Forum Discussion
Chromecast...what's the advantage?
- 7 years ago
Yea, the advantage is it is wireless so if someone's only other option is running a cable accross the floor or ceiling it is handy. It casts local content to the TV using Chrome and can also cast/stream online content. There's differents feeds that can be subscribed to, some free and others with a fee. Basically it can make a relatively dumb TV smart. My one older Roku TV is kind of clunky when it comes to casting so I purchased the Chromecast for it.
The newest edition of VLC video player can cast to it pretty well if not wanting to use Chrome all the time, with a few minor bugs yet. It should get better with future releases.
In the end, just another tech gadget to play with that can be useful at times.
- 7 years ago
Also Gabe there is this. A simple casting device that doesn't require Internet. It is available on a popular auction site and also the site that has the jungle name. Less bells and whistles but costs more it appears. Go figure.
UPDATE: Just found it on Newegg refurbished for $19 + free shipping. That's a deal.
maratsadewrote:GabeU, with the Chromecast you can stream anything. I use it to cast from my laptop. You can also cast from apps, but it works fine with the internet. You have to use the Chrome browser for that. I stream YouTube all the time. You can also cast your desktop, like if you want to show a PowerPoint on your TV, or browse to websites and show them on your TV.
See, that's what threw me off. Though Chromecast isn't quite what I thought it was, I think it would still work well for what I would use it for, which is basically streaming HBO Go, Max Go, DirecTV On Demand, Youtube, and a few various other things on my laptop and showing them on my TV.
It's too bad that they don't simply make a device with which you can do that with no strings attached. Simply, what's on your laptop screen and coming through your laptop speakers is what shows on your TV and comes through its speakers. I mean, you'd still have to sign up for whatever streaming service or whatever you are using to show on your laptop, but it would show on your TV, regardless of what browser you use. Basically, just doing what your laptop and TV connected HDMI cable does, but wirelessly. That's what I was thinking Chromecast was. Still, I think it will work for what I want it for, and if it doesn't work for everything, I always have the HDMI cable. :)
"Simply, what's on your laptop screen and coming through your laptop speakers is what shows on your TV and comes through its speakers. "
That's what it does, though. You have to tell it to do it using the Chrome browser, but that's exactly what it does.
- BirdDog7 years agoAssistant Professor
maratsadewrote:"Simply, what's on your laptop screen and coming through your laptop speakers is what shows on your TV and comes through its speakers. "
That's what it does, though. You have to tell it to do it using the Chrome browser, but that's exactly what it does.
I think what Gabe was talking is the need to having to be connected to the internet and the using Chrome thing being a turn off. I understand that, doesn't thrill me either.
Even casting locally the Chromecast needs an internet connection for some stupid reason. If I kill the connection using my router parental controls the local casting will eventually crash and I get a Chromecast error saying it has lost the internet connection. Very stupid it requires internet all the time even for local casting.
There is the using Chrome thing all the time, again stupid IMO. Luckily there is VLC media player which I have installed on my laptop and my phone and casts videos directly to the Chromecast without using Chrome or the Home app.
Then there is the whole Backdrop thing which I won't even go into again.
While I enjoy what the Chromecast does it has some quirks which I do not like at all.
- GabeU7 years agoDistinguished Professor IV
BirdDogwrote:Even casting locally the Chromecast needs an internet connection for some stupid reason. If I kill the connection using my router parental controls the local casting will eventually crash and I get a Chromecast error saying it has lost the internet connection. Very stupid it requires internet all the time even for local casting.
Needing to use Chrome was the biggest turn off, but that's now been surpassed by this revelation. Wow. You're right, that is very stupid.
That Belkin Miracast is looking better and better. :)
- maratsade7 years agoDistinguished Professor IV
Using Chromecast without an internet connection:
http://www.uniquetechy.com/use-chromecast-without-wifi/
http://www.itpro.co.uk/mobile/28299/how-to-use-chromecast-without-wi-fi
I'll be trying these myself. I've seen the guest mode mentioned on the second site, but didn't know how it might work.
(Not trying to get you to get a Chromecast, Gabe, honest! I would like to be able to cast without wifi or even the internet, so I thought I'd see if there was a way).
ETA: This seems to lay the issue to rest: you cannot cast w/o internet. Oh, well. I'm still going to try what the other links suggest. Gabe, let us know how the device you pick works for you.
- BirdDog7 years agoAssistant Professor
maratsadewrote:Using Chromecast without an internet connection:
http://www.uniquetechy.com/use-chromecast-without-wifi/
http://www.itpro.co.uk/mobile/28299/how-to-use-chromecast-without-wi-fi
I'll be trying these myself. I've seen the guest mode mentioned on the second site, but didn't know how it might work.
(Not trying to get you to get a Chromecast, Gabe, honest! I would like to be able to cast without wifi or even the internet, so I thought I'd see if there was a way).
Yea, looks like another bunch of hoops to jump through to me. Just not as user friendly as I'd like, so just trying to let Gabe know about the quirks and hoops.
So, how much is Google paying you? :smileywink:
- BirdDog7 years agoAssistant Professor
This also concerns me in the first link, does it mean it will use the mobile data instead?
- Do you have 4G Data in your mobile hand set? Then there is absolutely no need to worry as you can stream your favourite content on 4G on your device and mirror it to your Chromecast without any hassles. This will save you from hard efforts that we put in struggling around with hot spots.
- maratsade7 years agoDistinguished Professor IV
"So, how much is Google paying you? "
MILLIONS!
ka-ching!
- maratsade7 years agoDistinguished Professor IV
I'm not sure if that works, actually. I was reading the Google forums and an employee says that Chromecast doesn't support that and that it doesn't always work. And yes, it would use your mobile data..... I doubt it would work for me anyway because my mobile connection is laughable at home.
I will have to measure whether the Chromecast uses data when I'm casting a DVD from the laptop. I don't think it does, I think it's just using the wifi as a conduit, but I'll check.
- maratsade7 years agoDistinguished Professor IV
I'm not sure if that works, actually. I was reading the Google forums and an employee says that Chromecast doesn't support that and that it doesn't always work. And yes, it would use your mobile data..... I doubt it would work for me anyway because my mobile connection is laughable at home.
I will have to measure whether the Chromecast uses data when I'm casting a DVD from the laptop. I don't think it does, I think it's just using the wifi as a conduit, but I'll check.
BirdDogwrote:This also concerns me in the first link, does it mean it will use the mobile data instead?
- Do you have 4G Data in your mobile hand set? Then there is absolutely no need to worry as you can stream your favourite content on 4G on your device and mirror it to your Chromecast without any hassles. This will save you from hard efforts that we put in struggling around with hot spots.
- BirdDog7 years agoAssistant Professor
maratsadewrote:I'm not sure if that works, actually. I was reading the Google forums and an employee says that Chromecast doesn't support that and that it doesn't always work. And yes, it would use your mobile data..... I doubt it would work for me anyway because my mobile connection is laughable at home.
I will have to measure whether the Chromecast uses data when I'm casting a DVD from the laptop. I don't think it does, I think it's just using the wifi as a conduit, but I'll check.
It uses data through Backdrop for sure unless tamed as mentioned before, those images are being refreshed every 30 seconds. Also from what I've observed, it can use 30-40 MB when first turned on just syncing up, checking for updates, and lord knows what else.
- maratsade7 years agoDistinguished Professor IV
Right, but if it's casting, it's not using Backdrop, right? ETA: I mean, if I use my hotspot as the wifi for Chromecast, I wonder if it uses any data because it would be casting from the DVD bay and using the wifi as a conduit. I don't understand how, if it's casting, it would also be downloading backdrop images.
- BirdDog7 years agoAssistant Professor
maratsadewrote:Right, but if it's casting, it's not using Backdrop, right?
Nope, it refreshes them in the background no matter what you're doing/seeing on the screen. Have verified with my Asus router that monitors per device use. It is one MAJOR dislike for me. I hate things that won't allow total shutdown of background use, especially something like Backdrop that can add up to 10-15 GB per month if left on 24/7.You really should read that link I posted awhile back and/or do a search about it.
- maratsade7 years agoDistinguished Professor IV
Well, what a sneaky device! Glad I keep it powered off when not in use.
BirdDogwrote:
maratsadewrote:Right, but if it's casting, it's not using Backdrop, right?
Nope, it refreshes them in the background no matter what you're doing/seeing on the screen. Have verified with my Asus router that monitors per device use. It is one MAJOR dislike for me. I hate things that won't allow total shutdown of background use, especially something like Backdrop that can add up to 10-15 GB per month if left on 24/7. - maratsade7 years agoDistinguished Professor IV
"You really should read that link I posted awhile back and/or do a search about it."
If this is the link you mean, I did read it. I use Option 1, the USB connection. I have yet to try Option 2, but plan to.
- BirdDog7 years agoAssistant Professor
maratsadewrote:"You really should read that link I posted awhile back and/or do a search about it."
If this is the link you mean, I did read it. I use Option 1, the USB connection. I have yet to try Option 2, but plan to.
That's the one.
When I first set it up it used 200+ MB over about a 2-3 hour period when I wasn't even doing anything. Knew it couldn't be simply a firmware update so that is when I shut it down and left it for a couple weeks. Came back to it and started doing some searching and discovered the Backdrop and other default active feeds thing.
Now, using my custom images and turning off the feeds it still can use 1+ MB per hour which is at least tolerable. That is with my images only being 58 bytes in size which is as small as you can get I believe.
Also, like I found also, it can use 20-30 MB each time it is powered up.
- maratsade7 years agoDistinguished Professor IV
As long as I stay within my data limits, I don't worry too much about some usage. But I wouldn't want to use so much just to load up some silly pictures. Thanks for the link, BirdDog; I'm looking forward to trying the second option.
- Jeff_T7 years agoSophomore
I realize you guys are on the track of different devices but here is another note about the Roku for anyone else reading that might be interested (and no I don't get royalties from Roku hahaha).
Roku needs your WiFi lan and internet to be set up, once that is done then the internet can be removed and the wireless lan side will still operate. As an example I configured an old router I have with the same settings ssid etc. as the router I used to to access the internet, I removed the router with the internet connection and powered up the older router, Roku gave me a warning there was no internet but other than that I could cast just as normal. The purpose was that if my router ever malfunctioned I could at least set up a spare to watch my recordings on the "big set"
- BirdDog7 years agoAssistant Professor
Jeff_Twrote:I realize you guys are on the track of different devices but here is another note about the Roku for anyone else reading that might be interested (and no I don't get royalties from Roku hahaha).
Roku needs your WiFi lan and internet to be set up, once that is done then the internet can be removed and the wireless lan side will still operate. As an example I configured an old router I have with the same settings ssid etc. as the router I used to to access the internet, I removed the router with the internet connection and powered up the older router, Roku gave me a warning there was no internet but other than that I could cast just as normal. The purpose was that if my router ever malfunctioned I could at least set up a spare to watch my recordings on the "big set"
The Roku does actually appear to be a better device and if I were needing it to actually stream I might consider it. But my devices, including TVs, already have the apps I need to stream sites like Netflix. Only thing I need my Chromecast for is to cast locally on my older TV, not for online streaming.
Again, does appear to be a better device overall without all the baggage.
- Jeff_T7 years agoSophomore
I don't think there is a lot of difference between them BirdDog, I don't have a smart TV yet :smileysad:
I even read somewhere that Win 8 or 10 can cast to Miracast devices I need to look into that one day, do smart tv's us Miracast??
- GabeU7 years agoDistinguished Professor IV
maratsadewrote:I thought you actually used the Chrome browser, GabeU .
I mostly do, but not for everything, and being forced to do so makes it product specific, which I don't like.
I'm sure it would work for most things, but that Belkin Miracast thing basically does exactly what I was looking for with no strings attached.
- GabeU7 years agoDistinguished Professor IV
BirdDogwrote:This also concerns me in the first link, does it mean it will use the mobile data instead?
- Do you have 4G Data in your mobile hand set? Then there is absolutely no need to worry as you can stream your favourite content on 4G on your device and mirror it to your Chromecast without any hassles. This will save you from hard efforts that we put in struggling around with hot spots.
That's the very first thing I noticed. It seems like nothing's ever quite as simple as the title claims. :(
Related Content
- 2 years ago
- 4 years ago
- 7 years ago
- 4 years ago