How to Stream Netflix to a Sony Blu-ray Player
By David Weedmark
While connecting to Netflix on a Sony Blu-ray player may vary depending on the model, it's essentially the same process. First, you have to connect the player to your home network. This can be done with a network wire or using a wireless network. After you connect the player, you need to authenticate it under your Netflix account. You can then select the movies you want to watch and add them to your Blu-ray player's Instant Queue.
Connecting to a Wired Network
Step 1
Turn off the Blu-ray player. Connect a network cable to the port marked "LAN" on the back of the player. Connect the other end of the cable to a port on a router connected to the Internet.
Step 2
Turn on the TV and select the input connection used by the Blu-ray player, such as "HDMI 1," for example.
Step 3
Turn on the Blu-ray disc player. Press the "Home" button on the remote. Select the "Internet Video" option from the Xcross Media Bar, then press the left or right arrow on the remote to navigate to the "Setup" icon.
Step 4
Press the up or down arrow buttons on the remote to navigate to the "Network Settings" icon. Press the "Enter" button.
Step 5
Select "Internet Settings," and then "Wired Setup." Follow any onscreen instructions if needed. The Blu-ray player connects to the Internet.
Connecting to a Wireless Network
Step 1
Ensure your Blu-ray player is in proximity of an active wireless network with Internet access. If your player does not have wireless access built in, you can connect a USB wireless adapter to any USB port on the device.
Step 2
Turn on the player and press the "Home" button on the remote. The media bar menu appears on the screen. Navigate to the "Setup" icon using the right or left arrow buttons on the remote.
Step 3
Navigate to "Network Settings" using the up or down arrow buttons. Press the "Enter" button. Select "Internet Settings." Select "Wireless Setup (Built-in) or "USB Wireless Setup," depending on which you are using.
Step 4
Select "Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)" if you have enabled WPS on your router. WPS allows you to automatically connect devices like your Blu-ray player to a wireless network using a personal identification number (PIN) or by pushing a button on the router. Select "Scan" if your wireless router does not use WPS, or if you are uncertain whether your router is WPS-enabled or not. Select "Manual Registration" if you are experienced with wireless routers and want to manually configure your connection. The player displays a list of all available wireless routers it can access.
Step 5
Select your router from the list. Select the security mode used by your router from the list. Enter your wireless router security passcode as prompted.
Step 6
Select "Auto" to configure the IP address and proxy server settings. Experienced users can select "Custom" and then manually configure the settings as directed on the screen. Select "Save & Connect" and press the "Enter" button. The player connects to the wireless network.
Authenticating and Adding Movies
Step 1
Turn on the TV and Blu-ray player. Examine the remote control. Press the "Home" button and navigate to the "Network" section of the Xcross Media Bar. Use the up or down arrows to select "Activate Enhanced Features." If this option isn't visible, select "Internet Video" in the Network section of the menu and try again. Press the "Select" button.
Step 2
Write down the registration code that appears on the screen. Go to the Sony Essentials website on your computer (link in Resources) and enter this code for your Sony Store account to validate it.
Step 3
Navigate to Netflix (link in Resources) and create an account if you don't have one already.
Step 4
Go back to your TV and press the "Home" button on the remote and select "Video" from the Xcross Media Bar. Navigate to the "Netflix" icon using the up or down arrows. Press the "Select" button.
Step 5
Write down the 4-digit code provided on the TV screen. Log in to your account and click the "Your Account" link in the upper right corner of the page. Select "Activate a Device" from the Streaming Plan section. Type the 4-digit code into the text box and click "Activate."
Step 6
Click the "Watch Instantly" tab and click "Home." Select a movie you want to watch and click the "Add to Instant Queue" button. Add additional movies if desired. You can log out of Netflix on the computer if you wish.
Step 7
Select the "Netflix" icon on your TV and then select the movie from the list in your instant queue. Click "Play" to start the movie.
References
Tips
- You may encounter a DRM Error or DRM-14 error when trying to play a movie on a Sony Blu-ray player. Turn off the player and turn it back on and try accessing the movie from Netflix again. If you still encounter the error, unplug the player, your modem and your router. Wait one minute, plug them back in and turn the player on again. If you still encounter the error, try connecting the player directly to the modem, bypassing the router.
- To refresh your queue on the Blu-ray player, press the "Options" button on the remote while in Netflix and select "Refresh List."
- A wired network is much faster than a wireless network. If streaming isn't smooth over the wireless network, try a wired connection.
Writer Bio
A published author and professional speaker, David Weedmark has advised businesses and governments on technology, media and marketing for more than 20 years. He has taught computer science at Algonquin College, has started three successful businesses, and has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and magazines throughout Canada and the United States.