Netflix via Chromecast when there is no wifi or mobile signal

[Bill_OR]

Hi,
I'm fairly new to this so please be gentle!
I have recently acquired a Chromecast device which I have linked with the Huawei mifi hub in my motorhome (the mifi has a Three PAYG SIM in it). I use films downloaded several days earlier via the Netflix app on my Samsung tablet (also linked to the mifi) as the source from which to cast to the TV.
Now the first time I used this combination everything worked really well - but the 2nd time I couldn't get Netflix to cast to the TV. The difference the 2nd time is that there was no mobile data left on the SIM.

The conclusion of my investigation is that the Netflix App MUST communicate via the web in order to verify the Netflix account/password. Can anyone confirm this for me?
If this is correct then this approach will not work when there is no site wifi or mobile signal and I need to come up with a different approach.

 

[Swifter]

I think you can pre download content before hand for watching when not on wifi

 

[Itsmcb]

Did the film play on your tablet just not cast or were you unable to play at all?

 

[Bill_OR]

Swifter - that's my problem. I HAD downloaded the content but couldn't 'cast' it to the TV.

 

[Bill_OR]

Itsmcb - good point. The film was playing on the tablet but wouldn't cast to the TV. Hence the problem couldn't have been a Netflix one after all - so now I'm stumped again!

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[Robert Clark]

When you download a Netflix program it has a limited expiry date

 

[Bill_OR]

Robert Clark - all the material was 'fresh' so should have played OK.

 

[Robert Clark]

Can you connect your device to the internet via your phone to see if this helps ?

 

[Itsmcb]

If you can play the film on your tablet then it's a casting issue rather than a download issue. Sorry I don't know what a Chromecast requires, maybe a Google search is the way forward

 

[dunnah01]

Can you cast from other Apps?

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[Bill_OR]

Itsmcb - I'm now thinking that it could be a power supply problem to the Chromecast as I noticed that the 'little light' on the side of the device wasn't showing consistently. It's currently a USB lead from the Chromecast plugged into a USB to Cig lighter adaptor, plugged into a double cig lighter to single cig lighter adaptor (the other socket is for the TV), plugged into a cig lighter socket... perhaps this needs to be improved!

 

[63720]

AFAIK Chromecast uses Google Home to communicate, in which case you will still need data to establish a connection even to watch recorded content. Long time since I've used it though preferring to use a Firestick instead. Someone may be among to put you right though.

 

[Bill_OR]

dunnah01 - I was struggling to get this to work...

Perhaps I need another session to get things sorted out - and perhaps I need to top up the SIM card...

 

[Bill_OR]

AFAIK Chromecast uses Google Home to communicate, in which case you will still need data to establish a connection even to watch recorded content. Long time since I've used it though preferring to use a Firestick instead. Someone may be among to put you right though.

Now that would explain what was happening!

 

[Itsmcb]

Itsmcb - I'm now thinking that it could be a power supply problem to the Chromecast as I noticed that the 'little light' on the side of the device wasn't showing consistently. It's currently a USB lead from the Chromecast plugged into a USB to Cig lighter adaptor, plugged into a double cig lighter to single cig lighter adaptor (the other socket is for the TV), plugged into a cig lighter socket... perhaps this needs to be improved!

Do you have a usb socket on the back of your TV? It MAY supply sufficient current to power your chromecast, I have a couple of firesticks powered this way.

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[March Hare]

We tried to get this to work, but just couldn't get it to mirror / cast from the iPad to the Chromecast without using data.

According to the Google blurb online, it is supposed to be able to do a RF handshake, and that you can then mirror from the tablet / phone etc without using data. As we were using an iPad, we had the Apple Lightening cable but we still couldn't get it to work.

It would be very useful for when you're abroad and not on an unlimited data plan.

We've also got a Firestick, and we're having the same problem.

 

[Cush]

This any use?
Never used it myself though

 

[Janine]

I think that you do need internet connection to watch downloaded films because, if your Netflix subscription has expired, you can’t watch them. (Speaking from experience )

 

[Wabs]

could you not just run a usb/ hdmi cable from your tablet to the tv until you sort it out ?

 

[Gaston aires]

I have both a chromcast and a firestick. I find the firestick much better.
Im no expert either so it must be easier.
Phil

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[GarryP]

AFIK, you need a live Chrome internet connection to be able to chromecast. If, for example, you were to access netflix using google chrome, then you would have no difficulty chromecasting. I don't see how you could do it with previously downloaded material. As an aside, that's how I watched the Euro Cup final here in Mexico, acquiring bbc iplayer through chrome usinga vpn and then casting it to my 65 inch samsung tv.

 

[Bill_OR]

Thanks for all your advice - I'll report back if I make any progress!

 

[Guigsy]

The older Chromecast devices can only stream content from the internet. When you 'cast', all you're doing is telling the Chromecast which Netflix video or YouTube clip you want to pull down. The video stream isn't actually going via your phone. So I'm also pretty sure that it can't play back stuff you've saved on your phone.

The newest 'Chromecast with Google TV' might be different as it's got far more smarts... not sure.

 

[Andacami]

Casting requires "WiFi" (not internet). Viewing content, live or previously downloaded will probably require "internet" even if being done wirelessly or via HDMI/USB.

Does your TV have an option for Miracast?

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast™ enables seamless display of multimedia content between Miracast® devices. Miracast allows users to wirelessly share multimedia, including high-resolution pictures and high-definition (HD) video content between Wi-Fi devices, even if a Wi-Fi network is not available.