Video Playing Options for Motels etc

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turb

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#277126 28-Sep-2020 06:53

I want to be able to play stored movies and/or downloaded Netflix to motel/airbnb TVs.

I don't really want to take my laptop, and I don't want to rely on their dodgy wifi.

I also have an android phone (Samsung s10e) and an iPad with lightning.

What's my cheapest working option?

I had a look on PriceSpy but there doesn't seem to be much there. The cheapest thing was this.

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

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#2575015 28-Sep-2020 06:59

USB stick or HDD with files in mp4 or other vanilla format

xpd

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#2575021 28-Sep-2020 07:26

RaspberryPi ?

Most Motel/Hotel TVs have a HDMI port available.

XPD / Gavin

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tripp

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#2575027 28-Sep-2020 07:52

xpd:

RaspberryPi ?

Most Motel/Hotel TVs have a HDMI port available.

I have found more and more motels/hotels are locking out there TV's etc so you can't change the source to hdmi etc. Last place i stayed had it so locked down that you could not even get into the tv menu. I was thinking it was just the remote however the buttons on the tv would not even change, when talking to front desk they said they lock them down.

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#2575033 28-Sep-2020 07:59

You can sometimes get the TV out of its locked down state with a sequence of remote button presses. Google “hotel mode” and the TV Make/model

sbiddle

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#2575035 28-Sep-2020 08:15

tripp:

xpd:

RaspberryPi ?

Most Motel/Hotel TVs have a HDMI port available.

I have found more and more motels/hotels are locking out there TV's etc so you can't change the source to hdmi etc. Last place i stayed had it so locked down that you could not even get into the tv menu. I was thinking it was just the remote however the buttons on the tv would not even change, when talking to front desk they said they lock them down.

As somebody who has been involved in large scale hotels TV deployments and nomally spends 70+ nights per year in hotels I can definately say this is an exception, not the norm. Access to HDMI ports is a really common thing and not something that any smart person involved in deploying hospitality TV's would do.

As for locking down menus this is 100% normal, and it's not a case of actually needing to lock anything down, because a proper hospitality TV won't have access to regular menus anyway so stop people breaking the TV setups.

MikeAqua

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#2575045 28-Sep-2020 09:00

IME it's rare to not have access to a functional HDMI port in hotels and I've never experienced it in a motel

I travel with a Chromecast and a travel router. I only need the travel router if the hotel uses a web portal for WiFi access, because Chromecast can't access these systems.

My preference is: -

(1)Use a screen mirroring system built in to the TV (e.g. Chromecast or Samsung Smartview) - these tend to be more common in motels than hotels

(2) Chromecast dongle

(3) Chromecast dongle + travel router

Whatever option, I try to use downloaded material, to avoid streaming issues.

As a rule - the more the room costs, the worse the WiFi is.

Mike

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openmedia

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#2575052 28-Sep-2020 09:12

I carry a FireStick with a dongle/cable so I can use a USB memory stick. Means I can watch media when I don't have suitable quality wifi, but often I just use the built in apps to stream.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

turb

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#2575059 28-Sep-2020 09:22

MikeAqua:

IME it's rare to not have access to a functional HDMI port in hotels and I've never experienced it in a motel

I travel with a Chromecast and a travel router. I only need the travel router if the hotel uses a web portal for WiFi access, because Chromecast can't access these systems.

My preference is: -

(1)Use a screen mirroring system built in to the TV (e.g. Chromecast or Samsung Smartview) - these tend to be more common in motels than hotels

(2) Chromecast dongle

(3) Chromecast dongle + travel router

Whatever option, I try to use downloaded material, to avoid streaming issues.

As a rule - the more the room costs, the worse the WiFi is.

So you can play downloaded stuff through a chromecast? I thought it just streamed stuff via wifi. So you plug a USB drive in?

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

MikeAqua

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#2575070 28-Sep-2020 09:51

turb:

So you can play downloaded stuff through a chromecast? I thought it just streamed stuff via wifi. So you plug a USB drive in?

You can mirror your screen to Chromecast, so whatever is being played on your phone will display via the Chromecast on the TV.

This requires that the downloaded file is stored on the device you are connecting to the Chromecast with.

Mike

turb

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#2575073 28-Sep-2020 10:03

MikeAqua:
turb:

So you can play downloaded stuff through a chromecast? I thought it just streamed stuff via wifi. So you plug a USB drive in?

You can mirror your screen to Chromecast, so whatever is being played on your phone will display via the Chromecast on the TV.

This requires that the downloaded file is stored on the device you are connecting to the Chromecast with.

So you are creating an isolated network with your router that connects your Chromecast and device?

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mudguard

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#2575077 28-Sep-2020 10:07

I think I'm in motels/hotels seven weeks out of eight. If I was in the same place each night I'd look for a solution for a bigger screen, but honestly taking more equipment with me means I'm liable to leave it plugged in and forgotten.

I just use my laptop if I really want to watch something. The wifi can be completely hit and miss so I wouldn't want to rely on it.

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MikeAqua

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#2575091 28-Sep-2020 10:24

turb:
So you are creating an isolated network with your router that connects your Chromecast and device?

Yes. Connect phone and Chromecast to the travel router. Of course phone functions that rely on an internet connection will stop working.

Mike

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#2575209 28-Sep-2020 12:19

Any recommendations for a good travel router?

clicknz

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#2575306 28-Sep-2020 13:59

Plus there’s also the good old wired approach with a Lightning to HDMI adapter on the iPad and an HDMI cable to the port on the TV.... (the Apple adapter seems the most reliable plus it allows charging of the iPad while you’re using it). This approach will perhaps negate the chance of checking out and leaving behind a Chromecast dongle plugged into the TV.

Cheers,
Mike

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turb

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#2575387 28-Sep-2020 15:01

clicknz:

Plus there’s also the good old wired approach with a Lightning to HDMI adapter on the iPad and an HDMI cable to the port on the TV.... (the Apple adapter seems the most reliable plus it allows charging of the iPad while you’re using it). This approach will perhaps negate the chance of checking out and leaving behind a Chromecast dongle plugged into the TV.

Yes that's a very good thought re not leaving it behind! I did have a look at them, but they are quite pricey for something that only does one thing. Also some bad reviews re reliability.

Interests: HTPC, Web App authoring.

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