Forum Discussion

R0KUBLOWS's avatar
R0KUBLOWS
Newbie
4 years ago
Solved

Cannot mirror/cast from pixel 4a to roku

I have vision problems where the browser app fonts are too small to read without sitting within a foot of the tv. I require the use of my device (pixel 4a) to type web addresses and use tv browser as...
tv & player wifi
  • AvsGunnar's avatar
    AvsGunnar
    4 years ago

    R0KUBLOWS 

    Feel free to post back with any questions.  It certainly can be a little confusing at first with streaming and getting everything to work.  Not uncommon to find a better or easier way as you begin to understand things a little more and start experimenting with the capabilities of these devices.

    Some users here have different platform devices connected to the same TV for this very reason.  Each streaming platform has their pros and cons and different features.  

     

AvsGunnar's avatar
AvsGunnar
Community Streaming Expert
4 years ago

R0KUBLOWS 

Sometimes depends on the phone and version of Android.  On my Android MotoZ, I cannot just press Cast and push everything I see to my Roku devices. (I can with Youtube and some other Googlecast compatible sites).

I can however cast just about any other online content from my Android phone to the Roku device using Web Video Caster. (https://channelstore.roku.com/details/dd37e6d096d3197a9578787890118e33/web-video-caster-receiver)

You install the Web Video Caster receiver Channel on your Roku device, and then install the Web Video Caster app/apk avilable in the Play Store to your phone.

This app works great and is free (upgrade no ads is only $3 or $4 one-time purchase).  There are other castings apps available in the Play Store as well but I find this one to work the best.

Web Video Caster website - http://www.webvideocaster.com/home

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Hope that helps you a bit.

  • R0KUBLOWS's avatar
    R0KUBLOWS
    Newbie
    4 years ago

    Ok. I get that. It's a solution of sorts but if I have to install other apps to make Roku work why do I need Roku at all?

    Wouldn't I be better served by a Chromebox that will cast whatever I throw at it?

    • R0KUBLOWS's avatar
      R0KUBLOWS
      Newbie
      4 years ago

      Thanks. I guess I really didn't understand exactly what these things do. My expectations of Roku may have been unrealistic. I'm already fighting Pixel phone vs Samsung tv incompatibilities and hoped Roku would be a workaround. 

      I will try the app you suggested.

      Thanks again.

       

      • AvsGunnar's avatar
        AvsGunnar
        Community Streaming Expert
        4 years ago

        R0KUBLOWS 

        Feel free to post back with any questions.  It certainly can be a little confusing at first with streaming and getting everything to work.  Not uncommon to find a better or easier way as you begin to understand things a little more and start experimenting with the capabilities of these devices.

        Some users here have different platform devices connected to the same TV for this very reason.  Each streaming platform has their pros and cons and different features.  

         

    • AvsGunnar's avatar
      AvsGunnar
      Community Streaming Expert
      4 years ago

      "Ok. I get that. It's a solution of sorts but if I have to install other apps to make Roku work why do I need Roku at all?"

      You don't.  Nobody needs a streaming device if the content is available online.  I stream a lot of content off my laptop directly to my TV via an HDMI cable.   The streaming device itself is for convenience and to manage a collection of different streaming Channels/app/services.  Any streaming device is simply a little specially designed dedicated computer for streaming online content.  You will really only need a streaming device for content that is not readily accessible online.

      If you want features that aren't included natively with a streaming device, then you will need to add these features youself.  Just like adding apps to a phone or software to a computer.  You may need to customize it a bit to suit your needs.

      ---

      "Wouldn't I be better served by a Chromebox that will cast whatever I throw at it?"

      If most of your content is going to be cast and will work on Chromecast or Chromecast with Google TV devices, then perhaps that is the better product for you.  Most of the different streaming services are available on all these different streaming platforms.  Just have to find the platform you like that works best and most convenient in accessing your desired content.