Choosing a Wi-Fi router - Rating of the best models for the home. Connecting smart TVs to a computer network What kind of router is needed for smart TV

The TV is increasingly becoming an entertainment center, on the large screen of which you can view in detail all the photos from a computer or other mobile device, local network or the Internet. And watching a movie in HD quality can replace going to the cinema.

Therefore, more and more modern TVs can connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi, thanks to the module built into them. But even if the TV does not have such a built-in device, it's not a problem. Now a sufficient number of universal WiFi adapters for TVs have appeared, with the help of which all of the above features are available without the use of additional wires.

But how to choose the right Wi-Fi adapter for your TV and what is it all about? Our article describes the main parameters that you need to consider when choosing a Wi-Fi adapter.

Wi-Fi adapter is...

A Wi-Fi adapter or wireless adapter is a device for connecting a TV to wireless network. If your TV does not have built-in Wi-Fi, but does have a Smart TV function, in most cases it should support external Wi-Fi adapters. You can find confirmation of this in the TV menu or instructions for it.

What is it for?

Wi-Fi adapter is designed for wireless reception of movies, audio and photos from the Internet, computer, smartphone, tablet, etc. to play this media on the big screen.

Using a Wi-Fi adapter, you can quickly synchronize your TV and other device. This makes it possible to customize local network between PC and TV, without using wires and over a long distance.

You can work on your computer and stream media content to your TV at the same time, and use it as a second screen without using a router.

Brands of high-quality devices (adapters)

Now the following wireless adapters are popular and of high quality:



    • Toshiba WLM-20U2. Integrates the TV into your home network and provides access to many TV widgets.

How to choose a Wi-Fi USB adapter for your TV

A regular Wi-Fi USB adapter looks like a flash drive and plugs into one of the TV's USB connectors. But the presence of a USB port does not mean that now you can buy any adapter and connect it. If the TV does not have the necessary drivers, it will not see this adapter. Therefore, in order not to be mistaken, choose an adapter that goes to a specific TV manufacturer. But sometimes they are quite expensive.

Pay attention

Depending on the ports on the TV, you can buy a Wi-Fi adapter with a different output: USB, PCMCIA or HDMI. PCMCIA WI-FI adapter is an outdated option, as new TVs are released without this connector. But if you have such an output, and the TV can be configured to connect to the Internet, then choose it.

Philips, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, LG, Sony and Toshiba TVs may not work with regular Wi-Fi USB adapters that fit laptops. Often they just don't see them. And there is no other way out, how to buy a USB adapter from the manufacturer of the TV.

For TVs of other brands, alternative adapters with an HDMI connector, such as Stream TV DIB-200, are suitable. Its feature is high speed transmission and power supply from the USB port of the TV or an external unit.

TV adapter compatibility

When choosing a Wi-Fi adapter, be sure to check its compatibility with the TV. Compatible models or entire brands are often written on the adapter itself (for example, Samsung, LGSeries 5, etc.).

But what happens if you take a chance and buy a non-branded adapter? Because branded ones are much more expensive than regular ones. But there is a risk of throwing money away by buying a Wi-Fi adapter at random. But if the instruction for the TV says “universal external Wi-Fi module”, then feel free to buy any model you like.

Video: How to set up a Wi Fi adapter comfast cf-wu720n

Signal transmission standard

Also, when buying an adapter, pay attention to what standard it works on. You need to look at the standards of the router that distributes Wi-Fi, and select a model with the same data. There are now several Wi-Fi standards. The data transfer rate depends on the selected standard.

The highest quality signal reception and transmission is provided by IEEE 802.11n, whose bandwidth is 300 Mbps:

    • 802.11a - max up to 54, real up to 2
    • 802.11b - max up to 11, real up to 3
    • 802.11g - max up to 54, real up to 24
    • 802.11n - max up to 150, real up to 50
    • 802.11n - max up to 300, real up to 150

But, as you can see, in practice, Wi-Fi adapters have a lower throughput. This is due to interference through walls and other obstacles, and the transmission speed depends on the number of devices using Wi-Fi. Therefore, initially choose the maximum router and adapter for the TV to ensure fast signal transmission.

Device Frequency

When choosing a Wi-Fi adapter, carefully look at what frequency it operates on. If your router operates at a frequency of 5 GHz, and the adapter at 2.4 GHz, then they will not work together.

Adapters operate at a frequency of 2.4 - 5 GHz:

    • 802.11a - 5 GHz
    • 802.11b - 2.4GHz
    • 802.11g - 2.4GHz
    • 802.11n - 2.4/5 GHz

Transmitter power - stability

The power of the adapter depends on its speed and stability. In a large apartment, it is better to choose powerful transmitters so as not to get a poor signal quality. Models with a power of 17-20 dBm are optimal. A stable and high-quality connection is guaranteed in this case.

Radius of action

When choosing a Wi-Fi adapter, consider the distance between the TV and the router, or rather, the range of the transmitter. Keep in mind that the greater the distance and the amount of interference on the way to the signal, the lower its speed and power. Even being in the desired coverage area, but with a sufficient number of obstacles, the signal will not be very good.

Channel Protection

The Wi-Fi channel must be protected, as it can be hacked and thereby degrade the signal. It is better to buy adapters with WPA or WPA2 encryption algorithm.

They guarantee the protection of the network from hacking. And the WEP protocol is less reliable and already outdated.

Are there alternative WI-FI adapters for TVs

Those who do not want to buy an expensive branded receiver can buy an inexpensive Wi-Fi router. It must be installed near the TV and connected to it using a network cable. After that, the router must be configured in bridge mode with the main router, from which the Internet will be received.

A more complicated scheme for Samsung TVs is to buy a D-Link DWA, TP-LINK TL-WN727Nv3 or Zyxel NWD2105 Wi-Fi adapter and flash it.

You can sew new identifiers into the adapter in the Ubuntu Linux operating system. Other operating systems are not suitable, as they can ruin the adapter.

To flash the transmitter, you need:

    1. download ISO image operating system Ubuntu;
    1. write the downloaded image to removable media;
    1. download Wi-FI adapter driver;
    1. flash VID and PID to # iwprivra0 e2p 208=04e8 and # iwprivra0 e2p 20a=2018;
    1. but any wrong step can harm the adapter and render it unusable altogether.

Video: Installing and Using the EDUP Usb WiFi Adapter

Advantages of HDMI over USB adapter

HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface - High Definition Multimedia Interface. This port transmits a digital signal. high definition. If you have a TV with a very sharp screen resolution, then for accurate and better display of audio, video and photo content, it is better to choose an adapter with an HDMI output. It differs from USB in that it has greater data transfer speed and accuracy, so even a movie that takes up a lot of space can be displayed very clearly on the TV screen.

When choosing a Wi-Fi adapter for a TV, you need to consider:

    1. his brand;
    1. compatibility with different adapters;
    1. router settings;
    1. the desired speed, power and frequency of the adapter;
    1. clarity of image transmission (adapter output);
    1. price and availability of analogues.

Hello dear friends! Time flies very quickly, and new models of TVs are constantly appearing on the shelves of equipment stores. And if you have recently purchased an LCD TV, then you have probably heard that Wi-Fi can be connected to it. Indeed, there is such a possibility. In general, it is worth admitting that the idea of ​​​​writing today's article was suggested to me by my neighbor, who actually turned to me with a request to help connect his TV to global network The Internet, because it is completely far from such things.

In general, we can say that we successfully connected the TV with it, though there was one nuance due to which some difficulties arose during the connections, but in general the procedure is not so complicated as it seems at first glance. Therefore, in this article I will tell you in detail how to connect a TV to the Internet via wifi router, you will also learn how this process goes in general and what you need to connect it. We will also consider the types of Internet connections for modern TVs. You definitely need to know this so that you have in mind in advance whether it is possible to connect the TV to the global web or not, for example, when buying it.

From the title of today's article, it is clear that a router must be installed in your house or apartment. I already talked about the router in my previous articles, you can look at these articles:

or read this post

If this step is not completed, then you can try to connect the cable to the TV, but this is a topic for another article.

I will show the analysis of the procedure for connecting the Internet to a TV through a wifi router using LG as an example. Be sure that the process is identical for other popular brands - Samsung, Toshiba, Phillips, Sony, etc.

How to connect the TV to the Internet through a wifi router?

So, all modern TVs can be divided into several categories:

1. Models with built-in Wi-Fi. This is the best way, since the module is already in the design, that is, you do not need to install optional equipment. On such a TV, connecting to the Internet takes no more than 10 minutes.

2. TV with Wi-Fi adapter connection support. Initially, such TVs cannot connect to a router, but you can buy a separate adapter for them. After that, you will be able to use the wireless connection. Keep in mind that different adapters are available for each model. That is why it is important to carefully study the instructions. Adapters look like this:

TVs without Wi-Fi, but with a wall socket. Older models do not support an external adapter, and there is no built-in module in such TVs. You may find a connector for connecting a cable. Then you can implement the following scheme: connect the TV to a second router that operates in client mode. There is also an alternative option, which involves connecting a cable to a LAN adapter, which can receive Internet via Wi-Fi and distribute it via cable.

I won’t talk about models without a LAN connector and Wi-Fi, although there are some craftsmen who connect the Internet to a TV with an HDMI connector. In this manual, we will consider the option with a TV, where a Wi-Fi module is initially present. I repeat once again that the material will be useful for those who already have a USB adapter.

Important! If you have not yet chosen the right TV for yourself, then when buying, check that the TV has a Smart TV function. With it, using the Internet will be even more convenient, and the built-in Wi-Fi module is definitely taken into account there.

What do you need to connect your TV to the Internet?

We just have to get ready. The main component is a TV with a built-in Wi-Fi adapter or an external USB receiver. If you have the second option, then connect the adapter to the TV in advance. Next, you need to check if the router is working. The device model in this case is not important - it must be working.

If you don't have a router, then maybe open access present WiFi networks without a password. Sometimes it is impossible to connect to them due to the fact that filtering by MAC address is set. That is why it is recommended that you have your own router and access to its settings. Then, if necessary, you can make changes. Everything is ready, then we proceed to the connection process!

How to connect a TV to the Internet through a wifi router: step by step instructions!

When we turn on the TV for the first time, it itself offers us to connect to the Internet. Moreover, the system provides a choice - to do it via cable or via Wi-Fi. Most likely, you ignored this item at the first start, so I will show you how to connect the Internet through the settings. Also, you might not have seen this menu, which means that the TV was turned on without you or even in the store.

We start the TV and open the settings - press the "Settings" button on the remote control.

In the menu that opens, you need to find the “Network” tab, then go to the “ Network connection". If you have an English version of the menu, then follow the example from the screenshots:

After that, the system will show us a small instruction, I recommend that you read it. After that, click on the "Set up connection" button.

The TV will automatically start searching for available networks and give you the result. In my case, there are two connections available. If you need to enter data for the connection yourself, then select " Manual setting". Here you may have a question, and in what cases such a function may be needed? You need to connect using WPS technology, drive in a static IP address, or connect with a hidden SSID.

Using the virtual keyboard, specify the password, if present. Confirm the entry with the "OK" button. If the password was entered correctly. Then you will see a message stating that you have successfully connected to the Internet. Click "Finish" and move on. Perhaps the system will prompt you to enter DNS and IP, I recommend leaving all indicators on "Automatic" and clicking "Finish". As the reviews of owners of TVs of other brands show, sometimes the system issues a network card - it makes no sense to describe this process, since it does not affect the operation of the wireless connection in any way.

Great, now all the functions of Smart TV are available to you. The screenshot below shows the icon responsible for turning on Smart TV. Also at the top of the screen you can see if your computer is connected to wireless internet.

Possible problems when trying to connect the TV to the Internet through a wifi router

Sometimes when trying to connect to the wireless Internet, errors pop up. They can be corrected as follows:

Disconnect the TV from the network and reconnect it. This is the easiest way, but sometimes it helps to solve difficult problems.

Did not work out? Then you should try resetting Smart Hub settings. We go into this section and go to the "Tools". You will find such a button on the remote control. Next, we need to go to "Settings" and click on the "Reset" button. The TV may ask you to enter the PIN code "0000". Next, you will need to agree to the terms, after which the reinstallation will begin.

If this does not help, then you should try to update everything software TV. You will find this feature in "Support". The system will prompt you to update over the network, but in some cases this cannot be done, because you cannot connect to the Internet. In this case, you need to download the software on the Internet on a computer, and then transfer it to the TV using a USB flash drive. I also suggest you watch the following video:

Well, dear friends, that's actually all that I wanted to tell you today in this article. Concluding today's article - how to connect a TV to the Internet through a wifi router, it will be necessary to note that the process is quite quick and simple. If you have a TV from another manufacturer at home, then I think that you will quickly get used to it with the help of my instructions. Do not forget to write questions in the comments if you encounter any difficulty when setting up a wireless Internet connection. Let's search together possible problems connecting the TV to the Internet.

I will also add that I checked the operation of Smart TV on the TP-Link TL-WR841N router. In addition to the TV, 5 more devices were connected to the router. The real speed was about 2 Mb / s. This indicator was enough for me to fully use the functions of Smart TV. As an example, I can say that I watched YouTube videos in HD format, and there were no noticeable slowdowns in speed.

How to connect a TV through a router?



Today, progress is in leaps and bounds. If earlier TVs could only connect to a satellite dish, today many TVs have built-in Wi-Fi wireless network modules, LAN ports and the ability to connect to the Internet. This gives a huge advantage to the TV's multimedia capabilities. Now you can watch videos not only with satellite television, but also from the Internet, as well as create a home network for file transfer and streaming video without having to download movies, music and other files.

However, not every Internet and TV user knows how to connect a TV through a router to the Internet. Let's consider this issue together.

How to connect a TV to a router

There are two simple ways connect the TV through a router to the Internet:

  • Over a Wi-Fi network using the built-in or separate Wi-Fi wireless network module.
  • By cable connected to the router.

Connection via cable

To connect the TV to the router via a wire, you will need to buy a special UTP cat 5 network patch cord and insert it into a free LAN port in the router, and the other end into the desired port on the TV. If you do not want to pull the wire throughout the room, then you can purchase special PowerLine adapters that will transmit signals over the mains.

To set up the TV and connect to the network, you must:

  1. Find the "Network" section in the TV settings.
  2. Click on "Network Settings". In this case, an automatic search should occur for setting up a network to the Internet. It is only important to specify the type of connection. In our case, this is a cable. When setting up the TV, it will receive an IP address from the router.
  3. Check the connection by opening a browser and going to any site.

Thus, the TV is connected to the router via cable. However, this option is not very convenient due to the need to pull the wire around the room.

Connecting via Wi-Fi

An adapter is required to connect the TV wirelessly. Newer TVs always have a built-in Wi-Fi adapter, but if you have an older TV, then you will need to buy a Wi-Fi adapter separately. A Wi-Fi access point costs not a lot of money today, and you can buy it at any computer equipment store.

If you look now at the TVs that are on the market, then most of them support the Smart TV function. LG has webOS, Samsung has its own Smart system, Philips and Sony work on Android TV. There are of course other manufacturers, but they are less popular. What I mean is that Smart TVs themselves are primarily an additional source of income for manufacturers (due to the sale of additional accessories) and a good marketing move.

For the user, too, there are cool chips. You can go online, watch videos on YouTube, read the news, watch the weather, etc. But here you still need to calculate what is more profitable: buy a TV without Smart TV and a set-top box for it, or overpay for Smart functions. Since a regular Android box can make your TV more SMART than the built-in system. But today is not about that.

Of all the TVs that have Smart TV features, many models come without a built-in Wi-Fi receiver. True, in 2017, almost all models already have a built-in receiver. And if you don’t connect the Internet to the TV, then all these Smart functions in it are simply useless. Yes, all models definitely have a LAN port that allows you to connect the Internet via cable. But agree, it is very inconvenient. You need to run a network cable from the router to the TV.

And all these Smart TVs that do not have a Wi-Fi module are another cunning plan of manufacturers. After all, you could insert this wireless module, and make the TV a couple of dollars more expensive. What for? If we can then sell branded Wi-Fi adapters for 100 dollars 🙂 Yes, even now these branded Wi-Fi adapters for Samsung, LG, Philips TVs are very difficult to find. They are simply not for sale. And there are TVs, and their users want to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi.

If you have a Smart TV TV without built-in Wi-Fi, and you want to connect it to the Internet via a wireless network, then there are the following options:

  • First, I advise you to look at the characteristics of your TV on the official website. Perhaps your TV still has Wi-Fi, and it can be connected to a wireless network. It may come in handy:, and a separate one. If there is no built-in receiver, then you can search and buy a branded, external USB adapter.
  • The second way is to buy a regular Wi-Fi adapter from D-Link, TP-Link, etc., and its firmware to work with a TV. To be honest, I can’t even imagine how all this is stitched and works there, but I saw such information on the Internet. This is a way for those who are not looking for easy ways.
  • Well, the third option, which I will discuss in more detail later in the article, is to buy a regular, inexpensive Wi-Fi router or repeater and configure it as an adapter for a TV without Wi-Fi.

Let's look at the third option in more detail.

Wi-Fi adapter from a router for Smart TV TV without built-in Wi-Fi module

Everything is very simple. Almost all modern routers can work in different modes: amplifier (repeater), access point, adapter, wireless bridge. I wrote more about this in the article:. This scheme works like this:

  • We buy a router. Perhaps you have some old one. Maybe even an inexpensive one. Totolink and Netis have good and budget options. Other manufacturers will do as well.
  • Set it up in adapter mode. If there is such a mode, then the router will receive Internet from your main Wi-Fi network and transmit it to the TV via network cable. The bridge mode, or network amplifier, is also suitable. True, in this case, the router will further strengthen your wireless network.
  • We connect our Smart TV TV with a router via a network cable.
  • The Internet on the TV works via Wi-Fi.

It looks something like this:

As an adapter, you can also use a regular one, which has at least one LAN port. And it is available on almost all models.

What is the result: a router or repeater can be bought in almost every store. Compared to branded Wi-Fi receivers for LG, Samsung TVs, etc. And it will turn out cheaper (True, depending on which router you choose), since the price of original adapters is very high.

I wrote about setting up different operating modes on different routers in the article:. If you have a model of some other manufacturer, then you can search for setup instructions through the search on our website. Or ask in the comments.

Here is a solution for Smart TV TVs without built-in Wi-Fi. No doubt that The best decision this is the original receiver. But since they are practically not on sale and their prices are very high, you can use such a scheme. What do you think about this? Write in the comments!

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