Dumb TV vs unplugged Smart TV

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Dumb TV vs unplugged Smart TV - Options in NZ

sJBs

69 posts

Master Geek

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#306066 25-Jun-2023 15:20

I don't want a "spying" TV in my home and therefore looking for a dumb TV or at least not connecting the Smart TV to the internet.

I don't see any dumb TVs being sold in NZ, does that mean my only option is a Smart TV but not connected to the internet?

Does anyone have information or can point me in the right direction of which of the TVs operating systems actually allow you to use the TV without connecting to the internet first?

From what I can gather it looks like most (if not all) require an account to be created before you can use the TV.

I'll be using it as a monitor for my computer (Linux Mint). Looking for a 60"-65" TV.

gzt

17160 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3094734 25-Jun-2023 15:44

sJBs: From what I can gather it looks like most (if not all) require an account to be created before you can use the TV.

Not as far as I know.

Nathan4

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

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#3094751 25-Jun-2023 16:26

Yeah I think most TV's can operate without internet connection but you might run into issues with firmware, bugs or missing features from whats advertised. No one sells dumb TV's as a high percentage of customers are looking to turn their TV on and load up netflix, youtube or disney with minimal effort. Removing that would be brand suicide.

Handle9

11405 posts

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#3094754 25-Jun-2023 16:34

Pretty much every tv will run without internet or accounts.

You could even do something radical like connect the tv to down load firmware updates then immediately disconnect it again.

fe31nz

1233 posts

Uber Geek

#3094871 26-Jun-2023 00:14

If you have a good router you can set up the TV with a fixed IP address and then can make a firewall rule that blocks all outbound traffic to the Internet from that IP address, with logging. Then you can check the log and find out where it is trying to connect to and add firewall rules to allow only the ones you want. So, for example, you might allow connections to check for and download firmware updates, but not allow anything going to Google addresses.

Bee

732 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3094897 26-Jun-2023 08:38

If you are just using the HDMI ports, you should be able to just use that and ignore everything else in the TV. worst case as others have said, set up what it needs to work then disconnect internet from the TV.

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

richms

28198 posts

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#3094969 26-Jun-2023 10:27

I have only heard of the account required limitation on ones that are running rokus operating system, and there are none of those here.

If you need to dismiss annoying stuff everytime you power on or not is another issue that I would expect from TVs that are not connected to the net.

Richard rich.ms

sJBs

69 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#3094970 26-Jun-2023 10:32

Thanks for all the info. Seems like I was misinformed that most (if not all) smart TVs requiring an account to be registered on power on, before you can use it. I was lead to believe that the TV will be stuck on the account registration screen, until you have created an account.

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Kelsey

12 posts

Geek

#3095839 28-Jun-2023 15:17

If you really want to you could look at getting a commercial panel that only has an HDMI card in it.

openmedia

3333 posts

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#3095897 28-Jun-2023 15:47

sJBs: Thanks for all the info. Seems like I was misinformed that most (if not all) smart TVs requiring an account to be registered on power on, before you can use it. I was lead to believe that the TV will be stuck on the account registration screen, until you have created an account.

If the TV is Android based you'll need to sign in for app store updates. My TV is Panasonic's proprietary platform and requires no sign in.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

Gollam

47 posts

Geek

#3095898 28-Jun-2023 15:48

If you just looking for a monitor via HDMI - look for a second hand smart TV on Trademe etc. Won't have any account issues with that.

Golom

Tinkerisk

4235 posts

Uber Geek

#3095902 28-Jun-2023 16:01

sJBs: I don't want a "spying" TV in my home and therefore looking for a dumb TV or at least not connecting the Smart TV to the internet.

I don't see any dumb TVs being sold in NZ, does that mean my only option is a Smart TV but not connected to the internet?

Does anyone have information or can point me in the right direction of which of the TVs operating systems actually allow you to use the TV without connecting to the internet first?

From what I can gather it looks like most (if not all) require an account to be created before you can use the TV.

I'll be using it as a monitor for my computer (Linux Mint). Looking for a 60"-65" TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwYPO_SN0C0 should do the job. I have a Xiaomi TV Q2 with Google TV in dumb mode.

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CB_24

366 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3095904 28-Jun-2023 16:16

Use Pi-Hole, works great for things like this, and amazing how much is blocked from SmartTVs etc

SpartanVXL

1322 posts

Uber Geek

#3095907 28-Jun-2023 16:31

LG asks you to login but it’s not needed for majority of features and certainly not for everything you’d expect of a standard monitor. Things like app remote or certain app updates you need to login, even then you can refuse to login if you want to just update netflix etc. and it will still work.