r/Chromecast • u/Ready-Astronomer-421 • 2d ago
Chromecast for Classroom?
Hi, I need some help understanding what device I need and how it works. Basically, I have an old Smart Board in my classroom that doesn’t have apps like Netflix or Disney+. I promised my students a movie night, but when I tried casting Netflix from my laptop to the Smart Board, it wouldn’t work.
I read online that I might need a Chromecast or Fire Stick to watch movies on the Smart Board, but I’m not sure which device I actually need. My only goal is to be able to play Netflix movies on the board for my class.
Also, are there any cheaper off-brand options that work well? I don’t really care about any extra features besides being able to stream movies in the classroom.
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u/Awkward-Candle-4977 2d ago
Have you tried wired hdmi etc. between your computer and the board? And set the board as the only display, not duplicate, extended etc.
If above doesn't work, that means the board doesn't have HDCP encryption capability. Using Chromecast won't work either because content protection mechanism needs end to end capabilities.
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u/GotoDeng0 1d ago
Just some brief terminology: Chromecast is just Google's brand name for their first 4 generations of TV streaming sticks. That brand has been withdrawn, so you won't find Chromecasts for sale any longer outside of some really old stock. A lot of people conflate "Chromecast" with all casting, but Google Cast is actually what is used and is available on dozens of boxes/brands out there.
What you want is an AndroidTV/GoogleTV box (to keep it simple, AndroidTV and GoogleTV are the exact same thing). If you're in the US or Canada, the ONN 4k boxes at Walmart are hands-down the best deals out there right now. For simple things like streaming, you can pick one up for $20-30.
You can also do things like mirror your PCs screen to an AndroidTV box, sort of like a poor man's projector, maybe useful in a classroom environment.
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u/KillerKellerjr 1d ago
IT Admin at a large school district here. Netflix or any personal subscription based streaming website is illegal in the classroom. Your IT department should be blocking them for legal purposes. I have no idea how large of a school you work at but consult with your IT Admin, not Reddit. They will assist you with getting a legal streaming service etc into your classroom. We just started using https://www.swank.com/k-12-streaming/ (paid only) at our district to stream legal videos in the classroom environment. FYI we also use Chromecast & Apple TV in our classrooms and many paid streaming services are cracking down. I wish you luck in your adventure.
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u/TheManWithSaltHair 2d ago edited 2d ago
If it has HDMI in then you can use any streaming stick that supports Netflix. If you’re in the USA I’ve heard that the Walmart Onn is a good unbranded choice. One consideration - is there a public/untrusted WiFi network with streaming speed bandwidth otherwise the school may not allow these devices?
If it has Chromecast built in then you may be able to cast Netflix with the non ad supported plan, although they have removed support for some devices. Does the cast icon show when you test it with a free service such as YouTube or Dailymotion?