How to watch streams on my tv

StraightPoolIU

StraightPoolIU

Brent
Silver Member
I recently purchased a Vizio hd smart tv. While it has several streaming apps I don't see ustream as one of them nor a browser that would allow me to watch TAR ppvs etc. What is the best solution to allow me to watch streams on this bad boy? Would a chromecast work? My laptop doesn't have an hdmi out, but it does have vga. Is there a special cable or adapter I could buy?

P.s. Sorry if this has been covered before. I tried a search and it wasn't very helpful.

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Thanks but my tv is actually a Vizio not a Samsung so it doesn't seem to have the ustream app available. So back to my other question. Has anyone used Chromecast or know how I can hook my netbook up to my tv?

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I'm not a true tech guy, but these ideas should work

Wireless streaming to a TV can difficult and usually gets stuck buffering forever. You can hook your laptop directly to your TV using a HDMI cable and treat your TV as a remote monitor controlled by your laptop (external display).

Your TV may also take a direct internet connection via Ethernet cable from your wall. If this is possible, you should be able to access the internet from your Smart TV and stream at normal speeds.

An easy way (but you may not want to drop another $100) is to purchase an Apple TV box. Once this is hooked up to your TV you can run a stream from an iPad or iPhone pretty easily.

Good luck,

John
 
Chromecast should work for you in this case, assuming your TV has HDMI and you have decent WiFi at home. Plus it's $36 (or cheaper), by far the cheapest streaming solution.
 
I have three chromecasts and though the chromecast is a really useful device it does not yet have support ustream https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/promotion_google_cast_apps. You could probably buy a vga-dvi then dvi - HDMI adapter I just tried it for you and it worked for me. Or they do have VGA - HDMI adapters though I have never tried one it would be easier. Your issue will then be sound not a problem if you can output to a stereo system. VGA doesn't support sound. Depending on the size of your TV you will need to play with your display settings to get it to look right. But in a pinch vga will work.

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I guess with a chromecast you could cast a chrome browser tab from your laptop which would work for some streams.

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Thanks. You all have been helpful. Right now I'm leaning towards buying an VGA to HDMI converter. Looks like they run anywhere from 25 to 60 bucks on newegg.com and amazon. Just trying to decide which model is best. Part of me also wants a chromecast, but I'm worried it may not work for all streams. I figure with the converter I can just bring the stream up on my laptop and let it rip.
 
StraightPoolIU said:
Thanks. You all have been helpful. Right now I'm leaning towards buying an VGA to HDMI converter. Looks like they run anywhere from 25 to 60 bucks on newegg.com and amazon. Just trying to decide which model is best. Part of me also wants a chromecast, but I'm worried it may not work for all streams. I figure with the converter I can just bring the stream up on my laptop and let it rip.
Click to expand...

I have a VGA to HDMI converter I don't need anymore, this guy http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-RCAD-11001-VGA-HDMI-Adapter/dp/B005GQ6EVW/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top $20 shipped, send me a PM if you are interested with your mailing info, I'll send you my PayPal info.

Worked fine for my old laptop.

Only thing you need to watch out for is overscanning on the TV, computer to TV connections at times will send the image a bit too large for the screen and it's tough to get it perfect unless your computer or TV has overscan controls. My 8 yr old laptop did not, nor did my older 720p TV so on full screen you can lose a bit of the screen at the edges.
 
The Ustream app on an iPhone can stream to a TV that has an Apple TV connected to it.

Mac computers from roughly 2012 and later can also stream whatever is on their screen to an Apple TV.
 
Yeah I don't own any Apple products so those options are out. It doesn't have to be perfect. All I am looking for is the same viewing experience from my netbook except bigger. Hang, I might take you up on that, but I am supposed to be getting a new work PC soon and if it has an hdmi out then it's a moot point. If not I'll be in contact.

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StraightPoolIU said:
Yeah I don't own any Apple products so those options are out. It doesn't have to be perfect. All I am looking for is the same viewing experience from my netbook except bigger. Hang, I might take you up on that, but I am supposed to be getting a new work PC soon and if it has an hdmi out then it's a moot point. If not I'll be in contact.

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Click to expand...

We used a VGA/HDMI cable to connect my wife's laptop to our TV but then it stopped working and we couldn't figure it out. So we started to drag my 27" iMac out to the coffee table, which was a PITA but we got a big screen experience (sitting on the couch only 4' away) for streamed matches.

Yesterday my wife walked in the door wearing a big grin and carrying a new computer bag, courtesy of her work. And, yes, it has an HDMI output, so we be happy campers now. :)

I'd hold out for the new computer, I believe most all of them have HDMI now.
 
smart tv

i got an lg and there is a ustream app. But depending on what type of video outputs you have you may still get an hd picture. Theres the reguler vga for moniters and you may ave a slightly different one next to it its call dvi i think. if you have that out put all you need is the adapter 'dvi to hdmi' and an audio from pc to tv. next time you get a pc make sure it has hdmi out. I would look into finding the app. If its not out for vizio it will soon
 
StraightPoolIU said:
I recently purchased a Vizio hd smart tv. While it has several streaming apps I don't see ustream as one of them nor a browser that would allow me to watch TAR ppvs etc. What is the best solution to allow me to watch streams on this bad boy? Would a chromecast work? My laptop doesn't have an hdmi out, but it does have vga. Is there a special cable or adapter I could buy?

P.s. Sorry if this has been covered before. I tried a search and it wasn't very helpful.
Click to expand...

Get a Roku. They're inexpensive and they support Ustream and even come with their own remote. All you need is an open HDMI input on the TV.
 
banditgrrr said:
Get a Roku. They're inexpensive and they support Ustream and even come with their own remote. All you need is an open HDMI input on the TV.
Click to expand...

just got a couple rokus. you need to log into your roku account, add a private channel. the code for UStream is IN4DN.
 
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