Need help screencasting Debian desktop to smart TV

linux and tech help
1

Hi folks,

I am trying to screencast a browser page from my Debian 11 desktop to a Roku TV so I can display a map for my players (I host a D&D campaign every month). I can do this from my phone (a Samsung S21) with ease, but it is much easier to manipulate the map on a desktop. HDMI also works, but, then…cords…

If possible, I’d like to cast the screen over the air. In Chrome, when I try to cast the page (a web app called Owlbear Rodeo), the TV shows up, but I get a message that casting is only available on “certain video sites.” I’ve tried switching back from Wayland to X11 and using Alfacast and Deskcreen, which did not work (Alfacast needs an app to be installed on the TV, and Deskcreen requires a browser that can go to an IP address). Wondering if anyone has had any success with this kind of situation. Sounds like a long shot, but I thought I would ask!

Best,

Matt

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2

That’s an interesting setup there. :sunglasses: Welcome to the forums. :handshake:

Alternatively, you can also use the VLC media player to stream your desktop to your Roku TV.

  1. Open VLC and go to the “Media” menu.
  2. Select “Open Capture Device”.
  3. Under the “Capture mode” dropdown menu, select “Desktop”.
  4. Set the frame rate to 15 fps or higher.
  5. Click on the “Play” button to start streaming your desktop.
  6. On your Roku TV, go to the “Settings” menu and select “Screen mirroring”.
  7. Enable screen mirroring and select your Debian 11 desktop from the list of available devices.
  8. Your desktop screen should now be mirrored on your Roku TV.

If both methods fail, then it must be another issue.

3

Oh wow, I did not know that VLC player could do something like that – awesome! I will try it out and let you know how it goes :slight_smile:

Yes, the casting to a TV is an idea I stole from someone else. You place the TV screen side up on a table (some people actually build custom tables for this), and then your miniatures stand on top of the screen, on top of your map.

4

Since Chrome’s built in casting seems to be challenging, one can use the open source version of Chrome which is called Chromium. With Chromium, you would see a. extension called, “Screen Mirror for Chromecast/Roku”. I think it would be easily compatible with your Owlbear Rodeo or Roku TV.

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5

Wow thanks so much for the reply! I’ll try it out :slight_smile:

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6

cannot find extension:
Screen Mirror for Chromecast/Roku

"

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7

Welcome to the forums. :handshake:

Here are a few alternatives to get your screencasting working on Debian:

1. Using scrcpy for Chromecast

You can try using scrcpy, which is a versatile tool that mirrors Android devices. Although it’s primarily used for Android mirroring, it can be combined with a Chromecast dongle or Google Cast-enabled smart TV. Here’s how:

Install scrcpy:

sudo apt install scrcpy

Connect your Android device to your TV using Chromecast, then mirror your Debian desktop to your Android device through scrcpy.

2. Using VLC for Chromecast

VLC media player has a built-in Chromecast feature that can help you stream media to your TV.

Install VLC:

sudo apt install vlc

To cast your screen:

  1. Open VLC.
  2. Go to Playback > Renderer > [your Chromecast].
  3. Use VLC’s screen capture option to mirror your desktop.

Note: This might not be as fluid as a dedicated screen mirroring solution, but it can be an alternative.

3. Using Gnome Network Displays for Miracast

If your TV supports Miracast, you can use Gnome Network Displays to cast your screen wirelessly.

Install Gnome Network Displays:

sudo apt install gnome-network-displays

After installation, launch the application:

gnome-network-displays

Follow the prompts to connect to your TV if it supports Miracast.

4. Using KDE Connect

If your TV has an Android TV OS, you can install KDE Connect both on your Debian machine and on the Android TV to cast the screen.

Install KDE Connect:

sudo apt install kdeconnect

Then install KDE Connect on your Android TV from the Google Play Store and follow the pairing process.

If you try any of these methods and run into further issues, feel free to share the error details, and we can troubleshoot it together.