• MAC addresses

    From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.tech.digital-tv on Wed Aug 27 11:18:29 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided to turn
    on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote Device
    List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all
    without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I
    identify as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can
    connect by wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to
    permit a connection or not to each device, but as I don't know what they
    are, I chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show in the
    Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?
    --
    Jeff

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Gaines@jgnewsid@outlook.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Wed Aug 27 10:25:58 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 27/08/2025 in message <108mm1l$jt5u$1@dont-email.me> Jeff Layman wrote:

    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided to turn
    on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote Device
    List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all
    without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I identify >as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can connect by
    wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to permit a
    connection or not to each device, but as I don't know what they are, I
    chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show in the >Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?

    Does your computer pick up the devices in Explorer/Finder/whatever? May be easier to identify.
    --
    Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
    If Bj||rn & Benny had been called Syd and Dave then ABBA would have been called ASDA.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Woody@harrogate3@ntlworld.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Wed Aug 27 11:33:30 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On Wed 27/08/2025 11:18, Jeff Layman wrote:
    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided to turn
    on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote Device
    List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all
    without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I
    identify as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can connect by wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to
    permit a connection or not to each device, but as I don't know what they are, I chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show in the Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?


    I had a Panny 38in smart TV for a while but had to return it (thankfully
    JLP) as it kept forgetting the programming. I replaced it with a LG
    smart to add to the Samsung we already have. Of the two - although it is
    not so user friendly as the Samsung - IMO the LG is a much better piece
    of kit and has a better panel. It also has built-in Freesat which does
    show the difference when watching MoTD!

    IIRC the MAC address of the Panny was printed on the product number
    (etc) label on the back.
    Per the items that show up on your network, have you tried connecting
    the TV directly to your network - or directly to a laptop - by cable?
    The laptop at least should show up what is really happening.

    I would however suggest that if possible you always connect by cable as
    it will operate much more reliably that way. How many people complain
    that their broadband has gone down when in fact it is because there are
    too many people locally on the same channel? It is not helped by the
    fact that BT routers limit the accessible channels.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Java Jive@java@evij.com.invalid to uk.tech.digital-tv on Wed Aug 27 13:37:12 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 2025-08-27 11:18, Jeff Layman wrote:

    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided to turn
    on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote Device
    List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all
    without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I
    identify as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can connect by wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to
    permit a connection or not to each device, but as I don't know what they are, I chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show in the Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?

    Can't help with that specific hardware, but, more generally, be aware
    that most hardware usually has different MAC addresses for each
    networking component, so different MAC addresses for their cabled and
    WiFi connections. In your case, perhaps your own router is there, but
    you're looking for its cabled MAC address when you should be looking for
    its WiFi MAC address? The others are probably the WiFi MAC addresses of neighbours' routers.
    --

    Fake news kills!

    I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.tech.digital-tv on Wed Aug 27 15:32:32 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 27/08/2025 11:18, Jeff Layman wrote:
    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided to turn
    on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote Device
    List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all
    without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I
    identify as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can
    connect by wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to
    permit a connection or not to each device, but as I don't know what they
    are, I chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show in the
    Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?

    Thanks for the replies. I should first say that I have no experience of setting up networks, generally just allowing "wizards" - if they exist -
    to do what is necessary.

    I'm running Linux Mint, and although there is a "Networks" folder in
    Nemo - its file explorer - this doesn't seem to show anything (this
    seems to be an old issue with Nemo). Looking in Mint's WiFi settings, I
    can find my router (two possibilities - the usual connection and one I
    set up for guests), my mobile phone, and I guess two or three
    neighbours' routers. If I look at the WiFi setting for these, it shows
    the same Mac address for all of them! None of the Panasonic MAC
    addresses are the same though. My router is not connected by ethernet to anything.

    If I want to play anything on the laptop through the TV I just plug in
    an HDMI cable. It always works, but that's the only time I connect up
    the TV to the laptop. I must admit that I didn't know the TV had an
    ethernet (RJ45) socket! The manual is pretty sparse when it comes to the ethernet connection. It does, however, describe in detail how to use the
    WiFi to set up the TV as a wireless access point, and to connect network equipment without an access point. I think, however, that in my case
    "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise" applies as I don't
    want to mess up anything which works ok at present by fiddling with the
    TV's "network" settings.
    --
    Jeff
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From MikeS@MikeS@fred.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Wed Aug 27 18:30:51 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 27/08/2025 11:18, Jeff Layman wrote:
    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided to turn
    on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote Device
    List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all
    without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I
    identify as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can connect by wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to
    permit a connection or not to each device, but as I don't know what they are, I chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show in the Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?

    I have used the DLNA server on my Panasonic for years to stream TV over
    my network. The list of MAC addresses are all devices on your network so unless you have a major network security problem you can leave them all ticked. Anyway, that just enables the device to view the stream from the
    TV. File sharing settings are another part of the menu and show a list
    of devices with their network name or IP address.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Chris Green@cl@isbd.net to uk.tech.digital-tv on Wed Aug 27 18:42:37 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2025-08-27 11:18, Jeff Layman wrote:

    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided to turn on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote Device List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I
    identify as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can connect by wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to
    permit a connection or not to each device, but as I don't know what they are, I chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show in the Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?

    Can't help with that specific hardware, but, more generally, be aware
    that most hardware usually has different MAC addresses for each
    networking component, so different MAC addresses for their cabled and
    WiFi connections. In your case, perhaps your own router is there, but you're looking for its cabled MAC address when you should be looking for
    its WiFi MAC address? The others are probably the WiFi MAC addresses of neighbours' routers.

    Most recent mobile phones use a random locally generated MAC address
    evey time they connect, it supposedly improves their security by
    making them more difficult to recognise or track.
    --
    Chris Green
    -+
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Java Jive@java@evij.com.invalid to uk.tech.digital-tv on Wed Aug 27 22:12:13 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 2025-08-27 18:42, Chris Green wrote:
    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2025-08-27 11:18, Jeff Layman wrote:

    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided to turn >>> on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote Device
    List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all
    without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I
    identify as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can
    connect by wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to
    permit a connection or not to each device, but as I don't know what they >>> are, I chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show in the >>> Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?

    Can't help with that specific hardware, but, more generally, be aware
    that most hardware usually has different MAC addresses for each
    networking component, so different MAC addresses for their cabled and
    WiFi connections. In your case, perhaps your own router is there, but
    you're looking for its cabled MAC address when you should be looking for
    its WiFi MAC address? The others are probably the WiFi MAC addresses of
    neighbours' routers.

    Most recent mobile phones use a random locally generated MAC address
    evey time they connect, it supposedly improves their security by
    making them more difficult to recognise or track.

    Indeed, but the OP is discussing his TV, and what it can see. As I've
    already said, I'm not familiar with that hardware, but I presume from
    his post that it's looking for an router or AP to connect to. Unless specifically someone has turned on AP functionality on a particular
    mobile for a particular reason, by default, any mobiles within range of
    the TV should not be acting as APs.
    --

    Fake news kills!

    I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Chris Green@cl@isbd.net to uk.tech.digital-tv on Thu Aug 28 08:50:57 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2025-08-27 18:42, Chris Green wrote:
    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2025-08-27 11:18, Jeff Layman wrote:

    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided to turn >>> on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote Device >>> List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all
    without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I
    identify as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can
    connect by wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to
    permit a connection or not to each device, but as I don't know what they >>> are, I chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show in the >>> Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?

    Can't help with that specific hardware, but, more generally, be aware
    that most hardware usually has different MAC addresses for each
    networking component, so different MAC addresses for their cabled and
    WiFi connections. In your case, perhaps your own router is there, but
    you're looking for its cabled MAC address when you should be looking for >> its WiFi MAC address? The others are probably the WiFi MAC addresses of >> neighbours' routers.

    Most recent mobile phones use a random locally generated MAC address
    evey time they connect, it supposedly improves their security by
    making them more difficult to recognise or track.

    Indeed, but the OP is discussing his TV, and what it can see.

    Surely it wiil 'see' all the other devices in the LAN. Or are you
    talking about what it shows you when asking it to connect? It's not
    really clear from the OP's description (or the Panasonic TV's wording
    of what it's doing) whether 'the Home Network Server setting' means
    what WiFi APs it can see or what it can see after it has connected.

    As I've
    already said, I'm not familiar with that hardware, but I presume from
    his post that it's looking for an router or AP to connect to. Unless specifically someone has turned on AP functionality on a particular
    mobile for a particular reason, by default, any mobiles within range of
    the TV should not be acting as APs.

    --

    Fake news kills!

    I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk

    --
    Chris Green
    -+
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jeff Layman@Jeff@invalid.invalid to uk.tech.digital-tv on Thu Aug 28 14:04:10 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 28/08/2025 08:50, Chris Green wrote:
    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2025-08-27 18:42, Chris Green wrote:
    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2025-08-27 11:18, Jeff Layman wrote:

    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided to turn >>>>> on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote Device >>>>> List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all
    without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I
    identify as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can >>>>> connect by wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to
    permit a connection or not to each device, but as I don't know what they >>>>> are, I chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show in the >>>>> Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?

    Can't help with that specific hardware, but, more generally, be aware
    that most hardware usually has different MAC addresses for each
    networking component, so different MAC addresses for their cabled and
    WiFi connections. In your case, perhaps your own router is there, but >>>> you're looking for its cabled MAC address when you should be looking for >>>> its WiFi MAC address? The others are probably the WiFi MAC addresses of >>>> neighbours' routers.

    Most recent mobile phones use a random locally generated MAC address
    evey time they connect, it supposedly improves their security by
    making them more difficult to recognise or track.

    Indeed, but the OP is discussing his TV, and what it can see.

    Surely it wiil 'see' all the other devices in the LAN. Or are you
    talking about what it shows you when asking it to connect? It's not
    really clear from the OP's description (or the Panasonic TV's wording
    of what it's doing) whether 'the Home Network Server setting' means
    what WiFi APs it can see or what it can see after it has connected.

    "Home Network Server" is what might have appeared as "DLNA Server" in
    the Panasonic network menu. This is from a North American site, but it
    /seems/ to show how "DLNA Server" is used: <https://help.na.panasonic.com/answers/how-to-setup-and-stream-using-dlna-on-a-panasonic-television/>.


    Looking at each picture in turn, it is slightly different from mine in
    that it doesn't use the term "Viera Menu". However, it seems the same up
    to 5, but after pressing OK when "Network link" is selected, I get Home Network Server instead of DLNA server. If I now go through the steps up
    to 9, when I choose "Apps" there is no "DLNA Server" app. There's no
    Home Network Server app for that matter either.

    As I mentioned in my OP, I don't know what the TV is seeing because it
    just gives me a MAC address but not the device name associated with that
    MAC address. I just looked again and the TV shows the same four MAC
    addresses it showed yesterday. I had my mobile phone WiFi turned off, so turned it on expecting the TV to now show five MAC addresses, but it
    still showed the same four. The /only/ WiFi devices I have on are my
    Panasonic TV, FRITZ!Box Router, laptop, and a weather station console. Checking the laptop and weather console in the FRITZ!Box WiFi info shows
    that their MAC addresses are different from those shown by the Panasonic TV.

    My mobile phone shows the FRITZ!Box router - main and guest - available,
    and a Vodafone router available (sometimes another Vodafone router
    appears). My laptop is the same.
    --
    Jeff
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From MikeS@MikeS@fred.com to uk.tech.digital-tv on Thu Aug 28 17:59:57 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 28/08/2025 14:04, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 28/08/2025 08:50, Chris Green wrote:
    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2025-08-27 18:42, Chris Green wrote:
    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2025-08-27 11:18, Jeff Layman wrote:

    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided
    to turn
    on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote
    Device
    List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all >>>>>> without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I
    identify as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can >>>>>> connect by wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to >>>>>> permit a connection or not to each device, but as I don't know
    what they
    are, I chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show >>>>>> in the
    Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?

    Can't help with that specific hardware, but, more generally, be aware >>>>> that most hardware usually has different MAC addresses for each
    networking component, so different MAC addresses for their cabled and >>>>> WiFi connections.-a In your case, perhaps your own router is there, but >>>>> you're looking for its cabled MAC address when you should be
    looking for
    its WiFi MAC address?-a The others are probably the WiFi MAC
    addresses of
    neighbours' routers.

    Most recent mobile phones use a random locally generated MAC address
    evey time they connect, it supposedly improves their security by
    making them more difficult to recognise or track.

    Indeed, but the OP is discussing his TV, and what it can see.

    Surely it wiil 'see' all the other devices in the LAN.-a Or are you
    talking about what it shows you when asking it to connect?-a It's not
    really clear from the OP's description (or the Panasonic TV's wording
    of what it's doing) whether 'the Home Network Server setting' means
    what WiFi APs it can see or what it can see after it has connected.

    "Home Network Server" is what might have appeared as "DLNA Server" in
    the Panasonic network menu. This is from a North American site, but it /seems/ to show how "DLNA Server" is used: <https://help.na.panasonic.com/answers/how-to-setup-and-stream-using-dlna-on-a-panasonic-television/>.

    Looking at each picture in turn, it is slightly different from mine in
    that it doesn't use the term "Viera Menu". However, it seems the same up
    to 5, but after pressing OK when "Network link" is selected, I get Home Network Server instead of DLNA server. If I now go through the steps up
    to 9, when I choose "Apps" there is no "DLNA Server" app. There's no
    Home Network Server app for that matter either.

    As I mentioned in my OP, I don't know what the TV is seeing because it
    just gives me a MAC address but not the device name associated with that
    MAC address. I just looked again and the TV shows the same four MAC addresses it showed yesterday. I had my mobile phone WiFi turned off, so turned it on expecting the TV to now show five MAC addresses, but it
    still showed the same four. The /only/ WiFi devices I have on are my Panasonic TV, FRITZ!Box Router, laptop, and a weather station console. Checking the laptop and weather console in the FRITZ!Box WiFi info shows that their MAC addresses are different from those shown by the Panasonic
    TV.

    My mobile phone shows the FRITZ!Box router - main and guest - available,
    and a Vodafone router available (sometimes another Vodafone router
    appears). My laptop is the same.

    I explained what you are looking at yesterday. No need to look at North American sites, its described in the TV's electronic help.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Java Jive@java@evij.com.invalid to uk.tech.digital-tv on Thu Aug 28 18:08:04 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.tech.digital-tv

    On 2025-08-28 08:50, Chris Green wrote:
    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2025-08-27 18:42, Chris Green wrote:
    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2025-08-27 11:18, Jeff Layman wrote:

    Having a play with my Panasonic TV (see above thread), I decided to turn >>>>> on the Home Network Server setting and have a look at the Remote Device >>>>> List to see what it could connect to. It showed four "devices", all
    without a Device Name, and all with a MAC Address that couldn't I
    identify as belonging to any of the possible devices I have which can >>>>> connect by wifi (router, laptop, and mobile phone). I can choose to
    permit a connection or not to each device, but as I don't know what they >>>>> are, I chose to not connect and just backed out.

    Anyone got a wifi-enabled Panasonic TV? What devices does it show in the >>>>> Home Network Server setting, and are they identifiable?

    Can't help with that specific hardware, but, more generally, be aware
    that most hardware usually has different MAC addresses for each
    networking component, so different MAC addresses for their cabled and
    WiFi connections. In your case, perhaps your own router is there, but >>>> you're looking for its cabled MAC address when you should be looking for >>>> its WiFi MAC address? The others are probably the WiFi MAC addresses of >>>> neighbours' routers.

    Most recent mobile phones use a random locally generated MAC address
    evey time they connect, it supposedly improves their security by
    making them more difficult to recognise or track.

    Indeed, but the OP is discussing his TV, and what it can see.

    Surely it wiil 'see' all the other devices in the LAN. Or are you
    talking about what it shows you when asking it to connect?

    He said "I chose to not connect and just backed out", so surely he can
    only mean the latter?

    It's not
    really clear from the OP's description (or the Panasonic TV's wording
    of what it's doing) whether 'the Home Network Server setting' means
    what WiFi APs it can see or what it can see after it has connected.

    I agree that the wording of the TV as quoted is somewhat ambiguous, but
    his own statement of his problem is unambiguous enough.

    BTW, your ng client seems to be set up incorrectly, and is incorrectly including my sig in the quoted text.
    --

    Fake news kills!

    I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2