Declining Terms and Conditions on a TV

martin363 · 26 Feb 2021 at 04:40

Hi all,

Hoping someone can advise me, Googling has failed me on this particular query.

I use a projector (I have no TV) and have done for years, but I am now thinking of switching to either an LG or Samsung OLED TV. One thing I love about the projector is that it is dumb, no smart features and I run it entirely off my HTPC.

I have no desire to change this 'dumb' setup if I move to a TV - I am considering the change because OLED is so good.

My question is this - If during setup I decline the Terms and Conditions I understand that all the smart features will be disabled, and I will not be connecting it to any internet either, but will I still be able to use an LG or Samsung TV for terrestrial TV and in particular as a screen for my HTPC? or will the TV just not function at all if I decline the Terms of service?

thanks in advance - Martin

martin363 · 26 Feb 2021 at 06:33

theone8181 said:
Why not just neglect to setup WiFi on the new TV?

This is my question, I don't know, I have never had a smart TV, would prefer just to use it as a big screen, and nothing else. Will it work? without anything else accepted or enabled?

martin363 · 26 Feb 2021 at 06:47

Rroff said:
If you just want a big screen Philips do a range of monitors in the 30-55" sizes though price and availability might be an issue (no TV though without an external device as well as no smart features).

Thanks appreciate the suggestion but I am planning 86 inch minimum, my projector screen is currently 120 inch. If I can turn the TV on first time, never connect it to the internet etc. and it will work (without asking me to connect all the time etc.), that is fine, but I am struggling to find an answer.

I have read the LG and Samsung terms and conditions and they both state if you don't want to accept the terms and conditions associated with the supplied smart TV, android TV etc. then you have 30 days to return the unit to the retailer, which would seem to indicate it wont work, but if it will work without then I am happy.

martin363 · 26 Feb 2021 at 08:53

~Divine~Wind~ said:
I did this with my last TV due to how often TV manufacturers simply stop supporting and updating apps.
Go with something Android based, or Hisense have a roku based range now as well.

Other than that I suppose it depends on TV, OS make and model tbh
Might need to visit a bnm store and F-Reset one of the TV's while yer there and see what happens when it reboots lol
Obviosuly with restrictions atm that may be hard

What kind of mobile phone do you have?

Thanks, tricky where I live as well.

I have an iphone, why?

martin363 · 26 Feb 2021 at 10:21

I am one of these irrational people who loves computers, but is obsessed with minimising my digital footprint, so I will never log into or allow a smart TV to access the internet, hence my original question.

If I ever have to own a car, I will remove the built in sim card before I even drive it, and outside work I use a Nokia 216.... Just me.

martin363 · 26 Feb 2021 at 10:52

Bluecube said:
You could add a Pihole to your network and block the TV from accessing all the ad related junk. That’s what I did with my Samsung. Ridiculous that this needs to be done and also ridiculous the amount of times the TV calls back home.

Interesting idea, thanks, for me the real goal is to be entirely anonymous online, and in general life. I try to be as unconnected as possible in that regard, so I wont even connect a smart TV, ever. it is irrational, I know, but what I do and get pleasure from.

martin363 · 26 Feb 2021 at 11:22

The suggestions of a separate SSID and the PiHole are great, thanks. I am on a permanent VPN with a kill switch, but a separate connection may be a good idea, a bit like a fake email name - or IP....

martin363 · 27 Feb 2021 at 09:00

Rannoch said:
Is your HTPC GPU good enough to use with a 86” OLED TV? HDR etc etc

2080 so should be ok, though may upgrade when things calm down.

martin363 · 27 Feb 2021 at 09:39

Bouton Aide said:
If you going to decline everything on a smart TV then why buy a smart TV.

Because as I explained, if you want an OLED screen, @86 inches, there is no other choice that I know of.

martin363 · 1 Mar 2021 at 13:29

Gray2233 said:
A good projector maybe?

When I bought my current TV my intent was to use it as a dumb unit, but it still has SMART features as it's literally impossible to find anything without. That said, you don't need to set up Wi-Fi if you don't want -- I did for firmware updates mainly.

Ironically my projector bulb just blew, impressively 30 mins ago, off to the service centre tomorrow... Benq W1400, about 5 or 6 years old...

martin363 · 1 Mar 2021 at 14:40

Tha

whitecrook said:
I never connected my upstairs samsung to the wifi. Every time I use it I get to use it without any adverts or 'smart stuff' appearing. It's a wonderful thing. TV downstairs though is on the network (vlaned inet only) and the amount of hits it genereates to samsung services and things is incredible, 10's of thousands. And it pumps ads and thing in to the user interface. It's disgusting.

Thanks, I will definitely try it without wifi, as has been said, if it never connects to the internet, it can never phone home....

martin363 · 2 Mar 2021 at 13:53

Well, my wife seems to be of the opinion we should stick with a projector, but get something like the Samsung Premier short throw laser.... Apparently every time our (her) friends come over they love our projector setup and want to replace their TV's.... not sure if projectors are starting to go smart though... the high end ones at least.