other. I connected the WET54G to the WRT54G2 and walked thru the website hookup. Took the WET54G upstairs and hooked it up to the DVD player and tried to configure it and I can not get it to work. Can someone please, please, please help me. It can not be the router because my tivo (wireless adapter) is hooked up and it works perfectly. It something I am not doing. Help!
Configure WET54G on a PC first
You should first configure WET54G by connecting it to a PC first. User either the configuration instructions from the User Guide or a configuration utility software to configure it. You should even be able to test it working on the PC by using it as the PC's network connection. Good luck.
Setup of Sony BDP S350 for Wireless Internet
Help please!
I purchased a D-Link DWL 2100AP to act as a bridge between my wireless router and my Sony BDP S350. I had help from Tech Support at DL-Link to ensure the bridge was set up properly.
My problem is that I would sure appreciate someone walking me through the on screen set up of the player. (Very confusing). I have the wireless router key, but don't know where to put it.
Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me!
Trevor
You need to set your D-Link
You need to set your D-Link up with a PC via their web application. Generally it goes like this, but different manufacturers may vary a little. hook up you D-Link to your PC or laptop ethernet port. If D-Link has more than one Lan port, use any one of them but not the WAN port (the one normally connecting to the cable modem. Then open the browser and type in http://192.168.1.1 (I use Linksys, but other manufacturers or models may have a differnt address - you need to look up the manual.) you need either to type the factory default user id and password or your own if you have change them. Then configure this as a client bridge or repeater bridge. The difference is repeater bridge gives you an extra Access Point, but the bandwidth is cut into a half between D-Link and the other wireless router. Client bridge is slightly easier to set up. You set up the IP address of your client bridge different from your other router. Asssuming your other router IP address is 162.198.1.1 and your D-Link is also 162.198.1.1, then you need to change your D-Link to 162.192.1.2 keeping mask as 255.255.255.0; change the gateway to 162.198.1.1 (this is referring back to your other router with internet access.) After you do a save, the screen may be gone or freeze because the address has been changed to 192.168.1.2. Just go ahead and type http://192.168.1.2 on your browser and the screen should be back (you may need to reenter userid and pswd. Now go to wireless and change the setting to Client Bridge (may be under advanced setting submenu.) and enter your ssid, channel encryption protection (method and key). Find the place where you can disable DHCP (under basic setup?). Now you should be good to go. Disconnect from your PC and connect to your BDP350. Go to Network setup and make sure it uses DHCP. Do a network check and if it is good, it would say connection is correct.
If this still confuses you, read up on this website. I may have left out a few details this website will point out. The primary router referred is your original router and the secondary would be your D-Link.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Client_Bridged
Hope this helps.
Wireless Router Key? Encryption Key?
Assuming that you are talking about the encryption key for the router, you need to provide that to the 2100AP when you configure it. Note that this configuration needs to be done before you connect 2100AP to the Blu-ray player by connecting it to a PC.
Regarding the onscreen configuration of the Blu-ray player, in most cases the default configuration (DHCP or get IP address automatically) is the preferred configuration.
Wireless Bridge D-Link DWL 2100AP
Thank you for your quick response!
I am sensing that the D-Link Techs did not properly set it up after all. I will try them again.
Thank you again.
Trevor
Connecting a blu-ray to internet via home wireless network
Hi- I am interested in connecting my new Sony BDP-S350 to the internet via my home wireless network. I currently have a wireless router Lynksys brand model WRT 54G. I was wondering what I need to connect this blu-ray to this network. I have been reading on here about wireless bridges, etc...and I was wondering what the best option is (value/performance both considered). Any help is appreciated as this is all new to me. I don't have an ethernet port anywhere nearby so I figured I would try to do it wirelessly. Thanks in advance. Jake
Best value is Wireless-G AP Client or Bridge
The best value device today is a Wireless-G device (from the list above). Note that the prices on the above list are only from the Yahoo shopping and you may be able to get a better value at other retailers. I would recommend checking prices at http://www.pricegrabber.com/ and at http://www.amazon.com/ .
Help with internet connection
I got a great deal on a Sharp Aquos BD-HCP21 player on Black Friday. I recently tried playing a new Disney movie and it won't play. I found out that a internet connection is needed for BD-Live. All my player has is an USB port. Can I connect this player to the internet using this or am I out of luck?
Not BD-Live but movie should play
As far as we can tell, Sharp BD-HP21 is not BD-Live capable. All that means is that you can't play the bonus content but the main content of the movies should play just fine. If you are having difficulty with the main content of the movie, we suggest you contact Sharp for warranty repairs.
ASUS WL-330GE Wireless Access Point
I just ordered the Asus WL-330GE so I can use it to provide an ethernet connection to my Panasonic bluray player. Has anyone bought this and tried it out? Another one for your list.
Thanks
List updated.
Additional Wireless Router
I currently use the Apple Airport Extreme (G version) as my wireless router, which is in my office along with my cable modem. My Blu-ray player is in a completely different room and I want to enable BD-Live. Are you saying that, in order to do so, I need to buy either a Bridge, Access Point, AP Client, or Gaming Adapter? What if I already have an additional wireless router lying around (the Linksys WRT54G2 to be exact)? Will that serve as an access point or will I have to convert it with the open source firmware from the sites you provided? I consider myself pretty tech savvy but after looking at the DD-WRT site, I'm not sure I know what I'm doing when it comes to routers. Also, their firmware / instructions are for PCs, not Macs. My wife has a PC at her work so, if the conversion is the ONLY option, I do have access to one.
Thanks!
Add the Apple AirPort Express
Jared,
Since you already have an Apple AirPort Base Station for your wireless router, buy an Apple AirPort Express Base Station for your BluRay Player. Configure the Express Base Station to extend your existing wireless network and plug the BluRay player into the Express Base Station's Ethernet port and it will be connected to your wireless network.
Peter
AirPort Express
Thanks Peter. That was actually my original plan b/c I also wanted to be able to stream my iTunes library, but I found that I could get the Linksys WRT54G2 for much cheaper AND have three additional ports that I can use to hook up various other devices in the future. I'm going to give the cascade method a shot today, but if that doesn't work, I'll return the WRT54G2 and revert to the original plan of buying the Express.
Thanks,
Jared
Use WRT54G2 as routher
Apple Airport Extreme can be used as AP Client but not WRT54G2. So, the simplest solution for you may be to use WRT54G2 as the router and configure Apple Airport Extreme as the AP Client to for the Blu-ray player.
Cascading?
So, I just finished a live chat with a Linksys support person and they said that I can "cascade" the Linksys router with my main (Airport Extreme) router by disabling the DHCP Server of the second (Linksys) router and changing its Local IP Address with the same range of the Airport Extreme router. Has anyone tried this?
Samsung BD-P1500
The latest firmware update for the Samsung BD-P1500 enables BD-Live. Mine was delivered yesterday and it was only $169.99 refurbished through CompUSA.com. It includes a 90 day warranty and you can purchase an additional one or two year warranty as well.
http://www.compusa.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=4...
Thanks.
Added BD-P1500 to the list.
do I need a wireless-N gaming adapter to connect to a ...
... wireless-n router? Or can I buy a cheaper wireless-G gaming adapter to connect to my existing wireless-N router?
Both G and N would work
But N would be nearly twice as fast as G. Then again, G is fast enough for all practical purposes.
Netgear xe102
I can get a Netgear xe102 Powerline Kit fairly inexpensively. My question is whether this unit will be fast enough for streaming of Pandora or Netflix. That is all that I will use it for.
Thanks for the answer.
Myron