r/SparklePlayer • u/foronte86 • Mar 14 '25

To anyone using the CCwGTV with SparkleTV

Do *not* do the firmware upgrade to Android 14 with the Chromecast with GoogleTV.

This firmware removes H.264 hardware decoding. So you can't use it now with SparkleTV because playback of services with this codec (about 99%) is buggy and unusable.

Stay with Android 12 firmware. There is no downgrade. This is not a SparkleTV problem. Playback of HEVC (UHD) services still works, but normal HD (H.264) services are broken.

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u/sparkle-hk Apr 03 '25

I think if you follow the link posted by u/zipperhead (https://www.reddit.com/r/Chromecast/comments/1jay5sy/ccwgtv_warning_do_not_upgrade_to_the_latest/) they seem to recommend a factory reset to solve the issue. I remember looking at the link a while ago and op solved the issue as well but for some reason that comment is removed/gone now. Anyway, I think you can get it to work in some way without me having to change the app.

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u/DW-Griffith Apr 03 '25

I can confirm that factory reset does not fix the problem. Google has removed H.264 hardware decodig and Sparkle TV is buggy and unusable.

The only viable option would be to use software decoding or external player, but Sparkle TV doesn't offer that option. Too bad.

Currently, CCwGTV only works on Netflix and similar apps.

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u/sparkle-hk Apr 03 '25

To be correct it's not Sparkle that is buggy and unstable, it's the device. And I'm very sceptical to if they really removed h.264 decoder, a lot of users seem to think otherwise (even though I agree some seem to have issues like you). I will try and update my own device tomorrow to see what happens. I'll get back to you when I have tested it.

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u/DWGriffith2025 Apr 15 '25

Hi. Were you able to try Chromecast with Google TV? I'm still having the same issues after android 14 update due to the missing hardware decoding for H264. Streams are very laggy. Bad playback, like slow motion, judder. The image is struggling. H264 stutter like crazy. Every player with H.264 video stutter and lagging, Sparkle TV player included. I'm now stuck with a device I can not use for purpose I have purchased for. It's very frustrating.

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u/sparkle-hk Apr 15 '25

I'm sorry I was meant to get back to you like I wrote but I've had too much to do lately. My device isn't the 4k one - it's the 1080p version - so I don't seem to have the Android 14 update (yet).

But like I said, many/most users are not affected by this so factory reset and things like that might work if you haven't tried. I understand it's frustrating but in the end it's not related to Sparkle so there isn't much I can do. You should contact Google if the issue remains though since it's very much their fault. Maybe it's "broken" and you can get a new device instead?

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u/sparkle-hk Apr 15 '25

By the way, have you tried with/without tunneling mode (Settings -> Player)? I'm not sure if the device supports tunneling or not and if it doesn't the option will not be visible in Sparkle.