USB Port on TVs

"Andy Burns" wrote in message
...
John Michael wrote:

Does anybody know what is the purpose of a USB Port on modern TVs?

Many *can* record programmes onto a hard drive/memory stick

I'd say almost all can view photos or movies on the disc/stick

maybe to add a wifi dongle

maybe to add a keyboard/mouse

maybe just to provide 5V power for e.g. a chromecast/firestick type device

maybe for firmware updates


One proviso: if you are using a memory stick or hard drive that's been
formatted by Windows, it will almost certainly be NTFS. Very few TVs, DVD
players etc that can play from a hard drive understand NTFS; almost all of
them require FAT32. If you are lucky, they will recognise an exFAT drive. So
if you want to copy photos/videos onto a drive to display on the TV, you
will need to format it as FAT32 or exFAT; likewise for the TV recording to
the hard drive.

Our TV (Philips) can record to an external drive, but the recordings are
encrypted so that only that TV can play them; I've not found a way of
playing them in VLC on Windows/Linux, even though the files are .TS format.

On 03/08/2020 13.43, Andy Burns wrote:
nospam wrote:

you can plug in the transmitter for a USB mouse

You mean receiver.

it's both.

What communication happens *to* the mouse?

Confirmation messages, channel establishment...


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logitech_Unifying_receiver

Says it is a receiver.

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/bluetooth-mouse-vs-wireless-mouse-55689.html

Says it is a receiver.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 03/08/2020 16.45, NY wrote:
"Andy Burns" wrote in message
...
John Michael wrote:

Does anybody know what is the purpose of a USB Port on modern TVs?

Many *can* record programmes onto a hard drive/memory stick

I'd say almost all can view photos or movies on the disc/stick

maybe to add a wifi dongle

maybe to add a keyboard/mouse

maybe just to provide 5V power for e.g. a chromecast/firestick type
device

maybe for firmware updates


One proviso: if you are using a memory stick or hard drive that's been
formatted by Windows, it will almost certainly be NTFS. Very few TVs,
DVD players etc that can play from a hard drive understand NTFS; almost
all of them require FAT32. If you are lucky, they will recognise an
exFAT drive. So if you want to copy photos/videos onto a drive to
display on the TV, you will need to format it as FAT32 or exFAT;
likewise for the TV recording to the hard drive.

Except ancient TV sets, most I have tried can read NTFS flash sticks.
Before exFAT appeared, it was the only way to pass long movies.


--
Cheers, Carlos.

Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 03/08/2020 13.43, Andy Burns wrote:
nospam wrote:

you can plug in the transmitter for a USB mouse

You mean receiver.

it's both.

What communication happens *to* the mouse?

Confirmation messages, channel establishment...


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logitech_Unifying_receiver

Says it is a receiver.

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/bluetooth-mouse-vs-wireless-mouse-55689.html


Says it is a receiver.


"based on the nRF24L-family of RF device"

https://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/...ion_v1 _0.pdf

Nordic Semiconductor

Single Chip 2.4Ghz Transceiver

Paul

On 2020-08-02, John Michael wrote:
It does nothing on my TV. I can't record programs via this port; I
can't run DVD drive via this port so what exactly is it for?

I can't think of any purpose of it.

I've seen televisions that can pause broadcast TV if a USB drive
is installed, so you can delay watching and fast forward through
commercials. (TCL Roku TV has this feature and there are probably
others.) Of course as many others will point out it is also for viewing
photos and playing media off a USB drive.

--
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On 03/08/2020 03:45 pm, NY wrote:
"Andy Burns" wrote in message
...
John Michael wrote:

Does anybody know what is the purpose of a USB Port on modern TVs?

Many *can* record programmes onto a hard drive/memory stick

I'd say almost all can view photos or movies on the disc/stick

maybe to add a wifi dongle

maybe to add a keyboard/mouse

maybe just to provide 5V power for e.g. a chromecast/firestick type
device

maybe for firmware updates


One proviso: if you are using a memory stick or hard drive that's been
formatted by Windows, it will almost certainly be NTFS. Very few TVs,
DVD players etc that can play from a hard drive understand NTFS; almost
all of them require FAT32. If you are lucky, they will recognise an
exFAT drive. So if you want to copy photos/videos onto a drive to
display on the TV, you will need to format it as FAT32 or exFAT;
likewise for the TV recording to the hard drive.

Our TV (Philips) can record to an external drive, but the recordings are
encrypted so that only that TV can play them; I've not found a way of
playing them in VLC on Windows/Linux, even though the files are .TS format.

..ts is a very common format in broadcasting. AFAIK it stand for
"transport stream", usually mpeg2.
I (used to) use TVHeadend and OSMC to record. Natively used .ts


--

Chris Elvidge, England

On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 17:21:08 +0000 (UTC), "John Michael"
wrote:

Does anybody know what is the purpose of a USB Port on modern TVs?

For servicing only.

In article ,
says...

On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 17:21:08 +0000 (UTC), "John Michael"
wrote:

Does anybody know what is the purpose of a USB Port on modern TVs?

For servicing only.

Though many TVs will display photos from a connected USB drive. Read the
manual!

--

Phil, London

Philip Herlihy wrote:
In article ,
says...

On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 17:21:08 +0000 (UTC), "John Michael"
wrote:

Does anybody know what is the purpose of a USB Port on modern TVs?

For servicing only.

Though many TVs will display photos from a connected USB drive. Read the
manual!


All modern TVs do more than that. They can play audio, videos and
movies, text files and more.

The drawback I find is with HDs. Many can't handle 2TB size and above.

Ed

Can also provide power for Chromecast.

Mark

-------- Original Message --------
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 17:21:08 +0000 (UTC), "John Michael"
wrote:

Does anybody know what is the purpose of a USB Port on modern TVs?

For servicing only.

In article ,
says...

On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 17:21:08 +0000 (UTC), "John Michael"
wrote:

Does anybody know what is the purpose of a USB Port on modern TVs?

For servicing only.

Most will play audio and display photos off a USB drive. Some will even
play a video, in fact most will play some type of video but many of them
are formats you'd never want/use, e.g. progressive jpeg etc. That said,
some will play MKV, MPG, AVI, XVID etc, files straight off the usb
drive.

On 8/23/20 11:09 AM, this is what Mark wrote:
Can also provide power for Chromecast.

Mark

-------- Original Message --------
On Sun, 2 Aug 2020 17:21:08 +0000 (UTC), "John Michael"
wrote:

Does anybody know what is the purpose of a USB Port on modern TVs?

For servicing only.


Only issue with power is (on my tv) the USB is a bit low. The chromecast does work though.

I have a few TP-Link wi-fi outlets I can turn on/off. They work great IMHO. I have a small 2ft cord power strip plugged into my main power
strip. It contains the electronics I don't use much. DVD player, Wii, Roku stick. I turn them off via my Google assistant 99% of the
time. If I want any of those I just command it to turn on.

I was just researching the power usage on google and read that the chromecast one estimate had, was about 2$ a year power. Obviously high
or low, it's not worth turning it on/off. Same with my Roku. As a matter of fact, both state they should be one so updates could be applied.

I'm moving my Roku and Chromecast to the main power strip and leaving them on.

Al

On 8/23/20 11:35 AM, Big Al wrote:

[snip]

I was just researching the power usage on google and read that the
chromecast one estimate had, was about 2$ a year power.Â* Obviously high
or low, it's not worth turning it on/off.Â* Same with my Roku.Â* As a
matter of fact, both state they should be one so updates could be applied.

I'm moving my Roku and Chromecast to the main power strip and leaving
them on.

Al

The "power" switch on most modern electronic devices is a lie. It may do
nothing but enable the audio and video outputs. That can be important
with an automatic switch, where that "switchless" device will prevent
the use of another component.

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"I know one man who was impotent who gave AIDS to his wife and the only
thing they did was kiss." [Pat Robertson]

In article , Ed Cryer
writes
All modern TVs do more than that. They can play audio, videos and movies,
text files and more.

My Samsung can record and pause programmes from Free View on a correctly
formatted USB drive if needed.

Mike

--
Michael Swift We do not regard Englishmen as foreigners.
Kirkheaton We look on them only as rather mad Norwegians.
Yorkshire Halvard Lange

On 2020-08-23, Mark Lloyd wrote:
The "power" switch on most modern electronic devices is a lie.

The real insanity is that on a lot of modern equipment the pilot light
is on when the set it turned off. I really don't get it.

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Blake (Posts from Google Groups killfiled due to excess spam.)

The US Census, what info must you give? -- http://censusfacts.info
Don't talk to cops! -- http://www.DontTalkToCops.com
Badges don't grant extra rights -- http://www.CopBlock.org
The facts about Climate Change -- http://www.RealClimateScience.com
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