Recently found that places like Best Buy no longer sell non-smart TVs. All of them do surveillance.
A consumer workaround for this appears to be buying a computer monitor for smaller scale (<40"), or a projector for larger size.
Discussion
instructions unclear.
buying a computer monitor for my Alexa. and projector for my Google Home.
You can also not connect it to the Internet 🤔
Cable box = internet connection
Hdmi w/earc = internet connection if connected to any other cable box, receiver, game console, Blu-ray player that’s connected to the internet.
Bluetooth connection = internet connection (phone)
Right???
This is the way.... send a signal, don't buy. We are in control.
Just don't connect it to the internet and use it as a monitor only.
There is a microphone solder connection.
Cut it
I was lucky that my LG TV was root-able - so I could just run through the system and knock out anything I don't want. By default, updates and ads are also blocked via /etc/hosts which is neat.
The microphone also lives on the bluetooth remote - so I just paired a SofaBaton and shelved it ^^
But yeah... buying a PC monitor seems to be the best thing to do. Plop a streaming stick of your choice in if you want it, and that's the best you got. :/