The little-known easy hack that allows you to stream Netflix on hotel televisions

An Australian man currently living in 14-day quarantine has shared an ingenious hack for streaming Netflix and YouTube on a hotel TV, and it only requires purchasing two pieces of technology.

The returned traveller, who has been placed in isolation in accord with the government’s rulings about those returning from overseas trips, had a $45 TP-Link TL-WR902AC router and $60 Google Chromecast in his luggage before the lockdown commenced. 

‘My partner and I travel a lot and this setup is perfect for every hotel and Airbnb we’ve been to in the past 12 months, and can be a real lifesaver,’ he wrote on Facebook.

He chose the TP-Link router because it’s small – and therefore easy to take on the go – and runs off USB power, so you can power it anywhere there is a USB port on a wall, a phone charger, or if you’re extra desperate the USB port on the back of a TV.

‘The instructions that come with it are also very clear and easy to understand,’ he said.

There are two options to get started, either by plugging the router into the ethernet port in your hotel room or connecting it wirelessly to the Wifi of the hotel you’re staying at.

‘You then use it to create your own Wifi network using the hotel internet as the data source,’ he said.

The TP-Link router can be plugged into the wall, like so, and the Chromecast is attached to it

‘Plug the Chromecast into the TV and connect it and all your devices to the Wifi network you created. This way the “cast” option will be available on your phone as it can now talk to the Chromecast directly via your network.’ 

Some hotels will have a device limit per room where they only allow you to connect two devices at a time.

This method allows you to work around that because the router will be recognised as only one device, despite you having multiple products logged into the router. 

‘We have seven devices attached to our network at any time, so everything can use the wifi, not just one laptop and one phone,’ he said.

Alternatively you can plug a HDMI cable into the back of the television (pictured)

‘If you do go down this route I’m probably not the best at troubleshooting your issues as I just use the “quick setup” menu, but if you’re confident with tech and think you’re able to work the system out I definitely recommend it.’

For those still locked in quarantine and allowed to receive parcels from friends and family, this could make for a welcome treat.

Otherwise it would be a useful present for any keen travellers looking to organise overseas trips post-coronavirus.