Frustration at my inability to connect to the internet - Blu-ray Forum

carbuff · 07-21-2010, 11:23 AM

There are a number of new features that I find appealing about today's generation of Blu-ray players. I especially like their ability to connect to the internet to download software, firmware and to download from internet distributors.

Two weeks ago I ordered a LG BD570. It failed to connect to the internet. I returned it and ordered a Samsung BD C6500. It too failed to connect to the internet. The reason they failed to connect remains a mystery to me.

Why did neither unit connect to the internet? Was it operator error (me)? Did I not properly follow the setup procedures? Was it a failure of the high speed Motorola modem or with the Cisco Linksys Router? Were the players "bad?"

The following is my experience with the Samsung. It is in essence the same experience I had with the LG.

It only took a few moments to unpack the player and check the items that accompanied it. Next, I cabled the player to my home theater system. I then began to perform all of the setup procedures except the one connecting to the internet. I decided to view a DVD to check out my system cabling before progressing with the internet connection setup.

I viewed Avatar Blu-ray. The visual images and audio quality displayed on the BD C6500 was outstanding. It significantly surpassed the quality displayed by my older Sony BDP S300 Blu-ray player.

After the viewing, I began the setup mating the modem and router with the Samsung player. I spent a full hour of repeated futile attempts to obtain a network connection. I was perplexed because this was the same result I had experienced with the LG player a week earlier.

During the next five hours I was on the telephone speaking to Cox Communications in Arizona about the cable line and modem, Cisco in India about the Linksys router, Samsung in the Philippines about the player and Crutchfield in Virginia, the vendor from whom I had purchased the Samsung player. Each person with whom I spoke seemed genuinely sincere and eager to assist me. All treated me with courtesy.

My one complaint about talking to the Cisco and Samsung tech support people is that the English they spoke taxed my ability to understand their comments or instructions. It was a long, tedious and difficult communications process.

Cox and Cisco both confirmed after tests that the modem and router worked perfectly. The signal strength of the router was six green bars. Thus, both the modem and router were on-line and functioning.

Among the steps Cisco took was to have me log onto the Cisco internet site using my desktop PC. We checked all of the router settings, passwords, security keys, etc. All checked out properly. It was obvious that they would check out, as both my desktop and my notebook computer in the garage were able to access the internet using the modem and router.

Both Crutchfield and Samsung had me perform the internet setup process. They had me go item by item, digit by digit, letter by letter, with me telling them what was on the screen before, during and after I inputted a key stroke.

They arrived at the same conclusion. The problem WAS NOT OPERATOR ERROR. Nevertheless, they could resolve the problem.

I have the nagging feeling that the failure has to be with the router. Everyone I talked to said no, the router was working properly. They also said that I was inputting the correct information from the remote control unit.

Later that night I could not sleep thinking about the problem. So, at 0215 the next morning I again tackled the problem. I went the step religiously following the written step setup procedure to make a network connection. I stopped at 0730, a complete failure.

I then phoned Crutchfield, obtained a return UPS label, packed up the Samsung and delivered it to a UPS store for return to Crutchfield.

I HATE WHEN I CANNOT GET THINGS TO WORK ESPECIALLY WHEN I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS MY INABILITY TO PROPERLY FOLLOW WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS.

The bottom line of my experience with both the LG and the Samsung to connect to the internet is that it just might be that the setup procedure is too complicated for me to understand and execute. Or, maybe the router SSID, IP address, password or security key is the problem. Or, both players were "bad." Or, a combination of all of the above.

I just do not know the answer and am frustrated by the experience.

07-21-2010, 11:23 AM	#1
carbuff Member Member since:Mar 2008	Frustration at my inability to connect to the internet There are a number of new features that I find appealing about today's generation of Blu-ray players. I especially like their ability to connect to the internet to download software, firmware and to download from internet distributors. Two weeks ago I ordered a LG BD570. It failed to connect to the internet. I returned it and ordered a Samsung BD C6500. It too failed to connect to the internet. The reason they failed to connect remains a mystery to me. Why did neither unit connect to the internet? Was it operator error (me)? Did I not properly follow the setup procedures? Was it a failure of the high speed Motorola modem or with the Cisco Linksys Router? Were the players "bad?" The following is my experience with the Samsung. It is in essence the same experience I had with the LG. It only took a few moments to unpack the player and check the items that accompanied it. Next, I cabled the player to my home theater system. I then began to perform all of the setup procedures except the one connecting to the internet. I decided to view a DVD to check out my system cabling before progressing with the internet connection setup. I viewed Avatar Blu-ray. The visual images and audio quality displayed on the BD C6500 was outstanding. It significantly surpassed the quality displayed by my older Sony BDP S300 Blu-ray player. After the viewing, I began the setup mating the modem and router with the Samsung player. I spent a full hour of repeated futile attempts to obtain a network connection. I was perplexed because this was the same result I had experienced with the LG player a week earlier. During the next five hours I was on the telephone speaking to Cox Communications in Arizona about the cable line and modem, Cisco in India about the Linksys router, Samsung in the Philippines about the player and Crutchfield in Virginia, the vendor from whom I had purchased the Samsung player. Each person with whom I spoke seemed genuinely sincere and eager to assist me. All treated me with courtesy. My one complaint about talking to the Cisco and Samsung tech support people is that the English they spoke taxed my ability to understand their comments or instructions. It was a long, tedious and difficult communications process. Cox and Cisco both confirmed after tests that the modem and router worked perfectly. The signal strength of the router was six green bars. Thus, both the modem and router were on-line and functioning. Among the steps Cisco took was to have me log onto the Cisco internet site using my desktop PC. We checked all of the router settings, passwords, security keys, etc. All checked out properly. It was obvious that they would check out, as both my desktop and my notebook computer in the garage were able to access the internet using the modem and router. Both Crutchfield and Samsung had me perform the internet setup process. They had me go item by item, digit by digit, letter by letter, with me telling them what was on the screen before, during and after I inputted a key stroke. They arrived at the same conclusion. The problem WAS NOT OPERATOR ERROR. Nevertheless, they could resolve the problem. I have the nagging feeling that the failure has to be with the router. Everyone I talked to said no, the router was working properly. They also said that I was inputting the correct information from the remote control unit. Later that night I could not sleep thinking about the problem. So, at 0215 the next morning I again tackled the problem. I went the step religiously following the written step setup procedure to make a network connection. I stopped at 0730, a complete failure. I then phoned Crutchfield, obtained a return UPS label, packed up the Samsung and delivered it to a UPS store for return to Crutchfield. I HATE WHEN I CANNOT GET THINGS TO WORK ESPECIALLY WHEN I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS MY INABILITY TO PROPERLY FOLLOW WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS. The bottom line of my experience with both the LG and the Samsung to connect to the internet is that it just might be that the setup procedure is too complicated for me to understand and execute. Or, maybe the router SSID, IP address, password or security key is the problem. Or, both players were "bad." Or, a combination of all of the above. I just do not know the answer and am frustrated by the experience.

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