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Connecting external drive to TV |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 636
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Connecting external drive to TV
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to connect my external drive to a TV.The TV only has scart sockets and the drive a USB socket.Could I use a lead with a scart plug on one end and a USB plug on the other end providing I can get such a lead .The TV is a LG 26LX2R..The drive is obviously USB powered.
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#2 |
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Standish, near Wigan
Posts: 525
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An external hard drive is just a storage medium. It needs to be connected to something that at the very least has the ability to read the contents of the drive.
From your description of the your TV i would say that this is not going to happen. So whether you can find a wire/ adapter that physically can connect the two devices is irrelevant. You would need an intermediant device, such as a media streamer that could interface with both the hard drive and the TV. Given the TV details you give I think that would be a difficult ask too. |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 277
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Your tv is incompatible in every way.
One option is to buy a cheap DVD player that has a scart/USB port and has the ability to read/play an external drive. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: A long way from home
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Some tvs have a built in media player. If you plug in your usb stick then the tv can show the contents.
Unfortunately most external hard drives draw too much power for the usb socket on the tv, so will not function correctly. You might be able to transfer media from your usb external hard drive to a usb stick and view that on the tv. It is just a matter of trial and error to see if it works Good luck |
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#5 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,896
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Quote:
Some tvs have a built in media player. If you plug in your usb stick then the tv can show the contents.
Unfortunately most external hard drives draw too much power for the usb socket on the tv, so will not function correctly. You might be able to transfer media from your usb external hard drive to a usb stick and view that on the tv. It is just a matter of trial and error to see if it works Good luck |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,896
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Quote:
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to connect my external drive to a TV.The TV only has scart sockets and the drive a USB socket.Could I use a lead with a scart plug on one end and a USB plug on the other end providing I can get such a lead .The TV is a LG 26LX2R..The drive is obviously USB powered.
You need some device that can interface between the drive and the TV. If the TV has HDMI then a device such as this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sumvision-C...dp/B0052X04MO/ might do the trick. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 6,450
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An Android MX box or equivalent as chrisjr has already suggested. The Android boxes are good when you add KODI as the media player. Potentially you'll have a media streamer front end that will make playing those files simple. The USB ports on one side will take care of powering the drive. The HDMI port on the other side will drive the TV. Wi-Fi and an Etherley connection will cater for Web content. The add-ons for KODI will open up lots of other streamed content possibilitis. You'll evenue have Miracast and Airplay compativilify IIRC.
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#8 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 636
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The TV set I would like to use as has been said has no USB socket.I do use the hard drive on my main TV which has a USB socket.I plug the hard drive into that USB socket then using the remote select connected devices and select external USB HDD and the contents appear and I play whatever I choose to.That TV is a Sony KDL-42W653A.If the first mentioned TV had a USB socket would that then work.
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#9 |
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: S.West England.
Posts: 18,032
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You surely need a tv with USB or HDMI input socket.
Unless u can get some sort of intermediate device that can take a USB drive and has a legacy scart or other analogue connectivity (such as red white + yellow Phonos which just needs a simple scart Jack adaptor). |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,896
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Quote:
The TV set I would like to use as has been said has no USB socket.I do use the hard drive on my main TV which has a USB socket.I plug the hard drive into that USB socket then using the remote select connected devices and select external USB HDD and the contents appear and I play whatever I choose to.That TV is a Sony KDL-42W653A.If the first mentioned TV had a USB socket would that then work.
TVs are not like computers, by and large they only play a subset of the myriad of possible audio and video formats out there. So it cannot be completely guaranteed that a file that plays on one TV will also play on another. Also some TVs allow you to record TV programs to a hard drive. These recordings are often locked to the specific TV that recorded them and only play back on that one TV. They won't play back on any other TV, not even an identical make and model. But as the LG you mentioned in Post 1 has no USB sockets then, without using some intermediary device, any discussion of playing media files on it is pointless. |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK
Posts: 10,375
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Quote:
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to connect my external drive to a TV.The TV only has scart sockets and the drive a USB socket.Could I use a lead with a scart plug on one end and a USB plug on the other end providing I can get such a lead .The TV is a LG 26LX2R..The drive is obviously USB powered.
As above, you would need to buy a PVR with a scart socket and attach it to your TV. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 6,450
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Quote:
An Android MX box or equivalent as chrisjr has already suggested. The Android boxes are good when you add KODI as the media player. Potentially you'll have a media streamer front end that will make playing those files simple. The USB ports on one side will take care of powering the drive. The HDMI port on the other side will drive the TV. Wi-Fi and an Etherley connection will cater for Web content. The add-ons for KODI will open up lots of other streamed content possibilitis. You'll evenue have Miracast and Airplay compativilify IIRC.
LG User manual 26LX2R https://www.manualslib.com/manual/506995/Lg-26lx2r.html?page=7#manual Kodi file and container support list: http://www.multipelife.com/kodi-supp...e-formats.html [This is for an older build but the file and container list is still valid] Some Kodi screen shots: Main menu Movie browser TV Shows and boxsets These are all from the default skin which does a nice job. If you wish though, it's possible to download other skins to have a different look. I notice that your TV has just one HDMI socket. A small 2-/3- or 4-way HDMI switch would improve the TV's connectivity for just a few £'s |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 636
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Have just noticed that there is a HDMI socket on the rear of the TV what if I got a HDMI Male to USB Female cable and then plugged the drive into the USB female socket would that work.Just a idea
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#14 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,455
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Quote:
Have just noticed that there is a HDMI socket on the rear of the TV what if I got a HDMI Male to USB Female cable and then plugged the drive into the USB female socket would that work.Just a idea
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#15 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,896
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Quote:
Have just noticed that there is a HDMI socket on the rear of the TV what if I got a HDMI Male to USB Female cable and then plugged the drive into the USB female socket would that work.Just a idea
The technology of USB is completely and totally incompatible with anything your TV has available. Therefore is is impossible to directly connect your hard drive to the TV no matter what plugs or sockets you try and wire up to each other. It is never going to work. As I and others have said the only option, other than buy a new TV with USB capabilities, is to buy some intermediary device to interface the drive to the TV. |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 6,450
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Quote:
Have just noticed that there is a HDMI socket on the rear of the TV what if I got a HDMI Male to USB Female cable and then plugged the drive into the USB female socket would that work.Just a idea
Go try and find a cable to connect two completely incompatible devices..... because obviously you know better than every other c*** here. Then when you've wasted your money and time (added to the time of ours you've already taken up) you can come back and like that film Groundhog Day you can ask the same stupid questions again...and again...and again. Or you can cut to the chase and do what we suggest, or forget the whole thing because you're too cheap to buy a £40 MX box. It's your telly, your HD, and definitely your problem; so the ball is very firmly in your court, Pal. |
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK
Posts: 10,375
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Quote:
You've been told in very clear terms what you ........ oh, do you know what...f*** it... clearly you're not listening..... Do what you want.
Go try and find a cable to connect two completely incompatible devices..... because obviously you know better than every other c*** here. Then when you've wasted your money and time (added to the time of ours you've already taken up) you can come back and like that film Groundhog Day you can ask the same stupid questions again...and again...and again. Or you can cut to the chase and do what we suggest, or forget the whole thing because you're too cheap to buy a £40 MX box. It's your telly, your HD, and definitely your problem; so the ball is very firmly in your court, Pal. |
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#18 |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 439
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Quote:
No need to lose it Chris. If you look at Paul's other threads you will see he's not very... technical.
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 636
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Quote:
What you are asking for does not exist. It is the equivalent of looking for a tape adapter that lets you play Blu-Ray disks on a VCR. The technology of USB and SCART are so totally different and so completely incompatible with each other that no bit of wire will ever allow one to connect to the other.
You need some device that can interface between the drive and the TV. If the TV has HDMI then a device such as this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sumvision-C...dp/B0052X04MO/ might do the trick. |
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#20 |
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: South Wales/Gran Canaria
Posts: 8,294
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http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5288250 this would be fine for you
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 636
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Thank's neo_wales that looks promising and it is for the bedroom that is wanted.As mentioned previously the current TV is now out of date so I suppose it would be better to get a new one.Thank's again
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 636
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I put MX box into google and got the following so before I decide on the TV would any of these items do the job.Thank's
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...o=&hvqmt=b&hvd |
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 636
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Have now found this TV and as it is only for the bedroom it will do the job and for it's price ideal and comes with a DVD player as well.Once again thanks for all the replies.
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-and-...tztx&srcid=198 |
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 636
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Just realised it has no DVD player but as I have a DVD player connected to the current TV it is not a problem
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 6,450
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They'll all do the job. There's one at £29.99 "fully loaded" including Kodi.
Personally I wouldn't put my faith in any smart TV for its smart features. When it comes to long term support the manufacturers haven't exactly covered themselves in glory. I'd much rather have an open source box such as an MX or similar and know that these will run newer versions of the apps rather than hope someone within the TV makers tech team will be interested in keep their customised apps running after a couple of years. Given your non-technical nature, are you up to the task of setting up one of these boxes so that it can access your home wireless network and so that it can read the files off your USB drive? |
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