Connect Android Tablet to Tv without Internet ?

mgbgt1978

Hi folks, after a lot of looking I can't seem to find a definitive (and easy) answer. I want to connect my Tablet (currently a Huawei T5 10") to any TV's HDMI port without an internet connection. All I will want to watch is stuff I have downloaded to the SD Card.

I have a Chromecast and can easily watch my content with an internet connection. I am going abroad soon for a few weeks and just want the simplest option for connecting my Tablet to a TV without a 'live' internet connection.
There are plenty of half-arsed guides on the net that don't really tell me anything....just that it's possible.
Am I better off just getting something other than my chromecast (Miracast maybe ?) or is there simple step-by-step guide to set up a wifi connection between the chromecast and a TV that doesn't require an internet connection ?
Thanks in advance....and apologies for what is probably a simple question .

PhilOssophy

Isn't there an option in the setup for the chromecast to connect to a nearby device?

GBX

What connections on the tablet ? You might be able to use a mini HDMI to HDMI cable ?

galvo_clare

Could you use a hdmi cable? Don’t know off hand the setup of that Huawei.

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Hi folks, after a lot of looking I can't seem to find a definitive (and easy) answer. I want to connect my Tablet (currently a Huawei T5 10") to any TV's HDMI port without an internet connection. All I will want to watch is stuff I have downloaded to the SD Card.

I have a Chromecast and can easily watch my content with an internet connection. I am going abroad soon for a few weeks and just want the simplest option for connecting my Tablet to a TV without a 'live' internet connection.
There are plenty of half-arsed guides on the net that don't really tell me anything....just that it's possible.
Am I better off just getting something other than my chromecast (Miracast maybe ?) or is there simple step-by-step guide to set up a wifi connection between the chromecast and a TV that doesn't require an internet connection ?
Thanks in advance....and apologies for what is probably a simple question .

GBX

Have a look and see if you can get one of these
https://www.usourceuk.com/huawei-mediapad-t5-micro-usb-to-hdmi-mhl-adapter.html

mgbgt1978

@PhilOssophy. There may well be. I'm very new to the Chromecast (arrived yesterday) and it isn't particularly user friendly....so far .


@GBX. only a mini-USB charging port. BTW I have an MHL cable which worked great with my old Samsung TAB 3, but doesn't slide into the USB on the Huawei unfortunately.

SteM

Tbh, the best thing is to buy an android box. You can then connect that to the TV via HDMI and connect your tablet to the android box via USB. Play android content on the android box box while your there and on the tablet screen while you're on the plane.

mgbgt1978

GBX wrote: »

Have a look and see if you can get one of these
https://www.usourceuk.com/huawei-mediapad-t5-micro-usb-to-hdmi-mhl-adapter.html

Thanks GBX . I spotted that on a search. It looks like it may be a user-friendly option, I was just hoping that the Chromecast connection would be simpler than they have made it

mgbgt1978

galvo_clare wrote: »

Could you use a hdmi cable? Don’t know off hand the setup of that Huawei.

TBH I don't know. I know the MHL Cable won't work. I can't find any info on the net regarding a TV output from the mini-USB.

SteM

Chromecasts were not really designed to play local media.

mgbgt1978

I know.....now:D. just wondering what alternative is out out there as I will be heading for the Far East for a month (a few different hotels) and not sure what TV's are WiFi compatible (or even if the TV Menus will be in English)

mgbgt1978

SteM wrote: »

Chromecasts were not really designed to play local media.

TBH SteM, I think you've kinda hit the nail on the head. What I'm after is a 'Chromecast type' of device that will just play local media over wifi....from my Tablet to a HDMI Dongle device plugged in to a TV.


Or a fairly easy workaround for the chromecast .

SteM

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

TBH SteM, I think you've kinda hit the nail on the head. What I'm after is a 'Chromecast type' of device that will just play local media over wifi....from my Tablet to a HDMI Dongle device plugged in to a TV.


Or a fairly easy workaround for the chromecast .

I love chromecasts but it doesn't suit your needs from the sounds of it so I'd give up on the idea of travelling with one.

What we do is travel with a firestick - they're cheap, light and small and plug straight into a tv. Then when we want to watch something on the big screen we just take the SD card and put it into the firestick. Not much hassle and it means I can play movies from my tablet or my young lad can play TV shows from his.

lawred2

SteM wrote: »

Chromecasts were not really designed to play local media.

They can play Plex content from a local Plex server but that's not exactly the same thing.

Plus they don't work anyway without internet access even if only playing local Plex content

lawred2

SteM wrote: »

I love chromecasts but it doesn't suit your needs from the sounds of it so I'd give up on the idea of travelling with one.

What we do is travel with a firestick - they're cheap, light and small and plug straight into a tv. Then when we want to watch something on the big screen we just take the SD card and put it into the firestick. Not much hassle and it means I can play movies from my tablet or my young lad can play TV shows from his.

Didn't know fire sticks had an SD slot. Good to know

SteM

lawred2 wrote: »

Didn't know fire sticks had an SD slot. Good to know

Sorry, I misspoke. They have a USB port that we put an SD card reader into.

mgbgt1978

SteM wrote: »

I love chromecasts but it doesn't suit your needs from the sounds of it so I'd give up on the idea of travelling with one.

What we do is travel with a firestick - they're cheap, light and small and plug straight into a tv. Then when we want to watch something on the big screen we just take the SD card and put it into the firestick. Not much hassle and it means I can play movies from my tablet or my young lad can play TV shows from his.

Thanks SteM. Just to confirm. I can have a few movies, TV boxsets, etc stored on an SD Card. Then stick the SD card into the Firestick, plug the Firestick into any TV's HDMI port, and watch them ( including pause, skip, choose episode, etc) using the firestick remote ?

edit: just saw your clarification. But still pretty much the same thing, yes ?

advertsfox

lawred2 wrote: »

Didn't know fire sticks had an SD slot. Good to know

They don't have an SD Card slot - the only Amazon Fire devices that do is the Fire TV Box (which was discontinued in 2018).