Recently, I had the opportunity to bridge a Sony Blu-Ray / DVD player, into the local wireless (WLAN), through a laptop / notebook. The operation was a success, and a lot was learned. Hopefully however, next time it won't take 6-7 hours.
The purpose was to have access to Netflix via the Sony menu video interface, which only had 2 "officially" supported methods and they are, a) using a $90.00 order/shipped via a (proprietary) wireless adapter, and b) through a Local/Wide Area Network (LAN/WAN) via the Ethernet and an Internet connection (usually blue) cable.
You however, will need first to setup the unit with an existing wired Internet connection and through a TV Set, in order to do some final preparations, such as Firmware updating and then accessing the 'Sony online video essentials'... which is funny because this is exactly what your wanting to avoid fully, but in order to have it functional, set it up with the default settings, connect it to the internet, and a few new 'Menu Items' will be unlocked, giving you the option of Netflix, YouTube... even if you should have to "borrow" your neighbors TV/Internet.
But imagine sitting on the shelf for 3-6 months, and that a lot of changes to standards and supporting partnerships such as NetFlix, should have to change drastically over time, maybe due to security... who knows. So in order to keep supported and up-to-date, you need to update the Firmware, which means you must be connected and establishing an Internet connection. So the very first step ti this is:
Using a 'Crossover Ethernet' (generally yellow) cable, where the wires at either end appear to show that they are crossing, which compared to a regular 'Straight Ethernet' cable, where both of the ends of the wires are shown to be running in the same direction. Connect the Crossover Ethernet cable at both ends, 1 to the laptop / notebook, and the other end to the Blu-Ray Players' Ethernet port (looks like a bigger phone port), in no particular way specifically, as it does not matter.
Be sure, of course, that your laptop is connected to the Internet, through a Wireless connection, whether secure or not... Go into your 'Network Adapter Settings' inside of Microsoft Windows' Control Panel, and ensure that both interfaces/devices are enabled, and that they both are automatically set to Dynamic DHCP (which generally is the default) which is set within the TCP/IP settings V4 found in 'Properties' of the particular interface.
Select the 2 interfaces with the mouse, and right-click on top and select 'Bridge Devices'. If this should fail, your Network Adapter maybe statically set, and must be removed and re-installed, or then perhaps you may not be seeing 2 devices, which means that you may then need to discover what your network card name/model is through 'Device Manager', and then download a Driver/Firmware update.
While going through the Network Settings and Setup on your Blu-Ray, you will want to then manually enter in the IP settings as well as the default gateway, dns,... information, and that this is very important, so that you can turn the player into almost a computer client.
Generally, LAN IP addresses that are defaulted to 192.168.0.1 through 192.168.0.254 or 192.168.1.1 through 192.168.1.254 and that there for the Subnet Mask is 255.255.255.0 and the Default Gateway is often defaulted to either the very first number 192.168.*.1 or very last *.*.*.254
To find out any of this information, go to Start -> cmd -> ipfconfig [Enter]
C:\Documents and Settings\...>ipconfigWindows IP ConfigurationEthernet adapter Local Area Connection:Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.5Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
This tells me that I am connected through a LAN (wired connection), and that my IP is '192.168.1.5', and it was assigned to me by a Gateway/Router, which has the address '192.168.1.1'. I can make changes to many of this information by going through to the web interface, usually found by going to http://192.168.1.1/ However, you do need to know what the 'Default Gateway' IP address is, which is mentioned in the final line, shown above.
You want to give your Player an address different to the IP address that is given to your computer and therefor any other device that's connected via the Router. Perhaps like printers, computers, or cell phones. The safest bet is just give it some random address that is not suited in the very same pattern to that of your IP address (192.168.*.101).
Such as for example: the address 192.168.*.123
The DNS can usually be that of your router Gateway IP address, as it uses addresses that are supplied via your Internet Service Provider (ISP). But a locally open, freely usable address can be set it the very first address, and that is, 8.8.8.8 (Googles' DNS Server) and hopefully will speed up the process and watch movies more enjoyably.
This entire process is only 98% efficient, as you may need to run through the the setup of the 'Network Settings' through the TV of your Player, through which it is hooked up to. If you should ever have to plug/unplug the cable in and out to move about with the laptop, this can often be due to this problem.
