Video capture with smart tv

MABeatty1978 · Apr 30th 2025

Hello,

I've using WLED lights for a few years now and just came to learn how they can be used with ambilighting and am excited to do an implementation. I've come to learn that Hyperion is probably the route I want to go. Everything seems pretty straight forward, with the exception of video capture. I am planning on using it with a smart tv that has Google TV built in. I was hoping to be able to just just this somehow without having to pass through an external HDMI dongle solution. I saw that there was an capture app for Android, but that app is no more. This seemed like the perfect solution, so I'm hoping that there is a more modern solution? Is there some kind of hardware that I could plug into a USB or HDMI port on my TV that would capture the video and send it to Hyperion? Or am I stuck having to buy something like Google TV (even though it's already installed on the TV) and going through that?

Thank you.

Marxon · Apr 30th 2025

Hi MABeatty1978,

i don't know if it works, just stumbled over it:

GitHub - abrenoch/hyperion-android-grabber: Screen grabber for hyperion

Screen grabber for hyperion. Contribute to abrenoch/hyperion-android-grabber development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

Best regards

MABeatty1978 · Apr 30th 2025

That's the Android screen grabber I had mentioned. It no longer works and hasn't been updated in 7 years.

Marxon · Apr 30th 2025

I just installed the mobile version of the grabber on my phone. This is working. But i can not test the tv version.

What does the hyperion log say when using the app?

MABeatty1978 · Apr 30th 2025

I don't know where to get the app from. It isn't available in the play store.

Ambient_theater77 · Apr 30th 2025

get the app from Github.

btw: android Hyperion grabber works, but not with DRM content.

so Netflix/hulu/Amazon and all kinds of streaming services will give you black screen.

youtube works btw.

to evade this you need to use the HDMI + HDCP compliant equipment

or the camera route, point a canera at tour tv screen. grab that image trough network or analog in Hyperion.NG

Marxon · Apr 30th 2025

Why not simply download it from the link i gave you?

Too easy?

Best regards

Ambient_theater77 · Apr 30th 2025

version 1.0 works with me on Hyperion.NG 2.016

i am using Nvidea Shield mediaplayer

Marxon · Apr 30th 2025

@Ambient_theater77

That's true. I would have come to the topic of rooting and using Magisk for DRM content.

designer-fanfan · Jul 9th 2025

now i am facing the same problem to be solved. I want to capture the frame in the Smart TV system, but I don't find any efficient way. I tried hyperion-andriod-grabber mentioned before, but It can't work for my TV.

Ambient_theater77 · Jul 9th 2025

Quote from designer-fanfan

now i am facing the same problem to be solved. I want to capture the frame in the Smart TV system, but I don't find any efficient way. I tried hyperion-andriod-grabber mentioned before, but It can't work for my TV.

directly grabbing on tv depends on verndor/brand. Mostly doesn't work, only hypertizen i think atm

I was talking about a Android mediaplayer device, on that you can install Play store apps from 3th parties, that you connect with HDMI to the TV

designer-fanfan · Jul 11th 2025

Quote from Ambient_theater77

directly grabbing on tv depends on verndor/brand. Mostly doesn't work, only hypertizen i think atm

I was talking about a Android mediaplayer device, on that you can install Play store apps from 3th parties, that you connect with HDMI to the TV

I try several times, the app can be installed. but cant be open. My tv is TCL

ikk33 · Aug 18th 2025

Hello. I got a new TV with Android TV OS (TCL C855, Android TV 12). Previously, I used HyperionNG with a USB grabber and HDMI splitter. Everything worked without issues. I managed to install the grabber on the new TV, and it seems to be working. It even detects my Hyperion on RPi3 and says it successfully connected and started a color test. However, I don't see it anywhere in HyperionNG (v2.1.1) as a capture source. Where can I find the Android Grabber as a source in Hyperion settings so I can set the output to the LED strip? Thank you for your advice.

pclin · Aug 18th 2025

Protocol Buffers Server is enabled?

Have you read this thread?

Read this thread too

See also in the Webui Remote Control - Source Selection

regards pclin

Participate now!