cross-posted from: https://monero.town/post/431688

Does anyone got any television recommendations for dumb tv’s or other words none smart tv’s? Or even a tv that is smart but the software is open sourced making it privacy friendly?

Mikelius
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What I did was just buy the tv I wanted for the hardware and block it from internet access by Mac address, then plugged it into the network with eth. I then put dns blocks on every request it made (I log things before blocking them, and did this on the scenario a kill switch gets messed up or something) and installed the media software from there. Smart tv made private.

So easy!

You can get a commercial display, but you’ll bed a separate TV tuner and speakers to make it the same function as a TV since it’s just a dumb display.

…bed a separate TV tuner and speakers…

Do I bed them immediately, or should I buy them dinner first?

brcl
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I think this is up to each individual tuner and speaker. I don’t want to speak for all of them.

PositiveNoise
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Dinner or drinks first, or it’s likely to not work out. But I wouldn’t care about a TV tuner, so you can safely cut dinner (but leave in at least a drink or two…I mean come on)

That was supposed to be “need” but autocorrect apparently had something to say about it. I won’t edit it because it’s funny and then your comment won’t make sense

If it doesn’t have to be a TV but just a screen a monitor may be an option. Otherwise I’d look at eBay or something like that where people are selling old ones.

If you are in the U.S. and have a Habitat for Humanity ReStore nearby, there are often lots of “dumb” flat screens to be had for a song. If you don’t mind a slightly older bit of hardware.

Bloved Madman
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I use a PI4 running Libreelec I use it exclusively for Plex (which has IPTV with the help of Xteve)

@guazzabuglio@lemm.ee
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I have an LG and it functions just fine without being connected to Wi-Fi. You can also monitor and block any attempts to phone home at the DNS level with something like pihole.

GonzoKnows
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where this tv is going, the individual doesn’t have network control

deleted by creator

Every TV is a dumb TV when they’re not connected to the internet, no?

GonzoKnows
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Some TV’s connect automatically to open networks to upload data

I’d like to see a source on that claim.

Regardless, another option is to hook it up to a dummy wifi network that doesn’t connect to anything and then hook up whatever to an input.

I’m going to need a source on that so I can avoid those kinds of TVs.

Ocelot
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They do? Do you have any examples of this? This is an enormous security fumble if any wi-fi device does something like this.

Worst case you can also just open up the TV and disconnect the wifi module.

im thinking about getting a nice tv and desoldering the wifi chip, but its kinda intimidating. like would it even display an hdmi feed if the wifi chip is gone

Ocelot
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im not sure about all TVs but my sony TV has a laptop style wifi chip that you can just unplug

remember wifi devices have an attenna, instead of removing the chip, soldering resistors to the antenna (or replacing it w/resistors) will drain it of power (more or less). no attenna power, no signal to connect; no signal to connect, no wifi.

though honestly tv wifi does a pretty good job at dropping signals on it’s own. most tv’s have a wifi OFF capability, always assumed that … worked?

some samsung tvs would autoconnect to open wifi networks, and that couldnt be disabled.

Wow that is crazy.

This (https://amzn.to/3Ei1ZJy) is probably the best “dumb” display I’m aware of. Kind of a dying species since consumers generally buy smart displays and tvs/etc rely heavily on the subsidization they get from both data collection and economies of scale.

ubluntu
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Can confirm Sceptre 65" Class 4K UHD LED TV HDR U650CV-U is a solid dumb TV

Have owned this for 15 months and am very pleased with it as a screen. Do strongly recommend using a soundbar or other solution for audio.

I did get this from walmart for $432 (about $200 cheaper than amazon link) https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sceptre-65-Class-4K-UHD-LED-TV-HDR-U650CV-U/48874705

Try to give a name and model. An interesting privacy suggestion on a non privacy respecting website means folk are forced to click it.

Sceptre 65" 4K Ultra HD 2160p LED 4X HDMI 2.0 HDTV 3840x2160, Metal Black 2018

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