Chromecast with Google TV - where to buy in NZ?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Chromecast with Google TV - where to buy in NZ?

1 | ... | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ... | 25

18689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7828

Lifetime subscriber

#2705950 11-May-2021 13:19

gzt: Settings > Sound > Advanced > Surround Format > Manual.

I later found a Chromecast powercycle is required after changing any option under manual. It appears Dolby Plus was the problem option for my soundbar. I've yet to go through all the options because powercycles are time consuming..

gzt

18689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7828

Lifetime subscriber

#2707735 14-May-2021 21:14

I found the developer menu can be enabled using the usual Android method. I disabled the animation options. This gives better flow for the browsing experience. It does not disable all the animations. Better anyway.

I found a restart option on the system menu. No need for manual powercycles now after changing the obscure surround format options.

jonathan18

7415 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2850

ID Verified

Trusted

#2734283 25-Jun-2021 13:28

I ordered and set up a GCCWGTV for my sister and was sufficiently impressed to purchase one for us, especially given it'll do the job of (and therefore replace) both a CC Ultra and Amazon Fire TV.

Our one arrived today and I've just finished setting it up - am quite astounded at the inability to switch Google accounts. While additional accounts can be logged into, it appears this does SFA - I could cope fine if this was just a matter of not being able to see curated content on the front page, but this extends to not even being able to easily switch accounts in YouTube, a service/app owned by the same damn company!*

I thought I was just having teething troubles so tried a reboot; no luck so googled the problem and found it's a flaw of the current design - https://www.androidauthority.com/google-tv-multiple-accounts-1165952/

While that article was published last Oct, eight months later it looks like they still haven't sorted it.

Or is there something I'm missing? I did see one reference to Google voice recognition identifying the user and opening the right account, but unsure if this has any validity (seems weird this would work but not other seamless way of switching).

* Well, it does look like it is possible, but that one needs to log out of one account and log into the second, ie no 'switching' like on any of the other TV YT interfaces we have in the house (Amazon Fire; Panasonic; WebOS).

gzt

18689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7828

Lifetime subscriber

#2735285 27-Jun-2021 11:00

I purchased a USB-C hub with the intention to get ethernet, usb camera, and audio out. Getting all that in one package was not an easy search. It has 87W PD more than enough.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/computers/peripherals/usb-hubs/listing/3150139247

The results:

Ethernet: Seems to work. Connection is shown in Chromecast network settings. One problem with Chromecast - when I switch off wifi the Chromecast disconnects ethernet. I'll try a few more things.

Camera: It looks ok. I'm yet to make a video call.

Audio out: Not working. In Chromecast I see no option to select it. I've run out of things to try to get audio out working.This is a disappointment. I'd hoped to use Chromecast with some existing 3.5mm speakers.

Notes: The hub itself including ethernet appears to remain powered when the Chromecast is off.

jonathan18

7415 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2850

ID Verified

Trusted

#2735293 27-Jun-2021 11:14

allio:

This could be the perfect device but the lack of one feature - adaptive refresh rate switching - is absolutely brutal. I have to go into the settings to flip it to 50Hz whenever I watch NZ TV or sports, and then back to 60Hz when I want to watch Youtube, or 24Hz if I'm watching Netflix, etc. Failure to do so results in juddering so bad that I can't stand it and end up pausing the video five minutes in. I have no idea why Google doesn't prioritise this - do other people just not see judder?

I guess it's only a big issue in 50Hz countries, and there aren't that many of us.

Ok, this problem seems to be plaguing me as well.

Rented a movie from the Google Play Store last night and, right from the word go, we experienced really bad juddering. Tried changing the refresh rate to a number of the 4K settings and there was no improvement. I've not noticed this problem with content via other sources (eg Netflix, Disney Plus).

What should I be setting the refresh rate to for Google Play movies?

Has anyone else experienced this?

@allio: did you find any solution to this? (And did you need to reboot the Chromecast to force the revised refresh rate? I'm assuming not, but just wanted to check.)

My temporary solution was to cast the same movie from my phone, and the difference was night and day - the video playback was smooth-as from that point forward.

Is this yet another sign of the GCCWGTV being yet another Google half-baked product, with issues they seem unwilling to fix in a decent timeframe? (Along with the stupid way it manages multiple accounts, as per my post a couple above, it's far from a polished product...)

gzt

18689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7828

Lifetime subscriber

#2735326 27-Jun-2021 12:07

I have not run into that one. Interested to take a look if someone gives an example on Netflix, Prime, Disney. As above I have found restart is required for some options. There is a manual restart option on the system menu.

Other than that I wonder if some options feature of your TV might be making it worse?

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

jonathan18

7415 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2850

ID Verified

Trusted

#2735349 27-Jun-2021 13:01

gzt: I have not run into that one. Interested to take a look if someone gives an example on Netflix, Prime, Disney. As above I have found restart is required for some options. There is a manual restart option on the system menu.

Other than that I wonder if some options feature of your TV might be making it worse?

Ok, will take a look at the TV's settings - anything in particular I should be looking for? It's a Panasonic OLED (65GZ1000U).

It'll be interesting to hear what kind of TV allio has, and whether they've found any solution.

cannonball

28 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#2735364 27-Jun-2021 14:26

gzt: I purchased a USB-C hub with the intention to get ethernet, usb camera, and audio out. Getting all that in one package was not an easy search. It has 87W PD more than enough.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/computers/peripherals/usb-hubs/listing/3150139247

The results:

Ethernet: Seems to work. Connection is shown in Chromecast network settings. One problem with Chromecast - when I switch off wifi the Chromecast disconnects ethernet. I'll try a few more things.

Camera: It looks ok. I'm yet to make a video call.

Audio out: Not working. In Chromecast I see no option to select it. I've run out of things to try to get audio out working.This is a disappointment. I'd hoped to use Chromecast with some existing 3.5mm speakers.

Notes: The hub itself including ethernet appears to remain powered when the Chromecast is off.

Enable Developer option first if not already done so. Then scroll way down to "Disable USB audio routing" and try either enabling or disabling it. Essential to restart the Chromecast after each change and then see if it works.

gzt

18689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7828

Lifetime subscriber

#2735374 27-Jun-2021 15:27

cannonball: Enable Developer option first if not already done so. Then scroll way down to "Disable USB audio routing" and try either enabling or disabling it. Essential to restart the Chromecast after each change and then see if it works.

That didn't work for me. No luck with audio out so far. Along the way I solved my ethernet issue. It looks like removing power once or twice was required to redetect ethernet after disabling wifi. Another scenario where restart alone was not enough to fully resolve a change in settings for a hidden option..

gzt

18689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7828

Lifetime subscriber

#2735406 27-Jun-2021 16:55

Added Microsoft USB dongle Bluetooth keyboard. All functions working. Touchpad mouse, volume controls etc.

robjg63

4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1427

Subscriber

#2735411 27-Jun-2021 17:08

Wonder if it is due for official release in NZ anytime soon?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

gzt

18689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7828

Lifetime subscriber

#2738428 3-Jul-2021 15:27

Today I learned the current CCGTV with Amlogic S905D3 does not support AV1. Maybe covid is to blame for S905X4 availability or G is waiting for better decode performance.

It looks like Google will require all OEMs to support AV1 for 2021 ATV10 release.

Tldr; if futureproofing or low bandwidth performance is important wait for a hardware revision. This is slightly annoying but tba did not think to check and may have chosen to purchase anyway. To be fair very few of today's devices support AV1 anyway. YouTube and Netflix are only just starting to offer AV1 content.

jonathan18

7415 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2850

ID Verified

Trusted

#2739199 5-Jul-2021 14:02

jonathan18:

allio:

This could be the perfect device but the lack of one feature - adaptive refresh rate switching - is absolutely brutal. I have to go into the settings to flip it to 50Hz whenever I watch NZ TV or sports, and then back to 60Hz when I want to watch Youtube, or 24Hz if I'm watching Netflix, etc. Failure to do so results in juddering so bad that I can't stand it and end up pausing the video five minutes in. I have no idea why Google doesn't prioritise this - do other people just not see judder?

I guess it's only a big issue in 50Hz countries, and there aren't that many of us.

Ok, this problem seems to be plaguing me as well.

Rented a movie from the Google Play Store last night and, right from the word go, we experienced really bad juddering. Tried changing the refresh rate to a number of the 4K settings and there was no improvement. I've not noticed this problem with content via other sources (eg Netflix, Disney Plus).

What should I be setting the refresh rate to for Google Play movies?

Has anyone else experienced this?

@allio: did you find any solution to this? (And did you need to reboot the Chromecast to force the revised refresh rate? I'm assuming not, but just wanted to check.)

My temporary solution was to cast the same movie from my phone, and the difference was night and day - the video playback was smooth-as from that point forward.

Is this yet another sign of the GCCWGTV being yet another Google half-baked product, with issues they seem unwilling to fix in a decent timeframe? (Along with the stupid way it manages multiple accounts, as per my post a couple above, it's far from a polished product...)

A bump for @allio - keen on hearing whether you were able to resolve this problem?

allio

895 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 529

#2739201 5-Jul-2021 14:18

jonathan18:

A bump for @allio - keen on hearing whether you were able to resolve this problem?

Hi - no, not really. Still have to manually change the refresh rate when switching between NZ/50hz content and US/60Hz. No, no reboot is necessary thankfully.

Your issue sounds a bit different to mine. I've never had a problem with performance once I've manually changed the CC to the correct refresh rate. The issue is having to do it manually each time. Is it actually judder you're experiencing (normal smooth motion but a small hitch every few seconds, most easily seen on scrolling text etc) or lag (constant choppiness, with no patches of seemingly correct "smoothness" at all)?

Interestingly I also have a Panasonic TV, but I don't think that has anything to do with it. The best a TV can do is faithfully reproduce the signal that it's fed. If you feed it a 50Hz source at a 60Hz refresh rate, that's what it's going to display. As the device at the end of the chain, the TV has no way of knowing that the original content was meant to be displayed at 50Hz - that's the player's job.

As far as I know this problem affects most if not all Android TV devices. The only one I know that supports matching output refresh rate to content is the Shield. That's why I built a Kodi box running CoreELEC (Linux) instead of getting one of the Android cheapies. I've ended up using the CoreELEC box for a lot of stuff I thought I'd use the CC for (like Netflix, despite it only working with 1080p and not 4K) because of the refresh rate hassle. Honestly I think the fact is that most people just aren't sensitive to judder and don't notice when it's happening. Ignorance is bliss!

jonathan18

7415 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2850

ID Verified

Trusted

#2746298 18-Jul-2021 18:37

allio:

Hi - no, not really. Still have to manually change the refresh rate when switching between NZ/50hz content and US/60Hz. No, no reboot is necessary thankfully.

Your issue sounds a bit different to mine. I've never had a problem with performance once I've manually changed the CC to the correct refresh rate. The issue is having to do it manually each time. Is it actually judder you're experiencing (normal smooth motion but a small hitch every few seconds, most easily seen on scrolling text etc) or lag (constant choppiness, with no patches of seemingly correct "smoothness" at all)?

Interestingly I also have a Panasonic TV, but I don't think that has anything to do with it. The best a TV can do is faithfully reproduce the signal that it's fed. If you feed it a 50Hz source at a 60Hz refresh rate, that's what it's going to display. As the device at the end of the chain, the TV has no way of knowing that the original content was meant to be displayed at 50Hz - that's the player's job.

As far as I know this problem affects most if not all Android TV devices. The only one I know that supports matching output refresh rate to content is the Shield. That's why I built a Kodi box running CoreELEC (Linux) instead of getting one of the Android cheapies. I've ended up using the CoreELEC box for a lot of stuff I thought I'd use the CC for (like Netflix, despite it only working with 1080p and not 4K) because of the refresh rate hassle. Honestly I think the fact is that most people just aren't sensitive to judder and don't notice when it's happening. Ignorance is bliss!

Looks like there may be a solution in the works:

Match content frame rate

As Google announced in its own changelog, Android TV 12 Beta 3 brings a new option to “match content frame rate.” This is under the “Display & Sound” section and includes the options shown below.

Source: https://9to5google.com/2021/07/16/android-tv-12-google-new-features-design/

1 | ... | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ... | 25