I'm finding that there are more shows on youtube and other websites that I want to watch. I'm not interested in watching movies/shows on my pc/laptop, but would like to watch them on our 32" 720p led tv.My laptop (win7) is a bit old and doesn't have an hdmi port, just a handful of usb ports and a vga port. The tv has hdmi, vga, audio, usb (I think) inputs.1) What are my options besides buying a new laptop with hdmi output?2) What about this vga/audio cable?http://www.amazon.com/RiteAV-VGA-Cable-3-5mm-Audio/dp/B0018MB9U43) Is there a cable-less option? Maybe some sort of device that plugs into the usb ports on the laptop and tv and beams the signal?4) Assuming I can get the hook-up figured out, how does it work? Is there some sort of additional software needed or does what's on the laptop screen just show up on the tv screen? I often surf the web on the laptop while watching a movie on the tv, can this still be done if a movie is playing to the tv from the laptop? Just open another window?Here is a example that I want to watch on the TV.We are fans of the show whose line is it anyway. We have only OTA tv and the more recent shows are available that way, but the older shows with Drew Carry hosting seem to only be available via this website.http://www.cwseed.com/shows/whose-line-is-it-anyway/Thanks

You can use an HDMI plugin stick such as Chromecast or Fire TV, or Apple TV or Roku type boxes, to watch YouTube and other streaming services such as Netflix. Can pick these up at Best Buy or Walmart. Make sure its WiFi enabled if that is your connection. Most are, but can also use a secondary WiFi adapter if connecting by Ethernet to a box. Such is likely the case if using Bluray player for watching streaming content.

I plug in a Chromecast, which can show almost anything being viewed in Google's Chrome browser, on PC, Mac, phone or tablet. It does require that you have some control over the WiFi connection being used, e.g. I can't see it piggybacking on a public WiFi, although it might be technically possible on an open WiFi.I've encountered two problems. The first is when the controlling device goes to sleep or otherwise drops the connection to the content provider, the Chromecast might just go on playing the content to the end, and I have to cut power to force it to reboot. The other is when there is a connection glitch from net to the device, causing either a "brain freeze" or a "sorry, Chromecast has to reboot." The first almost always restarts the stream (NetFlix, at least) on the PC or Mac, and it can again be directed to the Chromecast. The second, the PC or other controlling device does not catch on that it has lost control, and the session needs to be restarted there, too.Because of the way I'm using the Chromecast, I'm considering replacing it with something that does not require control from another device. In your case, however, it would work if all your content can be played through a Chrome browser.VGA cable gives you VGA results, but anything on the laptop screen is on the TV, which is not the case for most of the other devices, which are going to the net for the content rather than carrying your screen display.Unless the TV is fairly new and a "smart" TV what looks like a USB is probably a service port, and not recommended for any USB device, not even for power. If it is a smart TV, it can probably go to the net for content all by itself.

1492 wrote:You can use an HDMI plugin stick such as Chromecast or Fire TV, or Apple TV or Roku type boxes, to watch YouTube and other streaming services such as Netflix. Check out AppleTV (capable of 1080p) for $69. With it you can either . . .stream content over the web using AppleTV's built-in apps for YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, etcstream content peer-to-peer from your PC, iPhone, or iPad to an AppleTV over a WiFi network using Apple's AirPlay. Google "using AirPlay with Windows". As long as your AppleTV and PC are both on the same WiFi network, you won't use and broadband data.

I have chromecast and fire tv and I can do just about anything I want with them and together they cost less than Apple tv. Fire stick rates higher than all of them, by the way.

Thanks for the replies. I think I messed up on this question a bit.We have a roku and I have added the youtube channel, and it plays fine in and of itself.However, I'm trying to play videos from the two tv station websites below and for some reason I had it in my mind that the videos on those websites were youtube based but they evidently are not.I'm trying to figure out how to add these as channels to my roku but am not having much luck. It's asking for a 'channel access code' and I don't know what the heck that is. I suspect it has something to do with your subscription tv service and we of course don’t have that because we are OTA only.Still trying to figure it out.These are the two shows we are interested in for starters.Whose-line-is-it-anyway on channel CWSeed.http://www.cwseed.com/shows/whose-line-is-it-anyway/episode-701/?play=0c2bb6b9-fad1-48d9-9112-3c89619dd7ebGone on Foxhttp://www.fox.com/wayward-pines/gone

Playing Youtube and other videos from laptop to tv?

11 Replies

pasusan
Explorer
Jul 23, 2015
bwanshoom wrote:
Roku has a beta version of screen mirroring that might work: Link
Hey - thanks for that!!! Just mirrored my tablet on the TV with the Roku and it works great - even sound...
diftw
Explorer
Jul 23, 2015
We cut the cord a few weeks ago and have Chromecast. Really like it. Decided to subscribe to Netflix. Will miss some sports but will enjoy the savings.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jul 22, 2015
There are several devices that may let you do that,, or not.. depending on your in-house network.. I do it with Chromecast.. But I have my own in-house router.

A Raspberry Pi (you may need a bit of assistance putting one together and making it work) should do the job and that will be my #2 device.

There are several other devices that claim to offer this service as well

Finally.. Many Laptops today have HDMI out.. and you can simply run a cable
Other older ones, may still have VGA so you can run two cables. (Stereo audio and Video) That's how I do it on one of my TV's.
APT
Explorer
Jul 22, 2015
I'd just use VGA cable and 3.5mm cable if the TV supports aux input with VGA. Otherwise, route the audio to some kind of music system or portable bluetooth speaker.
bwanshoom
Explorer
Jul 22, 2015
Roku has a beta version of screen mirroring that might work: Link
magicbus
Explorer II
Jul 22, 2015
With Chromecast we watch Web site broadcasts all the time on the big screen. Anything you can see in your PC Web browser can be cast to the TV using your local wifi network. Works from my phone too.

Dave
Wrace
Explorer
Jul 22, 2015
Thanks for the replies. I think I messed up on this question a bit.

We have a roku and I have added the youtube channel, and it plays fine in and of itself.

However, I'm trying to play videos from the two tv station websites below and for some reason I had it in my mind that the videos on those websites were youtube based but they evidently are not.

I'm trying to figure out how to add these as channels to my roku but am not having much luck. It's asking for a 'channel access code' and I don't know what the heck that is. I suspect it has something to do with your subscription tv service and we of course don’t have that because we are OTA only.

Still trying to figure it out.

These are the two shows we are interested in for starters.

Whose-line-is-it-anyway on channel CWSeed.
http://www.cwseed.com/shows/whose-line-is-it-anyway/episode-701/?play=0c2bb6b9-fad1-48d9-9112-3c89619dd7eb

Gone on Fox
http://www.fox.com/wayward-pines/gone
bcsdguy
Explorer
Jul 22, 2015
I have chromecast and fire tv and I can do just about anything I want with them and together they cost less than Apple tv. Fire stick rates higher than all of them, by the way.
TechWriter
Explorer
Jul 21, 2015
1492 wrote:
You can use an HDMI plugin stick such as Chromecast or Fire TV, or Apple TV or Roku type boxes, to watch YouTube and other streaming services such as Netflix.

Check out AppleTV (capable of 1080p) for $69. With it you can either . . .

stream content over the web using AppleTV's built-in apps for YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, etc
stream content peer-to-peer from your PC, iPhone, or iPad to an AppleTV over a WiFi network using Apple's AirPlay. Google "using AirPlay with Windows". As long as your AppleTV and PC are both on the same WiFi network, you won't use and broadband data.
tatest
Explorer II
Jul 21, 2015
I plug in a Chromecast, which can show almost anything being viewed in Google's Chrome browser, on PC, Mac, phone or tablet. It does require that you have some control over the WiFi connection being used, e.g. I can't see it piggybacking on a public WiFi, although it might be technically possible on an open WiFi.

I've encountered two problems. The first is when the controlling device goes to sleep or otherwise drops the connection to the content provider, the Chromecast might just go on playing the content to the end, and I have to cut power to force it to reboot. The other is when there is a connection glitch from net to the device, causing either a "brain freeze" or a "sorry, Chromecast has to reboot." The first almost always restarts the stream (NetFlix, at least) on the PC or Mac, and it can again be directed to the Chromecast. The second, the PC or other controlling device does not catch on that it has lost control, and the session needs to be restarted there, too.

Because of the way I'm using the Chromecast, I'm considering replacing it with something that does not require control from another device. In your case, however, it would work if all your content can be played through a Chrome browser.

VGA cable gives you VGA results, but anything on the laptop screen is on the TV, which is not the case for most of the other devices, which are going to the net for the content rather than carrying your screen display.

Unless the TV is fairly new and a "smart" TV what looks like a USB is probably a service port, and not recommended for any USB device, not even for power. If it is a smart TV, it can probably go to the net for content all by itself.