Samsung smart TV wifi dongle

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BlueShift

1688 posts

Uber Geek

#143288 9-Apr-2014 14:51

Just picked up a 32" Samsung smart TV for the bedroom. According to the manual, to connect to wifi it needs a specific Samsung wifi adaptor dongle. I've found it available at Noel Leeming for $99, which seems steep.
The bedroom picks up a decent wifi signal, and the path for a cable run is distinctly non-trivial, so wifi would be the preferred option.
Has anyone else gone with wifi on their Samsung? Is there an alternative hardware or supplier that will bring down the price?

I have a Panasonic BluRay player which is in the same boat - can connect to wifi, but only with specific model of Panny dongle. Seems to be a trend. I suppose its a driver issue?

wellygary

7386 posts

Uber Geek

#1022206 9-Apr-2014 15:00

Yip, build an ecosystem that uses propriatory software and requires exclusive hardware, the manta of most tech companies,

If you can find an old wifi AP see if you can operate it in bridge mode, then connect it to your wifi network and run a cable from it to the TV.

MightyApe

You will find anything you want at MightyApe (affiliate link).

scuwp

3764 posts

Uber Geek

#1022255 9-Apr-2014 16:41

We went with a higher spec'd TV with it built in, in part because the OEM mandatory accessories were ridiculous prices and by the time we added the couple we needed up it wasn't any cheaper.

Unless you have spares lying around, by the time you muck around coming up with a #8 wire work around that may/may not work you might as well just shell out the $99 I reckon.

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity - Robert J Hanlon

trig42

5605 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1022258 9-Apr-2014 16:47

Yep, as above, there are other solutions (Belkin do a product I think, so long as your TV has a LAN port), and you could use Powerline networking, but both may cost more than the $99 Samsung wants.

Have you checked Trademe/eBay?

kobiak

1615 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1022266 9-Apr-2014 17:00

i'd search the net for competable wifi dongle (what you need is a competable chip inside it).

bought one of ebay for $10 for older panasonic TV few years ago after 30 mins of reading the interweb.

helping others at evgenyk.nz