How to get Netflix etc onto a TV via a smartphone?

Do you have a laptop? Use your phone to make a wifi hotspot using its mobile data, connect the laptop to the hotspot, then plug the laptop into an HDMI port on the TV.

Same also goes for a desktop PC/Mac, if you have one of those you can take along. A few phones will also do display output over their USB-C port, so with the right cable you can skip the PC and plug them right into HDMI.

Theo

There are a few ways to do this....

It depends a bit on the capabilities of the TV, and the phone.

Some TVs can be connected to a network and will be visible on the network as a device you can "cast" to. If the TV can do this, then I would go for a standalone wifi access point. It can be used to create a wifi network, that the phone can join, and also connect to the TV via ethernet.

The device needs to be in Access Point mode. Importantly it also needs to have its internal DHCP server enabled - so that it can hand out IP addresses to both the ethernet and wifi devices connected to it. Once the phone and network are on the network, use the cast icon in the netflix app on the phone.

If the TV can't act as a cast target by itself, then you may need two bits of kit - a "mifi" style mobile mobile network wifi router (with a sim card (real or virtual)), that can create a hotspot joined to a 4G/5G mobile network. You will also need something like an old chromecast or amazon fire tv stick that will plug into the TV's HDMI and give it a wifi capability plus software to make it look like a device you can stream to.

Then you would connect both the TV and the phone to the mifi network. (make sure the settings on the mifi are not isolating the wifi devices from each other - they need to be able to communicate locally - not just access the internet).

If you have a modern fairly high end phone that supports thunderbolt video over its USB C port, then you might even get away with a basic USB C to HDMI adaptor - plug the phone into the TV and use it as a big screen.

As the TV has an HDMI port I suspect it's easier and more reliable to use a TV stick (Fire TV, Roku, etc) to stream Netflix direct from the router. It would save some fiddly configuring. I know this isn't exactly what the OP asked.

Still considering the options.

We do have a laptop.

There is no rush as it is 6 weeks away before we want to try it. And if it fails we are not bothered as we will just go to the pub again or for another walk.

Sorry for late reply - I have been too tired to go back onto the newsgroup. I am too old for 7am starts and 6pm finishes 7 days a week for almost 6 weeks (school rewire).

If that has an HDMI port (or DVI), then plug that into the TV, and connect it to a hotspot on the phone or a mifi style device. Job done. Use netflix etc on the web and use the TV as the main screen. (Windows Key + P to cycle through the combinations of internal screen, external, or both)

Apparently Lou has 3 laptops but has no idea if any have HDMI. And she is at work now until Sunday.

If the laptops are made in the last 10 years, they probably have USB-C and a cheap USB-C to HDMI cable/dongle can usually be used, eg:

Theo

Bit late now, but for future reference I often use this to tease out of people what connectors they have:

A big caveat to attach to those - generally they assume that the USB port also has thunderbolt, and hence can send out video via the USB connector. Older laptops probably won't have that and the adaptor won't work.

You can get what are in effect graphics cards that can connect via USB, and with the addition of some "Display link" drivers can then output video that way. By devices that support that (some high end docking stations) tend to be about 4 times the price of a basic on that only does thunderbolt video over USB C.

You don't need Thunderbolt, just DisplayPort alt-mode over USB-C. That's much simpler than Thunderbolt.

But if the laptop doesn't have another video port (most commonly HDMI, but possibly mini DP or VGA) then it's almost certainly available over USB-C.

USB-C outputs DP (not HDMI) so the HDMI cables have a DP->HDMI converter chip in them.

Those are a pain. I'd avoid those if you can.

Theo

Another 6 weeks till we need to try it out :-)

One laptop is only 2 years old.

Cheers

Adam

For many "non flashy" laptops of a certain age, that is basically your only option if you want a docking solution that can drive more than one external screen. (typically they have 1 x HDMI, so can do one screen, but don't have USB that can do another)

If the TV has HDMI and Laptops have Windows 10 or 11, or even some older OSs but not HDMI consider an Amazon Fire Stick. If they are on the same WiFi network you can cast your PC screen and sound to the FireStick... .. in fact if the TV has HDMI a FireStick will give you Netflix.

Dave

Yup that can work for a single screen. OOI have you tried it for multi monitor desktops? (e.g. one via HDMI and another cast)

Yup, same for a chromecast (although the simple older ones are not as easily available now)

I see deals on the FireSticks at present,also often cheaper as re-furb

Dave