hacks to change resolution? - Google Chromecast

Are there any hacks/mod that let you force a resolution for the Chromecast? My tv has a max resolution of 720p, but the Chromecast detects it as 1080p which results in some over scanning issues. From reading online this is an issue with older TV's and the Chromecast not hand shaking properly. So I was wondering if there is a way to force a custom resolution? Thanks

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HDMI Output to 720p

Hi @all,
I've a problem with Chromecast. My setup is that I'm using an Onkyo receiver which has plenty of HDMI slots. Since I've no TV I've connected a monitor to the Onkyo. Unfortunately the monitor works at best in 720p (I've also attached a PS3 to the system where I'm also using 720p)...
So my question is, can I force Chromecast to output its HDMI signal in 720p. I don't have any image at the moment, with the exception during booting... (I see the Chrome Logo).
Any ideas????
ccflo said:
Hi @all,
I've a problem with Chromecast. My setup is that I'm using an Onkyo receiver which has plenty of HDMI slots. Since I've no TV I've connected a monitor to the Onkyo. Unfortunately the monitor works at best in 720p (I've also attached a PS3 to the system where I'm also using 720p)...
So my question is, can I force Chromecast to output its HDMI signal in 720p. I don't have any image at the moment, with the exception during booting... (I see the Chrome Logo).
Any ideas????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
720p is the highest and I believe the default that chromecast outputs at. You can change to 720p high or low bitrate, or 480p via the chrome browser extension.Sorry I was thinking about tab casting when I read the OP.
supernova_00 said:
720p is the highest and I believe the default that chromecast outputs at. You can change to 720p high or low bitrate, or 480p via the chrome browser extension.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's false. That setting is only for the resolution of the tab-casting. Not the output of the Chromecast. Chromecast outputs a 1080p signal. (https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=chromecast). I beleive it even upscales lower resolution content to 1080 but I can't confirm on my current setup.
rekh127 said:
That's false. That setting is only for the resolution of the tab-casting. Not the output of the Chromecast. Chromecast outputs a 1080p signal. (https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=chromecast). I beleive it even upscales lower resolution content to 1080 but I can't confirm on my current setup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so far.... yes, it is about the signal what's coming out of the chromecast not about casting! I definitely need 720p and I hope somebody can tell me how to force this device to do this.... Normally you could do this on any device (PCs, PS3, Xbox, Ouya...).
I'm really open to any advice.
Hi, I'm wondering if you found any answer to forcing(?) chromecast to a certain resolution. I'm wondering if the chipset inside the stick is capable of outputting anything other than 1080P? In my case I have to have 480P or 1080i (my TV is too old that it doesn't even accept 720P <LOL>). I know the Roku3 won't output anything lower than 720P so I'm wondering what the chip inside chromecast is capable & if there are ways to turn the switches on/off?
I'm still searching for a solution... none found yet.
What I figured out is that Chromecast can detect what the device can display at maximum. There is a standard to this...
But in my case (the AV receiver which accepts full resolution but the display not) I can't force it to do this... I submitted a feature request at Google help... I also read that people claim Google are very much interested in getting feedback... so I did what I can do.
So for now my Chromecast is just an Audio Stream adapter... but a quite good one so net completely useless for me
Thank you for the heads-up and I'm glad you are getting use out of it
Been looking around and found some info on the variant of SoC that is in the stick (from Marvell) as that thread suggested the info on Marvell site is thin and nothing about resolution. I sent an inquiry to their sales support but since I'm not looking to buy a lot of 10k of those SoC on the pallet so I'm not holding my breath for an answer. Also the thread said that it is not quite the same SoC so they were suspecting a neutered on customized for Google.
ccflo said:
I'm still searching for a solution... none found yet.
What I figured out is that Chromecast can detect what the device can display at maximum. There is a standard to this...
But in my case (the AV receiver which accepts full resolution but the display not) I can't force it to do this... I submitted a feature request at Google help... I also read that people claim Google are very much interested in getting feedback... so I did what I can do.
So for now my Chromecast is just an Audio Stream adapter... but a quite good one so net completely useless for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a similar problem, as I'm trying to run my Chromecast on a non-TV.
Short of Google giving options (which would be GREAT - most HDMI sources allow selecting what resolution gets sent), you could use an in-line EDID "injector" like Gefen HDMI Detective. They also have a DVI version of it called DVI Detective.
EDIT: Another option may be the Dr HDMI
In your case I would set the HDMI Detective to report that it only supports 480P and 720P resolutions and put it after your receiver (between receiver and monitor), so all your devices see proper progressive-only EDID.
Alternatively you could try to see if you can reprogram your monitor's EDID (via something like Powerstrip), though that's significantly more dangerous especially if you're a novice.
bhiga said:
I have a similar problem, as I'm trying to run my Chromecast on a non-TV.
Short of Google giving options (which would be GREAT - most HDMI sources allow selecting what resolution gets sent), you could use an in-line EDID "injector" like Gefen HDMI Detective. They also have a DVI version of it called DVI Detective.
EDIT: Another option may be the Dr HDMI
In your case I would set the HDMI Detective to report that it only supports 480P and 720P resolutions and put it after your receiver (between receiver and monitor), so all your devices see proper progressive-only EDID.
Alternatively you could try to see if you can reprogram your monitor's EDID (via something like Powerstrip), though that's significantly more dangerous especially if you're a novice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Gefen is $129 and the Dr. HDMI is $399!
He'd be better off buying a new Monitor.
Dr. HDMI is only $99 (full boat HDfury3 is $399, Dr. HDMI is down past). But I agree, if money is to be thrown at the problem it's poetically better spent on a new monitor, unless you have something special.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk now Free
bhiga said:
Dr. HDMI is only $99 (full boat HDfury3 is $399, Dr. HDMI is down past). But I agree, if money is to be thrown at the problem it's poetically better spent on a new monitor, unless you have something special.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk now Free
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, thanks for the correction. I clicked the buy now button and it showed up as $399, and I thought somethings wrong here.
OP, What monitor do you have? Does it not show any picture or is the picture quality just not good?
I recently did a search for best TV under $500 and their are some decent options for the money. My parents just picked up a 32" LCD TV from Costco on clearance for $180. It a Sceptre and 720p, but looks good and can handle a 1080p feed. It was on clearence, so might be hard to find at that price, but you can get a decent TV on the cheap with a little legwork.
Good luck.
FWIW as a test I have my Chromecast running to a Planar 1024x768 VGA monitor through a HDfury2.
The Planar says it's getting a 1280x720 signal, and I can tell from the green tint that it's receiving YPbPr (aka YUV).
So Chromecast definitely can output 720p if it thinks that's all the monitor can accept.
and I meant "probably" not "poetically" heh
any news?? I have a 720p projector connected to the onkyo. The chromecast doesn´t appear...
psikonetik said:
any news?? I have a 720p projector connected to the onkyo. The chromecast doesn´t appear...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you wall power Chromecast and boot it directly connected to the projector with the projector on, do you get picture?
-= this post enhanced with bonus mobile typos =-
bhiga said:
If you wall power Chromecast and boot it directly connected to the projector with the projector on, do you get picture?
-= this post enhanced with bonus mobile typos =-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When the screen says "starting...." I can see the picture well, I guess its on 720p, then it appears chromecast logo blurry and then a red noise digital noise screen.
I guess I need to change chromecast output resolution...
psikonetik said:
When the screen says "starting...." I can see the picture well, I guess its on 720p, then it appears chromecast logo blurry and then a red noise digital noise screen.
I guess I need to change chromecast output resolution...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IIRC the boot screen is 480p.
This could be a failure of resolution negotiation (projector tells Chromecast it supports a resolution it can't handle) or missing/broken HDCP support on the projector.
Unfortunately you can't force Chromecast to a specific resolution so you'd have to control the reported supported resolutions with Dr. HDMI or similar that I mentioned earlier in the thread.
Is the digital noise blocky or more like fine random colored pixels?
-= this post enhanced with bonus mobile typos =-
The digital noise are red vertical lines at the screen, if I press the home button on my onkyo remote it changes to the casted image in 4 squares disorganized...
I find dr HDMI very expensive and I don´t think google will solve this issue. Maybe scene will do it eventually.
Well now I have a music streamer hehe, maybe I'll buy an fire tv or an apple tv...
Thanks a lot!
psikonetik said:
The digital noise are red vertical lines at the screen, if I press the home button on my onkyo remote it changes to the casted image in 4 squares disorganized...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. Definitely sounds like your projector doesn't like what Chromecast is sending, maybe it doesn't like 1080p. Regardless, considering the cost of Chromecast I would just use it on another display or gift it to someone else and go with a more "full" player.
-= this post enhanced with bonus mobile typos =-

Possibility change Aspect Ratio?

Hey Chromecast Users,
is there any possibility to change the Aspect Ratio (and with it resolution of chromecast) from 16:9 to 4:3?
Got a 4:3 TFT Monitor and want to use it on, resolution is 1280x1024...
I also own a 16:9 monitor, but I want to use the 4:3 instead of the 16:9.
Greetz - Xorianator (from Germany)
Xorianator said:
Hey Chromecast Users,
is there any possibility to change the Aspect Ratio (and with it resolution of chromecast) from 16:9 to 4:3?
Got a 4:3 TFT Monitor and want to use it on, resolution is 1280x1024...
I also own a 16:9 monitor, but I want to use the 4:3 instead of the 16:9.
Greetz - Xorianator (from Germany)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, Chromecast only like 16:9 resolutions.
Can you change your monitor settings to display 1280x720 (720p) letterboxed?
Otherwise you would need some sort of scaler, and that's going to cost more than the Chromecast itself.
No i did not find any method to do this on my TFT LCD
I also know those boxes... But a 24 inch monitor with HDMI is much cheeper
No possibilities with rooted Cast?
Xorianator said:
No i did not find any method to do this on my TFT LCD
I also know those boxes... But a 24 inch monitor with HDMI is much cheeper
No possibilities with rooted Cast?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How are you even plugging the CCast into an SD monitor?
usually the adapter used to connect to SD is what does the conversion for you...
And those converters are usually as expensive as a new monitor is.
I changed the signal from HDMI to VGA with this one (cant post because new member, just look on amazon for "HDMI Female to VGA"... Looks similiar to an USB Stick
But it does not convert any signal to any aspect ratio.
The monitor is a "Fujitsu L7ZA", i got this one just because a friend want to dump it, so i said i would take it before he put it into trash.... And then i bought the Chromecast, because i thought it might would be funny, but if it does not work with the 4:3 its bad :/
Maybe Google brings an update? I would appreciate!
I did some digging and it seems your Fujitsu L7ZA may be same/related to ScenicView A17-2 based on this (far from authoritative). If that's correct, I looked up the manual and unfortunately there seems to be no vertical size (usually V-SIZ) control.
Don't get me wrong, I'm like you - one of my Chromecasts is connected to a SD TV through HDMI-VGA converter and downscaler, but I'm currently letting the downscaler (and my TiVo) do the aspect ratio conversion as my TV model doesn't have the "easy" vertical compression option. But doubtful that Google will update for 4:3 users like us as very few non-16:9 televisions have HDMI input, and Chromecast isn't aimed at usage on computer monitors (or HDMI->VGA conversion, for that matter).
What you really need is a Scan Converter similar to what we use when we want to put an old VGA computer onto a Standard Def screen.
And by the time you bought that you could get a good 24" HDMI monitor instead.
I just bought Mom (for Mother's Day) an old Dell 24" for $149 (Tiger Direct) although it doesn't have speakers built in it does have a connector to attach speakers to that will pass the HDMI Audio.
A decent scan converter can go for $200.
It's really the best option because Google will never make a setting for the CCast that supports SD...
Makes no sense for an HDMI Dongle...

Chromecast HDMI modes

I would like to be able to connect my Chromecast to an older 4:3 monitor. I already have the hdmi -> VGA adapter, and have used it on a 1080p tv, but I'm curious if there is a way to force non widescreen HDMI modes on the chromecast if it's already rooted, maybe by manipulating some files to force that? Any idea where to start looking?
I know the different HDMI modes are listed in a Raspberry pi wiki and the settings I used for that with the adapter for a 1280x1024 monitor were:
hdmi_group=2
hdmi_mode=35
from here: http://elinux.org/RPiconfig
I know they are different, but thought I'd ask.
Thanks
Those modes you found are specific to rpi.
The output mode for a display connector, like HDMI, should be determined by the EDID that the display device returns when queried. Analog VGA devices tend to be very flakey when it comes to EDID. Sometimes they sent back something incorrect, sometimes they sent back nothing at all.
I suggest sticking with digital displays.
Note that it is also possible that the chromecase simply can't support certain display modes, due to UI considerations. Keep in mind what the thing is meant for.

HDMI out

I got the Samsung mhl adapter so I can hook my tablet up via HDMI to my TV and watch Netflix and Hulu with t-mobile's Binge On and not have to worry about my Comcast data cap.
The S2 only outputs 4:3 ratio and my TV doesn't seem to have a zoom that makes the picture fit the screen properly. I've rooted so that I can change the resolution and tried Resolution Changer Pro. It works OK, but it's buggy as he'll and won't always change back when I unplug the cable.
Does anyone have any suggestions on other apps to try or something I'm not thinking of? What DPI should I be using for a 51" 1080p plasma?
Sent from my SM-T817T using Tapatalk

HDMI settings

Is there any way to change the default HDMI settings in the S2? I have two 40" monitors and they each react differently when I try to connect the S2. On one, the monitor simply say the "format isn't supported". On the other, it connects but when I try to run Hulu, everything appears normal until the movies actually starts to stream. Then I get the "unsupported format" message. Both monitors are limited to 720p.
Have you tried a different player such as Mxplayer.
lewmur said:
Is there any way to change the default HDMI settings in the S2? I have two 40" monitors and they each react differently when I try to connect the S2. On one, the monitor simply say the "format isn't supported". On the other, it connects but when I try to run Hulu, everything appears normal until the movies actually starts to stream. Then I get the "unsupported format" message. Both monitors are limited to 720p.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will MxPlayer mirror my S2 of my 40" TV? So that I can run apps such as Nascar's Raceview on my big screen? I'm not really interested in a "video player". I have that on my Linux and Windows boxes.
Chromecast
What with the problems I'm having with my HDMI connections, I broke down and bought a Chromecast device. The Screen Cast option works on both my 710 and 810, but they both have the same poor quality as the HDMI connection. It has good quality when casting from apps such as Hulu and Netflix, but the screen mirroring with Screen Cast is lousy.
I have two under $80 devices that both display full screen and with much better picture quality than these two highend S2 devices. Samsung has really dropped the ball with this issue. There should be a way to change the display settings to fix this, but I can't find any.
I'm confused are you talking about gaming or watching movies?
Chromecast should mirror your device at 1080p as far as I'm aware.
There is an app called Second screen that allows you to change the resolution when casting to chromecast or other devices, however it requires root.

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