Not really an RV question in this case, but I know someone here will have a good suggestion or two!I have home videos from my GoPro and camcorder as well as some movies on my Windows 10 desktop computer that I'd like to be able to watch on my Samsung smart TV in a different room. The TV is connected wirelessly to the home network and the ability exists to "Cast to device" in the Windows 10 media player. In fact, under cast to device, "Samsung LED 55" always shows up as an option. Only problem, about 75% of the time, when I try to connect I get, "An unknown error occurred." Not particularly helpful...Any ideas why I'm getting this error, or how to fix it? Or a workaround? I have brought the computer to the TV and connected the TV to the HDMI port, but that's kind of a pain. I know that wireless HDMI extenders exist, but I'm just curious what other options exist. I'm sure there's probably an easy way to do this!

Casting from a computer is often a pain and a carpshootOn your laptop see if you can find the option "connect to wireless display" or maybe "connect to network projector"This is how I connect my HP laptop to my LG Smart TV. The TV ends up as a second monitor for the laptop.

Once connected does it play everything you want to playOr do you mean that it won't play 75% of selected filesIt might be a file format problemJust because the PC plays everything, doesn't mean the TV will play all the same filesHdmi the PC is playing the file , When using the TV remote to select file over the network, the TV becomes the player not just an external display

I have noticed that having a ROKU hooked up to the TV seems to make casting much more reliable. Also if you want to play those files directly from a hard drive there is a device I use called a MICCA purchased on Amazon. It plays virtually every format and eliminates the need for a laptop. I use that in my trailer and have a 640GB HD full of movies for those rainy days. Between the ROKU Streaming stick and the Micca we have all the entertainment we can use while camping.

MrWizard wrote:Once connected does it pay everything you want to playOr do you mean that it won't play 75% of selected filesIt might be a file format problemJust because the PC plays everything, doesn't mean the TV will play all the same filesHdmi the PC is playing the file , When using the TV remote to select file over the network, the TV becomes the player not just an external displayNo, it's not a percentage of files, but a percentage of the times I try. And 75% is just a guess. With any given file, more often than not, I get the error message. But sometimes I get lucky and it'll play. Usually if it does connect, it's good to go for the duration.

tchil wrote:I have noticed that having a ROKU hooked up to the TV seems to make casting much more reliable. Also if you want to play those files directly from a hard drive there is a device I use called a MICCA purchased on Amazon. It plays virtually every format and eliminates the need for a laptop. I use that in my trailer and have a 640GB HD full of movies for those rainy days. Between the ROKU Streaming stick and the Micca we have all the entertainment we can use while camping.I have considered a roku and if it works well, I may just go that route. Never heard of the MICCA, will definitely take a look at that. Thanks for the suggestions!

Watching computer's content on smart TV | Good Sam Community

GordonThree
Explorer
Aug 23, 2017
Casting from a computer is often a pain and a carpshoot

On your laptop see if you can find the option "connect to wireless display" or maybe "connect to network projector"

This is how I connect my HP laptop to my LG Smart TV. The TV ends up as a second monitor for the laptop.
MrWizard
Moderator
Aug 23, 2017
Once connected does it play everything you want to play
Or do you mean that it won't play 75% of selected files

It might be a file format problem
Just because the PC plays everything, doesn't mean the TV will play all the same files
Hdmi the PC is playing the file ,
When using the TV remote to select file over the network, the TV becomes the player not just an external display
tchil
Explorer
Aug 23, 2017
I have noticed that having a ROKU hooked up to the TV seems to make casting much more reliable. Also if you want to play those files directly from a hard drive there is a device I use called a MICCA purchased on Amazon. It plays virtually every format and eliminates the need for a laptop. I use that in my trailer and have a 640GB HD full of movies for those rainy days. Between the ROKU Streaming stick and the Micca we have all the entertainment we can use while camping.
RDMueller
Explorer
Aug 23, 2017
MrWizard wrote:
Once connected does it pay everything you want to play
Or do you mean that it won't play 75% of selected files

It might be a file format problem
Just because the PC plays everything, doesn't mean the TV will play all the same files
Hdmi the PC is playing the file ,
When using the TV remote to select file over the network, the TV becomes the player not just an external display

No, it's not a percentage of files, but a percentage of the times I try. And 75% is just a guess. With any given file, more often than not, I get the error message. But sometimes I get lucky and it'll play. Usually if it does connect, it's good to go for the duration.
RDMueller
Explorer
Aug 23, 2017
tchil wrote:
I have noticed that having a ROKU hooked up to the TV seems to make casting much more reliable. Also if you want to play those files directly from a hard drive there is a device I use called a MICCA purchased on Amazon. It plays virtually every format and eliminates the need for a laptop. I use that in my trailer and have a 640GB HD full of movies for those rainy days. Between the ROKU Streaming stick and the Micca we have all the entertainment we can use while camping.

I have considered a roku and if it works well, I may just go that route. Never heard of the MICCA, will definitely take a look at that. Thanks for the suggestions!
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Aug 23, 2017
i use a chromecast and as a note if your wifi is to slow it will create that issue
Fizz
Explorer
Aug 23, 2017
You could dump everything onto a thumb drive then plug that into the TV's USB port.
GordonThree
Explorer
Aug 23, 2017
Here's the setting I recommend giving a try before buying anything else:
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Aug 23, 2017
Fizz wrote:
You could dump everything onto a thumb drive then plug that into the TV's USB port.

Likely the quickest and easiest solution for a non-tech savvy person.
tchil
Explorer
Aug 23, 2017
I will also add that I have a chromecast, and smart TV's but casting to the ROKU has been by far the most reliable. Another option I use at home is a Plex server (free) on one of my computers that has movies. Then install the plex app on ROKU and you can easily stream content from the computer to the TV. It has a really nice interface on the ROKU app so finding your content is easy. This would require that you have a network of some type that the ROKU and laptop were on in your trailer though.

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