Making a older TV into a smart TV

[tileman]

I got a older Sony LCD tv my old place I had direct TV but I got rid of it when I moved. My new place has high speed internet so I was thinking of getting something for my TV so I can watch TV on the weekends or off days.
I can hook my laptop to it but only by a HDMI cable I’d like to be able to do that wireless if possible with whatever I buy.
What’s the pro and cons of some of the tv apps and what’s the best way to go.

Here’s the information on my tv it’s a older one but still has a great picture and sound.
Sony KDL-52W3000 BRAVIA - 52" LCD TV - Full HD Specs - CNET

 

[Orion Nebula]

If you have prime just get a Firestick or FireTv.

 

[sam_gordon]

You can try a wireless HDMI kit. https://www.amazon.com/wireless-hdmi/s?k=wireless+hdmi

Or you can get a Roku, Firestick, or Apple TV. I believe an Apple TV will let you "cast" from your Apple laptop (if you have an apple) to it.

 

[tileman]

If you have prime just get a Firestick or FireTv.

I don’t have anything I used to have satellite TV for over 20 years so this is all new too me
Just trying to figure out how and what’s the best option

 

[sam_gordon]

I don’t have anything I used to have satellite TV for over 20 years so this is all new too me
Just trying to figure out how and what’s the best option

By "Prime", PP is referring to Amazon Prime, not satellite delivery. What do you watch on your laptop that you want on the big screen? Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, etc can all be done via a Firestick, AppleTV, or Roku. Those would probably be the easiest and quickest setup for you. They should all be available at your local Wal*Mart, Best Buy, Target, etc, and possibly even at Lowes/Home Depot. Obviously you can also order them online.

 

[kdonnel]

If you are wanting to still primarily use your laptop as your source get a Chromecast 3rd generation. ($29.99). You can cast any Chrome tab to your TV wirelessly.

If you think you might want to try out using apps as well as your laptop splurge and get a Chromecast with Google TV. ($49.99). You can cast any Chrome tab to your TV wirelessly and it supports many of the same 3rd party providers as a Firestick and Roku and it has a remote.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I would suggest a Roku, it includes basically any of the apps you'd want and you can cast your laptop. Instead of getting something that just does one thing.

 

[disneychrista]

I apparently have an older Smart TV. I had to get a Roku when I ditched Dish last year. I mainly use Hulu, YouTube, and Prime Video (for the free IMBD content). Oh and the NBC app for Days of our Lives.

 

[Tink9721]

If you have prime just get a Firestick or FireTv.

You don't need Prime to get a FireStick, I used mine for years before I signed up for Prime. You just won't get access to Prime Video.

 

[RamblingMad]

Yep. You can project to your ROKU. Works for me.

 

[Orion Nebula]

You don't need Prime to get a FireStick, I used mine for years before I signed up for Prime. You just won't get access to Prime Video.

Ya I know, I just think it's best to use a Firestick if you DO have prime.

 

[Imzadi]

I got a older Sony LCD tv my old place I had direct TV but I got rid of it when I moved. My new place has high speed internet so I was thinking of getting something for my TV so I can watch TV on the weekends or off days.
I can hook my laptop to it but only by a HDMI cable I’d like to be able to do that wireless if possible with whatever I buy.
What’s the pro and cons of some of the tv apps and what’s the best way to go.

Here’s the information on my tv it’s a older one but still has a great picture and sound.
Sony KDL-52W3000 BRAVIA - 52" LCD TV - Full HD Specs - CNET

Your TV is too old. According to this Best Buy page of reviews for the Sony KDL-52W3000 BRAVIA, it was built before 2013. The latest reviews are 2008. An Amazon search yields the same last year of reviews. All the current apps and devices that would need to upload or be installed or attached to a smart TV are made and configured for TVs made 2013 and beyond.

I know this because I share your frustration. I have a "smart TV" made in the middle of 2012. It was the 1st generation of "smart TVs." So I thought I was buying the latest technology and would be able to add on from that. I also have 3 HDMI ports AND a USB port, and some "smart TV" button which switches to a page of smart TV features like Hulu, YouTube, some other streaming services. Ha!

I use my HDMI cable all the time. Love it for that. I hook my tablet or PC to it all the time. I run any stuff I want streamed or shown on the TV on my tablet or computer and mirror it to the TV through my HDMI cable. Same as what you are doing.

That unfortunately is the extent of what I can do. PERIOD.

I have a Samsung. It has a native Samsung app pre-installed in the TV to cast from devices to my TV. Unfortunately, because this "smart TV" was made before 2013, there is NO software, no app that can be downloaded that will either update or replace any of the streaming services already on the TV. Nothing NEW can be downloaded, added, installed as the hardware equipment in the TV is half a year too old to be recognized or can run it. Samsung stopped using the casting app, and 2nd generation replacement casting app. They now have something totally different that won't work with my TV.

All OTHER casting apps/mirroring apps that I've tried do not work with this TV. I've tried, with the MANY generations of cellphones I have.

Same for ALL the pre-installed streaming services. None will install any updates. I CAN hook up my TV to the Internet. But, that doesn't do me any good when all Internet technology basically needs everything post-2013 to work with my TV.

Your TV doesn't even have a USB port, I think? I don't see one listed under your TV's specs.

Mine does have a USB port. I MAY be able to plug in a Chromecast dongle to it. Or other dongles, sticks, etc. But, again, since the TV's pre-2013, it's unlikely that any software in any dongle will work with my TV to wirelessly connect it to my computer or tablet. There is NO software in the TV that will recognize the software in the dongle. And no way to download, install or update any thing on the TV. So, I will have just wasted $65 on a dongle.

The only thing that runs via the USB port is an older wireless keyboard.

The HDMI port no longer works on my tablet. So I can no longer connect it to my TV. The only 10-inch tablet on Amazon that even has an HDMI port is one for $129 and is not a brand I want.

OR. . . I can simply add on another $125-ish and get a new 2020 smart-TV that immediately work with every device I have and do everything I need a smart TV to do.

 

[sam_gordon]

Your TV is too old. According to this Best Buy page of reviews for the Sony KDL-52W3000 BRAVIA, it was built before 2013. The latest reviews are 2008. An Amazon search yields the same last year of reviews. All the current apps and devices that would need to upload or be installed or attached to a smart TV are made and configured for TVs made 2013 and beyond.

I know this because I share your frustration. I have a "smart TV" made in the middle of 2012. It was the 1st generation of "smart TVs." So I thought I was buying the latest technology and would be able to add on from that. I also have 3 HDMI ports AND a USB port, and some "smart TV" button which switches to a page of smart TV features like Hulu, YouTube, some other streaming services. Ha!

I use my HDMI cable all the time. Love it for that. I hook my tablet or PC to it all the time. I run any stuff I want streamed or shown on the TV on my tablet or computer and mirror it to the TV through my HDMI cable. Same as what you are doing.

That unfortunately is the extent of what I can do. PERIOD.

I have a Samsung. It has a native Samsung app pre-installed in the TV to cast from devices to my TV. Unfortunately, because this "smart TV" was made before 2013, there is NO software, no app that can be downloaded that will either update or replace any of the streaming services already on the TV. Nothing NEW can be downloaded, added, installed as the hardware equipment in the TV is half a year too old to be recognized or can run it. Samsung stopped using the casting app, and 2nd generation replacement casting app. They now have something totally different that won't work with my TV.

All OTHER casting apps/mirroring apps that I've tried do not work with this TV. I've tried, with the MANY generations of cellphones I have.

Same for ALL the pre-installed streaming services. None will install any updates. I CAN hook up my TV to the Internet. But, that doesn't do me any good when all Internet technology basically needs everything post-2013 to work with my TV.

Your TV doesn't even have a USB port, I think? I don't see one listed under your TV's specs.

Mine does have a USB port. I MAY be able to plug in a Chromecast dongle to it. Or other dongles, sticks, etc. But, again, since the TV's pre-2013, it's unlikely that any software in any dongle will work with my TV to wirelessly connect it to my computer or tablet. There is NO software in the TV that will recognize the software in the dongle. And no way to download, install or update any thing on the TV. So, I will have just wasted $65 on a dongle.

The only thing that runs via the USB port is an older wireless keyboard.

The HDMI port no longer works on my tablet. So I can no longer connect it to my TV. The only 10-inch tablet on Amazon that even has an HDMI port is one for $129 and is not a brand I want.

OR. . . I can simply add on another $125-ish and get a new 2020 smart-TV that immediately work with every device I have and do everything I need a smart TV to do.

I don't think you understand how the "dongles" work. They don't plug in to USB, they plug in to the HDMI port on the TV. So yes, the OP *CAN* get a Roku, Firestick, AppleTV, etc and connect it to the HDMI port on his TV. Then he has access to the streaming services, and, according to @RamblingMad (I don't doubt him, just don't have first hand experience), cast from his computer (or just use the device to watch streaming).

You can do the same.

 

[georgina]

We have a TV about that age and use the Apple TV for streaming. DH is my tech guy, and he can hook his laptop to it but it is a bit more of a job.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Your TV is too old. According to this Best Buy page of reviews for the Sony KDL-52W3000 BRAVIA, it was built before 2013. The latest reviews are 2008. An Amazon search yields the same last year of reviews. All the current apps and devices that would need to upload or be installed or attached to a smart TV are made and configured for TVs made 2013 and beyond.

As long as it has an HDMI port, I don't know why it would matter.

 

[Lumpy1106]

ROKU FTW! We have a Google Chromecast that I liked, but I have had nothing but trouble trying to get it to work on all but the TV I initially set it up on. ROKU has been fantastic, and the 2 TV's I just bought came with it installed. If you have an HDMI port it should be easy. FWIW - I have even set it up on an older TV that only had AV ports. You can get an adapter (cheaply through Amazon) for even that.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

A big problem I have with relying on a "smart tv" in general is that eventually, the apps stop getting supported. We have an old 42" LG that was a "smart tv". There was a Netflix app that worked great until it stopped working a few years ago.

I prefer using the XBOX for streaming but that's because I already own one. That's always up to date. If you don't have a console, I think Roku is the best option (which I said earlier). My son's girlfriend just got one a week or two ago.

Of course, we then replaced that TV last summer.

 

[Lumpy1106]

A big problem I have with relying on a "smart tv" in general is that eventually, the apps stop getting supported. We have an old 42' LG that was a "smart tv". There was a Netflix app that worked great until it stopped working a few years ago.

I prefer using the XBOX for streaming but that's because I already own one. That's always up to date. If you don't have a console, I think Roku is the best option (which I said earlier). My son's girlfriend just got one a week or two ago.

Of course, we then replaced that TV last summer.

Agreed - it's either that or the app is not even supported in the first place. We got a ROKU for our Visio Smart TV because the TV did not support Disney+ When it came out. We have not had any problems with ROKU for any streaming service.

 

[RamblingMad]

Here you go:

https://www.support.com/how-to/how-to-screen-mirror-from-windows-10-to-roku-12655
This is how I watched Trans Siberian Orchestra concert on my TV. It's also a good way to watch YouTube without ads if you use an adblocker.

 

[Imzadi]

I don't think you understand how the "dongles" work. They don't plug in to USB, they plug in to the HDMI port on the TV. So yes, the OP *CAN* get a Roku, Firestick, AppleTV, etc and connect it to the HDMI port on his TV.

Here you go:

https://www.support.com/how-to/how-to-screen-mirror-from-windows-10-to-roku-12655

This is how I watched Trans Siberian Orchestra concert on my TV. It's also a good way to watch YouTube without ads if you use an adblocker.

Ah, now I know what my problem was. I had researched this before. I also have an old tablet - Android 4.2 (jelly bean.) So, it is so old it may not work with the Chromecast dongle.

The article RamblingMad linked to kept saying, "Make sure your [device] is capable of Miracast." And I know my tablet isn't capable of it or other of the latest casting apps. So I had given up on the idea of a dongle since I have two dinosaur devices.

I DO have later generation devices. I know they wouldn't hook up directly to the TV via their pre-installed casting apps or any I downloaded: Smart View, Miracast, Samsung Cast, etc. Tried all of them. Now, off to see which one I can hook up using a dongle.

Thanks guys!