Hey guys, so I moved recently and started tipping my toes in self-hosting, currently managed to set up Pihole and Jellyfin.
I’m thinking of buying a TV to start enjoying all these cool services over my living room. The thing is, I’m pretty much an absolute beginner, and I’m not sure if there is something I should be aware of when buying a TV.
Since it is a fairly big spend, I would really hate to be locked out of it because of some greedy corporate garbage or something, especially since I would use it only for self-hosting, and I am aware TVs are particularly messy when it comes to this (never have bought one in my life). Could you guys help this lost kid?
Don’t let it connect to the internet.
For sure, turn off wifi on the tv and also block it’s MAC address at the router. Plug in your trusted streaming box of choice via HDMI and only use that (Nvidia Shield, AppleTV, Roku, AndroidTV, Homebuilt Plex box, etc).
Avoid smart TVs, prefer large screen. IIRC the LG brand was less bad than the others. Samsung is the worst since they put ads on top of your own videos. Anyway, never plug it to the internet, never put the wifi password.
It seems impossible to buy a dumb TV now adays. The second best thing is to just opt out of the smart TV features of your TV, then buy yourself a reputable android TV box.
I saw a tip a while back that you could search for “commercial display panel” or something and buy high-quality dumb TVs with a few HDMI inputs and that’s about it. They’re designed for restaurants or shops, so they’re reliable and good looking, but dead simple.
I don’t honestly remember if that was the right phrase, though.
All the most recent OLEDs are smart TVs, the only thing I could think of that isn’t are basically things classified as digital signage but these panels aren’t really tuned for watching at home.
But your best bet is to use the TV as a display for whatever you have and switching inputs old school style. Connect it once to do software updates. Unplug from wall and don’t give it your wifi password or vlan it off the internet. Otherwise they’re all sending data back about you, and your consumption habits.
The difference is you can get an nvidia shield, sideload whatever apps you want (SmartTubeNext for youtube, a new home screen that doesn’t have ads, moonlight for local game streaming, etc), and then block your tv from the internet. The nvidia shield has a better cpu than any other android tv setup, and it can do 4k, hdr, and dolby vision. It can handle a usb dac for a much better audio setup, usb controllers, and bluetooth controllers for gaming.
EDIT: Additionally, it’s a smart idea to separate devices that have different life cycles. If a new TV comes out that you want to upgrade to, you can do so without replacing your smart interface. If a new nvidia shield replacement comes out, you can switch to that without replacing the TV
I have an LG TV and was OK with it, but then I read this news recently: https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/14/23794747/lg-tv-smart-home-appliances-ads-subscriptions-webos .
Looks like nothing/nobody escapes capitalism.
There is a certain pattern. Cautious people tell others something like “don’t buy a voice assisstant”/“don’t spend money on crypto-currency”/“don’t get a Facebook account”/“don’t buy a smart TV” for very good reasons, others don’t listen, then the vendors get even shittier or more obviously shitty and hurt the people who didn’t listen.
Smart TVs will collect your personal info and viewing habits and send it to the manufacturer of they’re given half a chance
Some scummy brands will even configure their TVs to automatically and silently connect to open wifi networks to phone home
Yes, usually they know your name (you have to register) and which apps (or HDMI ports if you do not run apps) you run and for how long. That’s about it. Google knows way, way more about me.
Keep the tv dumb. Don’t connect it to the internet.
I like to check rtings.com for model specs and comparisons. Like, some panel types work well in a bright room, some work better than others when you are watching with a bright light source behind you. The warehouse clubs (Costco, BJ’s, Sam’s) tend to have good deals on midrange tvs.
Then pair it with a streaming stick of your choice. A generic Android TV stick/box would work.
Being aware you’re buying a TV is probably a good idea. It will, at the very least, avoid later confusion when you have a new TV but don’t know where it came from and are also missing the exact amount of money a new TV cost.
This. Smart TV’s are horrible. I want my dumb TV back.
