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

submitted 4 weeks ago by catfishsushi@midwest.social to c/technology@lemmy.world

77 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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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[–] jayandp@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

So far all the Roku TVs I've tried will let you skip setting up Internet on them and then default to a dumbed down mode where the Homescreen is just TV inputs, and you can access the settings menu. Haven't had a chance to test a recent Android/Google TV.

Update: Seems Sony, TCL, and maybe some other Android/Google TV makers allow using the TV without linking a Google Account.

https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00115361

https://support.tcl.com/us-androidtv-common-questions/do-i-need-to-have-a-google-account-to-enjoy-android-tv-58

https://support.tcl.com/can-i-just-use-basic-tv-on-a-tcl-google-tv

Update 2: Samsung seems to let you skip logging into their TVs during setup via a Skip button in the top-right corner, but it's unclear if you can skip connecting to the Internet at all.

[–] bcgm3@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

I got a TCL with Google TV earlier this year (the same model was available from both Best Buy and Wal-Mart), can confirm that I didn't have to sign into anything or even connect it to the net to use the coax or HDMI ports. Also it remembers the last used connection, so I don't even have to skip past the Google TV stuff when I turn it on.