Alright, In my apartment building I have free Wireless internet. Now, In order to take full advantage of the HD DVD's I need to be connected to the internet via ethernet I am guessing. Do they make some kind of ethernet connector that can work wirelessly. Like an intenna connected to an ethernet plug or somethnig?

I have never used Internet with HD DVD. Maybe I am missing something, but I would not go out of my way to hook up my player. I think BD focuses on thec "connected" aspect than HD DVD, but even then I don't think alot has been implemented. The only time my A1 ever gets hooked up is for firmware upgrades.

If I am wrong, someone let me in on the secret.

I think for now the only reason to connect is for firmware updates, so you don't have to stay connected all the time. But in the future, discs could be released with extra features that require internet connection to play (or at least to download the features).

To answer the OP's question, you need a wireless bridge.

wireless bridge? ok thank you.

Also, so blu ray is more or less the format that you would want to connect online for the special features on the dvd?

I'm not sure either format has any online aware discs. It could just wind up being a rarely used feature, like multiple angles on dvds.

Currently, neither format uses internet connectivity for anything other than firmware upgrades.

Freedom: Vol. 1 HD DVD (6/26/07) and Blood Diamond HD DVD (7/3/07) will have web-enabled content.

Do you have one setup that way? I already have a wireless bridge setup for my DirecTiVo, but I'm wondering how well it works with that setup. And why would you upgrade over wireless when it's so easy to just burn the ISO to a CD? That seems like a better way to go so you don't have to worry about loosing your network connection while updating.

Mine is connected to the net and I haven't ever gone online with it other than updates. I thought I saw something about web-enabled content somewhere but maybe it was just in the setup and not on a disc.

I seldom make it more than 30 seconds into any special features so it doesn't matter a whole lot to me either.

Oh no, updating firmware over wireless is not wise. I was only answering the question he asked. As stated above, there will soon be discs that utilize the Internet on HD DVD.

I agree in principle, but Toshiba usually makes their firmware updates available by ethernet connection download well in advance of releasing an ISO file or CD-Rom (which usually come a couple of months later).

I see. Well, I ended up getting an HD-D2 at CostCo for $250 yesterday and downloaded and burned the 1.5 ISO image and the update went just fine.

That's good to know that the ISO's aren't available right away. Maybe tomorrow I'll try getting it networked.

Sorry for bring up an older thread, but just wondering why? Is it because of the connection rate and a large update?

This is now a few months later and I'm probably going HD in Dec/Jan so I was wondering how others do their firmware updates.

More likely it's not wise because wireless is less stable than wired. If the connection goes out in the middle of a firmware update, it could do some damage to your player.

I don't believe any harm can be done in the downloading stage. It's only when the update is applied. And you face the same risk there regardless of how you choose to update.

But I could be remembering wrong. I usually just burn a CD since it's a heck of a lot quicker and easier.

Thanks guys. I've been doing some reading on doing the CD route and will do it that way. Probably less of a headache anyway setting up a wireless bridge (knowing the trouble I sometimes have with my wireless router).

Now, in order to use a CD for the update it has to be an ISO file and I found a free program ("ISO Recorder") that's supposed to that but I was wondering if was any good, if there's anything better or if it's even needed.