Re wi-fi and the Chromecast: Our Chromecast device is plugged into a
television which I estimate to be some 40+ feet from the FiOS wireless
router. The router is located on base of the last truss that forms the
garage roof (maybe 12 feet off the floor) just in front of the front wall
of the house, and the signal passes either through three bedrooms, or a
bath, hallway and bedroom (I'm not sure of the line of sight) to reach the
TV mounted on the back wall of the house. Typical wireless signal is only
one or two bars, and video via the Chromecast is just fine over that
distance. That said, his particular TV has a side-mounted HDMI connector,
so the device does stick out and is not obscured by the body of the
television itself.
We probably benefit from the high location of the router, as there's not
all that much, as a result, to come between its signal and any receiver
excepting stick construction and air.
On Sun, Dec 8, 2013 at 12:14 PM, Chuck Norcutt <
chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> As it turns out the Panasonic BD-75 does work and supports NetFlix and
> two other services I've never heard of. I was a bit surprised after
> connecting to the network to see it tell me there was a firmware update
> available. But it took me about 10 minutes of futzing around to figure
> out how to do that given a very poor software interface and a confusing
> control symbol that didn't match the symbol on the remote.
>
> The NetFlix interface is not as well done as the TV set but it does work
> after a fashion. This is a no cost option for me other than, perhaps, a
> 25 foot ethernet cable to reach the router. I suppose I could use a
> Wi-Fi dongle as well but I think the distance and intervening objects
> may prove to be a problem. It's no further than my computer but the
> computer has a clear line of sight. But I suppose I can steal the
> dongle from the computer long enough to give it a try.
>
> I'm intrigued by the Chromecast and, at $35, it's a very good buy. But
> I'd also be concerned about the Wi-Fi connection. The Chromecast has no
> wired option but does have what I take to be an HDMI extension cable to
> get the device out from behind the TV. Cheap enough to try and discard
> if it doesn't work there.
>
> Does anyone know how I could use the Chromecast to present a slideshow
> from my computer. I assume I'd have to use the Chrome browser in some
> way to do that?
>
> Chuck Norcutt
>
>
> On 12/8/2013 1:13 AM, Scott Gomez wrote:
> > I'l second Siddiq's recommendation. Google Chromecast is easy and
> > inexpensive. Plug it into an HDMI connector on the TV, and just send it
> > what you like from a computer, tablet or phone. Works well at our house,
> > and the TV it's plugged into is about the most distant thing from the
> > wireless router.
> >
> > Recent details on compatible apps, here:
> >
> >
> http://www.ibtimes.com/google-chromecast-now-supports-hbo-go-top-5-apps-hdmi-dongle-1481164
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 1:58 PM, Siddiq Siddiqui-Ali <
> > muhammad.siddiqui-ali@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >> On Dec 5, 2013, at 1:03 PM, Chuck Norcutt <
> chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> I've recently subscribed to NetFlix and Amazon streaming video services
> >>> and loving it. I haven't watched an evening commercial on cable TV for
> >>> months. I was able to do it because my main TV supports it directly.
> I
> >>> just needed to string some Cat 5 cable from my router to the TV
> >>> downstairs almost directly below it.
> >>>
> >>> But when I go to Florida I'll still have an HDTV set to use and a
> router
> >>> not far away but the TV there has no built-in streaming capability.
> >>> What external device do I need to buy to keep NetFlix and Amazon coming
> >>> in? I think the Panasonic Blu-Ray player I have will do that in some
> >>> fashion or other but that seems an odd way to receive video. I think a
> >>> DVR will do the same (if it's the right one). I have no experience
> with
> >>> DVRs but have been thinking about buying one (not renting from the
> cable
> >>> co.) I guess Tivo is the brand to have. In fact I know of no others.
> >>> So, what's the advice. What do I need and, if it's a DVR, can I
> >>> transport it from one place to the other when I move back and forth.
> >>> How important is the visual interface provided by the DVR or other
> >>> device? I can't imagine that my Blu-Ray player is very smart in that
> >>> area. But I have learned to do program selection on NetFlix and
> >>> Amazon's websites. Trying to do it over the TV set is pretty awful.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks all,
> >>> Chuck Norcutt (streaming video know-nothing)
> >>
> >> If your TV in Florida has an HDMI input, the Google Chromecast might be
> >> the best thing (has Netflix, among others, not sure how Amazon video
> >> works). Plus you can stream your laptop to it. 35$ well spent.
> >>
> >> Siddiq
> >> --
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