Wireless Network Help

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2012-07-28 5:37 PM

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Austin, TX
Subject: Wireless Network Help

My wife and I have AT&T U-Verse Internet service (no cable or phone). Our modem / wireless network (combination unit) runs out of our guest bedroom and easily covers the rest of the house... garage included (way on the other side of the structure).

I'd like to enable our Sony HDTV and Nintendo Wii to access the Internet service without running cables out of the guest room... just to make it a hidden network. I'm wondering if I stumbled onto an idea... or if I'm going to fall flat on my face.

We have an old (2003ish) Linksys wireless router (not router/modem) available in our old computer box of goodies. Could I somehow link that wirelessly to pull in the signal from the AT&T system, then run short (3 foot) cables to the HDTV and Wii?

So the chain of signal would go something like this:

  • AT&T U-Verse service into modem/wireless router in guest room
  • AT&T modem/wireless router to rest of house
  • Linksys Wireless router receives signal from AT&T router ??
  • Linksys Wireless router to HDTV and Wii via 3 foot cables

Is this even possible? Or does the Linksys router only receive signals via hard lines and then broadcast wirelessly?

Thanks for looking. I appreciate any help y'all can provide!

-Joel

PS - What on EARTH did we ever do before COJ?



Edited by GreyhoundGuy 2012-07-28 5:39 PM

2012-07-28 6:59 PM
in reply to: #4335613

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Master
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Midlothian, VA
Subject: RE: Wireless Network Help

Wii is wireless....

2012-07-28 7:23 PM
in reply to: #4335654

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Master
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Albuquerque
Subject: RE: Wireless Network Help
faded_memories - 2012-07-28 5:59 PM

Wii is wireless....

 

this

2012-07-28 7:24 PM
in reply to: #4335654

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Austin, TX
Subject: RE: Wireless Network Help
faded_memories - 2012-07-28 6:59 PM

Wii is wireless....

 

Thanks!  We monkeyed with the Wii for a bit and are now CONNECTED.  So... what can we do with an Internet connection on the Wii (besides Netflix)?

As for the TV, I'm pretty sure that the Sony HDTV needs some special Sony adapter to access wirelessly... it needs a special Sony camera to be able to Skype with people.  MY Samsung HD camera won't work.  I guess I'll monkey with it a bit tonight and see what I can do.  I don't think it's TRULY wireless... but I could be wrong.

-Joel 



Edited by GreyhoundGuy 2012-07-28 7:37 PM
2012-07-28 7:59 PM
in reply to: #4335613

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Austin, TX
Subject: RE: Wireless Network Help
According to the Sony site, I have to use a special USB/WiFi dongle... a whopping $79.99 from the Sony store (or cheaper from some other 3rd party sites).  I'll try out the wireless bridge idea posted above and see if that'll work.

This really isn't a big deal... I'm not sure what all is available wirelessly through the TV... but it'd be nice to just try out.

-Joel 
2012-07-28 8:06 PM
in reply to: #4335613

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Master
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Silver member
Subject: RE: Wireless Network Help

It's called a repeater bridge. If the TV can take a cat5 cable then it will probably work. If it's got a weird plug and you need a sony adapter then no go.

Out of the box your old one won't do that but if you're bored you can flash it with custom firmware that will make it into a bridge (from other bored geeks) assuming someone wrote it for your exact model.

http://lifehacker.com/5563196/turn-your-old-router-into-a-range+boosting-wi+fi-repeater

I personally can't stand the crappy lag and interference with wireless on my ps3/game machines (fine for web surfing/ipads etc) so unless you've got to actually dig out mortar I'd use the heating vents to run cat5. 

2012-07-30 8:19 AM
in reply to: #4335613

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Pro
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McKinney, TX
Subject: RE: Wireless Network Help


Your U-Verse cable boxes have an ethernet port on them. Can't you just plug your HDTV into that and use the cable box as the network? I have U-Verse and have my an Ethernet cord running from my cable box to the Blu-Ray player for the signal and it works perfectly.

or....am I missing something?





2012-07-30 7:10 PM
in reply to: #4335613

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Master
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Cypress, CA
Subject: RE: Wireless Network Help
If the goal is to get internet to the  TV wirelessly you might look at something like a Roku box.  Or a lot of the newer Blu-Ray players also have built-in WiFi, and aren't very expensive.
2012-07-31 12:12 AM
in reply to: #4335711

Master
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, California
Subject: RE: Wireless Network Help

GreyhoundGuy - 2012-07-28 5:59 PM According to the Sony site, I have to use a special USB/WiFi dongle... a whopping $79.99 from the Sony store (or cheaper from some other 3rd party sites).  I'll try out the wireless bridge idea posted above and see if that'll work.

This really isn't a big deal... I'm not sure what all is available wirelessly through the TV... but it'd be nice to just try out.

-Joel 

That's a little pricey but it'll probably "just work".  Another option is to try something that'll connect wi-fi to the TV's ethernet port, like this:

http://www.iogear.com/product/GWU627/

but those can be hit or miss, and you're still paying 50 bucks.

2012-07-31 6:55 AM
in reply to: #4338514

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Master
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Centennial, CO
Subject: RE: Wireless Network Help
spudone - 2012-07-30 11:12 PM

GreyhoundGuy - 2012-07-28 5:59 PM According to the Sony site, I have to use a special USB/WiFi dongle... a whopping $79.99 from the Sony store (or cheaper from some other 3rd party sites).  I'll try out the wireless bridge idea posted above and see if that'll work.

This really isn't a big deal... I'm not sure what all is available wirelessly through the TV... but it'd be nice to just try out.

-Joel 

That's a little pricey but it'll probably "just work".  Another option is to try something that'll connect wi-fi to the TV's ethernet port, like this:

http://www.iogear.com/product/GWU627/

but those can be hit or miss, and you're still paying 50 bucks.

A little pricey, but considering your talking about a high end HDTV with internet capabilities, probably not a large cost to take advantage of the TVs capabilities.  Compared to what you probably pay for your cable/internet and the fact that you will own the device, not a big deal.  I'm sure you wouldn't think that hard about paying $100+ for the right pedals to go with your expensive bike.



Edited by velocomp 2012-07-31 6:56 AM
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