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TV that doesn't require 'on-line activation' to set up. (midwest.social)

submitted 2 months ago by catfishsushi@midwest.social to c/technology@lemmy.world

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I'm going to buy my first new TV in years. Even if it's a 'smart' tv we plan to just use our Roku. I've heard that some TVs require you to connect it to the internet before you can even use a Roku device. For privacy reasons I don't want my TV to EVER have access to my wifi. Is anyone aware of how to know what models/brands of TVs allow me to use it without ever connecting the TV itself to wifi?

If necessary I guess I could connect it to my guest network to 'activate' the TV, set up the Roku to connect to my private network, then change the password to the guest network.

Would rather just have a TV that doesn't even 'phone home' once.

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[–] ownsauce@lemmy.world 14 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I've seen Sceptre recommended whenever this question pops up. https://www.sceptre.com/

I've also had a lot of fun using a projector in the living room as a display (with blackout curtains on the windows) but it may require some care to make the bulb last longer. And it was a bit annoying trying to figure out how to get audio and video working for consoles/laptops. I think you might need some kind of HDMI splitter and speakers to get audio and video working properly?

Another useful search term is "Display" or "Commercial Display" instead of "TV"

These "Displays" will be TV's without any of the bloatware and spyware, but may be missing features like refresh rates, picture quality, etc.

For example here: https://www.lg.com/us/business/commercial-displays

[–] 0x0@programming.dev 5 points 2 months ago

but it may require some care to make the bulb last longer.

LED projectors are a thing now^1^, much smaller and last longer.

^1^ The Pre-loaded key streaming applications. bit kinda worries me.

[–] magic_smoke@links.hackliberty.org 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Recently bought a cheap set from spectre for $150. Forgot to check the res, and it only does 1080, but then again 90% of what I do with that TV is play Switch anyhow. I have a nicer ultra wide on my desk for everything else.

The TV itself works well. The first time set up is the optional search for digital OTA TV channels, and the only "smart" feature is that you can plug in a flash drive with MP3/FLACs and use it as a music player for some reason, would've been cool if it played mp4s too. Then again, that's what the HDMI in is for.

The menu/feature set feels very 2009 and I love it for that. Luckily the picture, bezel, and price don't.