I am looking into buying a chromecast and reducing my Comcast service to only the minimum email service, then use the chromecast for TV, etc. My concern is that I will not to see the local channels as I do now without getting some other type of equipment to accomplish this. I am totally confused on this issue and the chromecast forum did not help at all. Any suggestions will be welcomed.
Chromecast let’s you watch online content like movies, TV shows, or music. Examples are YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, Google music, Crackle, Vudu, etc.
Your local channels are not available. But you need no additional equipment other than an antenna to get them.
I use regular antenna TV for my basic needs. When I want to watch something on Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, etc on my living room tv, then I access the Chromecast using the app on my iphone, though I could use the computer. I am very technically challenged some days, but even I could figure it out. The biggest problem I’ve had is when I’ve tried to cast to the tv and it claims I don’t have anything to cast to. This only happens when my phone connects to the wifi for my printer rather than the main wifi. easily fixed, and now I remember to check before settling in.
I have both. IMO Chromecast is a little more technical and complicated than a Roku box. I’d check out Roku as well. It does Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and quite a few free video sources as well. I believe the newer Rokus do YouTube.
Amazon fire TV is yet another option, but I’d only recommend it if you are an Amazon prime subscriber.
Still you’d need the antenna for local channels.
Personally, I don’t miss any of them, except for the new channel, which I would normally have running in the background.
goto
click on
Check Your Address for Free TV
click on
>> Click HERE <<
for best results enter your address, for crude results enter a zip
it will tell you the quality of antenna and what channels you could get on broadcast tv.
You’re correct, you will not get local channels with Chromecast.
Chromecast will basically use your wireless internet network to stream video from a tablet, smartphone or computer directly to your TV. You can use it directly with Netflix, Youtube, and other apps that are configured to work with Chromecast. You can also use it to cast from a browesr tab, although that’s a bit more complicated and technically in beta. Basically Chromecast is used to take media that is streaming on another device and “cast” it to your TV through the wireless network. We do watch network shows through Chromecast by streaming them online from the network website and then casting them to the TV.
We have an outdoor antenna, Netflix and Chromecast. Works pretty well for us.
Small nitpick - Hulu+ has many of the shows from ABC and NBC - so while you can’t get the local news (for example) you can still get many of the prime time shows. I like Castle and Blacklist but I’m usually asleep by the time they come on, so I watch them the next day on Hulu (the new season for both starts this month).
So in that sense, you can get some “broadcast” TV shows on Chromecast/Hulu+.