Does the BT TV box needs a wired connection to router?

psd99 · 7 Aug 2015 at 08:14

Hi all just got a BT box and looking forward to watching BT sports.

the instructions suggest that an ethernet cable needs to be physically plugged into my router, but the problem I've got is the TV is very far from the router
therefore I'd need to drill holes in walls etc it is a bit messy

I do have a PC nearby that's connected to my network, I tried running an ethernet cable between BT box and PC
I bridged the connections and assigned IP addresses etc but still doesn't work

is there a way around this or does it really need a hard wired ethernet cable?

Cosimo · 7 Aug 2015 at 08:18

Use a broadband extender or Powerline adapter:

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/...i-connect-my-youview+-box-from-bt-wirelessly?

Diddums x · 7 Aug 2015 at 08:31

Cosimo said:
Use a broadband extender or Powerline adapter:

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/...i-connect-my-youview+-box-from-bt-wirelessly?

Yep, this. The BT box is just a Youview+ box, it doesn't have Wifi.

psd99 · 7 Aug 2015 at 08:33

that's a shame I will need one of those.

the router is plugged into a different electronic circuit to where the BT TV unit is
but I'd imagine being slow having latency doesn't pose much of a problem as the signal comes via aerial.

Xordium · 7 Aug 2015 at 08:36

BT Broadband comes with powerline adaptors I thought. Often though these are not given to customers from what I've heard and then appear on ebay and the likes. My dad wasn't given the adaptor and when I told him he rang up and told them it wasn't given and they sent him one for free so give that a go.

psd99 · 7 Aug 2015 at 08:40

yer true say it might be worth a call later on to ask em

ci_newman · 7 Aug 2015 at 08:42

BT Sports is delivered via the router, not over the aerial

lucky13 · 7 Aug 2015 at 08:47

I have my BT box plugged into powerline adaptors, the channel now appears on my guide but when I select it. It does not load? The guides I read online suggested not to use powerline adaptors. So I am not sure what to do, as again my box is in a different room.

Diddums x · 7 Aug 2015 at 08:49

lucky13 said:
I have my BT box plugged into powerline adaptors, the channel now appears on my guide but when I select it. It does not load? The guides I read online suggested not to use powerline adaptors. So I am not sure what to do, as again my box is in a different room.

Are you using the ones supplied with the BT box? If so, throw them in the bin and never look back. They run on a different standard to the ones you buy in Maplin so will not only perform slow themselves, but also disrupt the signal from other ones. Get rid of the BT jobbies and only use decent ones.

I bought a whole pack about a year ago, I have one by my telly which has three Ethernet ports in it, one for Sky, one for PC and one for PS4. Instantly solved all my networking issues.

Lokai · 7 Aug 2015 at 09:05

Xordium said:
BT Broadband comes with powerline adaptors I thought. Often though these are not given to customers from what I've heard and then appear on ebay and the likes. My dad wasn't given the adaptor and when I told him he rang up and told them it wasn't given and they sent him one for free so give that a go.

Having recently just opted for BT TV, you have to buy the powerline adaptors from BT, they aren't included (£29.99).

lucky13 · 7 Aug 2015 at 09:07

Diddums said:
Are you using the ones supplied with the BT box?

No funnily enough like above they were not delivered to me. I am using my own ones. They are nothing super special but they always gave me great speeds on my pc. :confused:

psd99 · 7 Aug 2015 at 10:57

question is will the speed of the network (using those power adapters) affect my signal?

(signal via aerial is like 80% atm)

StevieP · 7 Aug 2015 at 11:01

psd99 said:
question is will the speed of the network (using those power adapters) affect my signal?

(signal via aerial is like 80% atm)

As stated above I believe that BT Sports is delivered via your internet connection rather than your aerial so yes your broadband/network speed will have an impact upon the quality/buffering etc

godinman · 7 Aug 2015 at 11:13

Or stick a 4 port cheap switch by the PC?

psd99 · 7 Aug 2015 at 12:04

godinman said:
Or stick a 4 port cheap switch by the PC?

will that definitely work though?

StevieP · 7 Aug 2015 at 14:08

psd99 said:
that's a shame I will need one of those.

the router is plugged into a different electronic circuit to where the BT TV unit is
but I'd imagine being slow having latency doesn't pose much of a problem as the signal comes via aerial.

I don't understand what the issue with using powerline adapters is? (BT or otherwise)

When you say it's plugged into a "different electronic circuit" do you mean just a different wall socket or a completely different "electrical ring" within the house? (which would be unusual!)

Basically you but a twin pack of homeplugs/powerline adapters, plug one into a wall socket near the router and use an ethernet cable from the router to the adapter.
Put the other adapter in a wall socket near the Youview (BT) box and connect them with another ethernet cable and that should just work!
As long as you use a decent speed homeplug (ie. 200Mbps or faster) then I don't see any reason why BT Sports shouldn't work!

Apologies if I've missed the crux of your problem but it's pretty simple to use homeplugs!

brambling · 14 Dec 2017 at 12:55

youview boxes and homeplugs can be an issue. A solution which works for me and others is to purchase a cheap Ethernet Switch (Tenda 5-port Gigabit costs approx £11) which requires no configuration. Simply connect the youview box to the switch and the switch to the homeplug. Also gives you 4 more ports to connect any other PVRs, game consoles, smart TV, surround sound amp etc.

GGizmo · 14 Dec 2017 at 13:14

switches are good.. just make sure you turn off the smart setup option in the home hub (if your using a hub) otherwise it thinks the switch is a device and starts acting odd.

Vonhelmet · 14 Dec 2017 at 13:26

Necropost, yo.