this post was submitted on 06 Jul 2023

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Good dumb TV for my living room media center? (midwest.social)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

21 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Just had my old dumb LG TV die after 9 years of working just dandy. I lack the desire to root around for a dead capacitor so I am currently in the market for an approximate replacement to act as the display for my Linux media center in my living room. I figure this is the right crowd for finding a non-invasive TV so my Linux machine can be the brains. I trust modern Tvs less and less.

Desired features

55"
Non terrible audio
As dumb of hardware/software as reasonably achievable

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

If you really want a true dumb TV, you should look into the commercial TVs

Personally I just get any TV and don't connect it to the internet. I disable any popup interfaces/home menus as much as I can on the TV so I just turn it on and it goes to HDMI1 and that is all the TV's interface needs to do.
I also disable alot of the picture altering features as well. My LG TV has some true motion crap that just made everything a little bit off.

For the most part the handful of TVs I have tried just work.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is what I do. My Samsung TV can be set to turn on to a specific input, and the "smart" features never get in the way; similarly, it remains permanently disconnected from my home network.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I've heard of them searching for open wifi networks and using them. If I had one and cared, I'd bet the wifi card was removable like in a laptop, and I'd open it up and remove it.

But I own a dumb old CCFL TV that I got for free, and I'm going to use it until I can't any more.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I recall that the first-gen TVs with integrated Amazon Fire TV had the baseband chip directly on the mainboard like other SMPs. I also do not recall any service that would connect to open networks.

However, that's a single datapoint from sketchy memory of something I worked on over six years ago.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I have heard of this as well. But I don't believe I have seen any reliable source actually confirming it. I vaguely remember some posted about it on Reddit years ago saying their Samsung tv would do it. That said it is clearly a possibility that the TV could do it if programed so it is good to keep that possibility in mind. Might be worth running a few tests if your worried about it.

The good news is Open WiFi hotspots are very rare, so unless you live next to a cafe or something that provides free WiFI you don't really have much to worry about.

I have never seen a removable WiFi card on a TV board. They are always integrated directly on the main board itself along with the CPU RAM and other components. Just look up TV Main board on ebay and see if you can find any WiFi cards on the photos.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

I believe the term you want is "digital signage". Be prepared that they can cost twice as much as a regular "smart" TV.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

[Thankfully i've not needed to buy new TV yet but i've been collecting ways to buy all appliances dumb]

Scepre https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.html.

Commercial TV (search for commercial signage TV, or even dumb commercial tv) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V9ZYV7Q

Or monitors but it may get very expensive

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

55 inch 4K Scepter TV + Saiyin soundbar and subwoofer. I bought this setup about a month ago for less than $400 and it's been pretty good so far

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I've been looking for a TV for awhile now, and I've found that there aren't really any practical dumb ones. There are a few models, but they're more expensive and have lower specs, cheaper panels, fewer menu options, etc.

Overall, the smart TVs are going to be cheaper/better because the company plans to make money on target ads, data mining, etc. Just don't connect it or enter a wi-fi password. Sadly that's where we're at now.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Dead caps are easy to spot and easy to fix. You can gimme your old TV :)

Look on Craigslist or similar if you really want something truly dumb and affordable.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

IF you have the space, go for a projector. I got a nice short throw 1080 Benq with a decent 120 inch screen. And wow, it's incredible. It's amazing for shows, movies, and games. I paid 800 total for everything. There's everything from 200 dollar to 5k dollars, depending on what quality you want.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

You’d probably be best checking out review on rtings.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Really the best options I have found is to get a device running android tv which has the dumb tv mode. That combined with either not connecting it to wifi or using a pihole for any residuals is probably the most practical option.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

i searched for 55 inch dumb tv on amazon and found this: https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Business-Software-Speakers-LH55BETHLGFXGO/dp/B08651PB1J/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=3CGW6YLKH5VBI&keywords=dumb+tv+55+inch&qid=1688732714&sprefix=dumb+tv+55+inch%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-3

not sure how much you're wanting to pay, but this doesn't sound too bad. I'm looking to upgrade soon myself. I have a 40 inch dumb 1080 Element TV. It works well still, but wanting bigger and 4k. I'll probably move the one i currently have to my son's room.

edit: there are some better deals I think. That was just one of the first links. It's only 60hz, you might find one that's 120hz for not much more.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

TCLs have phenomenal value for panel quality and price, and what you can get for the money just keeps increasing.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Buy a nice TV

Give it a static IP

Firewall it off from the internet

Voila!

Edit: Make sure it cant call UPNP on your router or any such tomfoolery

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago

I'd search an used and old one if i was you

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