Casting (Mirroring Android Tablet) to TV HDMI port

[jrloucks]

Folks,
I'd like to use my (Android) tablet (cellular data package) to broadcast/cast/mirror my tablet's screen to an HDMI port on the TV in our RV.

I've been told Google Chromecast will do this, but it needs internet (wifi) access (not sure if this is a onetime setup or always available).

So, I'm wondering if anyone else has actually done this with no wifi. Are there OEM casting dongles available that do not need wifi access?

I'd prefer a wireless connection (no cables required between tablet and HDMI input on TV).

Thanks,

Jack

[lenr]

My favorite way to accomplish the OP's request is to use a Roku connected to the TV and mirror from my Android cell phone. I either stream through an app on the cell phone (Netflix, Sling, CBS All Access, etc.) or use the park WiFi to download to the cell phone (which provides the smoothest delivery). Roku is super easy to set up but does require a WiFi connection. However, when mirroring from the cell phone, it doesn't seem to consume Gigs from the WiFi. We can use slow park WiFi or a cellular based hot spot. We found the Chrome Cast impossibly hard to use, and it seemed to consume a lot of Gigs from the WiFi even when supposedly mirroring from a cell phone.

[austinjenna]

austinjenna, my original ask was that I wanted the tablet not to be physically tethered to the tv (with a cable). This would be akin to the wired cable tv controllers of the late 1970s. Yes, I may end up going the KISS route with a cable between the two devices. But for now with wireless cast/mirror technology available, I am willing to invest a bit of my $, time, and learn something (good, bad or ugly).

Yes I read your original ask about going wireless and was simply menioning the easiest and tried and true method that does work. If you think that a wired tv remote from 1970 is the same as your cell phone with an hdmi cable - thats your opinion LOL. You have already learned something about your setup. It doesnt seem to work.

[jrloucks]

austinjenna wrote:
I think it would be much simpler to just use a cable and be done with it unless there is a specific reason on why to go wireless. When I show my phone on the tv its one cable from the phone to the tv and it charges the phone as well.

austinjenna, my original ask was that I wanted the tablet not to be physically tethered to the tv (with a cable). This would be akin to the wired cable tv controllers of the late 1970s. Yes, I may end up going the KISS route with a cable between the two devices. But for now with wireless cast/mirror technology available, I am willing to invest a bit of my $, time, and learn something (good, bad or ugly).

[austinjenna]

I think it would be much simpler to just use a cable and be done with it unless there is a specific reason on why to go wireless. When I show my phone on the tv its one cable from the phone to the tv and it charges the phone as well.

[jrloucks]

So Fire TV stick arrived. Pre-configured for me. No real hurdles to start it up. I was surprised it knew our wifi SID and password...that was disturbing.

Casting using my tablet with MirrorShare connected fine to the Fire TV, but this is with the Wifi/network enabled. (I wanted to make sure it worked before I disabled the network, like when we're camping.)

But I ran into a problem with casting Amazon Prime videos (and Disney for that matter). The videos do not play on the TV, the video plays/displays on the tablet, but not the TV. Audio is fine, plus all the extra data (cast bios, trivia, stop/pause buttons all appear on the TV. Just not the video.

A quick search on the Amazon Fire TV forums says this has happened to others in the past. But no real common fix, (software updates don't apply to me because everything is at the latest-and-greatest.)

I posted a new question on the forum about my own 'experience'. I may try casting without the network to see what happens.

[ngreen]

I have AT&T phone service and Direct TV, I can watch the Direct TV appl on my phone with no data charges, so I hook the phone up through the HDMI cable to the TV and watched Yellowstone Sunday night! Picture is better than Smart View. I bought the HDMI cable on Amazon

[way2roll]

beemerphile1 wrote:

way2roll wrote:


I should have mentioned that using Smartview on my Android device, I have a firestick. Works fine. We also travel with our firestick. With a hotspot it works fine in the RV as well. All that said, I Never cast anymore. Any apps I have for viewing media (sling, netflix, youtube, browsers)are also on the firestick so it's redundant and makes casting a moot point.

True if you always have internet. I download onto my tablet when internet is available and then mirror to the television when it's not available.

If you try to use campground wifi during the evening it is often impossible. Download during the day and mirror at night.

That's a good point. I don't use CG wifi, I have a hotspot but I hear you.

[beemerphile1]

way2roll wrote:


I should have mentioned that using Smartview on my Android device, I have a firestick. Works fine. We also travel with our firestick. With a hotspot it works fine in the RV as well. All that said, I Never cast anymore. Any apps I have for viewing media (sling, netflix, youtube, browsers)are also on the firestick so it's redundant and makes casting a moot point.

True if you always have internet. I download onto my tablet when internet is available and then mirror to the television when it's not available.

If you try to use campground wifi during the evening it is often impossible. Download during the day and mirror at night.

[way2roll]

jrloucks wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:
I struggled with this for a while and wasted money on some different devices such as a Chromecast which were failures.

By accident I discovered Samsung Smart View which is only available to download for a limited time. It will soon be discontinued but will still work if you get it now.

I then link my tablet with my Fire Stick. Go to settings, display and sounds, and click on "Enable Display Mirroring. Open Smart View on your tablet and make the connection.

I download shows when internet is available and then play them on the television later.

"Struggling"...This is exactly what I'm trying avoid myself.

As an experiment I was able to cast my tablet using Mirrorshare to an android box receiver running Miracast connected to my home TV HDMI port.

I did some more sniffing around and it appears that once the Fire Stick is paired to the broadcasting device (tablet), network (internet/wifi/router) access is not required to cast/mirror. So I took the plunge and ordered a Fire Stick. I will be able to use the stick at home, so if it doesn't work in the RV (with no network access), then this exercise is not a complete loss.

I will update the thread here with what actually happens...the good, bad and the ugly.

I should have mentioned that using Smartview on my Android device, I have a firestick. Works fine. We also travel with our firestick. With a hotspot it works fine in the RV as well. All that said, I Never cast anymore. Any apps I have for viewing media (sling, netflix, youtube, browsers)are also on the firestick so it's redundant and makes casting a moot point.

[jrloucks]

beemerphile1 wrote:
I struggled with this for a while and wasted money on some different devices such as a Chromecast which were failures.

By accident I discovered Samsung Smart View which is only available to download for a limited time. It will soon be discontinued but will still work if you get it now.

I then link my tablet with my Fire Stick. Go to settings, display and sounds, and click on "Enable Display Mirroring. Open Smart View on your tablet and make the connection.

I download shows when internet is available and then play them on the television later.

"Struggling"...This is exactly what I'm trying avoid myself.

As an experiment I was able to cast my tablet using Mirrorshare to an android box receiver running Miracast connected to my home TV HDMI port.

I did some more sniffing around and it appears that once the Fire Stick is paired to the broadcasting device (tablet), network (internet/wifi/router) access is not required to cast/mirror. So I took the plunge and ordered a Fire Stick. I will be able to use the stick at home, so if it doesn't work in the RV (with no network access), then this exercise is not a complete loss.

I will update the thread here with what actually happens...the good, bad and the ugly.

[beemerphile1]

I struggled with this for a while and wasted money on some different devices such as a Chromecast which were failures.

By accident I discovered Samsung Smart View which is only available to download for a limited time. It will soon be discontinued but will still work if you get it now.

I then link my tablet with my Fire Stick. Go to settings, display and sounds, and click on "Enable Display Mirroring. Open Smart View on your tablet and make the connection.

I download shows when internet is available and then play them on the television later.

[wa8yxm]

Chromecast needs access to a router and your tablet the same router.

NOW.. in some cases (if the tablet has it's own cellular account and sim card) the tablet may well be the router

Else your phone may do it
NOTE that unless you tame it Chromecase Eats bandwidth (not all that fast but it eats it) it has a screensaver mode that is a slidshow.. downloaded slides, not stored on board.. TURN that off.

[way2roll]

There is a smart view setting on your Android device (mine is a Galaxy S8) that is for casting. It does not need chromecast.

[2oldman]

There's lots of info on a google search. Almost all TVs are now wifi enabled, and cheap, and can use your own wifi signal if you have a hotspot.