Ethenet Connections for puck and Soundbar

[ijb1]

Interested in buying Sky Stream. Would I be right to assume that you wouldn't need ethernet cable into TV assuming ethernet into the puck i.e. only one cable needed. I also assume you still need an ethernet into a soundbar (I prefer wired to wi-fi). In other words two ethernet cables in total?

Thanks

[TimmyBGood]

@ijb1 

A puck can use ethernet or WiFi (and must have one or the other), as can most modern television sets.  For its inbuilt 'smart' functionality the television would need an internet connection of its own: it cannot use the puck for that.

Relatively few soundbars would be fitted with ethernet: connectivity between puck and soundbar is over HDMI (ether direct or indirect) as is puck to TV and TV to soundbar.

[Jones_The_Cat]

---

@ijb1 wrote:

Interested in buying Sky Stream. Would I be right to assume that you wouldn't need ethernet cable into TV assuming ethernet into the puck i.e. only one cable needed. I also assume you still need an ethernet into a soundbar (I prefer wired to wi-fi). In other words two ethernet cables in total?

Thanks

---

Are you confusing ethernet with HDMI?

Very few sound bars have an ethernet connection as they tend to connect to other devices either via an optical cable or an HDMI ARC/eARC connection. 

You can connect ethernet to a Stream puck in order for it to achieve a stable connection to your broadband but you would only need to connect your TV to another ethernet connection if you were planning on using any on-board apps on the TV itself, or if you needed to update the TV's firmware for example. 

[Exiled-in-HH]

You could use wifi for the TV and Ethernet for the Puck😉

How far is the router from the location of TV, Puck, and Soundar?

[ijb1]

No, not confusing the two. Have Sonos beam 2 and need ethernet for podcasts. As I say real question is need for ethernet or wi fi once the puck is controlling the tv channels. I don't yet subscribe to Sky but I think you can get all the freeview channels so tv wouldn't need an aerial or ethernet into it using a puck. I think I've seen some wiring for hdmi connections with tv, puck and soundbar but that would be useful information too. Thanks!

[Jones_The_Cat]

---

@ijb1 wrote:

No, not confusing the two. Have Sonos beam 2 and need ethernet for podcasts. As I say real question is need for ethernet or wi fi once the puck is controlling the tv channels. I don't yet subscribe to Sky but I think you can get all the freeview channels so tv wouldn't need an aerial or ethernet into it using a puck. I think I've seen some wiring for hdmi connections with tv, puck and soundbar but that would be useful information too. Thanks!

---

With a Sonos Beam Gen 2 you'd connect it to the TV's HDMI ARC/eARC port with a high speed HDMI cable. You'd connect the Stream puck via another high speed HDMI cable to another of the TV's HDMI ports. 

You can setup the puck to work over WiFi (or ethernet if your router has enough ethernet ports and you don't mind the additional cable). It will receive the full set of streamed channels (full list is here) and show them on your TV. The audio will be passed through from your TV to the Sonos Beam as long as you have ARC/eARC enabled. 

If you don't intend on using any Freeview channels or apps on your TV itself then you don't need to connect it to an aerial or your broadband. 

[TimmyBGood]

@ijb1 

Also note that any current smart television will have a considerably wider range of apps on board (or available as an optional download) than a Stream puck, and to use those the television requires its own wired or wireless internet connection.

[Jones_The_Cat]

---

@TimmyBGood wrote:

@ijb1 

Also note that any current smart television will have a considerably wider range of apps on board (or available as an optional download) than a Stream puck, and to use those the television requires its own wired or wireless internet connection.

---

Indeed. Also good to keep an ethernet/WiFi connection available on the TV for firmware updates. 

[Exiled-in-HH]

@ijb1 How far is the router from the location of TV, Puck, and Soundar?

[ijb1]

That's a good point - hadn't thought about the apps on the TV - although I mainly use Discovery plus, and Sky Sports plus freeviews channels so I had assumed they'd all be available by Sky. How does that work - can you switch from TV to puck for use to access for example YouTube or iPlayer say

Router is in a different room to TVs, so I use Ethernet switch and cables up to 10m into TV currently

Sorry for the questions. I currently use Now which tbh is much easier given it is an app on multiple TVs but no UHD!

[TimmyBGood]

---

@ijb1 wrote:

How does that work - can you switch from TV to puck for use to access for example YouTube or iPlayer say

---

Certainly, but operating the television apps requires the television remote control (as well as the television having a network connection)

In some respects, television apps are likely to be 'better' than those on Stream, particularly if you are sensitive to things like frame rate

[Exiled-in-HH]

Why do you have more than one Ethernet cable running from the location of the router to location of the TV and other devices?

[ijb1]

I currently have one ethernet into the Sony TV and one into the Sonos sounbar, but as I said just asking questions about possible move to stream

I think I've got enough information now. Thanks everybody for your help. Much appreciated 

[Exiled-in-HH]

Why?

You don't need more than one... you just have network switch to feed the devices at the end of the one Ethernet cable🤔

[Otterboy43]

Home plugs provide a much tidier solution to multiple Ethernet cables all round the house. I have one home plug Ethernet connected to the router and then each of my 2 smart tvs have a local home plug and Ethernet cable connected.