How are cheapo DLNA / Miracast dongles?

King Mustard · 16 Oct 2023 at 21:07

I want to use the Cast button in Android and iOS apps to cast videos to a non-smart TV and do not want to use Google Cast or Apple AirPlay.

Does anyone have any experience with cheapo DLNA / Miracast dongles?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=DLNA&_sacat=0&LH_BIN=1&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1

hornetstinger · 16 Oct 2023 at 21:37

Look into wiim mini, if that is suitable, as it seems well regarded.

King Mustard · 16 Oct 2023 at 21:38

hornetstinger said:
Look into wiim mini, if that is suitable, as it seems well regarded.

Isn't the WiiM Mini for audio only?

hornetstinger · 16 Oct 2023 at 21:53

yeah. audio only

would a android tv box be ok, firestick etc?

King Mustard · 16 Oct 2023 at 21:54

hornetstinger said:
yeah. audio only

would a android tv box be ok, firestick etc?

I know most cheap Android TV boxes are riddled with spyware from the factory.

The Cast button does not appear in Android and iOS apps when using an Amazon Fire TV dongle.

hornetstinger · 16 Oct 2023 at 22:24

King Mustard said:
I know most cheap Android TV boxes are riddled with spyware from the factory.

The Cast button does not appear in Android and iOS apps when using an Amazon Fire TV dongle.

What about Nvidia shield?

King Mustard · 16 Oct 2023 at 22:54

hornetstinger said:
What about Nvidia shield?

I only need basic DLNA / Miracast functionality.

The_Arbiter · 17 Oct 2023 at 06:36

How come not a Chromecast?

King Mustard · 17 Oct 2023 at 08:32

The_Arbiter said:
How come not a Chromecast?

Years of trouble over multiple models of the Chromecast (including modern TV that have them built-in) when trying to cast from Plex / Emby over the Internet (not on LAN). It's been nothing to do with Plex / Emby or the server / server router. Has just never worked quite right for us.

I do not wish to try troubleshooting the Chromecast; been doing that for literally 5-8 years. Have given up on them now.

However, every time there has been an issue (a lot), each time if I try to connect to the TV's DLNA instead of Chromecast, works perfectly every time.

However, this specific TV in question is old and does not have DLNA, so we would need a dongle. Just something inexpensive.

The_Arbiter · 17 Oct 2023 at 09:16

I wouldn't be surprised if that's intended for Chromecast, it certainly doesn't play nice by purpose in some areas. I wasn't sure what your intentions were.

King Mustard · 17 Oct 2023 at 09:51

The_Arbiter said:
I wouldn't be surprised if that's intended for Chromecast, it certainly doesn't play nice by purpose in some areas. I wasn't sure what your intentions were.

It really doesn't at times. However, it casts from the YouTube app perfectly. Every time.