cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/19441267

I have a 2nd-gen chromecast, it’s factory reset. If i plug it in all it tells me is to install the app to start configuring.

I don’t have a google account not do i want to install/use google-related stuff on my phone.

My home router doesn’t register any new device, which makes sense since the cast doesn’t know the SSID/pass of the WiFi.

Does it try to ping some service/port? Multicast perhaps? Where would it get an IP from without authenticating?

My (wired) PC runs gentoo.

How can i get it to work in these conditions?

  • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
    121·
    3 months ago

    I don’t think you can. On the other hand, if you register a Google account, use a secondary user on your phone to login, install the app and activate the Chromecast, I think you can subsequently use it without the Google account. Delete the secondary user once you’re done with the setup. You wouldn’t have given Google any useful data and you’d have cost them some.

    • Extras
      2·
      3 months ago

      Oh that’s smart. Would it essentially be just a miracast dongle thing?

      • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
        5·
        3 months ago

        Well I don’t know what OP is planning to use it as, but desktop VLC can cast to Chromecast on the LAN for example.

        • flashgnash@lemm.ee
          2·
          3 months ago

          Imagine how much more convenient the world would be if the Chromecast protocol was open source

            • flashgnash@lemm.ee
              2·
              3 months ago

              That’s awesome if they’re implementing it.

              My Google home and Chromecast at the moment are necessary evils because when I sit down to watch something I don’t want to have to worry about whether it’ll work with x or y, whether I’m getting good bitrate etc

              Would however be really cool if I was able to cast my screen, cast YouTube etc from my Linux laptop

              Have been able to do it in the past using chrome but I already need to keep two browsers installed don’t want a third

              • Para_lyzed@lemmy.world
                1·
                3 months ago

                Just a thought, but since someone else in the thread said you can stream to Chromecast via VLC, you can desktop capture natively in VLC and stream that to your Chromecast. I can’t remember if the native capture can do sound or not, but if not, you can instead use OBS virtual cam (you’ll need v4l2loopback for the virtual cam to show up), and open that as a capture device in VLC. You should be able to attach an audio source to that as well. While I haven’t personally tested it with audio, I have used OBS virtual cam with VLC before, and it worked flawlessly for me. If you can’t find a more elegant solution, then it’s worth a shot to try and see if it works

            • flashgnash@lemm.ee
              2·
              3 months ago

              If it’s actually possible when my Chromecast stops being usable I’m putting Linux on it and using it to run some light weight projects (someone mentioned you can Linux them)