Chromecast: Simplest way to wifi my main pc

carlazai · 15 Sep 2015 at 15:49

So I bought a chromecast dongle thinking it would replace the need for me to have a hdmi cable trailing around and that the chromecast would be fine over ethernet and use wifi for laptop etc

1. Can you use ethernet to cast your pc to the tv?
2. If you cannot, what is the cheapest and simplest way to add a wifi connection to the main pc without effecting the other network connection?

Thanks for any help

thebennyboy · 15 Sep 2015 at 15:53

Not 100% sure what you mean. Your Chromecast will connect to your WiFi router and will work with any device connected to that router (including both Wireless and Ethernet).

TwsT · 15 Sep 2015 at 15:56

chromecast just plugs into your tv and can use mirror cast or plex to watch media from your pc on your tv.

carlazai · 15 Sep 2015 at 15:56

Ok that makes sense, but when i open the chromecast app it says wifi is off and wont go further

thebennyboy · 15 Sep 2015 at 15:57

carlazai said:
Ok that makes sense, but when i open the chromecast app it says wifi is off and wont go further

Make sure WiFi on that device is turned on. The device with the Chromecast app on will need WiFi to set up the chromecast, it won't need to be on once it's set up.

carlazai · 15 Sep 2015 at 16:01

thebennyboy said:
Make sure WiFi on that device is turned on. The device with the Chromecast app on will need WiFi to set up the chromecast, it won't need to be on once it's set up.

Thats the problem then, whats the simplest way i can get wifi on my main pc e.g. a dongle etc?

Seems stupid i cant use the ethernet lol

thebennyboy · 15 Sep 2015 at 16:01

carlazai said:
Thats the problem then, whats the simplest way i can get wifi on my main pc e.g. a dongle etc?

Seems stupid i cant use the ethernet lol

Do you have a tablet or smartphone you can install the app on to? It's because the app will make a direct WiFi connection to the chromecast to send it the settings for your WiFi.

carlazai · 15 Sep 2015 at 16:03

i have it working on my phone perfectly and love it. Just need it to work on main pc which has no wifi installed because i have no network card etc, just through ethernet

thebennyboy · 15 Sep 2015 at 16:04

carlazai said:
i have it working on my phone perfectly and love it. Just need it to work on main pc which has no wifi installed because i have no network card etc, just through ethernet

Oh so you've already set the chromecast up?

The Deuce · 15 Sep 2015 at 16:09

no reason why your pc won't work with the chromecast through ethernet if both are on the same lan.

thebennyboy · 15 Sep 2015 at 16:11

Do you use Google Chrome OP?

carlazai · 15 Sep 2015 at 16:13

thebennyboy said:
Do you use Google Chrome OP?

No i use firefox but do have chrome installed if necessary

I chromecast installed on phone and works perfectly.

I have chromecast on pc installed but wont let me cast the wifi going stage

thebennyboy · 15 Sep 2015 at 16:14

Open Google Chrome and install an extension called "Google Cast".

carlazai · 15 Sep 2015 at 16:28

Trying to install but says network failure, trying to work out that problem

dreamcat4 · 15 Sep 2015 at 20:18

So what's the lag like on those things then?

TheMorningStar · 16 Sep 2015 at 04:34

dreamcat4 said:
So what's the lag like on those things then?

You can't use it for gaming, think they are working on it. and mirroring your desktop was pretty laggy last I tried.

It's great for streaming websites like youtube etc. I always get lag outs when watching movies on my machines, it will freeze and stagger through a few frames now and then but need to be restarted periodically. Not sure what's causing that though, the CC, the router or my PC. really cba looking into it.

dreamcat4 · 16 Sep 2015 at 08:50

Sounds... terrible!

I don't think I'd want to buy one then.

carlazai · 16 Sep 2015 at 09:51

Many thanks bennyboy!!! Working perfectly now. Really appreciate the help you gave.

My first impressions are positive with it having no lag for me, using a decent pc and a panasonictv

TheMorningStar · 16 Sep 2015 at 18:37

dreamcat4 said:
Sounds... terrible! I don't think I'd want to buy one then.

TBH at £30ish it's worth getting just to have a play around with, some ppl don't get stream lag at all in localised movies, some do. It wasn't really designed to do this but the functionality of it is constantly evolving as are the applications that support it. Had very few problems streaming directly from the internet.

dreamcat4 · 16 Sep 2015 at 18:48

TheMorningStar said:
TBH at £30ish it's worth getting just to have a play around with

Hmm. Actually come to think of it, Kodi would be my desired use for one of those sort of things. But what bothers me is it's wifi only, right? (the chromecast side). Yet we have wired gigabit to most rooms here. Including RJ45s right near the TVs. It sounds best thing to get an authentic chromecast hardware / software. I'd much prefer it to be wired. Not wifi. To have lowest lag / best network connection. Is there anything like that solution possible? E.g. something similar that can be put on the same chromecast linux software. Like other google family devices etc. ?