Streaming to Google ChromeCast

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#2118602 2-Nov-2018 15:04

Rikkitic:

If you really want a simple solution, you don't need Chromecast at all. If your pc has an HDMI output, and is near the TV, you can just run an HDMI cable between them.

Never said easy, just want something that works.

HDMI cable won't work as it's too far away and I don't want cables on the floor etc.

Raises a good point though, what's the range of chromecast?

Jase2985

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#2118610 2-Nov-2018 15:20

whats the coverage of your wifi network?

it uses that

Oblivian

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#2118654 2-Nov-2018 16:16

kiwis:

Thanks for helping but your reply is just confusing. I think you're calling webpages Apps and or sying my TV has App on it???? I'm not really sure. While I do have a 'smart tv' this wasn't going to be used on a smart TV.

An 'App' is either an abbreviation for an executable application or it's a mobile 'App'. Neither applies here as I'm talking about streaming media from my already installed browsers to a normal TV.

If Chromcast is mirroring my PC screen image with reduced quality that's okay. It beats sitting on my computer chair.

I'm just simply after

1. If I have chromecast plugged into my normal non-internet, non smart TV.

2. Will is mirror / copy / relay whatever we call if media being streamed from a web browser on my computer

So now we see you are using Chrome? to watch it?

It may seem confusing, but it had to be to pointed out that chrome in particular can a) Mirror tabs b) mirror desktop via plugin c) handover direct data stream links (netflix web page for instance) to a cast receiver - the later bypasses your PCs network link/DNS. But as pointed out, there appears to be a number of available methods to watch your particular request (which you didn't point out was in use).

It also seems Rikkitic has now had to explain it similarly.

I don't think until now we have seen you say how you are watching. Which is why both Freitasm and my explanations have had to cover both potential bases for a. mirroring. b. native retrieval of data streams direct from internet from Cast device (bypassing your PC and DNS totally) c. a companion APP(lication) Which initiates either.

We can only go on the info given. Without knowing if 'the player' was a web page, or APPlication. Nor gaurantee it'll just 'work' because of the way programmers address the cast feature to either mirror, or stream. However if it is a Chrome window. Chances are higher with mirroring. (but less with a pre programmed button)

I use dns4me to stream Channel 9 TV on my PC. There is a button on the player to "Play on TV". When I click it, it's trying to "Cast to TV".

What about Channel 7? There is no such button the video player, can I still stream it somehow?

freitasm

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#2118659 2-Nov-2018 16:29

Oblivian:

I don't think until now we have seen you say how you are watching. Which is why both Freitasm and my explanations have had to cover both potential bases for a. mirroring. b. native retrieval of data streams direct from internet from Cast device (bypassing your PC and DNS totally) c. a companion APP(lication) Which initiates either.

We can only go on the info given. Without knowing if 'the player' was a web page, or APPlication. Nor gaurantee it'll just 'work' because of the way programmers address the cast feature to either mirror, or stream. However if it is a Chrome window. Chances are higher with mirroring. (but less with a pre programmed button)

I use dns4me to stream Channel 9 TV on my PC. There is a button on the player to "Play on TV". When I click it, it's trying to "Cast to TV".

What about Channel 7? There is no such button the video player, can I still stream it somehow?

I understood "video player" is the widget in the webpage that allows you to play things.

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Oblivian

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#2118667 2-Nov-2018 16:50

I was trying to cover all the bases, as Netflix 'cast' button hands off the data directly from their page. To which this widget may do too.

But also wasn't sure if it was something like iPlayer or the other steaming micro players out there that may be method specific.

Oblivian

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#2118670 2-Nov-2018 17:01

It isn't feisable, but it would be great if there was a drop-down region/service compatibility list for the protocol. And if it used native or mirroring.

My parents were sold theirs based on sales pitch of 'itll play anything on your tablet on the TV'. But in specific they were after kiwi on demand programs. But this was before the cast versions were available, and DRM protection prevented it.

Not to mention the browsers casting was limited on early droid.

But alas. Typical sales vs knowig the product/tech.

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#2118703 2-Nov-2018 17:50

It is possible to do what you require however you need to learn how they interact with each other and the internet.

With pfsense I am able to cast international content over a VPN. So some local devices can see each other and interact with the chromecasts all on the same VPN. Works great for the V8's.

allio

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#2119918 5-Nov-2018 09:19

In my experience, if you are at all sensitive to frame-rate fluctuations or stuttering in videos, you will not be happy with a Chromecast's full-screen video performance in "screen mirroring" mode (the only mode that will work if you are using a PC-based VPN solution to bypass geolocking).

I have a first-gen Chromecast so it's possible that things are improved with the newer models, but I very much doubt that they could have improved things that dramatically - it's a fundamental limitation of having to stream/decode/re-encode/re-stream vs just streaming.

Also worth noting that the receiving device will be largely out of action while you are watching TV - if I use my laptop at all while it's mirroring a browser tab to the Chromecast, it causes gnarly lags and interruptions in the video.

If good quality video on this particular service is important to you, then you should invest in either a router-based VPN solution, or an HDMI cable.

stinger

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#2119924 5-Nov-2018 09:27

kiwis:

I use dns4me to stream Channel 9 TV on my PC. There is a button on the player to "Play on TV". When I click it, it's trying to "Cast to TV".

What about Channel 7? There is no such button the video player, can I still stream it somehow?

I can confirm that both 7plus and 9now happily cast all their channels (subject to online rights blackouts, e.g. no cricket on 7plus) with their Android app and a Chromecast. The biggest issue you'll have is that you cannot use dns4me with a Chromecast which I believe hard codes 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 as their DNS resolver. I have a VPN, so don't have that problem.

kiwis

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#2119936 5-Nov-2018 09:34

stinger:

kiwis:

I use dns4me to stream Channel 9 TV on my PC. There is a button on the player to "Play on TV". When I click it, it's trying to "Cast to TV".

What about Channel 7? There is no such button the video player, can I still stream it somehow?

I can confirm that both 7plus and 9now happily cast all their channels (subject to online rights blackouts, e.g. no cricket on 7plus) with their Android app and a Chromecast. The biggest issue you'll have is that you cannot use dns4me with a Chromecast which I believe hard codes 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 as their DNS resolver. I have a VPN, so don't have that problem.

Cheers.

A couple of questions, is your VPN a personal VPN set up and how did you set it up so you show in Australia?

stinger

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#2119940 5-Nov-2018 09:40

kiwis:

A couple of questions, is your VPN a personal VPN set up and how did you set it up so you show in Australia?

Nope. I use PIA, and have a Raspberry Pi that (among other things) provides a wifi network with that VPN connection.

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Rikkitic

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#2119943 5-Nov-2018 09:43

I'm not sure what differences if any there are between the Chromecast device and the function built into Nvidia Shield, but I use the Shield for casting and have never experienced any of the issues mentioned above. I have a little Acer notebook I often cast from, also screen mirroring, and no problems with that either.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

robjg63

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#2119946 5-Nov-2018 09:45

As you can not specify the DNS servers in a chromecast, it uses the google DNS of 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.

Those are not geo unblocked - so something 'out of zone' will detect you are not in the right country and fail on the chromecast.

It seems that chromecasts will fall back to your network DNS when they cant reach the google DNS servers though.

You would need to set your router to use the dns4me DNS servers and put a block on traffic to the google DNS servers - this is achieved with a 'static route'.

There are some guides - google static route and your router brand.

Here is a link to a 'howto' for Asus https://support.unlocator.com/article/190-how-to-block-google-dns-on-asus-router

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kiwis

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#2119957 5-Nov-2018 09:52

Is there a way to send your PC monitor output through a cat6 cable to a TV?

allio

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#2120004 5-Nov-2018 10:27

kiwis:

Is there a way to send your PC monitor output through a cat6 cable to a TV?

Yep!

Rikkitic:

I'm not sure what differences if any there are between the Chromecast device and the function built into Nvidia Shield, but I use the Shield for casting and have never experienced any of the issues mentioned above. I have a little Acer notebook I often cast from, also screen mirroring, and no problems with that either.

The Shield has a lot more grunt than a basic Chromecast so it's quite likely it has much better performance in mirroring mode. But the quality will still never be able to match direct streaming.

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