Is an Internet TV worth it?

atech

Looking for some advice.

I had wanted to get the TV below from amazon which cost about €340-350 but they won't deliver this particular one.

Samsung 32"

It's €390 in Currys and they wouldn't budge on price as they say it's already €90 off. It's €430 in Argos and €450 in Harvey Normans.

So rather than paying €390 I could get this from amazon for about €440-450.

Samsung 32" Smart Tv

I think its €499 in Currys.

I'm renting at the moment so only broadband I have is either from a USB stick or on my mobile but I can set up a wifi hotspot from the mobile.

So if I also bought the Samsung Wi-fi dongle or something like this and connected via a ethernet cable
Wi-Fi Bridge
would the internet on the TV work from that?

Basically what I'm wondering is if it's worth spending the extra €50-60 on the TV plus €60ish on the dongle/bridge for an internet TV or should I just buy the one in currys and connect via my laptop?

Machinehead

atech wrote: »

Looking for some advice.

I had wanted to get the TV below from amazon which cost about €340-350 but they won't deliver this particular one.

Samsung 32"

It's €390 in Currys and they wouldn't budge on price as they say it's already €90 off. It's €430 in Argos and €450 in Harvey Normans.

So rather than paying €390 I could get this from amazon for about €440-450.

Samsung 32" Smart Tv

I think its €499 in Currys.

I'm renting at the moment so only broadband I have is either from a USB stick or on my mobile but I can set up a wifi hotspot from the mobile.

So if I also bought the Samsung Wi-fi dongle or something like this and connected via a ethernet cable
Wi-Fi Bridge
would the internet on the TV work from that?

Basically what I'm wondering is if it's worth spending the extra €50-60 on the TV plus €60ish on the dongle/bridge for an internet TV or should I just buy the one in currys and connect via my laptop?

It's all in the broadband speed. Most on demand services on my TV stipulate min 2MB/s for a reliable service with no buffering. My 1MB line doesn't really come up to scratch, even buffering on low quality YouTube video. You've also gotta make sure you've got a fairly good download limit if you intend to use it a lot.
The dongle for my Panasonic tv was £80stg. but I found one by Belkin (certified to work on Panny TVs) for £24.99 on Amazon & it works a dream.

atech

Machinehead wrote: »

It's all in the broadband speed. Most on demand services on my TV stipulate min 2MB/s for a reliable service with no buffering. My 1MB line doesn't really come up to scratch, even buffering on low quality YouTube video. You've also gotta make sure you've got a fairly good download limit if you intend to use it a lot.
The dongle for my Panasonic tv was £80stg. but I found one by Belkin (certified to work on Panny TVs) for £24.99 on Amazon & it works a dream.

My phone has a 10gb limit so should be ok in that regard. The 2MB/s would be an issue alright though, do you mean its not possible to start streaming a youtube video etc and pause it until it has buffered a good bit?

Machinehead

atech wrote: »

My phone has a 10gb limit so should be ok in that regard. The 2MB/s would be an issue alright though, do you mean its not possible to start streaming a youtube video etc and pause it until it has buffered a good bit?

I have to pause anything I want to see for 30 seconds or so & then play. Not really much good for watching movies - such as Acetrax - even unless for watching items thru the Eurosport or Euronews portals. Picasa & weather portals work fine.
Not sure if 10GB would be enough if you're going to use the video services a lot when added to your regular monthly usage.

atech

Machinehead wrote: »

I have to pause anything I want to see for 30 seconds or so & then play. Not really much good for watching movies - such as Acetrax - even unless for watching items thru the Eurosport or Euronews portals. Picasa & weather portals work fine.
Not sure if 10GB would be enough if you're going to use the video services a lot when added to your regular monthly usage.

I've 10gb on the phone plus another 10gb on the usb which does fine at the moment and I'd stream a good bit on the laptop as it is.

So just to be clear, the TV internet will work fine using my phones broadband via the hotspot and dongle/bridge but it may just have to buffer for a bit (same as if on a laptop)?

galwaytt

Machinehead wrote: »

It's all in the broadband speed. Most on demand services on my TV stipulate min 2MB/s for a reliable service with no buffering. My 1MB line doesn't really come up to scratch, even buffering on low quality YouTube video. You've also gotta make sure you've got a fairly good download limit if you intend to use it a lot.
The dongle for my Panasonic tv was £80stg. but I found one by Belkin (certified to work on Panny TVs) for £24.99 on Amazon & it works a dream.

tbh, it's not the speed that's the issue: it's the contention ratio.

I have 'only' 2mB/1mB, and YT and NetFlix work well: but I'm on a small local network, with v.low contention.

Btw, i've just bought the Samsung Allshare dongle to work with my new S3, but I'll be using my S3 on WiFi, not 3g, so I'll post back up when it arrives to let you know how/if, it works.

atech

galwaytt wrote: »

tbh, it's not the speed that's the issue: it's the contention ratio.

I have 'only' 2mB/1mB, and YT and NetFlix work well: but I'm on a small local network, with v.low contention.

Btw, i've just bought the Samsung Allshare dongle to work with my new S3, but I'll be using my S3 on WiFi, not 3g, so I'll post back up when it arrives to let you know how/if, it works.

Is their a particular reason why your going with that rather than the one I linked to in the OP. That can only link S3's and has only one cable output?

galwaytt

atech wrote: »

Is their a particular reason why your going with that rather than the one I linked to in the OP. That can only link S3's and has only one cable output?

Yes, it's because I got a new S3, and it's the only way I can link it properly - the S3 has no HDMI output. There is an adaptor cable, but I believe the output is not HD. Besides, I really like the idea of the connection being wireless.

My now-retired Xperia Neo on the other hand, had a separete HDMI output, and it was very good. Indeed, my back-up plan is to just use the Xperia as little mini-server, and leave it plugged into the telly permanently, as a web portal. Well, I already own it and have the lead !

atech

galwaytt wrote: »

Yes, it's because I got a new S3, and it's the only way I can link it properly - the S3 has no HDMI output. There is an adaptor cable, but I believe the output is not HD. Besides, I really like the idea of the connection being wireless.

My now-retired Xperia Neo on the other hand, had a separete HDMI output, and it was very good. Indeed, my back-up plan is to just use the Xperia as little mini-server, and leave it plugged into the telly permanently, as a web portal. Well, I already own it and have the lead !

Sorry to ask a stupid question but does that mean I can't get HD output via the phones hotspot to the wi-fi bridge I linked above so?

Ronnie Raygun

atech wrote: »

I had wanted to get the TV below from amazon which cost about €340-350 but they won't deliver this particular one.

Where does it mention anything about non-delivery? Presume you're in ROI.

atech

Ronnie Raygun wrote: »

Where does it mention anything about non-delivery? Presume you're in ROI.

After I put in my address it says it can't deliver. Tried the parcel motel address too but they won't take that either. I'm in Cork ya.
The Smart TV will deliver though.

I thought it was only 3rd party suppliers that don't deliver sometimes but asked customer service and they confirmed it can't be delivered.

Zardoz

I didnt think I'd use the internet much on my new tv,the Panasonic ST50 but it has surprised me.

My wife is always on youtube on it watching videos concerts and X Factor shows from all around the world
The HD videos are very smooth on it (set has wifi built in ) ,I was surprised how smooth it is as I have struggled to stream videos around my Wifi network before.

There is no need to spend too much on a dongle ,you can get a cheap set of homeplugs to network the tv or a wireless bridge ,something like this will work too http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WA701ND-150Mbps-Wireless-Access/dp/B002YETVVE/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1351260183&sr=1-2

atech

Zardoz wrote: »

I didnt think I'd use the internet much on my new tv,the Panasonic ST50 but it has surprised me.

My wife is always on youtube on it watching videos concerts and X Factor shows from all around the world
The HD videos are very smooth on it (set has wifi built in ) ,I was surprised how smooth it is as I have struggled to stream videos around my Wifi network before.

There is no need to spend too much on a dongle ,you can get a cheap set of homeplugs to network the tv or a wireless bridge ,something like this will work too http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WA701ND-150Mbps-Wireless-Access/dp/B002YETVVE/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1351260183&sr=1-2

Not sure what homeplugs are exactly, don't think they'd work for me because of my internet coming through my phone.
I think the Wi-fi bridge is the way to go alright- the one you linked is cheaper alright but only has one output. The 4 might be handy if I ever move and get proper broadband and decide to connect up some other devices such as an xbox or the likes.

I think I'll go for the Smart TV alright, once I get my own place and proper broadband I won't be regretting it then at least.

adox

I bought a Sony smart tv for the bedroom about a month ago and love it. No dongle, it has built in wifi and connects to my home network. Netflix app comes with it which I use a lot.

I also have a huge amount of media on my Mac downstairs which can be streamed over the local network to the TV. I downloaded a free app on to the Mac called Homestream and this enables me to stream my files. Everything has played so far, all formats, SD and HD.

Zardoz

atech wrote: »

Not sure what homeplugs are exactly, don't think they'd work for me because of my internet coming through my phone.
I think the Wi-fi bridge is the way to go alright- the one you linked is cheaper alright but only has one output. The 4 might be handy if I ever move and get proper broadband and decide to connect up some other devices such as an xbox or the likes.

You could always use one of these and configure it as a wireless bridge ,it supports DDWRT and gargoyle.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WR841N-300Mbs-Wireless-Router/dp/B001FWYGJS/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1351275844&sr=1-1
I have one running gargoyle and its rock solid .You can connect 5 items to it !
http://www.gargoyle-router.com/

XrayMike235

Just make sure you have enough of a download limit. I have 15GB limit for €20 / month with O2 via wifi hot shot, I never used to use it all with my iPhone or laptop, even using the rteplayer or youtube quite a bit. But with Samsung Smart TV, 15GB / month is not enough. It works out about 10 hours streaming a month I think (?) Anyway, I run out every month. And they screw you if you go over, €20 per GB over the limit . Used 21 GB in July after I first got the TV, ouch.

But otherwise, smart TVs are great.

Machinehead

Not sure about hotspots & how they actually work. Buffering is a real pain but on the other hand I've just watched a documentary called Home on YouTube on my tv without any buffering at all:-)
I think YouTube quality may be lower than that offered by Netflix etc hence less buffering.