How To Connect Ethernet Cable To A TV Without an Ethernet Port

Denise Hunt​

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FACTS CHECKED BY  Jose George​

How To Connect Ethernet Cable To A TV Without an Ethernet Port? Most TVs come with ethernet ports for digital media and firmware update purposes.

 Ethernet ports are also the most reliable and fastest method of connecting TVs to the internet for streaming purposes.

However, some televisions do not have an ethernet port, or the port may be damaged. 

In such a case, you may wonder how to connect an ethernet cable to a TV without an ethernet port.

Table of Contents

Television inputs/outputs: How they work

TVs have multiple connections, each designed for their unique functions.

HDMI Input

HDMI is the most popular input connection in the current world. It connects your television to the AV equipment via an HDMI cable.

You can use an HDMI input for digital audio and video.

Most latest TV models often have four HDMI inputs, so you can use them to connect your Games console, Blu-ray, Sky box, Satellite RXs, etc., simultaneously.

The best thing about HDMI input is that it is regularly updated to transmit data for future improvements in image resolution (HD, 4K, and 8K).

Moreover, an HDMI input connection supports 7.1 surround sound systems.

HDMI input

HDMI input

HDMI ARC input/output

If you check at the back of your television HDMI connections, you will see a port named “HDMI ARC.”

HDMI ARC is an abbreviation for HDMI Audio Return Channel.

This input/output connection can serve a wide range of functions. 

For example, HDMI ARC is often known as audio inputs for surround sound systems and AV receivers. It also connects the output connection to television soundbars.

SCART input/output (Euroconnector)

This analog-only input/output connection is ideal for high-definition (HD) and digital TV images. 

SCART connections were the most common input/output type to connect satellite receivers, DVD players, etc.

The connection is sometimes named “AV,” or where there are two or more SCART inputs/outputs, “AV1,” “AV2.,” etc.

It is heavy and big, with 21 puns and individual wires inside, each with unique functions.

 For example, there is Stereo sound, S-video, RGB video, etc., making SCART a versatile input/output connection.

You will only likely use the SCART to connect old televisions and old equipment, or even your TV does not have an HDMI input.

The large size of SCART input/output is not perfect for mounted televisions.

 Fitting it behind the television often means mounting it far from the wall.

TV SCART connector

TV SCART connector

Ethernet input

Ethernet is the most common input connection on modern Smart Televisions. 

It allows you to connect your television directly to wired internet and improves the performance and speed of your smart television services.

The Ethernet input connection is also referred to as 8P8C or RJ45 connection.

Most early “non-smart” televisions still feature an ethernet input connection.

In this case, the key function is to connect your television to the local internet connection. 

This enables you to access your television interface for repair and maintenance services, such as software updates. However, this is a rare situation.

Optical input/output

This is a tiny input/output through which you can connect thin optical cables.

Being a digital audio-only connection, optical input/output is common with external audio devices, such as amplifiers, AV receivers, and soundbars.

You often see a beam of light going through these connections, and data runs through fiber optics cables at a very high frequency.

The optical input/output can support a 5.1 surround sound system.

Digital Coax Audio input/output

Similar to the optical connection when it comes to performance, they are capable of supporting 5.1 audio surround sound systems. 

However, unlike optical connections that send signals through fibers, Digital Coax Audio input/output transmits information through a coax conductor cable.

You can use Digital Coax Audio input/output to connect to external sound devices, such as AV receivers, surround systems, and soundbars.

Auxiliary input/output or Headphone jack

The Auxiliary input/output, also known as the headphone jack, is ideal for connecting a television to the external sound systems and headphones. 

Since this is a single-channel analog audio input/output connection, you should install a phono, Coax Audio, or Toslink connection for better sound quality.

Some televisions will mute your Television speakers automatically when you insert a cable into the Auxiliary input. However, this is not for all televisions.

USB inputs

Most modern televisions come with a USB input that you can use for various functions.

For example, you can use a USB input to insert a USB stick, allowing you to view media, such as photos and videos, stored on it.

Sometimes, a USB input connects a compatible television to external USB storage, such as a portable hard drive or USB stick for recording purposes (PVR functions).

You can also use a USB input connection to connect your television to your Home WiFi network to enjoy internet streaming services on your TV. 

However, this has become less common as most modern televisions have built-in WiFi functionality. 

Therefore, you may not need a USB dongle if your TV was a WiFi compatibility feature.

Another less common function of a USB input connection is a software update. 

For instance, you can download and insert the required software files into your television through USB input. 

This is faster than the Over-The-Air software upgrades done through a satellite dish or TV aerial. 

However, software upgrades done through a USB input are no longer common as it is much more straightforward to do over the internet with compatible smart televisions.

RF inputs

This is the most common television connection. Being a push in IEC coaxial aerial input, Radio Frequency (RF) input connections allow Soarview in Ireland and  Freeview delivery in the United Kingdom.

Manufacturers are now designing more televisions with a separate screw-in RF input, a satellite connection. 

This allows users to connect their TVs to the satellite dish directly.

While doing this depends on your television’s model or make, RF input can sometimes support Freesat. 

Your television will store the channels on odd numbers if it doesn’t. This is because the TV will be a generic Free-to-Air receiver.

RF connectors

RF connectors

Composite Video inputs

This is a yellow phono input connection. You can sometimes see a Composite Video input as “AV” on your television menu.

It is a log-only video connection. So, composite video input is not compatible with HD video connections.

You will also need a separate audio cable for sound, often supplied by an RCA cable with separate white and red phonos for analog stereo sound.

S-Video input

This input connection improves the image quality of your component video. 

For instance, S-Video input separates and sends color (chrominance) and brightness (luminance) in two separate streams, improving the image quality.

Like the component video connection, the Super-Video input does not support audio. So, you will need to buy a separate audio cable.

Component Video (RGB) input

The Component Video (RGB) input further improves the Super-Video and Composite input connections.

This connection transmits analog colors (Red, Green, and Blue) through separate color cables, thus improving image quality. 

However, you will still need a separate audio cable, as Component video (RGB) input does not support audio.

The only negative of Component Video (RGB) input connections is that you will need five separate phono cables for a single connection. That is;

  • Red and White phono cables for sound
  • Red, Green, and Blue cables for video input.

However, you can get a single cable with all five wires.

Stereo Sound input/output

Based on your type of television, you can have more than one pair of white and red phono input/output connections for sound only, accompanying video-only connections, such as the Component, DVI, S-video, and Composite connections.

 These sound-only white and red phono connections are the Stereo sound inputs/outputs.

However, some televisions will include phono connections for connecting to external sound systems. 

Therefore, you must connect the leads to the right places. Else, you could have a television where you can only see images but no sound!

DVI input

DVI (Digital Video Interface) is common in digital video-only connections between television and AV equipment.

This input connection came as a predecessor to the HDMI input. However, you can still use DVI input if your television lacks HDMI input connections.

 For instance, you can connect a DVI input to an HDMI output using a DVI-HDMI adapter plug. This means you may not require a special DVI input cable.

DVI input connection does not support the newest HD resolutions nor transmit sound signals. Therefore, you will need a separate audio cable.

How To Connect Ethernet Cable To A TV Without an Ethernet Port: DVI input connector

DVI input connector

VGA input/output

VGA input is a video-only connection that stands for Video Graphics Array. It allows you to connect your TV screen to the PC.

HDMI input connections have superseded the VGA input/output.

The VGA connection features two fixing screws on either side of a bulky head that pushes into place. You can tighten these screws using your finger to keep the VGA firmly in place.

While they may appear similar, you should never confuse a VGA input with DVI or RS-232 input.

How To Connect Ethernet Cable To A TV Without an Ethernet Port: VGA input connector

VGA input connector

RS-232 input/output

A connection at the back of the television labeled “RS-232.” It appears similar to the VGA input/output connection.

The RS-232 input/output is a professional connection for installers, as it allows for advanced television control. 

For example, integrating the television into your Home Automation system or setting up your PC to control the televisions.

Common Interface Input

While the Common Interface input connection is virtually useless in the United Kingdom, it is common in other countries where encryption is essential.

The Common Interface Input is for accessing encrypted television services, such as subscription-type services.

You can use Common Interface connections with DTT, satellite, and cable applications based on your television and the service you want to access. 

You must insert a Smart Card into the CAM (Condition Access Module) and a CAM into the Common Interface input.

Samsung One Connect

Some Samsung TV models do not have any AV input. Instead, they come with a separate box where all the audio, video, USB, TV tuners, and HDMI cable connects. 

Then, a single cable connects the One Connect box to the television.

Other Samsung TV models need a separate power cable, but the latest ones include it in the One Connect connection.

This can be great when mounting your television on the wall as you will have fewer cables to install. However, some Samsung One Connect cables are one way.

 This means that one end must connect to the box and the other to the television.

How to connect TV to the internet without an ethernet port

You only need to plug one end of your ethernet cable into your television. 

Then hook the other end into one of the RJ45 sockets at the back of your internet router or modem. It is as simple as that.

You do not need to change or modify any settings on your television.

Remember, you can only buy leads with four cables, which can only support 100 MB ethernet at best. 

While this is a very fast speed, it can drop to 10 MB ethernet over long distances, which is considered slow in the current world.

Therefore, we recommend a fully wired Ethernet cable, as it provides the best possible internet speed. 

For instance, a fully wired Ethernet cable includes eight pins connected to the 8P8C plug. You will get over 1 GB of Ethernet speed if your television supports it.

If all the RJ45 connections on the router are full, you can easily add extra terminations using s Network Switch.

Most of these terminations are only plug-in-and-go. So, connecting your Smart Tv to the internet through an Ethernet cable is straightforward.

How to connect TV to the internet without an ethernet port

Most non-smart televisions have an ethernet port for digital media display or firmware updates. 

However, it is common for non-smart televisions to lack an ethernet port. Instead, they can either have;

  • Both HDMI and USB ports
  • Only an HDMI port

Either way, there are adapters that you can use to convert the HDMI or USB ports into Ethernet.

If your old television model features a USB port, you can use a driver-free USB-to-Ethernet converter. It functions fine with televisions and computers.

However, if your TV does not have a USB port, your only option will be the HDMI.

In most televisions, the HDMI and USB ports only function as receivers. Therefore, we recommend using Chromecast as it can stream on your television from your smartphone.

So, your television will work as a receiver while the smartphone is connected to the internet. This allows you to turn your old television into a smart TV display.

However, the above-mentioned converters will not work for Chromecast. The closest we found online was the HDMI-to-Chromecast converter.

So, you can only connect your Chromecast to the internet through your modem, Home WiFi, or phone’s hotspot.

Conclusion

If your TV does not have an ethernet port, there is obviously a way that you can use to connect an ethernet cable to it, as discussed in this article.

Further, you can achieve the best results by using quality cables from a reputable cable manufacturer.

Clooms Tech is a top manufacturer of top-quality custom cable assemblies and wiring harnesses.