Streaming Video from iPhone without Home Internet

Massive Flog on 19/05/2023 - 00:50

My mother's partner has an iPhone and has purchased a couple of digital AV adapters (lightning cable to HDMI) to watch videos through his TV. Unfortunately, these only work sometimes, seemingly when they feel like it.

I thought something like a Chromecast would be perfect, except he does not have home internet. Could a Chromecast (or similar) be used with the mobile data on his phone? Or does it actually require a wireless connection to work?

It's pointless for him to pay for the NBN, as he's essentially technologically illiterate (owns an old laptop he won, but has absolutely zero idea how to use it… doesn't use streaming services, etc.)

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • Hybroid on 19/05/2023 - 01:01
    +1

    An Apple TV would provide a seamless casting (AirPlay) experience with an iPhone. Very easy to use and doesn't need it's own internet connection.

    Worth noting that some smart TVs have AirPlay feature built-in already (my Sony Bravia does) so you might not even need the Apple TV unit.

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204289

    • Massive Flog on 19/05/2023 - 09:26

      I should have mentioned he has an old "dumb" TV (Samsung plasma).

      • AustriaBargain on 19/05/2023 - 13:40
        +1

        "Apple TV" is hardware that you plug into your TV via HDMI. Does the old plasma have a HDMI port? "Apple TV" can also mean the Apple TV app, but in this context he's talking about the set top box.

        • MITM on 19/05/2023 - 14:42
          +1

          Yes, the dumb TV has HDMI - they have a lightning to HDMI cable that sometimes works.

  • jv on 19/05/2023 - 02:10
    +1

    Could a Chromecast (or similar) be used with the mobile data on his phone?

    Yes.

    Just get a Google Chromecast TV. They are often on sale.

    Set it up to connect to the hotspot on the mobile.

    It's easy…

  • Massive Flog on 19/05/2023 - 09:26

    Nice. I'll have a look into it.

    Thank you.

  • mrkorrupt on 19/05/2023 - 09:34

    there will be an issue with his data usage as his consumption of media will increase and then he will be paying more then a basic NBN connection
    remember the cheap solution isnt always the cheap solution or the good solution

    • Massive Flog on 19/05/2023 - 10:50

      I don't think it'll be an issue. He has a pretty generous data allowance on his mobile plan; he never goes close to using the full amount in a month, and, it's not something he does a lot. I'll definitely be warning him not to overdo it, though.

  • djsweet on 19/05/2023 - 09:59

    If he has a laptop, can't he just connect that to the tv? Data from the mobile phone hotspot. Sorted? Or as someone else said, AppleTV. Very easy to use, can use with a mobile phone hotspot no problems.

    • Massive Flog on 19/05/2023 - 10:51

      He does not understand how to use a computer at all. He could probably turn it on, but that's it. Didn't grow up with computers, but has managed to work out how to use the basic features of a smart phone.

  • SingleMalty on 19/05/2023 - 11:11
    +1

    I have done exactly this for an elderly family member. Requires 1 Chromecast and 2 iPhones. The iPhone with the mobile connection is used as a WiFi hotspot for the Chromecast and 2nd iPhone, and the 2nd iPhone (with no SIM) is the one that does the streaming. I don't think it matters whether the hotspot phone or the streaming phone is iOS/Android.

    There might be a better way. But it was the only working solution I could come up with at the time.

    Good luck!

    Edit: just to clarify, I couldn't remember whether it was iOS or the YouTube app that didn't allow me to hotspot and stream at the same time. Hence the need for a 2nd phone to do the streaming.

    • lppepper on 19/05/2023 - 14:36
      +2

      This is the case for the older Chromecasts, as it needs a Wi-Fi network to link to, and the hotspot device can't also be the controller for this reason.

      The newer Chromecast with Google TV solves this issue, as it has a physical remote so you can use your phone as a hotspot, and use the remote to control it (it's basically a smart tv interface).

      • SingleMalty on 19/05/2023 - 15:13

        Ahh… thanks for explaining. It was indeed an old Chromecast I had lying around.

      • Massive Flog on 19/05/2023 - 15:37

        That's really good to know. Having to use a spare mobile would be a pin in the arse.

        • lppepper on 19/05/2023 - 16:04

          Yeah it was a pain but did work in that way until the new one came along about 2 years ago which was long overdue.

  • djsweet on 19/05/2023 - 12:43
    +1

    Helping old people with tech is a nightmare. They place so many restrictions on you because "they don't need anything fancy", "just want to do a bit of word processing", "dont want to pay for internet" (even though they pay through the nose for a home phone that they barely use). Then you come up with some whack solution for them, and they struggle to use it because it sucks so bad. Cause of their own problems in almost every case I've even been involved with. Suck. it up, get a decent set up and a decent internet connection that is solid and reliable. Far out. /rant

    • MITM on 19/05/2023 - 14:39
      +1

      I agree. "I want the future but live in the past"

      • Massive Flog on 19/05/2023 - 15:36
        +1

        He's willing to learn, but he struggles to understand what I'm talking about… and doesn't seem to be able to retain anything I tell him.

    • Massive Flog on 19/05/2023 - 15:35
      +1

      I really don't mind helping him; he's a genuinely good bloke. Yes, it's frustrating, at times. I end up being the I.T. help desk for every single piece of technology, though it's the same with my Mum. I always bear in mind that they didn't grow up with this stuff and it's pretty alien to them both.

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