Chromecast

I did not follow your statement/question.  Could you restate what it is that you were attempting to do and the exact contents of any and all error messages you received while you were attempting it?

Chromecast needs to plug directly into the TV. You then download apps and then log in to them, using your U-Verse credentials (email @att.net and your U-Verse password.)

You can then stream content from various TV channels. What each channel makes available is up to that channel.

Yeah, confused myself.  Unclear if the OP actually has U-verse TV.   

And even if yes, doesn’t chromecast still need a device like a smartphone to push a stream to the device from an app?

Apparently the newer Chromecast models come with a remote and work more like a FireTV stick.  Not sure if you still need a mobile device to configure them.

I apologize for not being clear, I will try to explain better. I do have Uverse TV and internet and am attempting to utilize a TV outside which is not connected to a receiver.  I have an older version Chromecast and thought I could use this to stream TV.

I plugged the Chromsecast into the TV and connected to the internet.  I then attempted to connect to my AT&T account and was not able to.  This was last week so I do not have the exact wording I received on the TV.  I will attempt again today and get the exact wording and will come back to respond.  I should note that I do not have a remote for the TV, which may be a barrier as well as I have limited access to navigate.

Thank you!

My main question would be what application are you trying to run on the Chromecast to view your TV content?  There is not an Android TV or Chromecast version of the U-verse App that is available for Android for mobile devices.  Casting from a mobile device to the Chromecast should also not work, because AT&T restricts casting of content like that from the mobile device (although I think you said you were able to do this but it was "not ideal").

You could use the various and sundry applications available from the channels with your AT&T U-verse TV credentials, that should work.  Let us know if you're having issues with that.

@Klpethke 

Just dusted off an original Chromecast and tested it.  You may want to factory reset yours and reconnect it to your WiFi.  The U-verse app doesn’t allow casting, but as @JefferMC said, individual network apps generally support casting and you can authorize access using your att credentials.  You will end up using your smartphone or tablet to do the casting obviously in this manner.