Connecting Smart Tv, Internet And Sky Box

[gumboot]

Hi all

At the moment, the ethernet cable at home from my router is plugged into my Sky box situated under my smart TV. I can only access the apps, youtube etc on my smart tv by unplugging the cable from the sky box and plugging it into the back of the tv. Trying to access the web without plugging the cable into the tv results in a "no internet connection" box displayed on the TV screen.

I can't figure out how to get access to the apps etc via the Sky remote control so I assume I need some way to split the ethernet signal into two and provide one feed to the sky box and the other to the TV. Does such a device exist? I'm thinking along the lines of something simplistic that works like a telephone cable splitter/combiner.

I've looked online at various switching boxes but I'm not certain which to buy. If this is what ai need do these devices need a separate power supply? Can I have some links to recommendations please?

Thanks for all your help.

[-Talbot-]

Isn't your skybox wifi enabled?

[SlackAlice]

^^^
Also, is the existing router Wi Fi capable?

Sorry, I was unaware of the distance between router and skybox and how the existing cabling was routed.

[gumboot]

I've got no idea Talbot. Is it likely to have a wi-fi card or similar installed? As I said, right now it has the ethernet cable plugged into it so I've not had need to investigate further.

Yes, SlackAlice, the existing router is wi fi capable. Three mobiles, a tablet, two desktops and two laptops are linked to it via wi-fi (not all on simultaneously!!)

[-Talbot-]

Ring sky and demand one of these http://www.sky.com/products/kit/on-demand-connector/

You want need the smart tv.

[gumboot]

methyl, as I've tried to explain previously, the purchase of another ethernet cable per se would not be an issue - I'm only too well aware that the router has unused ethernet sockets that I could plug a cable into.

The issue is the routing of the cable through the home. I am not in a position to route another cable beneath floorboard, through walls or through the lounge

[gumboot]

hc4361, I'm concerned myself now that someone with superior knowledge to me now considers that the device I've purchased won't work. Why do you think it won't work? I don't know now if that box obtainable from Sky would be any better.

[hc4361]

I think it won't work because I misunderstood your setup. The device must be plugged directly in to the router with the ethernet cables from the sky box and the tv plugged in to the device. So you need two cables at your router which your set up won't allow for.

Having further thought about it, I can only suggest that the wifi dongle is the only solution. That will be easy to set up if you can get a strong wifi signal near your tv.

[gumboot]

//The device must be plugged directly in to the router with the ethernet cables from the sky box and the tv plugged in to the device//

But I can plug the device directly into my router. All this would mean would be to remove the ethernet cable from the back of the Sky box and plug it into the device. Surely this setup would meet the criteria of plugging the device directly into the router.

One patch lead would then connect the device to the sky box from one ethernet socket on the device whilst another patch lead would connect the device to the TV from another ethernet socket on the device.

I don't understand why the setup suggested above would require two ethernet cables at the router.

Please enlighten me as I'm beginning to think I'm going crazy with this!!

[hc4361]

I think I'm going mad, too. Still, we will plough on.

Please confirm that currently:

a) You have ONE ethernet cable connected to the router (for the purpose of your Sky Box and Smart TV)

b) You cannot run another ethernet cable from the router to the area of your TV.

[Graham-W]

At £35 this may be a little expensive but it works perfectly for me. Ethernet connection via the household mains. Pack also contains the ethernet cables. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3326877.htm

[hc4361]

methyl, can you provide a link to the item?

[Fibonacci]

or these which allow the socket still to be used for another electical device
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1090930.htm

[Graham-W]

Or these. A little cheaper from Maplin's. http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/tp-link-av500-500-mbps-nano-powerline-adapter-starter-kit-n20nr

[gumboot]

Thanks hc4361.

a) Yes I do have one ethernet cable presently connected to the router for the purpose of the Sky box and smart TV.

b) It really would be very difficult indeed to run another ethernet cable between the router and the TV/Sky box area

If I can just confirm, the cable discussed in a) above is presently plugged into the router at one end and the Sky box at the other.

[Ellipsis]

gumboot

I have a very similar setup to you. In fact, mine is worse as I have no ethernet cable at all at the TV/sky box end. What works for me is a "wifi extender". These are designed for houses where the wifi signal doesn't extend from one end of the house to the other, e.g. because it's a big house or has thick walls, or because you want internet in the garden, etc. You can put the wifi extender at the back of the TV and plug the TV and sky box into it. It works just like a router, except instead of getting its internet connection from a wall it gets it from wifi. As far as your Sky box and TV is concerned, the extender IS a router.

I bought one ages ago and my model is no longer available, but something like this should do the trick ...

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[hc4361]

As far as I am aware, the devices I linked to and recommended simply provide extra ethernet ports at the router. So if you had only one port free you can use these to give more ports for extra cables but that device has to be plugged directly in to the router so all the cables you needed to connect would have to reach the router.
You want to split a cable near the tv. I don't know of any such thing but methyl does. Hopefully methyl will provide a link or confirm the device you have ordered will work the way you want it to.

Don't forget the wifi dongle as an alternative.

Hope I've explained it clearly.

[gumboot]

methyl, in you last post you mention an ethernet switch. Is this not exactly the same as hc4361 mentioned in the second post on this thread? The reason I ask is that this is precisely the unit I purchased yesterday following hc4361's advice.

Mind you, I'm still awaiting delivery!

[Graham-W]

Ellipsis. I don't think that would work in this case as the TV is not WiFi. It needs an ethernet cable connector and your gadget is just a range extender.