Chromecast alternative?

I've got a Chromecast on which I have disabled Google Services and only use NewPipe and VLC from F-Droid.

I was wondering what I could replace it with when it stops working.

The remote depletes batteries within a coulle days and the Chromecast has started rebooting randomly...

What I want to do:

  • watch videos from my SMB share
  • watch videos from media.ccc.de
  • optional: Youtube access
  • nice to have, but optional: PeerTube access

I'd prefer something very free and open. Could be something I build myself, I've recently been given a used FireTV remote, perhaps I could re-use that and avoid some e-waste.

EDIT: other functionality is optional and I don't need anything like casting or AirPlay.

30 points · 16 comments · view on lemmy.world

16 Comments

comrade_twisty@feddit.org · 7 pts · 220d (4 replies)

Either a Pi5 with OpenELEC or any other fanless Linux machine with Kodi + Plugins.

Nawor3565@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 220d (3 replies)

I'm quite a fan of "old office PC from eBay with Debian LTS" myself. You can often get them with decent specs for $30-$40 (less than a Pi) since companies will deprecate them en-mass when their support contract ends.

guy_threepwood@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 220d

Yes I have an hp elitedesk mini 800 something G2 which is small (like a thin client), runs kubuntu just fine and can do everything you are asking for. I have a logitech k400 wireless keyboard and trackpad to control it

erebion@news.erebion.eu · 1 pts · 218d (1 reply)

I definitely have some old hardware lying around.

But what do I use to add my remote? I'd need an IR receiver, but which one... And then software I can control.

erebion@news.erebion.eu · 1 pts · 218d

Wait, I have an old FireTV remote I've recently been given, it uses Bluetooth. I don't need an IR receiver, I only need Bluetooth... huh.

pantherina@feddit.org · 1 pts · 220d (5 replies)

FUTO does some things

erebion@news.erebion.eu · 1 pts · 220d (4 replies)

Who or what is FUTO? Why are/is they/it doing things?

pantherina@feddit.org · 0 pts · 220d (3 replies)
erebion@news.erebion.eu · 1 pts · 220d (2 replies)

That's a startpage link to a search that does not find anything that looks like it might be a thing you're referring to. *shrug*

pantherina@feddit.org · 3 pts · 220d (1 reply)

It does for me

https://fcast.org/

https://github.com/futo-org/fcast

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41376215

They will have hardware compatible with the protocol/software listed somewhere.

erebion@news.erebion.eu · 1 pts · 220d

Thank you!

Gabadabs@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 220d

I swapped to a retired office PC with Linux on it, using KDE. I use KDE connect on my phone to use the browser to watch whatever I want. Some increased scaling made the interface more readable from a distance, and I set the hotbar to hide when I maximize a window. It's not perfect, but honestly it's been better than any other option I've tried.

irelephant@anarchist.nexus · 1 pts · 220d (2 replies)

There used to be that raspberry pi casting thing, but it's gone now.

jafra@slrpnk.net · 0 pts · 220d

I have a Chromecast dongle on the tv and stream with VLC. Though i'm not sure what data does to Google this way.