BLU-RAY
 

Well The paper work says I bought this on 3/12/10. So today after saying to Directv, kiss my ass. I got it installed and working. Think I'll have another drink. :smack:

That's what I use, only mine is a bit newer. Now if I can only get my old one working out in my camper...which requires a bridge. No one seems to know how to set one up in my network, even tech support schlubs.

A bridge? Suspension or pontoon? Seriously, post a link. I've set up a couple bridges in my time.

Let's see. I have a Verizon DSL modem/Router, then there is a wifi antenna to boost range since I do not want to bury an ethernet cable, then in my camper there is a bridge which, if I understand it correctly, acts like a switch to allow me to connect computers and blu ray devices to my network.

The setup isn't easy, and I find a lot of complaints online. I can get into the bridge via ethernet on my laptop to run the wizard, but then the trouble begins. I only get wireless, no ethernet. And it password-protects the bridge on it's own and doesn't let me back in, forcing me to reset and lose configuration. I'm beginning to wonder if it's DOA.

Hmmmmph. What's the model number of the bridge?

I've dealt with these in a situation where you have a transmitter on one building and a receiver in the other, with external antennas (external to the buildings that is). The bridge on the receiving end is plugged in to the antenna.

The thing is, these bridges are really expecting to connect a single device back to the main network. When you get into other scenarios, the bridge gets confused at best. (Does it take the first device that plugs in and hold on to that address for dear life? Does it switch? What MAC address does it use? etc.)

The solution that worked for us was to get another router and plug its WAN/uplink/internet port in to the bridge. The bridge is happy because it's dealing with a single ethernet device. Your "inside" computer(s) connect to the router, and don't know or care how the internet services actually gets to the router.

The biggest "gotcha"? You're essentially running a network within a network. You have to make sure that you're providing different pools of IP addresses. If the Verizon router is handing out 192.168.1.xxx addresses, the new router has to hand out something different or there will be confusion.

Bear in mind, all this if good only if you're dealing with the kind of wifi-to-ethernet bridges I've used. You may have something else.

At this point you may be saying, "This is stupid! And complicated! And not really a bridge! A real bridge would just exchange packets from both sides and not have fits like this!" I agree, but this is what it is. I personally have not seem consumer-priced gadgets that do this, though I have not researched it lately. Beyond this you get into custom firmware for your router (like this) or setting up a computer to bridge connections and using that computer as your access point or something.

I never really understood the advantage in Blu-ray over DVD visually, and when I saw this article 2 years ago, I decided it ain't fer me.

And seein' all 'at crap Steve's talkin' ''bout, I know it ain't worth it.

This crap (way to nice a term IMO!) has nothing to do with Blu-Ray as such. Brian's trying to convince his Blu-Ray player to talk to the Internet. That's irrelevant to whatever visual advantage Blu-Ray has, or doesn't have.

Blu-ray laser diodes have many other uses. Just sayin' of course.

I bought TWIL a couple of the mid range Sony players... no builtin network card and I declined to buy the necessary Sony-only wireless usb nic. So... I just have to wait for the thing to timeout when it tries to report back to the mothership my viewing habits. Fuck them.

Actually, Steve, I'm not having trouble getting the Blu-Ray player to talk to the internet. I'm having trouble getting the internet TO the Blu-Ray player!

Let's be specific here.

same difference, you know that.

For that matter, why don't you consider a wireless network connection for the blu-ray players?

I did. From now on, all Blu-Ray players shall be wireless in this house.
Unfortunately, THIS one is older than that rule and the only way to make it wireless is to special-order a wireless unit from Sony and pay $100.

Not happening.

Plus, this is only a camper here. I don't LIVE there, I just take naps sometimes. And I am remodeling the back bedroom into an office. In my spare time anyway.

Still waiting on you, Steve. Any ideas?

sounds like we both got the same sony unit. I don't have the model number, but it has a usb port (wooo!) to which you may connect a wireless network adapter.

...


IF you buy the Sony Wireless adapter, for a price approximately equal to the cost of the discounted blu ray player. Fuck that shit.

Umm ok.. so do I understand?

You have wifi up and running where the Blu-Ray player is?
The Blu-Ray player has an ethernet jack, but no Wifi support?
And you have a bridge thinger that you're trying to plug into the ethernet jack to get the Blu-Ray player to talk to the wifi?

If that's not right, draw me a picture or something. What's the brand & model # of the bridge?

look back at my post with explanation. I provided a link to both my bridge and antenna.

Yes, there is wifi but not through the bridge. I can get three (out of five) bars of signal. I'm hoping for better throughput with ethernet. I don't even have the bridge plugged in at this point. If I could just get a router going, I would be happy, but two routers don't play well together, in my experience.