Do Netflix downloads count when casting?

[HarryC]

Due to limited data plan - my mobile phone is my modem - I do most of my Netflix viewing via downloads (from unlimited data wireless at a friend's place) to my tablet then mirroring the screen to the Chromecast attached to my TV.

My question is, if I instead start the downloaded movie on my tablet and then cast it to the Chromecast to enjoy the extra flexibility that brings, rather than simply mirroring the screen, does that still use the downloaded data of the movie or does it restream the movie from the net as I watch it?

I'm using my mobile phone hotspot as my main home modem if that makes any difference.

 

[Deleted User]

I'm curious about the way the questions are placed as well.

My home set up is a good Plasma TV without a cast function but a Chromecast 1 attached. I use a separate sim in a 3G/4G battery powered Mifi device as a router.

I can stream from my phone or my old laptop (no hdmi output).
If I download a program, YT or movie from the BBC, Amazon etc to a device, I still use the MiFi data to cast it to the Chromecast, so it's pointless to download instead of stream.

(things have improved with a new desktop so I just use phone tethering as WiFi for the desktop (or previously laptop) and use my TV as a monitor with HDMI cable. I have another 20" monitor with vga for my laptop.
Confused? Why not?!

OP / @HarryC
Do you mean you use your phone tethering as a wifi connection? I'm not aware you can use a phone as a router, but then I'm not aware of a lot of things

How do you cast your tablet to your Chromecast, or do you have a cable connection?

I have a new phone with a cast function and it works in a good budget hotels' Samsung TV's, but I don't have that at home.

 

[HarryC]

"Do you mean you use your phone tethering as a wifi connection? I'm not aware you can use a phone as a router,"

Yes I've been using the hotspot on my phone as a wireless modem/router for the several devices (including my pc) in my house for the past 5 years as I have a decent amount of data on my phone plan.

"How do you cast your tablet to your Chromecast, or do you have a cable connection?"

I use 'Smart View' (on the swipedown menu) on my Samsung tablet to select the chromecast and that mirrors the screen of the tablet onto the TV. (whatever happens on the tablet screen happens on the TV, which means unlike casting I can't browse or do anything else with with the tablet whilst the netfilx or youtube etc. video is playing on the tv) .

It still requires the wireless modem/router (my phone) to relay through but does not use any data.

Like you I don't have a smart tv but the 'smart view' function can be used to mirror the screen onto one of those as well, again without requiring internet data/streaming.