Devices

Chromecast (gen. 1) – Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4 GHz
Chromecast (gen. 2) – Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac @ 2.4/5 GHz
Chromecast (gen. 3) - Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac @ 2.4/5 GHz
Chromecast Ultra - Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac @ 2.4/5 GHz

Scenario

Chromecast allows you to easily enjoy your favorite movies, TV shows, photos and websites on your big screen TV.  With a growing number of apps supports Google Cast (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, HBO, etc.), the Chromecast is an inexpensive way to get all your favorite media on your TV.

In order to enjoy all your favorite media on the big screen using the Chromecast you must first connect the device to the wireless network.  This can sometimes be a tedious task to complete, especially when using  ISP provided equipment. Most ISP provided wireless equipment may be using low security methods or a mixed security method which may make it difficult for the Chromecast to establish a connection.  Below are recommendations for changes that will need to be made on the router configuration to make sure the Chromecast is able to establish a successful connection.  If the ISP provided you with a wireless base station you will need to contact their technical support for assistance on making the necessary changes.

Note:  Most ISP branded wireless base stations have proprietary software/firmware and administrative credentials configured on the device.  This is one of the main reasons why they need to be your primary contact for configuration assistance.

Recommended Setup

To establish a successful connection with Google’s Chromecast it is recommended that the wireless based station be configured with the following settings:

1. WPA2-PSK (AES) wireless security mode (encryption).
2. MAC Filtering disabled.
3. Client isolation disabled (most home routers do not have this feature, but, for those that do please make sure this is disabled so it does not prohibit communications with other network devices such as computer, smartphone or tablet).
4. WMM (Wireless Multimedia) must be enabled to reach maximum throughput in 802.11n/ac networks.  Without this feature enabled HD video content may be downgraded to SD or you may experience high levels of buffering/loading.
5. Network name must not be hidden.
6. Check software/firmware version on the wireless base station.  Upgrade the software/firmware if update is available.
7. Visit, https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/2998456?hl=en&ref_topic=3058948, for step-by-step instructions on how to configure GEN1 and GEN2 Chromecast devices.

Unable to Connect

If the Chromecast is unable to establish a successful connection to your wireless based station please try the following.

1. Disable security and attempt to connect the Chromecast this way.  Just to rule out the security method being the issue.
2. Make sure the Chromecast is getting a decent signal from the wireless base station.  Wi-Fi signals below 50% have high packet drops/loss which may be causing the problem.
3. Verify the network you are connecting to.  If you have a first generation Chromecast, make sure you are selecting a 2.4GHz wireless network.  If selecting a 5GHz network to connect to from your computer or mobile device, the Chromecast will not be able to establish the connection.  Only the second generation Chromecast support 5GHz wireless signals.
4. Make sure the recommended setup option above have been configured on the wireless base station and saved.
5. Reboot/Restart the wireless base station.