Connecting Samsung smart TV to park wifi

[Second Chance]

We just replaced our TV with a new 40" Samsung smart TV. It's a great TV and I can easily get it on our hot spot (Verizon 4G). Of course, we don't have enough data on our phone plan to stream video and we like to use park wifi for that (using an Amazon Fire Stick) to do that when park wifi is available and up to the task. The problem is that the wifi in the park where we are staying while my wife does PT after surgery requires log on via a pop-up browser window. The Amazon Fire Stick and the PCs accommodate this easily, but the Samsung TV does not pop up a window like the Fire Stick does. I had a very frustrating on-line chat with Samsung technical support (no help at all). Does anyone have any ideas or should we just be satisfied with the Fire Stick in these situations and use the smart TV functions when we stay places with "normal" wifi security?

[docj]

I have a 43" Samsung 4K Smart TV and when I use it for streaming I almost always use the Roku that I have attached to it.  My son, who is a computer scientist and techie-geek explains it this way: "the apps in smart TVs are rarely updated by their manufacturers and almost always are inferior to those available from Roku, FireStick, AppleTV, etc. which are updated continuously." I get far better performance from my Roku than I do from the TV itself so I wouldn't worry about the issue you report.

My suggestion is to use your FireStick and not worry about the TV.  If you are insistent on wanting to use the TV's apps, then, without making this a commercial post, you can buy a router, such as a WiFiRanger, that can handle the pop-up log-in situation for the TV.

[Second Chance]

7 minutes ago, docj said:

I have a 43" Samsung 4K Smart TV and when I use it for streaming I almost always use the Roku that I have attached to it.  My son, who is a computer scientist and techie-geek explains it this way: "the apps in smart TVs are rarely updated by their manufacturers and almost always are inferior to those available from Roku, FireStick, AppleTV, etc. which are updated continuously." I get far better performance from my Roku than I do from the TV itself so I wouldn't worry about the issue you report.

My suggestion is to use your FireStick and not worry about the TV.  If you are insistent on wanting to use the TV's apps, then, without making this a commercial post, you can buy a router, such as a WiFiRanger, that can handle the pop-up log-in situation for the TV.

Thanks, Joel. Much as I suspected. I'm not that insistent on using the TV apps, so we'll continue to use the Fire Stick here and be happy! 

Rob

[wildmandmc]

 the roku stick is better to get the wifi on. but getting back to the tv. it should have a menu. an a setting for wifi. which you input the info. via the remote control.

[docj]

6 hours ago, wildmandmc said:

 the roku stick is better to get the wifi on. but getting back to the tv. it should have a menu. an a setting for wifi. which you input the info. via the remote control.

It's not that the TV doesn't have a way for you to enter the wifi password, it's that the TV can't handle what is called a "splash screen" which is the pop-up at the beginning of wifi session.  That's the screen on which you agree to terms and conditions and, possibly, enter your name and site number.

[SCClockDr]

Not sure this would work.

If the TV provides a browser try loading a page with it. The campground WiFi should redirect to its signin page. I've been in campgrounds where they have effectively prevented router and streaming devices from obtaining a connection. The most recent was using WiFiRanger gear throughout the park.

[Mike2338]

Saw a YouTube video just the other day that talked about security issues of hooking up smart tv/devices directly to park WiFi.

Bottom line of the video was depending on how the parks system was setup you could be leaving yourself open to a breach. They recommended to only connect through your own firewall.

Found the video...

 

[trostberg]

It always surprises me that so many people use the Park WI FI.   Security is pretty much non existent at these and often the neighbors in the area are also accessing anything without a password or have found a way to get the password

[Second Chance]

18 minutes ago, trostberg said:

It always surprises me that so many people use the Park WI FI.   Security is pretty much non existent at these and often the neighbors in the area are also accessing anything without a password or have found a way to get the password

We don't use park Wi-Fi for anything but streaming video. We NEVER connect the laptops to park Wi-Fi to do banking, order from Amazon or eBay, or anything else. My second career (21 years) was in healthcare information management, so I'm well aware of the security issues on public or semi-public networks. 

Rob

[trostberg]

I believe my neighbor had their computer held for ransom when they streamed. 

 

 

[Second Chance]

1 hour ago, trostberg said:

I believe my neighbor had their computer held for ransom when they streamed. 

 

 

Which is why we only use the Amazon FireStick for that - not the computers.

Rob

[docj]

3 hours ago, trostberg said:

I believe my neighbor had their computer held for ransom when they streamed. 

I think it is far more likely that your neighbor was doing something like using Kodi to stream illicitly obtained material.  When you connect to the kind of peer-sharing sites that support that sort of thing, anything can happen.

There is absolutely no reason to scare people with unsubstantiated references such as this.  Streaming through the major streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon, Hulu should be free of any risks to your device.

[RV_]

Good answers from Joel. Y'all despite some wanting to do a smart TV it is usually not nearly as effective as any modern streaming device, my three second generation 4k Amazon fire full size, or a Roku can be replaced on the cheap out of warranty if they fail instead of the whole TV. Our TV has all kinds of streaming apps etc, but it is so slow I can't stand it.. The Fire TV model before the hanging one they sell now was considered by many the best for both WiFi connecting and 4k:

https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/16/amazon-fire-tv-4k/

 

[docj]

28 minutes ago, RV_ said:

Good answers from Joel. Y'all despite some wanting to do a smart TV it is usually not nearly as effective as any modern streaming device, my three second generation 4k Amazon fire full size, or a Roku can be replaced on the cheap out of warranty if they fail instead of the whole TV. Our TV has all kinds of streaming apps etc, but it is so slow I can't stand it.. The Fire TV model before the hanging one they sell now was considered by many the best for both WiFi connecting and 4k:

https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/16/amazon-fire-tv-4k/

 

X2.  We own a smart Samsung UHD TV with very disappointing software.  We get far better performance from the Roku we connected to it.  Next time I'll save the ~$50 and buy a dumb TV.

[RV_]

Joel,

I had issues a few minutes ago with a Word file and just got it transferred over into a post here on this thread. Let me go see if it finally took! I thought Vizio was the cheap no good set but boy they changed my mind on Black Friday 2015. Once I had the hardware I had to get the right 2.1 cables and box.

[rynosback]

On 2/21/2018 at 6:31 PM, Mike2338 said:

Saw a YouTube video just the other day that talked about security issues of hooking up smart tv/devices directly to park WiFi.

Bottom line of the video was depending on how the parks system was setup you could be leaving yourself open to a breach. They recommended to only connect through your own firewall.

Found the video...

 

Cool, free porn to EVERYONE on me.  ; )

[hemsteadc]

Don't most parks discourage or forbid streaming on their wifi?

[Second Chance]

42 minutes ago, hemsteadc said:

Don't most parks discourage or forbid streaming on their wifi?

Some do. We've stayed at several where there was no mention of streaming and the bandwidth was great. We enjoyed many good films on Amazon Prime that way.

Rob

[GlennWest]

It's encouraged at park we on now. They don't have cable though. 

[rynosback]

Dockj, Joel, is the GO AC fire walled in normal setting or does it need to be put into safesurf?

[hemsteadc]

22 hours ago, GlennWest said:

It's encouraged at park we on now. They don't have cable though. 

Don't see that everyday, or ever.

 

[docj]

6 hours ago, rynosback said:

Dockj, Joel, is the GO AC fire walled in normal setting or does it need to be put into safesurf?

It all depends on how much security you wish to have.  As with pretty much any router, using a WiFiRanger results in Network Address Translation (NAT) which means that the externally visible IP addresses of your devices aren't their actual addresses on your internal network.  

You can always add protection in addition to that.  Personally, I run Kaspersky Internet Security on my computers which provides a bi-directional firewall.  In addition I use Malwarebytes Professional.  

Safesurf is sort of a "VPN light".  If you are worried about someone seeing your network traffic, as conceivably could be the case if you were using a campground wifi, Safesurf encrypts your data and sends it up the secure "pipe" that every WiFiRanger router creates for itself to connect with the main WiFiRanger server in Idaho.  It's not a "true VPN" but it has a similar affect.   When you use Safesurf your devices will have IP addresses that identify them as being in Idaho.

I hope this answers your question.  Each person has to decide how much security they think is necessary to protect their own information.  

Joel (AKA docj)

[Twotoes]

I remember when my grandmother had a party line for a telephone and if you picked up the phone someone else may have been talking and you had to wait for them to hang up so you could make a call. 

[hemsteadc]

I remember getting my neighbor's mail, and he mine.  That was last year.

[bigbillsd]

Go to the AT&T site and sign up for the Connect Car Plan.  $22 with taxes a month for unlimited data.  Minimum of 23 GB, but I get 80GB per month on it and for some reason it never slowed down for me, even in cities. 

To power it up in your RV (if you do not have an ODBII port) you can purchase a 120v adapter here: AC Adapter for AT&T ZTE Mobley   or a 12v adapter: 12v Car Plug Adapter for AT&T ZTE Mobley LTE Hotspot

And now there is a USB adapter for it, which might preclude needing the others, but I don't know if it works.  Is sold by the same guy I bought the 120v model from last year. USB Adapter for AT&T ZTE Mobley OBD2 LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot

 

The connected car plan (CCP) is the best purchase I have ever made.  No buyer remorse and I have had it a year now.  I wish I could extend the contract as I am afraid it might go away.   We were "on the road" more than 6 months last year.

-Bill

PS.  The CCP is the only AT&T service i had for the first 10 months.  Since then I switched my home ISP from Cox to AT&T DSL.  They give me $30 off the DSL charge per month..  So my total Home and Hotspot bill is $50 a month.  I was paying Cox $78 a month just for the home service last December.  

Oh, and Dave Bott's video about connecting your devices is spot on.   You really should have a firewall between you and any internet connection.  I'm an IT guy, you always want a firewall between you and the internet.  Even my hotspots go thru them.  I normally leave data turned off on my phones until I actually need it for something. 

-Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 3, 2018 by bigbillsd