How to cast from a NAS to a Chromecast?

BenEadir

Hi all,

I've a Chromecast set up and working fine on a bedroom TV which gets used primarily for watching Netflix (works fine) and streaming Box Sets. I previously had a WD Live TV media box but it eventually died and was replaced by the Chromecast. The problem I have is that I can't find an app which will allow me to stream my NAS content to my phone and then cast it to the Chromecast. I can find plenty of apps which do the first bit no problem but none of them have Chromecast functionality.

I'd sure appreciate some suggestions.

Ben

Ste-

Bubbleupnp maybe might do what you want ?
Could never get it working myself but didn't try for too long.

Mr E

Plex Server has NAS support for the following devices:

Synology, Netgear, QNAP, unRAID, Drobo and ASUSTOR.

More info: http://allaboutchromecast.com/how-to-use-plex-media-server-to-stream-local-media-to-chromecast-from-your-pc/

BenEadir

it

Ste- wrote: »

Bubbleupnp maybe might do what you want ?
Could never get it working myself but didn't try for too long.

I tried Bubbleupnp and did manage to get it to cast once but it doesn't work all the time and is (at least how I've got the settings) very clunky.

If this is the only app capable of doing it I might just have to stick with it and see if I can get it working in a useable manner.

Ben

BenEadir

Mr E wrote: »

Plex Server has NAS support for the following devices:

Synology, Netgear, QNAP, unRAID, Drobo and ASUSTOR.

More info: http://allaboutchromecast.com/how-to-use-plex-media-server-to-stream-local-media-to-chromecast-from-your-pc/

Way way way beyond my ability. I have a ZyXel NSA310 2TB NAS and looked up trying to get Plex to work on it but it fried my brain I'm afraid

I really just want a nice media streaming app which a Chromecast icon

Ben

Ste-

Can allcast cast from network storage ?
That or localcast, give them a try just rememebr that the video you're trying to cast has to be a particular format.

I really just want a nice media streaming app which a Chromecast icon

Youtube

advertsfox

BenThere wrote: »

Hi all,

I've a Chromecast set up and working fine on a bedroom TV which gets used primarily for watching Netflix (works fine) and streaming Box Sets. I previously had a WD Live TV media box but it eventually died and was replaced by the Chromecast. The problem I have is that I can't find an app which will allow me to stream my NAS content to my phone and then cast it to the Chromecast. I can find plenty of apps which do the first bit no problem but none of them have Chromecast functionality.

I'd sure appreciate some suggestions.

Ben

You need to use the DLNA functionality on your NAS to stream to your phone in which you can control / cast to your TV. BubbleUPnP is exactly what you need.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp&hl=en

But like the other thread you have, you HAVE to setup Twonky / Media Server first and it's really easy to do. You will also need to make sure uPnp is enable on your router and that the firewall is either low or off (the hardware one). What is your router make / model?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV_scXA-hLQ

BenEadir

advertsfox wrote: »

You need to use the DLNA functionality on your NAS to stream to your phone in which you can control / cast to your TV. BubbleUPnP is exactly what you need.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp&hl=en

But like the other thread you have, you HAVE to setup Twonky / Media Server first and it's really easy to do. You will also need to make sure uPnp is enable on your router and that the firewall is either low or off (the hardware one). What is your router make / model?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV_scXA-hLQ

Thanks AF,

My router is an Asus RT-N66U and uPnp is enabled.

I do have Twonky server set up and running on the NAS and I have BubbleUPnP set up to cast to the Chromecast.

I just tested it again there and I was reminded what Ste said about particular formats only playing on the Chromecast. A lot of my NAS content is .AVI files and that isn't one of the four formats (3GP, MKV, MP4 & WEBM) which Chromecast supports. I reckon that was the problem I was experiencing more than anything else as I've just casat an MP4 file to the TV the Chromecast is on no problem.

I thought if the file played on the phone it would play on the Chromecast but I guess I was way off the mark with that assumption

If the Chromecast son't play AVI's I don't think it will be much use to me I'm afraid.

I might just flog it and get another Minix X7 for the bedroom TV.

Ben

advertsfox

Well the ~700MB AVI's should play perfectly (as they do for me) and they are the least intensive format compared to MP4 and MKV. What error do you get when you attempt to stream? Are you far from your AP when you are trying to Cast from your phone to the TV?

At least with another Android box, you can wire it directly and use any of the MANY uPnP / DLNA apps to stream directly to the TV.

BenEadir

advertsfox wrote: »

Well the ~700MB AVI's should play perfectly (as they do for me) and they are the least intensive format compared to MP4 and MKV. What error do you get when you attempt to stream? Are you far from your AP when you are trying to Cast from your phone to the TV?

At least with another Android box, you can wire it directly and use any of the MANY uPnP / DLNA apps to stream directly to the TV.

Hi AF,

I have a Minix X7 streaming over WiFi from the NAS (and from online over WiFi) no problem. I'm currently testing the Chromecast on a TV within 10 feet of the NAS and WiFi router and within 10 feet of my phone so it should be ideal conditions.

I downloaded and successfully cast NAS content using AllCast and LocalCast no problem but both failed to cast any AVI files. They start to serve the files fine and the Chromecast sounds like it's going to play them but the screen remains blank and the odd spike/bleep sounds comes from the TV as though a tiny amount of data is being processed but nothing else. The cast apps look like they are playing the content quite happily as they are counting down the time left on the file etc but there is noting on the screen I'm afraid.

AVI's aren't listed as one of the official Chromecast supported formats so I guess they aren't going to play which is a major problem for me and makes the Chromecast unuseable I'm afraid as about half my NAS content is in AVI format.

Ben

irishpancake

advertsfox wrote: »

Well the ~700MB AVI's should play perfectly (as they do for me) and they are the least intensive format compared to MP4 and MKV. What error do you get when you attempt to stream? Are you far from your AP when you are trying to Cast from your phone to the TV?

At least with another Android box, you can wire it directly and use any of the MANY uPnP / DLNA apps to stream directly to the TV.

How are you casting AVI format to Chromecast??

There has to be transcoding, as CC does not natively support AVI.

If using Bubble UPnP, you will need to install the Bubble Server, which can transcode on-the-fly, or some other server to transcode, such as Plex.

See here, regarding Bubble Server and Chromecast:

www.bubblesoftapps.com/bubbleupnpserver/#cc_transcoding