Chromecast ultra fails to connect via ethernet

[k1s]

I can setup Chromecast Ultra only if the ethernet cable is unplugged. Once setup if I plug in the ethernet connection it shows only 100mbps FE connection in the switch/router info for that port. How can I set it up to properly operate at 1GBps?

[RXShorty]

Hi @k1s 

The Chromecast Ultra Ethernet adapter is only 100Mbps and does not have a 1Gbps capability.
To be honest, there is no use for more than a 100Mbps connection for this device as it everything it streams can easily be done with 100Mbps. 

[k1s]

Why can't the Google Home app see it when it's connected via ethernet?

[RXShorty]

Hi @k1s 

It should work with an ethernet connection.
But sometimes some routers have issues with 100Mbps connections if the Router port is set to 1Gbps. 
Maybe you can set your Router port to 100Mbps mode.

Do you have issues while using WiFi?
Or what is the reason you are trying to use an ethernet cable? 😊

[k1s]

With the ethernet cable plugged in, the setup fails: with the Google App running, when the Chromecast is plugged in/booted up, the app finds it and prompts to set it up, but once you select yes, it fails with "could not communicate with chromecast". So the only way to set it up is via WiFi, and then plug the cable in afterwards. Having done that, no other device on the network can see the Chromecast one the ethernet cable isn plugged in. I want the Chromecast to use the cable for better performance than WiFi, but there doesn't seem to be any setting or even acknowledgment in the Google Home app and the ethernet connection

[RXShorty]

Hi @k1s 

Maybe it is because of the router that does not work nicely with a 100Mbps port.
Do you have some streaming issues now with the WiFi? 

Because I noticed when I was using the Chromecast Ultra it did better when using WiFi. 🙂 

[k1s]

The router doesn't care what speed the Chromecast calls for, bit I don't understand why the Chromecast setup is so poor that it doesn't prompt the user about whether it's connected to ethernet or WiFi, and then allow the user to set which or both connections to use. Instead it just seems to confuse itself. 

I thought the whole point of this ethernet adapter is so that it can stream over ethernet, inherently more stable and less subject to interference.

Apparently, it just doesn't work

[RXShorty]

Hi @k1s 

Please check if your router, it sees that the 100Mbps connection is recognised and if it shows 100Mbps instead of 1Gbps mode. I know of some issues with routers that are not able to get this working with auto mode. 

If is possible it is worth a shot setting it to 100Mbps within your Router.
The Chromecast itself prefers the Ethernet mode over the WiFi mode, as soon as you connect an ethernet cable it switch to ethernet mode by default. 

So the issue is the communication between your Router and the Chromecast, again, most of the time because the Router fails to connect in the right manner because of the 100Mbps instead of 1Gbps.

[k1s]

The router sees the Chromecast corrected at 100 /FE (as I mentioned in the first post)

[RXShorty]

Hi @k1s 

I did read that, indeed. But still it is worth trying to set it manually to 100Mbps if that is possible. 😊

[k1s]

Just tried that. It doesn't make any difference

[RXShorty]

Hi @k1s 

Do you have another ethernet cable to test out? Maybe the cable is the problem? 

[k1s]

The cable's good. Cat6 fully tested

[RXShorty]

Hi @k1s 

Ok. Did you try a factory reset already for your Chromecast? 
Please remove it from your Google Home before doing a factory reset. 

Try setting it up with the ethernet cable connected.
This way, it should skip the WiFi settings option.

[k1s]

Did you try a factory reset 

10 or 11 times

Try setting it up with the ethernet cable connected.

I have. Like I said, it doesn't work. It finds it, but then fails to connect to it (see above)

[RXShorty]

Hi @k1s 

Sorry to say, but I am out of options and suggestions. 🙄

[Ashepherdson]

Is the cat6 cable plugged directly into your modem, or combined modem/router... Or is this a switch downstream from the main router?  If so.. is it a managed or unmanaged switch?  Are you trying to repurpose and old router as a switch (more common than you would think and almost always causes issues)

[k1s]

There's a managed switch between the router and the Chromecast. The port is configured to the same network/subnet/VLAN as the WiFi network as the Android phone that I'm using to try to setup the Chromecast

[Kimy]

Hi folks,

I appreciate your help here, @RXShorty and @Ashepherdson.

@k1s, thanks for posting and for being a step ahead of us. All Chromecast devices are intended to work wirelessly. It is set up wirelessly via the Google Home App, utilizing Bluetooth and Location Services. The only exception to bypassing the Google Home App are the Google TV versions that can be set up using its remote (which is applicable in isolated situations). Then you can wire it through the Ethernet power adapter. The Ethernet connection is used when Wi-Fi is not consistent, and it uses basic LAN. Try to bypass the switch and connect it directly to the router before you attempt to cast. Ensure that the casting source is on Wi-Fi, turn off cellular data if possible. Let me know how it goes.

Thanks,

Kimy

[Kimy]

Hi there,

I wanted to follow up and make sure that you saw our responses. Let us know if you have questions or need further assistance.

Regards,
Kimy

[Kimy]

Hello there,

We haven’t heard back from you, so I'll be locking this thread in 24 hours. Feel free to create a new one if you have other concerns in the future.

Best,
Kimy