Freeview box ... with Ethernet?

In May 2004, I bought a Thomson DTi1000 Freeview DTT box to be able to watch digital TV in the spare room. It's got all the
standard socket connections you would expect to see on most Freeview/DTT boxes ... two scart sockets, RF in/out for
traditional co-axial aerial cords, Composite Audio L+R connections, and of course a socket for the power cord.

There is one other connection point on the back that appears to be for Ethernet, as you can see here:

http://djgm.co.uk/misc/freeview-box-with-ethernet-1.jpg

I even plugged in a spare crossover ethernet cable to see if it'll fit, and it does indeed . . .

http://djgm.co.uk/misc/freeview-box-with-ethernet-2.jpg

This is something that's been bugging me ever since I bought this DTT box. Why would it have an ethernet connection point
on it? Could it be for a future use, yet to be introduced? Could there be a possiblity that this ethernet connection point may
be enabled in a future software update for low cost broadband internet services for the benefit of those who can't afford (or
don't want a full computer. Maybe it could include a basic web browser for internet access on the TV. Perhaps it may
be enabled for broadband internet TV streams to be viewed on a standard TV set, without the need for a computer.

There has to be a reason for its existence. It can't have been put there for nothing surely?

Any ideas . . . ?

Isn't it for a modem connection to a telephone line?

Actually a brief search on the internet refers to a Remote Control extender socket on the back of this box - is that what this is?

Review

No, it's an Ethernet RJ45 socket, not an RJ11 connection for a telephone line, which is physically smaller.

Possibly for manually downloading firmware updates onto it.

Our old Grundig box from early 2003 has exactly the same setup at the back including the ethernet port (same symbol below as well). I belive Thompson now own Grundig UK (or at least they provide the box updates).

Goodmans boxes have a seriel RS 232 connector at the back for manual fireware updating.

Just because it's a certain size doesn't necessarily define its function. Many modem connections do indeed have an RJ11 plug for connecting at the wall socket and an RJ45 plug to connect to the modem. However, that still doesn't answer your question.

From the 2005 version of the DTi1000 manual:

Personally I wouldn't know the difference. I'm sure I've managed to get either sized connector into either size socket. I would have assumed it was a phone line connection seen as back in the day DTT did connect to the phone and there have been plans to reintroduce these services from BT, but nothing came of it.

Yeh, the old OnDigital boxes had RJ11 modem connections for the OnMail (set top box e-mail) service that they used to
provide before ITV came along a took it over with the disasterous ITV Digital and financially bulldozed the whole thing!

If that Ethernet port on my DTT box is for a remote control extender, why would they use an ethernet port for it?

It may simply be that an RJ45 port is the easiest/cheapest component to fit and use. Just because RJ45 are mainly used for network cable connections it doesn't mean that's all they can be used for.

A similar example would be the infra-red detector for my digital tv card - it uses a 3.5mm audio connector. I didn't go plugging a microphone into it!

BTW, I also have a DTi1000. If you look at the symbol printed under the port, you'll see it looks a little like a mouse - an oval shape with a tail. To me it looks like what is described in the manual - ie a remote extender (a device that can receive infra-red).

http://www.sanfos.plus.com/misc/rj45.jpg