Ethernet port on the STB's

Thanks. If I were to get a Networking AVR and connected it to an STB, would I be able to play music from my network over it?

Yes, although using this port is not supported by AT&T.  I had a PC hooked up to a STB in my spare bedroom and could play music from my laptop, my wifes laptop, and the PC. 

Thanks. That will save me from running an ethernet cable from the router to my home theater system (if I ever get a new AVR).

No problem......Come back if you have any additional questions or issues.

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@browndk26 wrote:

Thanks. That will save me from running an ethernet cable from the router to my home theater system (if I ever get a new AVR).

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I'd like to add a caveat: The two ports on the STB (COAX and RJ45) are bridged. If you plug in a high-traffic device (like another switch with another half dozen hosts), you will likely see degradation of the video, and possible audio too.

If you see / hear issues on ANY TV / host in the house, your first diagnostic action should be to disconnect that extra stuff from the back of any and all STBs. All of that traffic is propagated to every set on the coax.

I also would like to add a cautionary note.  If you have a device plugged into the Ethernet port, you will get a network error message if the box is power cycled.  You would have to unplug the device from the port, reboot the receiver, then plug it back in.

Thanks for that information.

One more caveat:  Plugging a wireless access point or router into the RJ45 port on the back of an STB/DVR is a really, really bad idea.

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@JefferMC wrote:

One more caveat:  Plugging a wireless access point or router into the RJ45 port on the back of an STB/DVR is a really, really bad idea.

 

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Why?

Because wireless access points react poorly to the multicast traffic.  And you're guaranteed to be getting the multicast traffic your STB is subscribed to on its Ethernet port.

Thanks for the info Jeffer, I hadn't thought of that.

If My son plugs his XBOX into the STB and plays online, will that degrade the TV signals? Would it be better for him to play using the wireless network or hardwired to the router itself instead of the STB? The XBOX would be the only extra device plugged into the STB.