Pete's QBASIC Site

I found a refurbished Chromecast dongle for $25. I plugged it into the HDMI port 2 out of 3:

The dongle power must come from a USB port which my TV fortunately had above the video connections:

The Chromecast comes with a 120 volt USB wall wart too if a TV has no USB power.

Since the Chromecast Unit has no remotes like a Roku does, you need a device or a computer to set it up.
I decided to install the Chromecast App on my Android Nexus 7 tablet, however Chrome also needed the Google Cast Extension.
Searching on Chrome for the extension was futile as nothing would install as it said the Android Version update was not available!
Then my laptop would not allow me to install the Google Cast Extension because it was an XP, so I had to try to do it on Win 7.
When I installed the Google Cast Extension on Chrome it kept telling me that NO CAST DEVICES are found!


Yet the Chromecast device I renamed was listed in the Options settings

Don't see your device? NO I DO SEE IT, why doesn't the Extension?

I am really SICK of Windows 7 BS! Software does not RUN AS WELL and there are TONS OF OS errors!

The device even shows up in Network Devices along with my Roku that wasn't even in use.

Fortunately when I went back to my XP laptop, Chrome had added the Extension and THAT ONE IS WORKING!

The Google Cast Extension icon turned blue and allowed me to put a Tab web page onto my TV.

HOORAY!!!! Looks real good! Youtube already senses the device to play videos without installing anything.

My TV allowed me to change the Input from HDMI2 to CHROME$.

The Chromecast App on my Nexus 7 allows a Guest WIFI connection without having to provide my secure passkey!

Clicking Guest Mode brings up another page where you can switch it on and have it look for new devices:

Chromecast will automatically try to pair and if not possible it will display a simple pass key so it says.
https://gigaom.com/2014/12/11/chromecas ... onic-tech/

Here are some more tricks for using it: https://gigaom.com/2014/12/25/best-chro ... icks-apps/

I STILL haven't been able to DO ANYTHING with my NEWER Window 7 piece of CRAP! The Chromecast program on Win 7 doesn't have a Guest Mode available either...

I am able to use YouTube to cast videos from the Windows 7 PC to my TV, just cannot cast the Chrome browser:


I had debated adding the Chromecast device to my Receiver, but I'm glad I didn't. The TV remote switches
to HDMI2 automatically when the HDMI remote button is pressed and the Receiver is off and that brings up
the Chromecast device with TV sound. When the Receiver is on, it switches to HDMI1 which only sends sound
from the Receiver and not the TV sound found using the TV remote control Video button.

The Chromecast or Google Cast icon shows up on YouTube near the bottom right to cast a video to the TV:


YouTube also makes up a TV list of the videos:

If you need extra HDMI ports you can get an IOGear remote controlled HDMI switch box for 3 more ports:

The switch box gets power from the HDMI power so the only replaceable battery is in the remote control.

The unit also requires one HDMI cord to go from the TV to the switch box.
The switch normally sells for $25, but I got a refurbished one for only $10.

Most hotels will have TV boxes that will have an HDMI port when the TV doesn't, but can you use it?

This box has no USB port so Chromecast would require a USB power supply.

A new flat TV will most likely have both an HDMI and USB power port:


I'll have to take the Chromecast device with me on my next trip with the HooToo wireless USB to see how it works.