Streaming to Google ChromeCast

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kiwis

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

#242521 1-Nov-2018 20:13

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".

If I get this

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/google-chromecast-2/24153989?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0b3RytGy3gIVRgQqCh19Ng84EAQYBCABEgIBTvD_BwE

Will I need anything else to stream it on my TV?

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

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#2118080 1-Nov-2018 20:20

'Casting' is a wireless mirroring protocol. A chromecast is one of many devices that can do it. Yes. It's also built into android based (and other) smart TVs already. Can also find Microsoft USB sticks that are compatible.

Chrome Tabs can do it (most web pages/streams seen in a chrome tab)

Android devices can do it (mirroring)

Apps can be programmed to use it (netflix etc) with a small companion app built onboard natively, or simply have smart URL streaming. Where your device tells the device where to find the media stream and use it.

https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/design_checklist/cast-basics

There is no gaurantee however, that when handing it over to another TV/Device That it will work the same however, as some can detect the true source and not utilise the DNS service if it requires a PC app or similar

kiwis

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2118084 1-Nov-2018 20:25

So if I have a normal TV with HDMI input I can't cast to it?

Oblivian

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#2118085 1-Nov-2018 20:27

kiwis:

So if I have a normal TV with HDMI input I can't cast to it?

As long as whatever service you are using to bypass appearing being in NZ. Is router based and not requiring an app. As the Chromecast is simply a remote receiver of links you request to play. And it will not be able to bypass it if an app is required.

kiwis

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2118087 1-Nov-2018 20:38

Well I’m hiding my DNS on my PC notmmy router... this this shouldn’t be an issue should it? What if my TV isn’t on the internet?

Oblivian

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#2118091 1-Nov-2018 20:49

kiwis: Well I’m hiding my DNS on my PC notmmy router... this this shouldn’t be an issue should it? What if my TV isn’t on the internet?

Like I said, It depends on the app. Only if the app is native on the PC and only mirrors its output on chromecast. So the handling is done on the PC.

Chromecast (and other cast devices) NEED the internet. And come with WiFi. And you connect them to your WiFi. It doesn't care what device its plugged into, that is just 'video out'

Any thing you want to stream. Has a root link source.

For instance

TV 3 (Official Stream)
livestreamdirect-three.mediaworks.nz/three.m3u8

Cast devices either take the link directly, and play it (like VLC does) if it can. Or an app can be built with cast in it, and may simply mirror everything its displaying

https://www.howtogeek.com/199565/mirror-anything-from-your-computer-to-your-tv-using-google-chromecast/

Casting from a supported website is different than casting a tab. Your Chromecast will stream the video directly, so performance will be better and smoother than if you were mirroring a tab. The interface will also transform into a sort of remote control with playback controls for the video or audio you’re casting to your Chromecast

This method, will likely not make use of any DNS masking app. And be geoblocked like a mobile phone or any other device that can't mask it.

kiwis

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2118092 1-Nov-2018 20:55

But what’s the. “App” there is not app on my TV, just chrome cast and The TV, does the Tv even need internet?

Rikkitic

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#2118093 1-Nov-2018 20:56

There are different ways to cast. I use a spare laptop because the Chrome browser under Windows gives me maximum flexibility. I can stream whatever I want with the browser, and I can cast anything that isn't supported by casting the desktop. The laptop renders whatever can't be cast directly. DNS4ME is installed on the laptop, easy to do. This should also work with your pc. Your TV doesn't need to be on your Internet, just the Chromecast dongle.

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kiwis

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2118095 1-Nov-2018 21:04

Rikkitic:
There are different ways to cast. I use a spare laptop because the Chrome browser under Windows gives me maximum flexibility. I can stream whatever I want with the browser, and I can cast anything that isn't supported by casting the desktop. The laptop renders whatever can't be cast directly. DNS4ME is installed on the laptop, easy to do. This should also work with your pc. Your TV doesn't need to be on your Internet, just the Chromecast dongle.

Cheers

So what I posted should work? Or do I need something else?

Oblivian

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#2118098 1-Nov-2018 21:07

kiwis: But what’s the. “App” there is not app on my TV, just chrome cast and The TV, does the Tv even need internet?

No. Chromecast = internet or LAN video playing device. Plugged into TV. It has.. native apps on it.

But also. App = what you are viewing the stuff on.

I'm pretty sure to be watching 2 web based Streams, on a PC with a DNS masker. There will be a companion app to do so

The 'app' is what you use to play your streams. Chrome, Provider application, Netflix, Neon, Android device..

If the app does basic mirroring. Fine, the PC does the DNS mask. It grabs the video. It replicates it on the TV via the chromecast.

If it is a web stream, exactly like the one I posted. And android can play it normally. It will find the internet link and play directly. Bypassing DNS masking = no play.

If its native. The Yellow link is used. If it uses a method of mirroring, the blue links are used.

freitasm

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#2118101 1-Nov-2018 21:17

Reading the OP, this is what I get: you play some streaming on your PC and you want that on your TV.

The Google Chromecast can have two sources: a mobile app or a PC. The mobile app will be developed by the content owner (streaming service) to pass to the Chromecast a "token" and it will use it to fetch the content to stream. In this case the Chromecast connect to the stream source directly, which means the DNS service you use have to be on the router, since you can't change settings on the Chromecast.

If you are watching on a browser tab and there's an option to "cast" then it is likely just mirroring the tab content. In this case your PC streams directly to the Chromecast, which doesn't need access to the Internet or change in DNS.

Reading around I see 9Now has a Chromecast-compatible app, so I suspect their browser-based streaming will also cast to the same device - each using the methods above.

I cannot guarantee as I have not tested it.

Oblivian

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#2118102 1-Nov-2018 21:18

The method Rikkitic is referring to. Is mirroring what the PC/TAB is displaying. (and can be stuttery)

Different to say the wee icon showing up in the tvnzondemand app on a mobile. Or how it handles clicking the icon in the netflix page from within the chrome webpage. Where it uses your login details and then sources the feed from the internet directly.

/edit Snap

Rikkitic

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#2118107 1-Nov-2018 21:30

Yes it should work. If you have any kind of computer running Windows (also other things, of course, but I assume Windows to keep it simple), then all you need is an Internet connection to the computer, DNS4ME IP addresses in the DNS server settings, Chrome browser, Chromecast dongle with Internet connection. Plug the dongle into an HDMI port on the TV and connect it to your Internet. I don't use a dongle. I have a Shield instead, but it should work the same way.

Doing it like this means you are simply using the TV as a monitor. As long as it is turned on and set to the correct HDMI port it should work. Everything else goes via the computer. If You can't cast directly for any reason, you can just cast the desktop and switch to full screen. You need a Chromecast extension for that (Google it).

Edit: I see some other replies have snuck in. Yes, my method works slightly differently but I think it is simpler and it works well for me. I have never experienced 'stuttering' or any other issue, even though I am using an older laptop on a wi-fi connection. Of course I can't guarantee it would work the same for you but I have never had any issues.

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kiwis

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2118567 2-Nov-2018 14:31

Oblivian:

kiwis: But what’s the. “App” there is not app on my TV, just chrome cast and The TV, does the Tv even need internet?

No. Chromecast = internet or LAN video playing device. Plugged into TV. It has.. native apps on it.

But also. App = what you are viewing the stuff on.

I'm pretty sure to be watching 2 web based Streams, on a PC with a DNS masker. There will be a companion app to do so

The 'app' is what you use to play your streams. Chrome, Provider application, Netflix, Neon, Android device..

If the app does basic mirroring. Fine, the PC does the DNS mask. It grabs the video. It replicates it on the TV via the chromecast.

If it is a web stream, exactly like the one I posted. And android can play it normally. It will find the internet link and play directly. Bypassing DNS masking = no play.

If its native. The Yellow link is used. If it uses a method of mirroring, the blue links are used.

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

kiwis

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2118568 2-Nov-2018 14:33

freitasm:

Reading the OP, this is what I get: you play some streaming on your PC and you want that on your TV.

The Google Chromecast can have two sources: a mobile app or a PC. The mobile app will be developed by the content owner (streaming service) to pass to the Chromecast a "token" and it will use it to fetch the content to stream. In this case the Chromecast connect to the stream source directly, which means the DNS service you use have to be on the router, since you can't change settings on the Chromecast.

If you are watching on a browser tab and there's an option to "cast" then it is likely just mirroring the tab content. In this case your PC streams directly to the Chromecast, which doesn't need access to the Internet or change in DNS.

Reading around I see 9Now has a Chromecast-compatible app, so I suspect their browser-based streaming will also cast to the same device - each using the methods above.

I cannot guarantee as I have not tested it.

This makes, sense.

On most media, you can right click there is an option for 'cast', this, for example, is available on Channel 7. Would this work the same way?

Rikkitic

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#2118578 2-Nov-2018 14:42

He's talking about more technical aspects. I sense you need something fairly simple and I made a suggestion based on that. As pointed out above, Chromecast does different things in different ways. One of the things you can do with it is what I explained above. If you have it set up with Chrome on your pc, and you are streaming a site that supports it, you can 'cast' the site directly to the TV and your pc will no longer be involved after the initial connection. One way to tell if this is the case is that the stream starts playing on the TV but stops playing on the pc. If that happens you can turn the pc off and the stream will keep playing.

The other way, if the site does not support casting, is to cast the tab of your browser or your desktop. To do this you install a free Chrome extension (easy to do) that places a cast icon in the upper right corner of Chrome. If you cast this way, you have to keep the stream playing on the pc because the stream is going through it and then being sent via your network connection to the TV.

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.

Edit: referring to previous reply.

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