Older Sony TV - 55EX720 (2015). How Do You Get a USB HDD to Work?

tunzafun001 on 04/09/2024 - 19:19
Last edited 04/09/2024 - 19:21

Given a Sony 55 as a bit of an upgrade from our 2010 Panasonic and Chinesium 47s

However….it seems a "bit rubbish".

Can't get the USB HDD to work.

Got all the kiddies show on a 2TB HDD. Formatted in Fat32. Have another 1TB with exfat and NTFS partitions. Just doesn't show up?

Both work flawlessly on the old Chinesium. Pana plays the exfat happily.

Chucked a couple of files on a 128Gb thumbdrive, and that worked…sort of…

MP4s play, the MKVs didn't even appear.

From what I read, the Sony maybe trying to create thumbnails or indexing the 2TB drive..and may take 20 mins! Not sure if this happens every time you turn it off?

Any solutions? Or any basic devices for playing MKVs off a HDD. Don't think Chromecast etc supports HDD's?

Think a mate has an old Western Digital media player.
Don't want to have a laptop plugged in 24/7.

Mind blown with the Sony "experience".

Cheers

.

Electrical & Electronics Computer Component Hard Drive Sony TV

Comments

  • spackbace on 04/09/2024 - 19:25
    +3

    Easiest option always, before heading down NAS routes etc - PC/laptop with plex server, CC for TV

    Getting a 9yo tv to play current mkvs is always going to be hit or miss, but generally miss

    • tunzafun001 on 04/09/2024 - 19:30

      Unless it's a 16 year old $200 OEM Chinese TV apparently!

      Just saw the 58 Blaupunkt…tempted…as that is an OEM Chinesium.

      • Caped Baldy on 04/09/2024 - 22:35
        +1

        Probably because their market is people who will pirate movies and shows and anime.

        An android TV box will do the job.

        • tunzafun001 on 04/09/2024 - 22:50

          Haha.. probably right!

          I heard the Roku interface doesn't have the Android lag. Any thoughts on Roku vs Android?

          • Caped Baldy on 04/09/2024 - 22:55
            +1

            @tunzafun001: Don't have one so can't comment. I've got an older Nvidia shield and it runs like a champ. I've mostly got it connected to my NAS and use plex.

            • tunzafun001 on 04/09/2024 - 23:02

              @Caped Baldy: I assume the shield doesn't have USB input?

              What do you think about this?

              https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005006797615561.html?src=goo…

              Not sure what sort of chipset / features I should be looking for?
              2 gb ram seems low (guessing I should be looking for 4gb at least)?

              Lastly, I bought an OEM android projector 12 years ago..has been brilliant. Still use it today.. But some menu's (and remote buttons) are in Chinese. So going to try avoid that this time. Maybe all English these days?

              • Caped Baldy on 05/09/2024 - 08:51

                @tunzafun001: I'm not sure that the cylinder version has a USB port but the Pro has two.

                For the price, it's worth a shot. I'm not an expert on the chipset but it looks good.

    • tunzafun001 on 04/09/2024 - 22:40

      Cheers, but I don't have wifi per se (never have, don't see the point in paying for it). Just use an old phone plugged in as a hotspot. That also works as a media server (Bubbleup) and I can stream all content through that no problem. But we have all the kid stuff on a USB HDD.

      Does Apple TV work without:
      1. An internet connection?
      2. An Apple account?

      Does it play H265?

  • iguana on 04/09/2024 - 21:31
    +2

    The EX720 was released in 2011. That's when I bought mine. MKV files weren't probably invented back then.The media player won't be able to play any of the current codecs anyway. Best you get a separate media player instead.

    • tunzafun001 on 04/09/2024 - 22:33
      +1

      Mkv came out in 02 / 03ish. Our other TVs are older and support it no problem. So was surprised. Any recommendations for a simple media player? Don't need any streaming.
      But now leaning towards a new 65" tv for H265 support.

  • scrambledeggs on 05/09/2024 - 09:22
    +2

    Older TVs could only recognise hard drives up to a certain size, like 64/128 gb roughly - thats why your large HDDs arent showing up probably/

    • registradus on 05/09/2024 - 10:18
      +3

      Could be an issue with the amount of power being supplied via USB. Try using an external HDD with it's own power supply

      • registradus on 05/09/2024 - 10:19
        +1

        from the Sony website:

        USB HDD Power: AC Power supplied USB HDD is recommended.
        The maximum output current of the TV USB port: 500 mA
        Use an external USB HDD that requires a maximum of 500 mA. If it exceeds this power requirement, the TV may not be able to supply the necessary power for proper operation.

      • tunzafun001 on 05/09/2024 - 10:20

        Interesting…the Panasonic will only record to a powered USB drive. But will play with non powered.
        Good thinking..will try.

  • Soundwave on 05/09/2024 - 09:46
    +1

    My recommendation as I have done this for friends. Get an Amazon Firestick. You can then buy a USB cable adaptor. Plug the Firestick into a HDMI port on the TV and then plug the HDD into the Firestick. Download VLC Player app and then use that to play video files. You would then also have access to apps that may not be inbuilt on the TV as well through the Firestick. They're also on sale a lot.

    The USB cable needed is referred to as a OTG cable

    • tunzafun001 on 05/09/2024 - 10:19

      Like this, cheers. Have an old tablet with a USB micro to USB on the go adapter. Is the fire stick micro or USB C?

      *Edit - looks like it needs to be a powered OTG cable (or use an external powered HDD).

      Out of interest. What made you go a Firestick over a basic android box?

      • Soundwave on 05/09/2024 - 10:50

        Firestick has a Micro USB.

        Yeah, the HDD will get it's power from the Power Adaptor that comes with Firestick through the OTG cable.

        Years back I had a friend that wanted movies and shows and only had a PS4 as a media device which was not compatible with like your TV with the media files.
        At the start, I was just converting the files but that was time consuming and just a headache.

        So I started looking into a cheap solution to play media files off an external HDD and found the Amazon Firestick solution after browsing soo many more expensive options.

        Firestick was on sale, OTG cables are cheap. Ordered both off Amazon, came the next day, set it up and tested it and worked like a charm. Later on I did the same thing for my GF at the time. She loved it.

        For me it's just a cheap basic set up solution. Nothing against the Android boxes just never sure what vendors are trust worthy to purchase from and if you are even getting what you're paying from.

        Android box you will be able to do a lot more I'm sure with apk files etc, but I was happy with the easy set up using the Firestick.

        • tunzafun001 on 05/09/2024 - 13:17

          Cheers. Can you use the Firestick without an internet connection? (ie. just to play stuff off the HDD).

          Is this the powered OTG cable I need?

          https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804672220726.html?

          Also wondering if my old LG k11+ might even do the job, that has USB OTG… but I guess it would be a pain to play etc without a remote to drive the phone.

          Any idea if you can you drive another Android phone remotely?

          • Soundwave on 05/09/2024 - 15:44

            @tunzafun001: You might need to use the internet to register the device with an account. So you can hotspot your phone for it to connect, register and then download the VLC app and then it should be safe to disconnect it from the internet.

            I am not sure how you would set up the LG K11+. Does it have an option for video output? The Firestick connects via HDMI not the OTG cable. The OTG cable is to power the external HDD as well as a USB port to connect the HDD to the Firestick.

  • Presence on 05/09/2024 - 10:49

    I've never met a TV where the HDD experience wasn't absolutely terrible.

    If you want something really simple and cheap, buy an Xbox One.

    If you want to spend more get an NVIDIA shield.

    If you have more time and the interest then look at Plex.

    • tunzafun001 on 05/09/2024 - 13:23

      Funny enough, my super cheap Chinese OEM has been perfect. Muti format, multi partition HDD's are fine. Just works.

      Added surprise was when I plugged in a Go Pro and it played it back in 4K (wasn't even a thing back then). One of the last 3D and 4K TV's I would think…

      BUT.. the free to air upscaling is non existent (board isn't even inside)…and the backlight is set to 'looking at the sun' by default…and returns to default bright when you change channel/ turn it off.

      Was always going to put a resistor or similar on the backlight..never got around to it.

    • spackbace on 05/09/2024 - 13:28

      If you have more time and the interest then look at Plex.

      I personally wouldn't say it's that time consuming, and utilises what's already in the house (pc or laptop), and then a relatively cheap chromecast, which would be beneficial anyway

      All the hdd needs are movies folder and tv series folder, and point plex to those. Leave plugged into laptop/pc, and leave the device on when needed

      Hell, a whole PC can be had for under $100. Easy media centre that can be left on (with relatively little power use), hard drive installed inside (not just usb), with plex installed. Stream to any device in the house.

      • Presence on 05/09/2024 - 15:02

        Yes I'm aware, I have my own Plex set up on an old office PC. It's not that difficult, but for someone not tech inclined it could take a while to wrap your head around it. Things like a static IP and port forwarding aren't common knowledge, especially when OP doesn't even have wifi at his house.

      • tunzafun001 on 08/09/2024 - 22:20

        Can it be done without an internet connection? Got a router in cupboard (never used it).

        Also have an iCast 6 - used for streaming stuff from phone to TV - via phone WiFi (using Bubbleup app). Also have an original Chromecast (for streaming 5.1 vids from my phone).

  • altomic on 05/09/2024 - 11:52

    Grab an old dvd player with USB hub and play through that. Or a cheapo android box off aliexpress

    • Presence on 05/09/2024 - 15:03

      What makes you think a crappy old DVD player will play modern file types. Most current TVs struggle.

      • altomic on 05/09/2024 - 17:10

        My old sony dvd player played mkvs via usb.

        Otherwise Inexpenisve android box from aliexpress $25 delivered

        • tunzafun001 on 08/09/2024 - 22:11

          Yeah, I'm thinking android or Roku box.

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