Chromecast Audio & Internet Radio

[penfold]

I'm thinking of getting a chromecast audio as the wife uses on-line radio to listen to music on her laptop. Is it possible to stream from the web browser to Chromecast audio or does it need to be from an App such as Tunein Radio? Rather than stream from Android apps from her phone as her battery is already a bit duff, I would need to stream directly from the Laptop. As it's Windows 8 and soon to be updated to 10 can I do this if I download the Tunein Radio app on the laptop?

 

The reason I ask is I've just looked at Tunein Radio on my Windows phone but I don't see an option to cast.

[Norphy]

I'm thinking of getting a chromecast audio as the wife uses on-line radio to listen to music on her laptop. Is it possible to stream from the web browser to Chromecast audio or does it need to be from an App such as Tunein Radio? Rather than stream from Android apps from her phone as her battery is already a bit duff, I would need to stream directly from the Laptop. As it's Windows 8 and soon to be updated to 10 can I do this if I download the Tunein Radio app on the laptop?

 

The reason I ask is I've just looked at Tunein Radio on my Windows phone but I don't see an option to cast.

 

I think that you misunderstand how a Chromecast works. When you stream to a Chromecast, generally you don't stream from the device that you've sent the request from. Instead, the device sends the URL to the chromecast and it streams directly from the source. Therefore, if you stream from a device, other than the battery power required to actually initiate the stream, no further battery power is required.

 

I've also found (on iOS apps at least) that the Chromecast icon doesn't appear unless a Chromecast is detected on the same local network.

[jmak]

@Norphy is spot on.

 

I have 3 of these (so far[emoji14]) and think they're brilliant. There is a Chromecast App that you install on your phone/tablet and then you can add Apps such as tunein radio, deezer, Spotify, Plex to it. This means that when you open those Apps, you'll be offered the choice to "cast" to a Chromecast device on the network you're connected to - any or all at the same time if you have more than one

 

Couple of side notes: BBC iPlayer radio has implemented it slightly differently - you don't add it in the Chromecast App, it's directly in the iPlayer App.

 

With Spotify Premium I've found that you can stream from an android phone to the Chromecast directly when Spotify is in offline mode. This is handy when someone else in your house is already streaming! It does this by setting up a wireless network between your device and the Chromecast. Obviously that will use phone battery. You can stream any media on your phone like that, E.g. if you've downloaded podcasts.

 

You can install the Chromecast app on your phone before you buy to check what services it includes.

Edited February 26, 2016 by jmak

[flyinghaggis]

Incidentally Argos are selling them for £15 at the moment.

 

Buy Google Chromecast Audio at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Audio accessories.

[penfold]

@Norphy - Sorry I didn't explain myself very well. Her battery is duff on her phone and she forgets to charge it properly so quite often her phone will suddenly die as the battery charger is upstairs. I plan to use it from the laptop as that is normally plugged in or at least close to the charger. The lack of Chromecast icon makes sense as I'm not connected to a network with a chromecast.

 

Thanks

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Incidentally Argos are selling them for £15 at the moment.

 

Buy Google Chromecast Audio at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Audio accessories.

 

That was why I was asking

[jmak]

Incidentally Argos are selling them for £15 at the moment.

 

Buy Google Chromecast Audio at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Audio accessories.

 

 

@Norphy is spot on.

 

I have 3 of these (so far[emoji14])

 

You lot are a bad influence - I've got 4 now....

 

PS: Argos is selling out fast. Most stores and home delivery are out of stock.

[CyberNerd]

Incidentally Argos are selling them for £15 at the moment.

 

Buy Google Chromecast Audio at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Audio accessories.

 

they are £14 at currys

Buy GOOGLE Chromecast Audio | Free Delivery | Currys

[flyinghaggis]

I've got 4 chromecasts in my house as well (3 video and 1 audio).

 

They're fantastic pieces of kit! It's great being able to remote control your TV's with your phone. I'd also recommend the VideoSteam Chrome/Android app which allows your chromecast to connect and stream video from your PC. AirVideo works well for the same purpose if you have an IOS tablet/phone.

[penfold]

Bought one on Friday and had nothing but problems over the weekend. Firstly getting the thing connected to my router seemed to be impossible. Updated my firmware on the router only to find it looks like it is dead but to be fair I have had intermittant internet problems which I haven't looked at over the last few weeks as they have affect my wife more than me. Replaced the router with my old Plusnet provided one and can get it connected. Only problem is it seems that it isn't always detected by devices and when I did get it connected and playing via my wife's android phone it just stopped after 5-10 minutes of playing.

 

Is there some setting I need to check on the phone that will cause this as it happened twice last night.

[jonnykewell1]

Bought one on Friday and had nothing but problems over the weekend. Firstly getting the thing connected to my router seemed to be impossible. Updated my firmware on the router only to find it looks like it is dead but to be fair I have had intermittant internet problems which I haven't looked at over the last few weeks as they have affect my wife more than me. Replaced the router with my old Plusnet provided one and can get it connected. Only problem is it seems that it isn't always detected by devices and when I did get it connected and playing via my wife's android phone it just stopped after 5-10 minutes of playing.

 

Is there some setting I need to check on the phone that will cause this as it happened twice last night.

 

If your wife has had problem with the internet and you haven't and your wife's phone is having problems with the Chromecast could it be something with her phone? When joining the chromecast to the wifi did you use your own phone or laptop? I recently had a problem with the Chromecast 1 connecting to a Virgin router and had to give up in the end. Might be worth having a google to see if there are any known issues with your particular model of router? I read something about needing to disable "wireless isolation" on the router too which can cause some issues. Other than that i've never had issues connecting, i've found it a breeze.

[penfold]

The reason they affect the wife more than me is she is at home more than me:) Why I tried to get it to connect to my Wifi it just refused to connect. I have had this problem and got round it by restarting my phone or the router. I ended up updating the firmware which caused a load of other issues and running a PING test internally resulted in very long response times/dropouts to the point that I think updating the firmware has caused other problems. I tried the old router to see if the Chromecast would connect and it did first time, but then just stops when playing back radio. I do have a Chromecast on the TV which just worked from the off so I'm leaning towards a duff item. However, because I've had other problems with my router I want to check before I take it back.

 

The problem I partly had is that only her phone seemed to connect to the chromecast properly so I can't be sure where the problem is. I was testing it with TuneinRadio app but I have a Windows phone which seems doesn't support chromecasting on. My Nexus 7 is fast becoming a door stop as trying to use it for anything takes an age or just plain fails:(

Edited February 29, 2016 by penfold

[eyetea]

What's the audio quality of the CCAudio like? I'm no audiophile but is it decent?

[jmak]

What's the audio quality of the CCAudio like? I'm no audiophile but is it decent?

Good enough - audio output is via a 3.5mm jack, so not audiophile, but it has (optical) digital out at over twice the bit rate of CD. On a decent separates system, the audio out isn't as detailed as a proper source, but plenty good enough to listen to. Streaming radio is better than dab to my ears.