Newbie Chromecast question

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Rikkitic

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#233415 15-Apr-2018 14:29

(There are at least a dozen forums this could fit under. I will leave it to the mods to choose the right one.)

I am a Chromecast beginner. I don't use a smartphone and I wasn't impressed with the original dongle so I gave it away. I haven't tried to cast anything since then.

Recently I became interested again, mainly because my Android TV includes a Cast function. There are some HTTP streams we like to watch that can only be accessed by browser. I have a streaming pc set up for this, but even with custom controls it is a hassle to use from the couch. Much simpler is my notebook, which sits next to me.

The Cast function works brilliantly from Chrome, but it is a little different than I remember from the dongle. Previously, the casting device was only needed to establish the initial connection. Once the video and audio started streaming it could be shut off. That now seems to no longer be the case. When I cast from my notebook, the audio switches to the Android TV as it should, but the video operates on both devices. I can switch tabs and use the notebook for other things, but if I put it in standby or close the tab that kills the cast. I can see from my bit rate monitor that data is being downloaded to the notebook then uploaded, presumably to the Android TV. The notebook seems to be used as a conduit. This happens whether I cast a tab or the desktop.

Can anyone explain more about how this works? I don't have a problem with it but would like to know why I am seeing this difference.

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davidcole

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#1996497 15-Apr-2018 15:36

I think it depends if the site you’re accessing Is chronecast aware or not.

If you try tvnz or Netflix do you have the same behaviour? You shouldn’t as I think by being chromecast compatible it hands the stream to the device. What I believe you are seeing is your browser/computer is transcoding the video stream on the fly for the chromecast

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Bananabob

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#1996500 15-Apr-2018 15:41

Some sites are chromecast capable and have the icon for this on the web page. An example of this would be Youtube. Others you have to use the chromecast on the toolbar of the browser.

If you have a chromecast capable site you will not have the video on the device you used to start the session. However if you use the chromecast from the toolbar you will get the video on the device that started the session.

Rikkitic

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#1996502 15-Apr-2018 15:46

Perfect, clear, comprehensive, comprehendable answers. Exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks so much guys.

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ben28

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#1996534 15-Apr-2018 16:38

https://www.howtogeek.com/304671/how-to-improve-chromecast-video-tab-casting-with-a-simple-tweeak/

coincidentally just came across this , written in April 2017.

The setting is in Chrome now.

Stu

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#1996573 15-Apr-2018 18:43

In the past I've had varying degrees of luck using Chromecast with Chrome on Android. I'm now only using Chromecast with apps that specifically support it. Bit of a curse.

Have moved this to the streaming sub-forum, as it's related to streaming issues. Neither Chromecast nor the Chrome browser have anything to do with Chrome OS, which is found on some notebooks etc.

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Jase2985

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#1996611 15-Apr-2018 20:50

Stu:

In the past I've had varying degrees of luck using Chromecast with Chrome on Android. I'm now only using Chromecast with apps that specifically support it. Bit of a curse.

Have moved this to the streaming sub-forum, as it's an issue related to streaming issues. Neither Chromecast nor the Chrome browser have anything to do with Chrome OS, which is found on some notebooks etc.

try using the google home app and screen casting, might work a little better than using the browser cast

ripdog

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#1996617 15-Apr-2018 20:58

The chromecast has built in support for several types of streams. A good app to send them directly without having to have a PC rerender the video (and waste power) is Localcast for android. In the left menu of that app, there is an option to cast any arbitrary URL, and chromecast will play it if it can.

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Rikkitic

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#1996635 15-Apr-2018 21:26

Jase2985:

try using the google home app and screen casting, might work a little better than using the browser cast

So far the browser cast seems to be working brilliantly well. I haven't had any issues with it at all. If it is re-rendering, there is no obvious noticeable quality loss.

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Rikkitic

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#1996638 15-Apr-2018 21:28

ripdog:

The chromecast has built in support for several types of streams. A good app to send them directly without having to have a PC rerender the video (and waste power) is Localcast for android. In the left menu of that app, there is an option to cast any arbitrary URL, and chromecast will play it if it can.

I am casting from a Windows notebook so Localcast isn't useful to me.

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pillmonsta

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#1998223 18-Apr-2018 00:13

Rikkitic:

ripdog:

The chromecast has built in support for several types of streams. A good app to send them directly without having to have a PC rerender the video (and waste power) is Localcast for android. In the left menu of that app, there is an option to cast any arbitrary URL, and chromecast will play it if it can.

I am casting from a Windows notebook so Localcast isn't useful to me.

I don't know if this helps but I've started casting HTTP streams from VLC media player now that it supports ChromeCast.

Select Open Network Stream in the Media dropdown menu, paste the URL into the dialogue box, then click Playback --> Renderer & you should see ChromeCast listed.

Rikkitic

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#1998374 18-Apr-2018 10:39

That is interesting to know but I have always found VLC (all versions) to be unacceptably buggy and I only use it in special cases. For my present circumstances Cast on the Chrome browser works very well.

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