Can Firefox "cast?" a video from my Linux Mint-Mate laptop to my ROKU ultra device using Ethenet-only connectivity- no wifi available.
Please be understanding . . . This is my first ever attempt to get help, and I'm not sure if I'm doing this correctly. I noticed that Firefox now has a channel-app on Roku. But I only connect to my Roku Ultra streaming device using Ethernet. The Firefox browser which I use is located on my laptop, running Linux-Mint-Mate, distro 19 and it's also connected only by Ethernet to my network: My Roku device and my laptop are connected to the same Ethernet-only home network. The reason I cannot use wifi is that my wifi is too slow - Router is 16/4 and I think I'd need a new, much faster router 32/8, or better. But my laptop is very old and it's unlikely it can transmit wireless signals fast enough for a reliable HD signal anyway . . . I would like to be able to send streaming videos from my laptop, to my Roku Ultra - to my TV. (It is not a smart TV - it's just an old Panasonic Plasma HD TV). I have an NBC Sports Pass Gold - Cycling Pass subscription account which (because of their app's. limitations) cannot play all of the available videos from its Roku channel app, because their ROKU channel app's videos are limited to just the most recent 90-day posted events. But all of the older videos from the earlier part of the season can always be played from their website, directly from my NBC account, which is located only on my laptop. -So this means that I can only watch these older videos on my laptop. My Linux operating system is running on an older HP Elitebook laptop with a duel-boot setup with Windows XP. If it is not possible to send these website-only videos across my network via Ethernet to my Roku Ultra device to my TV, could you tell me exactly what hardware devices etc. I would need to buy to do this successfully using wifi? My wifi speed to my apartment is very, very fast - it uses Comcast's fiber-optic service. Please note; I am only be able to follow very simple, step-by-step answers. I am elderly and I'm just a novice with computers etc. Thank you very much for any help with explanations, and options that I might have to accomplish this. Sincerely, DN24
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I confess I don't know the full answer here but here are some indicators: 1. Firefox no longer seems to support casting - the 'browser.casting.enabled' preference has been removed from the about:config list. The only exception seems to be Firefox for Android, a great mobile device browser imo, which works with the Chromecast device. Whether it supports Roku too I don't know, but it would be easy to try - if you have an android device. 2. Linux Mint will allow you to install other browsers besides Firefox (and alongside it). I understand that Chrome supports Roku though don't have chapter and verse for that. You would have to install it from the Chrome website but there are instructions out there on how to do that. Linux Mint will probably offer to install Chromium for you, which is the open source base for Chrome but I'm not sure if it supports casting in the same way as Chrome. Given that it's easy to install and uninstall in Linux my personal approach will be to just try it and see. 3. The 3rd point is the fact your PC doesn't have a wifi connection. I'm pretty sure the Roku works in a similar way to a Chromecast, which uses a system called wifi direct, in effect bypassing the network setup and transmitting device to device. However, it's possible that this will cope with an ethernet connection and simply use the wifi connection at the point in the chain where it starts to be used - the router in the case of your PC. Again, trial and error may well be as quick as deep research.
Sorry to leave so many open ends but the one thing that is sadly clear is that cannot currently at least use Firefox to cast to your Roku. I've no idea why that should be the case but it's a definite downside to using Firefox and I hope Mozilla are able to do something about it soon.
Good luck with your Roku. I hope I've helped a little bit.
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I'm not familiar with doing that, but what I have used in the past is sending tabs to other devices which might work. I'm not really sure how Firefox's Roku app operates so I'll tag this article with the approprite tags so that people with more knowledge about the app may answer.
Thank you for your reply. In the question title, I incorrectly used the term "push". The term I intended to use (and hope is correct) is "cast". I have edited the title to correct the error. I am very sorry for the confusing error. What I'm trying to find out is whether or not it is possible to use the Ethernet connections currently in use on my network for my laptop and Roku ( the TV, has no Ethernet connection or wifi capability), to view videos on a TV that are only available to watch on my old laptop. My laptop does have an HDMI connection but it will not work for connecting the TV to it as a second monitor, because my laptop's installed NVIDIA graphics hardware is too old to support the 2HD content of the NBC Gold Sports Pass Video. The NBC website video's even display poorly and choppy on the laptop, and it's connected by HS internet. Also there appears to be no way to reduce the video quality, so that it might stream properly. I can play YouTube standard HD videos with no problem. . . . I'm guessing that the only practical option (one I can't afford) might be to get a new smart TV: maybe with some kind of built-in high speed - Chrome Browser? thank you for your help. Sincerely, DN24
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I confess I don't know the full answer here but here are some indicators: 1. Firefox no longer seems to support casting - the 'browser.casting.enabled' preference has been removed from the about:config list. The only exception seems to be Firefox for Android, a great mobile device browser imo, which works with the Chromecast device. Whether it supports Roku too I don't know, but it would be easy to try - if you have an android device. 2. Linux Mint will allow you to install other browsers besides Firefox (and alongside it). I understand that Chrome supports Roku though don't have chapter and verse for that. You would have to install it from the Chrome website but there are instructions out there on how to do that. Linux Mint will probably offer to install Chromium for you, which is the open source base for Chrome but I'm not sure if it supports casting in the same way as Chrome. Given that it's easy to install and uninstall in Linux my personal approach will be to just try it and see. 3. The 3rd point is the fact your PC doesn't have a wifi connection. I'm pretty sure the Roku works in a similar way to a Chromecast, which uses a system called wifi direct, in effect bypassing the network setup and transmitting device to device. However, it's possible that this will cope with an ethernet connection and simply use the wifi connection at the point in the chain where it starts to be used - the router in the case of your PC. Again, trial and error may well be as quick as deep research.
Sorry to leave so many open ends but the one thing that is sadly clear is that cannot currently at least use Firefox to cast to your Roku. I've no idea why that should be the case but it's a definite downside to using Firefox and I hope Mozilla are able to do something about it soon.
Good luck with your Roku. I hope I've helped a little bit.