Wanna buy a non-smart TV????

[lopta@mastodon.social]

@Edent We live in town. OTA just isn't ubiquitous since the transition to DTV halved the range. #television

[rysiek@mstdn.social]

@Edent first of all, in some cases the "smart" devices won't allow you to start using it without it being connected:
https://www.coolblue.nl/en/product/877354/tado-smart-radiator-thermostat-starter-duo-pack.html#product-specifications

True, this particular one is not a TV, but there is nothing stopping manufacturers to make that kind of requirement obligatory. Some Sony TVs already requires agreeing to Google's ToS before any functionality can be used at all:
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00114157

Easy step from this to "you need to be connected for compliance reasons" or whatever.

[edent@mastodon.social]

@rysiek you've sent me a link to a thermostat…

Did your smart TV intercept the connection and send me some subtle advertising

[mia@hcommons.social]

@Edent our antenna was too sketchy, ditto my M-i-Ls

[rysiek@mstdn.social]

@Edent secondly, open WiFi networks exist, and I have zero reason to trust the "smart TV" manufacturers *not* to try to connect to those when available, as they are making money hand over fist from usage data.

[edent@mastodon.social]

@rysiek if you can find me a war-driving TV, I'll buy you a beer when we next meet.

[rysiek@mstdn.social]

@Edent that's why I said "smart devices" and "True, this particular one is not a TV, but…"

[edent@mastodon.social]

@mia in which case, you *do* want a smart tv? I'm confused.

[edent@mastodon.social]

@rysiek I've got a Tado. It is specifically sold as a connected Thermostat. It is brilliant. It even works if it only has a local connection.

Why would you buy anything like it if you didn't want a smart thermostat?

[rysiek@mstdn.social]

@Edent thanks, I'd much rather you engaged honestly with the concerns about these devices. There is a difference between "wardriving" and "auto-connecting to available open networks", and you know that as well as I do.

You asked what the big deal is, I am providing an honest answer from my perspective.

I have no reason to trust these device manufacturers to *not* ignore my choices if the opportunity presents itself.

[edent@mastodon.social]

@rysiek there's a fine line between being cautious and being paranoid.

Right now there are loads of models of non-smart TVs. But they can receive firmware updates OTA. Do you run a firewall on your antenna?

There are hundreds of smart TVs which work even if they're not connected. You can de-solder their WiFi if you're worried.

If a thing you buy doesn't work - take it back. If it stops working, complain.

Finally, if you're that concerned, build your own.

[cesarb@mastodon.social]

@Edent Our LG smart TV, which was never connected to any network, shows up as a Bluetooth device whenever it's turned on. I've read somewhere that anyone attempting to connect to that device will cause it to pop up a dialog box on top of whatever we're watching. So yeah, there can be other annoyances to a smart TV even when you deny it a network connection.

[edent@mastodon.social]

@cesarb you've read somewhere? Or you've actually tried it?

[cesarb@mastodon.social]

@Edent I've seen the TV appear when playing with nRF Connect, so I did a web search to find what it was (and saw the complaints about that popup), but I never tried it myself.

[edent@mastodon.social]

@cesarb try it yourself.

If you're unhappy, return the TV or complain to the manufacturer.

[cesarb@mastodon.social]

@Edent That TV is probably over a decade old, too late to return it. And we're very satisfied with it, it can receive ISDB-Tb and AV and HDMI content without any issue, my only complaints are it broadcasting that Bluetooth device whenever it's turned on, and that some TV networks broadcast a very wrong date/time making its channel guide (received over the air from these same TV networks) less useful.