Google Chromecast

[dagamer34]

How? It still won't work for me.

I think he/she is confused. Chromecasting still requires a PlexPass.

 

[shocksyde]

How? It still won't work for me.

I can't take a screen grab since I'm at work, but I was definitely casting from my server to my chromecast using the plex.tv web interface all day yesterday. (and no, not by casting the chrome tab)

The android app, however, still will not cast until they open it up to everyone.

 

[cronos]

I can't take a screen grab since I'm at work, but I was definitely casting from my server to my chromecast using the plex.tv web interface all day yesterday. (and no, not by casting the chrome tab)

The android app, however, still will not cast until they open it up to everyone.

Ah, I thought you were talking about the app.

Plex.tv is just their new redesign website (with a new name), so maybe you mean the change comes through by installing the newest version of the server app? I did look and the version number doesn't seem to be that much different than the one I have already so I didn't bother upgrading (it's the same 0.9.8.xxx).

 

[cronos]

So I finally saw an android blog reporting it. Still not sure how it works and won't be able to try it until later in the afternoon.

http://www.talkandroid.com/189811-plex-launches-new-website-offers-option-to-stream-to-chromecast/

 

[cronos]

All right, I was able to figure this out last night, and it's fantastic!

First of all, make sure that your Plex server is signed in to your Plex account (PlexPass is not needed for this), and that Plex can see your server. The latter was a tricky part for me, as although my router supports uPnP, it won't route it automatically so I had to manually enter the port forwarding rule to make it work.

After that, it's easy, either you automatically can access your server by going here: https://plex.tv/web, or if it doesn't show up, just go to this website: https://plex.tv/servers and sign in to your Plex account there as well, click on your server, click launch, and you'll be forwarded to the correct address.

This new https://plex.tv/web interface has the 'Chromecast' icon at the top right of the screen, and will allow you to cast what you're watching to your Chromecast (my Roku actually shows up there as an option as well, but I haven't tried casting something there). It worked really well for me, contents played much more smoothly vs casting a chrome tab, and you will have the option to choose the stream quality as well. I'm pretty happy

PS: double check your other Plex clients, as they may not be able to see the server now without you signing in to your Plex account on them as well. There used to be a bug in the Plex system that the clients all reported that <server went away> and then it showed nothing. What worked for me in the past is to make sure the server and all the clients are *not* signed in to Plex account, but obviously to make Chromecast works now they will have to be.

 

[Dulanic]

The above may make me reconsider Plex. I have been a Media Browser 3 fan. MB3 kind of had the better server /w a so so client and plex has great clients and so so server. I may reconsider.

 

[996GT2]

Got one of these over the weekend. Died after 2 days of watching netflix. No amount of resetting or trying different TVs would fix it. Luckily, Amazon has really good customer service and are sending a replacement.

Anyone else had their Chromecast die after a short amount of time?

 

[SAWYER]

Launch day cc here and use almost daily, no issues

 

[Red Storm]

Launch day cc here and use almost daily, no issues

Same.

 

[bearxor]

Got one of these over the weekend. Died after 2 days of watching netflix. No amount of resetting or trying different TVs would fix it. Luckily, Amazon has really good customer service and are sending a replacement.

Anyone else had their Chromecast die after a short amount of time?

Yeah, I think you have a lemon. I have a launch CC that works perfect.

I've tried Plex a few more times. Seems to do really well for short shows, but anything over 1/2 hour I still get buffering. But I put my iPad, iPhone and Surface on my 2.4ghz network and streamed three different things at once and didn't have any problems. Maybe there's not enough RAM in the CC.

 

[cronos]

Yeah, I think you have a lemon. I have a launch CC that works perfect.

I've tried Plex a few more times. Seems to do really well for short shows, but anything over 1/2 hour I still get buffering. But I put my iPad, iPhone and Surface on my 2.4ghz network and streamed three different things at once and didn't have any problems. Maybe there's not enough RAM in the CC.

I experienced the same problem today while entertaining guests playing kids movies. This is the first time I experienced buffering, however I have only ever watched 30 min to 1 hour shows before.

While looking over the settings I found that I could change the quality of the stream, and thought if I reduced it, maybe it would help, and you know what, it did! No more buffering after this, and to me the quality didn't suffer too much, obviously depending on the setting. Go ahead and try this if you haven't. The setting is at the top right corner of the movie, right next to the Chromecast icon.

 

[bearxor]

I have it set on the server to do 3Mbps streams.

 

[gorcorps]

I experienced the same problem today while entertaining guests playing kids movies. This is the first time I experienced buffering, however I have only ever watched 30 min to 1 hour shows before.

While looking over the settings I found that I could change the quality of the stream, and thought if I reduced it, maybe it would help, and you know what, it did! No more buffering after this, and to me the quality didn't suffer too much, obviously depending on the setting. Go ahead and try this if you haven't. The setting is at the top right corner of the movie, right next to the Chromecast icon.

I hope it's not a CC hardware limitation forcing you to do such things. Maybe with some updates to Plex it won't have an issue

 

[cronos]

I hope it's not a CC hardware limitation forcing you to do such things. Maybe with some updates to Plex it won't have an issue

In my opinion it *is* the Chromecast's hardware limitation that causes this, more specifically the fact that it's wi-fi only. I understand that with the price they're selling it and how small it is, it's probably impossible to fit an ethernet jack on the CC, but I really think it's the one thing that prevent the CC from being *the* perfect streaming device for me.

Yes, in a few days it'll be 2014, and for a lot of people it's been years since they had their devices wired, but for streaming movies I'll still take a wired connection any time. I just don't have faith in wireless technology to stream high bit-rate movies. And yes, my Roku is wired.

 

[shocksyde]

No buffering issues here streaming Plex movies or TV shows. Man this is awesome. No need for cable anymore.

 

[bearxor]

I'd be happy if the CC just supported 5ghz wireless. 2.4 is just too cluttered in my area.

I moved my setup to the other side of the room, trying Plex with CC right now for an episode of The Americans, so far so good, 10 minutes in.

 

[joejoe666]

ok can someone explain chromecast for dummies?
i have dish network. i can get rid of it?

 

[alangrift]

It is quite an inter resting device for how cheap and easy it is to setup it is definetely worth the 35$.

 

[bearxor]

ok can someone explain chromecast for dummies?

It's a device that connects to your TV's HDMI port and allows you to send video streamed over the internet directly to your tv if the app supports it. Like YouTube, Hulu, Netflix or HBO Go.

i have dish network. i can get rid of it?

Most likely not. Is everything you want to watch available on one of the streaming services and/or do you have an alternative method of getting those shows so you can use Plex?

 

[ponyo]

So Plex Chromecast works without Plexpass with Android phone/tablet?

 

[shocksyde]

So Plex Chromecast works without Plexpass with Android phone/tablet?

Not yet. The feature is now in the app, but will not allow casting. It will "soon."

 

[gorcorps]

In my opinion it *is* the Chromecast's hardware limitation that causes this, more specifically the fact that it's wi-fi only. I understand that with the price they're selling it and how small it is, it's probably impossible to fit an ethernet jack on the CC, but I really think it's the one thing that prevent the CC from being *the* perfect streaming device for me.

Yes, in a few days it'll be 2014, and for a lot of people it's been years since they had their devices wired, but for streaming movies I'll still take a wired connection any time. I just don't have faith in wireless technology to stream high bit-rate movies. And yes, my Roku is wired.

I thought of this too, but that can't be the only reason. Roku boxes running Plex don't have that issue on wireless that I've seen. I'm even using wireless on the PC hosting the plex server and there's no issue on the Roku. Maybe it's a poor wifi antenna though, not necessarily just wifi itself.

 

[ponyo]

Not yet. The feature is now in the app, but will not allow casting. It will "soon."

OK. Now I don't feel so bad. I thought you guys were talking about being able to cast from Android Chrome browser via plex.tv/web.

I was able to cast from my laptop via plex.tv/web page but it worked ok. But I couldn't figure out how to pause/ff/rr during a movie and how to get the subtitle working. Is there a way? I need to be able to see subtitles in movies. I have hard time watching movies without it.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

pretty sure i'm not able to cast from the website anymore, effective today. anyone else seeing this? the button to cast isn't there anymore.

 

[Silenus]

pretty sure i'm not able to cast from the website anymore, effective today. anyone else seeing this? the button to cast isn't there anymore.

I just tried it this morning and it was working normally for me.