How to watch your Green Feathers camera with a Google ChromecastUpdated a month ago
This guide shows you how to watch your Green Feathers WiFi camera or wired IP camera on your TV, using a Google Chromecast. This will work for other Google Cast ready devices as well.
Before you begin
You'll need a Google Chromecast, which has been connected to your TV and WiFi router.
You will need a 1st, 2nd or 3rd Gen Green Feathers camera and have it connected to the internet.
If you need some help connecting it to the internet, follow one of these guides:
3rd Gen cameras: WiFi Bird Box Camera 3rd Gen setup via Green Feathers app (AP mode)
2nd Gen cameras: 2nd Gen WiFi camera setup on Android/iOS
1st Gen cameras: 1st Gen WiFi camera setup on Android/iOS
Background
There are two ways of using the Google Chromecast to send the video feed to your TV.
- The first way is to use Google Cast. For this you'll need a device that can display the video feed from the camera and send the video feed from the camera to the Chromecast device. This can be done using an Android phone, a Chromebook, or a computer running Google Chrome.
- The second way is a bit more complicated but it doesn't require an Android device to connect to the Chromecast. Instead you'll use an 'RTSP stream' link to stream the video feed from the camera to a programme called VLC (it can be installed on most Windows, Mac, iOS or Android devices). VLC will then connect to the Chromecast to send the video feed to your TV.
The disadvantage of both of these methods is that a phone or computer needs to be switched on continuously in order to take the RTSP stream from the camera and send it to the Chromecast. You can work around this by using an Amazon Fire TV Stick with the VLC programme installed directly onto the device.
Amazon Fire TV stick:
See here for information on watching your Green Feathers camera with Amazon Fire TV Stick
Google Cast
From an Android device
First thing, make sure your camera is connected to the internet and can be viewed on your Android device. If you have a 3rd Gen Green Feathers camera, this will be via the Green Feathers app. If you have a 1st or 2nd Gen camera you will need to use iCSee Pro or XMEye.
Once you can view the camera on your Android phone/tablet, look for the settings icon and select the 'Cast' option:
Now just select the device you want to begin casting to:
Google Chrome browser with a 3rd Gen Green Feathers camera
If you have a 3rd Gen Green Feathers camera, you can view it in the Google Chrome browser using this guide:
WiFi Bird Box Camera 3rd Gen viewing in a web browser
Click the settings icon, select 'Cast', and select your device:
Once you have selected the Chromecast it will say 'Chrome Mirroring' and the image will appear on your TV:
Google Chrome browser with a 1st or 2nd Gen Green Feathers camera
If you have a 1st or 2nd Gen camera you can use this option too, but it is slightly different. Follow this guide:
Access your IP bird box camera using Internet Explorer or Google Chrome
Once that's set up and you can view the camera in Google Chrome, click the settings icon, select 'Cast', and select your device:
You will now notice that an image is being cast to your TV, but it is a blank screen. This is because Chrome Cast in 'tab' mode. To remedy this set the Chromecast to cast the entire desktop instead of just the tab:
Streaming from VLC to the Chromecast
First thing, find your RTSP stream link for your camera, then check that it works using this guide:
Making an RTSP stream for a Wi-Fi or wired IP bird box camera
When you have confirmed that the camera can be viewed in VLC, just click Playback > Renderer, then select your device:
VLC will now be sending the video feed from the camera to your TV. If it doesn't find any of your devices, make sure that both the Chromecast device and the computer you are using to receive the RTSP stream are both using the same WiFi network.
Need more help?
If you need help with anything else please check out our other guides or get in contact.