Chromecast without WiFi?

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NezumiNora

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#248274 17-Mar-2019 19:26

Basically, I'm trying to play Netflix on my phone and send it to my TV without Wifi. I have a Chromebook I could stream from but my phone gets a certain amount of Netflix data for free (and the mobile network doesn't know it's Netflix data if I'm just using a hotspot).

I have been trying to get a Chromecast to function without WiFi - in the end we did manage to trick a Pixel phone into it by setting a mobile hotspot and searching for that hotspot on Google Home to connect the Chromecast. The same trick did not work with my phone (Nokia 6.1). I wondered if this is due to certain changes to the Android OS that Nokia has made.

We also tried a Wifi router with no internet connection, wondering if the devices would connect just through that, but nope, needs a full wifi connection including internet.

So NEXT we tried a USB-C to HDMI cable and that didn't work either. Like nothing happened at all.

Any ideas?

I could just get Wifi but where I am at the moment I have plenty of mobile data so I'd rather use that.

Oblivian

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#2200384 17-Mar-2019 19:55

When you cast from the phone, it hands over to the device - the stream data has a native app, and will take over. It doesn't then use the mobile traffic

That immediately uses the connection the chromecast is on.

NezumiNora

8 posts

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#2200385 17-Mar-2019 19:59

If I'm understanding what you're saying:

That's why I'm trying to screencast - getting the data itself through the mobile, then sending what appears on my screen straight to the TV. Is this not a thing? What about with a wired connection like I described above?

If I'm not understanding what you're saying:

Can you put that a different way?

sbiddle

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#2200387 17-Mar-2019 20:01

As mentioned above the concept of a Chromecast (or other casting apps) is to simply send the content source to the TV. The TV requires an Internet connection to stream the content as it takes over the streaming and the phone is removed from the playback.

A Miracast app may help you as this can allow effective screen sharing which is what you are after. It won't work as well though.

sbiddle

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#2200388 17-Mar-2019 20:02

NezumiNora:

That's why I'm trying to screencast - getting the data itself through the mobile, then sending what appears on my screen straight to the TV. Is this not a thing?

Correct. This is not how casting works.

NezumiNora

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#2200393 17-Mar-2019 20:04

Sorry I edited above - what about with a wired connection (USB-C to HDMI)?

toejam316

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#2200401 17-Mar-2019 20:14

Best bet would be to try set the Chromecast up so that it allows devices not connected to it to stream to it, and screenshare to it like that, but otherwise I'm not sure - you'd probably be better served with a Miracast device if your phone supports it.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

robjg63

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#2200403 17-Mar-2019 20:16

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/droid-meets-hdmi-how-and-why-to-connect-your-android-phone-to-your-tv/

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

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#2200454 17-Mar-2019 21:45

NezumiNora:

Sorry I edited above - what about with a wired connection (USB-C to HDMI)?

It doesn't work. USB-C to HDMI shows a desktop but DRM content such as Netflix won't play.

As above Chromecast works this way: app on mobile get a token and send this token to the Chromecast. Chromecast use the token to identify source and start streaming. At that point mobile has nothing else to do except remote control - all data traffic is from source to Chromecast.

shk292

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#2200549 18-Mar-2019 08:52

Previously, I've managed to send local content from Android device to Chromecast using an app (I think it was local cast to chromecast or similar name). This did need a WiFi router, but that router didn't need internet connection. This method might work for your Netflix content also - it effectively mirrors your phone screen to the Chromecast

sdavisnz

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#2200659 18-Mar-2019 10:52

How about the Microsoft wireless display stick?

Voice gives context

robjg63

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#2200673 18-Mar-2019 11:04

sdavisnz: How about the Microsoft wireless display stick?

That is essentially miracast.

Miracast does work differently to a chromecast device.

The Miracast devive doesnt need an internet connection.

You effectly 'beam' to the Mircacast device from your phone, tablet, laptop (provided they support Miracast).

Miracast would involve the phone using the data connection to get the video content, the phone then has to also support using its wifi to talk to the miracast device at the same time to transmit the picture info to the Miracast device hooked up to the tv.

I bought a Miracast device a couple of years back to try and display apps from my Sony android tablet to the TV. But I found the wifi on the Sony tablet did not support the 2 wifi connections it effectively needs for this to work - looked like bad design by Sony.

It might work ok for you though and its the sort of data usage you are after.

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

allio

885 posts

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#2200692 18-Mar-2019 11:32

Wireless screen mirroring is the only way to do what you are asking (make exactly what is on your phone's screen show up on your TV) but has terrible quality. It's ok for watching a quick 10 second clip but you wouldn't want to watch whole shows/movies like that.

Unfortunately I don't see a solution that allows you to do what you want to do.