Connect the TV to the Internet via HDMI devices
As I mentioned earlier, the only fundamental requirement for connecting an "old" TV to the Internet is the presence of one HDMI port. Thanks to it, it is possible to connect devices to the TV, real mini-computers, equipped with an operating system and able to connect to the Internet: in this way, you can enrich your TV with many extra features.
I want to tell you right away that an HDMI device does not "apply" a definitive change to your device and does not necessarily have to be disconnected every time: to return to the "classic" channels available on digital terrestrial, just press a specific button on the remote control (usually named source)!
chromecast
The first device I want to tell you about is the chromecast: it is a small "dongle" designed by Google, which must be inserted into the HDMI port of the TV (and which may need power supply from USB or electricity). Chromecast is compatible with a wide range of devices and apps, including smartphones and tablets Android, iPhone / iPad, browser Google Chrome, Netflix, Spotify, Plex, Premium Play and, in general, everything that enjoys support for the Cast protocol of Google.
Chromecast is available in three different models, one of which is dedicated exclusively to audio playback (which therefore it is not necessary to talk to you).
- chromecast - it is the cheapest model, supports video resolutions up to 1080p and costs 39 €.
- Chromecast with Google TV - this is the "advanced" model, which offers the same compatibility as Chromecast but also supports direct use of apps (uses the Google TV operating system), resolutions up to 4K with technology HDR e Dolby Vision and comes complete with remote control. It costs 69,99 €.
Using Chromecast to play content is child's play: just start one of the compatible apps and press the screen sharing button usually located at the top right. Alternatively, you can cast the full screen of an Android device or a Google Chrome browser tab using the feature Cast Screen / Cast Card.
Connect the TV to the Internet via Chromecast is very simple: simply connect the device to the TV, download the Google Home app for Android and iOS devices (or use the Google Chrome browser) and follow the instructions on the screen: in practice, once the Chromecast is started and the Google Home app, you have to tap on the item devices, select your Chromecast from the list, tap the button Configure, repeat the operation with the button Continue, enter the Chromecast code that appears on the TV and give it a name.
Once the initial configuration is complete, you just have to press the button Continue, then choose the WIFI network to connect the TV to, enter the access password when requested (or import it, if necessary, directly from the device from which the configuration is being performed) and tap once again on Continue to complete the procedure. I have explained to you in detail all the steps in my guide on how Chromecast works.
TV Box Android
If I wanted to talk to you in detail about the TV Box Android, I should write pages and pages of guides like this one, as inside such a device hides a boundless world of possibilities!
To begin with, an Android TV Box is a small full-fledged Android computer, complete with support for Google Play and all apps dedicated to the operating system, equipped with Wi-Fi module and / or connectivity Ethernet for Internet access and, at times, expandable with external USB or microSD memories.
There are dozens and dozens of different models of Android TV Boxes, each with their own characteristics and, of course, their price: some models are updated to the latest version of the operating system and others are not, some (especially the high-end ones) support the resolution 4K and others stop at Full HD resolution and so on. Another important thing to know is that some models are equipped with Official Certification, which makes them compatible even with the most delicate app categories (e.g. apps that stream encrypted content, such as NOW TV, Premium Play and Mediaset Infinity) and others don't, so, for example, they don't allow you to play Netflix's Full HD or 4K content.
The procedure for connecting the TV to the Internet via a TV Box is the same as that for any other Android device, with the only difference being to use the device's remote control: once the TV Box is connected and switched on, everything is it leads back to something you are probably already able to do.
Usually it is possible connect the TV to the Internet through the TV Box directly in the initial configuration phase, simply by following the instructions on the screen. The manual connection procedure, on the other hand, is the usual one for Android devices: select the icon Settings, then the voice Wireless and ret (o Network), presses on the voice Wi-Fi, choose the network to which you want to connect your TV and, again with the help of the remote control, type the network password to access. If you prefer to use Ethernet connectivity, simply plug the cable into the appropriate housing of the TV Box.
How do you say? Does this solution intrigue you? Perfect, I have given you a lot of other information about it, along with a series of good buying advice, in my article on how an Android TV Box works.
NOW TV Smart Stick
NOW TV Smart Stick is a key that connects to the HDMI port of the TV and allows you to access the vast catalog of NOW TV. It measures just 84 x 20,3 x 12,6 mm for 20 grams of weight (so it is ideal to carry and use on the road or at friends' homes) and works via Wi-Fi connection. To use it, simply connect it to a TV, power it via the USB port of the same TV or via the power socket (using the supplied power supply) and log into your NOW TV account.
It costs 29 euros and comes with a promo code that allows you to have 3 months of free viewing of a ticket of your choice between Cinema, Entertainment and TV Series. In addition to accessing NOW TV content (both on-demand and live), it allows you to use apps like YouTube, Vimeo and Vevo. In addition, it plays multimedia contents from the local network and allows you to project selected contents on the TV in the NOW TV app for smartphones and tablets. It can be controlled via the supplied remote control or the NOW TV app. For more info on this, read my post on how NOW TV Smart Stick works and consult the official website of the product.
Apple TV
As the name itself clearly implies, Apple TV is the Apple-branded solution that allows you to connect "classic" televisions to the Internet: in fact, it is nothing more than a small box, equipped with a remote control, which, among other things, allows you to download apps directly from App Store and to send video streams from iPhone, iPad, Mac and computer Windows (on the latter, it will be necessary to use dedicated programs).
Apple TV has connectivity both Wi-Fi and Ethernet and, currently, it is available in two different versions.
- 4th generation Apple TV - supports a maximum resolution of 1080p and has 32GB internal memory. It can be purchased from the Apple website and from major electronics stores.
- Apple TV 4K - aesthetically the same as the previous model, it has a more powerful processor and supports resolution up to 4K HDR. It can be purchased from the Apple website and from the main electronics stores in two different memory sizes: 32 and 64 GB.
Connecting to the Internet via Apple TV is really that simple! Once the device is connected, switched on and paired with the remote control (after pressing the keys at the same time Menu e +), you must follow the instructions on the screen to perform the initial configuration: set the language and Country of residence, then choose whether to configure via iPhone / iPad or configuration manual.
In the first case, it is sufficient to bring the iPhone or iPad close to the Apple TV to “transmit” both the information on the network to be used and the Apple ID; in the second case, however, it will be necessary to select the various options using the remote control and manually type the network password and the Apple ID credentials. I have explained to you in detail all the steps in my guide on how Apple TV works.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
As the name has already made you understand, Amazon Fire TV Stick is the HDMI “key” marketed by Amazon to allow a TV without native connectivity to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi.
Amazon's Fire TV Stick has a large number of pre-installed apps (including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and many others) and has an internal store that allows you to download many, many others, dedicated not only to streaming but also to different categories (e.g. games, education, communications, music, productivity and so on).
Also, since the onboard operating system is based on Android, it is possible (with a bit of tweaking) to install as well apk file external, which further expands its potential.
Once the Fire TV Stick is connected to the port HDMI of the TV, the connection to the Internet is very simple: you simply have to press the button on the remote control supplied Play / Pause (the middle one in the bottom row), select the language from the screen that opens and then select the WIFI network to connect your TV to, by entering the relevant network key using the remote control.
If you need more details on Amazon's Fire TV Stick and its use, I invite you to consult my specific guide on the subject.
Raspberry Pi
How do you say? The solutions suggested above do not fully convince you and would you like something extremely customizable? Then your choice can only fall on the range Raspberry Pi: in fact, these are real “minimal” computers, equipped with integrated chips for RAM, processor, audio output, HDMI, USB and Ethernet connectivity module.
In this case, the first configuration is extremely more complex than what we have seen above: it will be up to you to install and configure the operating system (usually a Linux distribution like Raspbian) on the microSD, to be inserted later in the mini-computer, and you will need to get a USB, wireless or Bluetooth controller (e.g. a small keyboard with a trackpad) to use the Raspberry Pi after having it connected to the TV.
Once you have done these operations, however, the path is downhill: not only will you have connected your TV to the Internet, but you will have the same possibilities that a computer with modest performance can offer you.
How do you say? I intrigued you and now you would like to immediately get yourself a Raspberry Pi? Good choice! The precise model that I recommend for this purpose is the Raspberry Pi 3, which you can buy directly on Amazon along with a series of optional accessories (case, USB module for Wi-Fi, and so on).
Connect the Smart TV to the Internet
So you're telling me you just bought one Smart TV and that you were unable to connect to the Internet correctly? Then this is definitely the driving part for you!
If you have a Smart TV with proprietary operating systemUnfortunately, I cannot give you very detailed information, as each TV has its own procedure. In general, just press the button Menu on the remote control, access the section Settings (usually marked with a gear icon), select the option for Network and follow the on-screen instructions to choose the network to connect to (wired o Wi-Fi), by entering the network key if necessary. On some remote controls, the specific key may be available Settings (marked with the symbol (I.e. or in the shape of wrench).
If your TV has the operating system available Android TVInstead, the thing becomes much simpler: press the button Settings on the remote control or presses the icon Settings from the main screen of the TV, access the section All Settings> Wireless & NetworksI awarded the right arrow on the remote control to access the next menu, then select the items Wired or Wi-Fi> Connect to Network.
If you want to use the connection Ethernet, you just have to wait for the message of successful connection and then press the button OK shown on the screen. To connect in Wi-Fi mode, however, presses on the voice wireless, select the network you are interested in and type your password using the remote control, then press the button OK remote control: after a few seconds, your TV will be connected to the Internet.
If you want to take full advantage of the features of your new Smart TV but just don't know where to start, read my specific guide on how a Smart TV works. To learn more about the subject, then, you can consult my tutorials dedicated to the operation of Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, Philips Smart TVs and the most useful apps to install on Smart TVs.
How to connect the TV to the Internet
