If you look at TVs on the market now, then most of them support the Smart TV function. LG has webOS, Samsung has its own Smart system, Philips and Sony run Android TV. There are of course other manufacturers, but they are less popular. I mean, Smart TVs themselves are primarily an additional source of income for manufacturers (through the sale of additional accessories) and a good marketing ploy.
There are cool features for the user too. You can go online, watch videos on YouTube, read news, watch the weather, etc. But then you still need to calculate which is more profitable: buy a TV without Smart TV and a set-top box to it, or pay extra for Smart functions. Since a regular Android set-top box can make your TV more SMART than a built-in system. But today is not about that.
Of all the TVs that have Smart TV features, many come without a built-in Wi-Fi receiver. True, in 2017, almost all models have a built-in receiver. And if the Internet is not connected to the TV, then all these Smart-functions in it are simply useless. Yes, all models definitely have a LAN port, which allows you to connect to the Internet via cable. But you must admit, this is very inconvenient. You need to lay a network cable from the router to the TV.
And all these Smart TVs that do not have a Wi-Fi module are another insidious plan of the manufacturers. After all, you could insert this wireless module and make your TV a couple of dollars more expensive. What for? If we can then sell branded Wi-Fi adapters for 100 dollars And even now these branded Wi-Fi adapters for Samsung, LG, Philips TVs are very difficult to find. They are simply not available for sale. And TVs, that is, 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 does have Wi-Fi and can be connected to a wireless network. Perhaps useful: instructions for LG TVs, and a separate instruction for connecting Philips to Android TV. 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 the TV. Honestly, I can’t even imagine how all this is stitched and working there, but I saw such information on the Internet. This is the way for those who are not looking for easy ways.
- Well, the third option, which I will discuss in more detail below 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 take a closer look at the third option.
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 operate in different modes: amplifier (repeater), access point, adapter, wireless bridge. I wrote about this in more detail in the article: router as a Wi-Fi receiver (adapter). This scheme works like this:
- We buy a router. Perhaps you have some old one. An inexpensive model is even possible. Totolink and Netis have good budget options. Other manufacturers will do as well.
- We 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 a network cable. Bridge mode or network amplifier mode is also suitable. However, 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 repeater, which has at least one LAN port. And it is on almost all models.
As a result: a router or repeater can be bought in almost every store. Compared to branded Wi-Fi receivers for TVs LG, Samsung, etc. And even so it will be cheaper (however, depending on which router you choose), since the price of original adapters is very high.
I wrote about setting up different operation modes on different routers in the article: which router can receive and distribute a Wi-Fi signal (work as a repeater). 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. There is no doubt that the best solution 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!
