Question Where are the Dumb TV's (monitors??)

[oldtimer114]

I would like to get a larger screen TV. I'm been using an old Emerson 32 inch 1st Gen flat screen for over 15 years now. I would really like to get a larger screen. But I do not want a Smart TV. I'm a privacy and security freak and although I have been told you can turn off the two way connection on a smart tv, I don't believe it and don't trust either the manufacturers or the software people. I too well remember Microsoft and Google's attempt to spy on people thru their smart TV's. Nope! Don't want to risk that. But the price of dumb tv (a monitor??) of similar size to the available Smart Tv is at least 4 times the Smart TV. I can buy a 55 inch Smart TV for less than $500 from a number of stores. and a 70 inch for around $700. But the best I've been able to find a 55 inch monitor is $3500.
Any suggestions?
Is there any truth to the idea that the reason Smart TV's are so cheap is that the services really are actually gathering personal info and reselling it just like they do on our smart phones? (I have one of those but I don't carry it and rarely use it.)

 

[COLGeek]

Smart TVs are much like big tablets. If they aren't attached to a network, they are, in effect, dumb devices. That is completely up to you, whether to network enable or not.

 

[oldtimer114]

Well the whole issue is mote now as my trusty old Emerson decided to die on me. A friend gave me a 2 year old, 43 inch, 1080P, Hisense Roku Smart TV. I do not have it connected to my home wireless network. Rather I have it hooked to my rooftop antenna and to a Roku box via the HDMI port. I turn off the power to the box when I'm not using it. The very 1st thing I did was go into the setting and turn off every premium feature and service I could find. I use only the free Roku service. None of the paid ones. I don't think this TV is equipped with either a mic or a camera. At least I can find no evidence of them anywhere.
Any suggestions if I can make this TV more secure?

 

[Wolfshadw]

Check your Roku remote for a voice button. While the device, itself may not have a microphone, the remote might (mine does, but I don't worry about such things).

I guess you could disconnect the Roku device from the TV when not using it. No telling whether it's REALLY off or just in some sort of "sleep mode".

Aside from that, there's nothing off the top of my head that you could do to make it more secure.

-Wolf sends

 

[oldtimer114]

Funny thing. My Roku box came with 2 remotes. One with the voice function and 1 without. The one with voice died about a month after installing. I didn't use that function anyway. But the remote without voice has been great. It would even turn on my new TV. Although there was no OFF function on it.
I have the Roku box and the TV plugged into a power strip/surge protector and when I'm done watching TV, I turn off the power strip. So the box as no way of getting power.