Connect SmartTV to internet using HDMI 1.4 to a PC?

January 5, 2014 10:52 PM

I have a "WiFi-Ready" SmartTV (meaning it doesn't have a built-in wireless adapter, but has USB ports for one and ethernet port) and I'm looking to avoid the additional adapter by utilizing the fact that it is HDMI 1.4 compliant and my computer is 3 feet away with a decent internet connection. I have the appropriate HDMI /w Ethernet cable but don't know if this is something that was at all intended when the standard was put together.

I know that probably my best bet is to use an actual ethernet cable to set up some kind of Internet Connection Sharing between my PC and the TV, but I wanted to see if I can use some of that new technology to my benefit and less cable wiring.
Thanks!

posted by gzimmer to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

I think HDMI w/ ethernet is intended to share an ethernet connection from the TV to compatible connected video devices, like blu ray players, apple TV, etc, so an ethernet cable to the TV is part of the equation - you're just eliminating the ethernet cables to the blu ray player, etc.

I could be mistaken, but I don't think any computer video cards support the HDMI 1.4 ethernet channel output.
posted by bluecore at 11:19 PM on January 5, 2014

Response by poster: In a few hours of internet searching, I've not found one person who said they actually have used it. Mostly press releases about the feature or people confused about it.
posted by gzimmer at 11:25 PM on January 5, 2014

Unless your graphic card supports the ethernet channel on HDMI (if such a thing even exists), this will not work.
posted by ssg at 11:41 PM on January 5, 2014

HDMI with Ethernet isn't really supported yet (if ever) for home theater equipment, much less on PCs.

Hdmi 1.4 doesn't mean it supports Ethernet in hdmi, that's a separate thing. I haven't seen any devices that support it.

You'll have to go with wired or wireless. I'd suggest wired to your router so your PC doesn't have to be on. Or wireless alternately.
posted by TheAdamist at 3:46 AM on January 6, 2014

Just run an ethernet cable to it from the vicinity of the computer, via an ethernet switch. Amazon has switches as cheap as $10.
posted by w0mbat at 12:24 PM on January 6, 2014

Best answer: If you're trying to watch stuff from the internet on your TV, may I suggest a chromecast? I had a similar askme a few weeks ago and it was the overwhelming suggestion. It's $35 and pretty amazing.
posted by zug at 2:28 PM on January 6, 2014