USB WiFi Dongle
Aug 25, 2009, 9:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,120
USB WiFi Dongle
I am trying to help my son in law connect his new LG 47" LCD to his router. It will connect using a Cat5 cable, but for some reason, his wife does not want a 25 foot cable running from his router, down the hallway, to the bedroom.
In my reading up on the subject, it appears that an answer may be a USB WiFi dongle, plugged into the USB port on the back of his TV.
Am I going in the right direction, and if so, any suggestions for a particular brand? Also, could I assume it is pretty much PnP?
In my reading up on the subject, it appears that an answer may be a USB WiFi dongle, plugged into the USB port on the back of his TV.
Am I going in the right direction, and if so, any suggestions for a particular brand? Also, could I assume it is pretty much PnP?
Aug 25, 2009, 9:49 am
#2
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ORD / DUB / LHR
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA Silver; Marriott Plat
Posts: 8,243
What is the model number of the TV?
It almost definitely will not be PnP - the WiFi adapter will require some sort of driver to run, it is possible that the TV supports certain devices but it definitely just will not support "any" device that gets plugged into it. USB adapters are very different to Ethernet in this respect - using Ethernet you can plug into any router and it will just work, but not with a USB adapter.
One option may be one of the Ethernet to WiFi bridges, like many people use to connect XBoxes and similar. These would provide a relatively neat solution and require no specific support on the TV, just plugs into the Ethernet port.
If you have the model of the TV though I can do some further investigation.
It almost definitely will not be PnP - the WiFi adapter will require some sort of driver to run, it is possible that the TV supports certain devices but it definitely just will not support "any" device that gets plugged into it. USB adapters are very different to Ethernet in this respect - using Ethernet you can plug into any router and it will just work, but not with a USB adapter.
One option may be one of the Ethernet to WiFi bridges, like many people use to connect XBoxes and similar. These would provide a relatively neat solution and require no specific support on the TV, just plugs into the Ethernet port.
If you have the model of the TV though I can do some further investigation.
Aug 25, 2009, 10:23 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,120
What is the model number of the TV?
It almost definitely will not be PnP - the WiFi adapter will require some sort of driver to run, it is possible that the TV supports certain devices but it definitely just will not support "any" device that gets plugged into it. USB adapters are very different to Ethernet in this respect - using Ethernet you can plug into any router and it will just work, but not with a USB adapter.
One option may be one of the Ethernet to WiFi bridges, like many people use to connect XBoxes and similar. These would provide a relatively neat solution and require no specific support on the TV, just plugs into the Ethernet port.
If you have the model of the TV though I can do some further investigation.
It almost definitely will not be PnP - the WiFi adapter will require some sort of driver to run, it is possible that the TV supports certain devices but it definitely just will not support "any" device that gets plugged into it. USB adapters are very different to Ethernet in this respect - using Ethernet you can plug into any router and it will just work, but not with a USB adapter.
One option may be one of the Ethernet to WiFi bridges, like many people use to connect XBoxes and similar. These would provide a relatively neat solution and require no specific support on the TV, just plugs into the Ethernet port.
If you have the model of the TV though I can do some further investigation.
Ed
Aug 25, 2009, 11:11 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Baltimore, MD
Programs: AAdvantage, Mileage Plus, SkyMiles
Posts: 53
Don't bother getting a usb wifi adapter. The usb ports are designed to read flash drive, with no way to load drivers (nor any way to enter your wep key even if it did). Get a wifi ethernet bridge as star_world suggested. They are very handy if you are like me and keep legacy hardware that lack usb ports 
Aug 26, 2009, 4:20 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Based in London but away ~4 months a year, often in Bali
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 322
Yep, you need a wireless bridge. My my first thought was also an airport express: http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/
It'll certainly work, I've done similar things myself with one, but it will need to be configure to join the wireless network first. One benefit is that it has wider use: you can, for example, plug many types of printers into it or connect it to a hifi/speakers in order to have wireless printing and audio from computers on the wireless network. Or it's just a more useful device to have left over when you later wind up not needing to connect the TV.
It'll certainly work, I've done similar things myself with one, but it will need to be configure to join the wireless network first. One benefit is that it has wider use: you can, for example, plug many types of printers into it or connect it to a hifi/speakers in order to have wireless printing and audio from computers on the wireless network. Or it's just a more useful device to have left over when you later wind up not needing to connect the TV.
Aug 26, 2009, 8:23 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,120
What is the model number of the TV?
It almost definitely will not be PnP - the WiFi adapter will require some sort of driver to run, it is possible that the TV supports certain devices but it definitely just will not support "any" device that gets plugged into it. USB adapters are very different to Ethernet in this respect - using Ethernet you can plug into any router and it will just work, but not with a USB adapter.
One option may be one of the Ethernet to WiFi bridges, like many people use to connect XBoxes and similar. These would provide a relatively neat solution and require no specific support on the TV, just plugs into the Ethernet port.
If you have the model of the TV though I can do some further investigation.
It almost definitely will not be PnP - the WiFi adapter will require some sort of driver to run, it is possible that the TV supports certain devices but it definitely just will not support "any" device that gets plugged into it. USB adapters are very different to Ethernet in this respect - using Ethernet you can plug into any router and it will just work, but not with a USB adapter.
One option may be one of the Ethernet to WiFi bridges, like many people use to connect XBoxes and similar. These would provide a relatively neat solution and require no specific support on the TV, just plugs into the Ethernet port.
If you have the model of the TV though I can do some further investigation.
LGE47LH55
I am on the road. Will get back to this thread tonight. Thanks for all the help.
Ed
Aug 26, 2009, 10:15 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,120
Yep, you need a wireless bridge. My my first thought was also an airport express: http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/
It'll certainly work, I've done similar things myself with one, but it will need to be configure to join the wireless network first. One benefit is that it has wider use: you can, for example, plug many types of printers into it or connect it to a hifi/speakers in order to have wireless printing and audio from computers on the wireless network. Or it's just a more useful device to have left over when you later wind up not needing to connect the TV.
It'll certainly work, I've done similar things myself with one, but it will need to be configure to join the wireless network first. One benefit is that it has wider use: you can, for example, plug many types of printers into it or connect it to a hifi/speakers in order to have wireless printing and audio from computers on the wireless network. Or it's just a more useful device to have left over when you later wind up not needing to connect the TV.
Aug 27, 2009, 12:52 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2009
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Posts: 154
Why do you need connection to the router? This would normally be required for Netflix or similar functions, but AFAIK this is not part of this model.
Aug 27, 2009, 1:56 pm
#10
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