Netflix - Chromecast with no WiFi and no Internet

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Dangermouse

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#248846 12-Apr-2019 14:31

Sorry if this has been covered before. Say I want to watch Netflix content which has been downloaded to a mobile device (iPhone) on the TV at the crib (which has no WiFi and no broadband but there is a cellular signal). I have Chromecast and could bring along an Apple TV. Have tried Chromecast with mixed results; Chromecast needs WiFi to work so tried using one iPhone as a hotspot and to play downloaded content from the Netflix app stored locally on a second iPhone. While this technically worked (in that I was able to watch the content on the Chromecast connected TV), for reasons I don’t understand it appeared to treat it as mobile data somehow and wiped out all my mobile data in the process. I understand AppleTV is out as Netflix doesn't allow downloaded content to be played over AppleTV – is this correct?

The only other thing I can think to try is a physical lightning to HDMI cable to mirror the screen but the internet isn’t clear on whether this would work with the Netflix app or not.

Any suggestions or tried’n’true solutions?

- DM

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Hammerer

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#2215801 12-Apr-2019 14:55

The Chromecast doesn't provide for streaming local files. It streams the content itself rather than getting it from the casting device.

AFAIK, your main options are to cast from the screen of the device that has the downloaded files or from a compatible media server like Plex. Casting the screen works while the Netflix app is playing works OK for me on Android so I assume that it will work on iPhones too. But the video has never run entirely smoothly for me although it would still be better than using up your mobile data.

NB: If you have a Chromecast Ultra then you don't need WiFi because you can use an Ethernet cable.

freitasm

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#2215819 12-Apr-2019 15:14

As above. When you select something to play on Netflix it just gives the Chromecast a token and Chromecast will do the streaming - this means getting the content directly from the service, not from your phone.

FineWine

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Nurse (R)

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#2215829 12-Apr-2019 15:34

I sort of asked these questions here: Casting without home network

I believe he might be going Spark Wireless broadband plus Chromecast so it doesn't matter where the bus is he will have streaming services. (as long as he has a power supply of course)

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

wellygary

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#2215833 12-Apr-2019 15:36

And people still wonder why the likes of TPB and others continue in existence...... I mean walled gardens are great guys, but most people enjoy siting down to watch content on large screens....

freitasm

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#2215836 12-Apr-2019 15:40

wellygary:

And people still wonder why the likes of TPB and others continue in existence...... I mean walled gardens are great guys, but most people enjoy siting down to watch content on large screens....

And that's cool, Chromecast works just fine - you only need an Internet connection. But since you are talking "streaming" then an Internet connection would be a given.

bagheera

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#2215845 12-Apr-2019 15:48

Dangermouse:

The only other thing I can think to try is physical lightning to HDMI cable to mirror the screen but the internet isn’t clear on whether this would work with the Netflix app or not.

I have tried this, and on some TV it works, on other, it does not - just get a black screen - think it the issue was HDCP in the tv not working. Nowadays I just take my laptop with HDMI out and windows 10 with windows app store Netflix installed with the programs downloaded to it - NB Netflix does not have macOS version, so needs to be windows 10 1607 or better on the laptop. If for some reason the TV does not work, then at least you got the laptop screen to use.

eracode

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#2215855 12-Apr-2019 16:25

freitasm:
As above. When you select something to play on Netflix it just gives the Chromecast a token and Chromecast will do the streaming - this means getting the content directly from the service, not from your phone.

I have a bunch of HD music videos my iPad, stored in the VLC app. I can cast those to my TV using Chromecast.

(To be entirely accurate, that’s how VLC is meant to work but it has had an acknowledged fault where only the audio turns up on the TV. I have been participating in the VLC forums where this has been discussed for some months while the devs sort out a fix.

The VLC iOS app was updated today with reportedly a fix for this issue. I have updated the app and will test it tomorrow).

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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freitasm

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#2215860 12-Apr-2019 16:29

eracode:
freitasm:

As above. When you select something to play on Netflix it just gives the Chromecast a token and Chromecast will do the streaming - this means getting the content directly from the service, not from your phone.

I have a bunch of HD music videos my iPad, stored in the VLC app. I can cast those to my TV using Chromecast.

(To be entirely accurate, that’s how VLC is meant to work but it has had an acknowledged fault where only the audio turns up on the TV. I have been participating in the VLC forums where this has been discussed for some months while the devs sort out a fix.

The VLC iOS app was updated today with reportedly a fix for this issue. I have updated the app and will test it tomorrow).

Correct, but these are local apps, not a streaming service. Netflix, Hulu, Spotify all work differently than VLC - or casting Chrome tabs for that matter.

eracode

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#2215866 12-Apr-2019 16:37

freitasm:
eracode:
freitasm:

As above. When you select something to play on Netflix it just gives the Chromecast a token and Chromecast will do the streaming - this means getting the content directly from the service, not from your phone.

I have a bunch of HD music videos my iPad, stored in the VLC app. I can cast those to my TV using Chromecast.

(To be entirely accurate, that’s how VLC is meant to work but it has had an acknowledged fault where only the audio turns up on the TV. I have been participating in the VLC forums where this has been discussed for some months while the devs sort out a fix.

The VLC iOS app was updated today with reportedly a fix for this issue. I have updated the app and will test it tomorrow).

Correct, but these are local apps, not a streaming service. Netflix, Hulu, Spotify all work differently than VLC - or casting Chrome tabs for that matter.

Ahh - yes - sorry, I see what you mean.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Dangermouse

43 posts

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#2274582 11-Jul-2019 12:17

Just to update on this thread, in the end a lightning to HDMI adapter worked just fine for this and I was able to mirror my phone onto the TV and play downloaded local Netflix content off the phone without a problem.

Unfortunately I quickly ran out of things I wanted to watch and canned the Netflix subscription; but that's a rather different problem :-)

Thank you to everyone to contributed.