ChromeCast

Other Devices & Integrations Home Theater & Smart Speakers
1

ChromeCast opens up some interesting possibilities such as Displaying camera feed via PIP on your TV when someone approaches your house!

Need a Vera Driver to Send selected Camera through to ChromeCast and some AV scene to setup your tv to display the PIP.

I might have to get one and play with it!

2

I just bought one this morning. It looked like cheap fun. Only $35 from Best Buy with free shipping and a $6 play store credit.

Hopefully someone with far more technical experience than I gets one to play with and program.

3

Funny timing, literally just got back from the store with a new Chromecast to wrap for myself. You brought up a pretty cool use case.

Would Vera have to have a DIAL protocol support layer?

One initial method I am thinking is using Android Tasker and a Chromecast supported IP Video app (if they exist yet). Have a vera controlled sensor that activates tasker (maybe via Vera Alerts) to cast a specific camera over to the Chromecast. Having both direct IP camera support as well as NVR support would be ideal.

4

I bought a couple … one fore me … When I get a chance I will play with this.

5

Just bought one from Amazon, $29+tax. Let me know if you need some help or just a guinea pig :slight_smile:

6

I’ve been really happy with my Chromecast. Unfortunately, it’s my understanding that Google has locked down the access to Chromecast by all but approved vendors. Someone had a general-purpose Chromecast app that got shut down. You’d have to find a way to send the video via an existing approved route (like Youtube, etc).

There has been some talk of enabling screen-casting like Miracast via the Chromecast, but that hasn’t happened yet.

7

“A public release for the Chromecast SDK – which should allow developers to build and release their own apps at will – won’t happen until next year…”

8

That’s too bad, at least it has Plex now.

9

I bought a Chromecast for use in one of our guest bathrooms. I’ve since forgotten about it (it’s been months). Now it seems CC supports VUDU, I keep all my digital copies(HDX) on their cloud. What would be cool (assuming the API allows support) is the HDMI-CEC feature of Chromecast. I know we struggle with activating our TV’s remotely (of course we can use other hardware solutions) since the e-port isn’t hot when disabled. This little feature would instruct the TV (HDMI 1.3) to turn on and switch to a source.

10

Note that it switches to IT’S hdmi port, not any port you choose. I actually had to turn off hdmi CEC for this because I use the chrome cast for listening to music and it would turn the TV on (it’s connected to a receiver) when I was listening to music. There is no reason for the TV to be on in this case (I realize that connected directly to a TV it would need to be on).

11

Note that it switches to IT’S hdmi port, not any port you choose. I actually had to turn off hdmi CEC for this because I use the chrome cast for listening to music and it would turn the TV on (it’s connected to a receiver) when I was listening to music. There is no reason for the TV to be on in this case (I realize that connected directly to a TV it would need to be on).[/quote]

That’s a good point, but turning the TV on when listening to music should be a configuration issue on the receiver side. Most receivers i’ve seen have HDMI-CEC “scenes” (i.e. music = input 2 & screen off or movie = input 3 & screen on etc) that allow you to set them up how you wish.

12

Note that it switches to IT’S hdmi port, not any port you choose. I actually had to turn off hdmi CEC for this because I use the chrome cast for listening to music and it would turn the TV on (it’s connected to a receiver) when I was listening to music. There is no reason for the TV to be on in this case (I realize that connected directly to a TV it would need to be on).[/quote]

That’s a good point, but turning the TV on when listening to music should be a configuration issue on the receiver side. Most receivers i’ve seen have HDMI-CEC “scenes” (i.e. music = input 2 & screen off or movie = input 3 & screen on etc) that allow you to set them up how you wish.[/quote]

Mine is a bit old (Ok, not THAT OLD), but it does not have that option. I don’t use HDMI-CEC anyways for anything since they are for the most part proprietary between companies. I just use a Harmony remote to do it all.

13

Yes, I scanned the SDK and it’s as you stated.

Note that it switches to IT’S hdmi port, not any port you choose. I actually had to turn off hdmi CEC for this because I use the chrome cast for listening to music and it would turn the TV on (it’s connected to a receiver) when I was listening to music. There is no reason for the TV to be on in this case (I realize that connected directly to a TV it would need to be on).[/quote]

14

Note that it switches to IT’S hdmi port, not any port you choose. I actually had to turn off hdmi CEC for this because I use the chrome cast for listening to music and it would turn the TV on (it’s connected to a receiver) when I was listening to music. There is no reason for the TV to be on in this case (I realize that connected directly to a TV it would need to be on).[/quote]

That’s a good point, but turning the TV on when listening to music should be a configuration issue on the receiver side. Most receivers i’ve seen have HDMI-CEC “scenes” (i.e. music = input 2 & screen off or movie = input 3 & screen on etc) that allow you to set them up how you wish.[/quote]

Mine is a bit old (Ok, not THAT OLD), but it does not have that option. I don’t use HDMI-CEC anyways for anything since they are for the most part proprietary between companies. I just use a Harmony remote to do it all.[/quote]

From what I’ve seen, HDMI-CEC is not proprietary, but most manufacturers brand their implementation of it (Samsung Anynet, etc.) to imply that it is to promote consumers to buy other components of the same brand for compatibility. I have a Sony Blu-Ray player, Onkyo Receiver, and a Chromecast. My TV is an older Runco without HDMI. The input switching works just fine. Activating a component causes the receiver to auto switch to the appropriate input.

15

Hi,

any news? Is possible to use Chromecast to stream from cameras via Vera or something else?

Thanks
Martin

16

I have not at this point for lack of time. . I know that TinyCam Pro has Google Cast support as I have played with it a few times. Not sure if Tasker rules can initiate a cast action within the app though.

What I am not clear yet ( have not even tried) if there is a way to set up an action that basically starts the app, selects the camera AND initiates the Google Cast to a specific target. This may be potentially possible along with Tasker +Autovera + AutoCast. You may want to start there and see if its possible.

17

I’m a bit late at joining the ChromeCast owner group but has anyone had time to play with some kind of ChromeCast integration in Vera? Or has everyone moved on to something else?

18

Hmm, I lurked the forum a bit and found that the DLNA Media Controller Plugin has the BubbleUPnP listed as a compatible Media renderer.
So it seems like this can be a possible solution to send some media to the ChromeCast using Vera. Not sure that it can be automated all the way.

Anyone have any experience with this kind of setup?

What I would like to be able to do is to Cast audio streams to my ChromaCast using Vera.