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  #1  
Old 01-21-2019, 07:28 PM
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40" 'dumb' TV - not a lot of choices

The layout of our living room limits us to placing the TV in a narrow corner between two large doorways and a 40" TV is as big as we can fit there. (Actually the limitation is a maximum outside width of 36").

We use the cable box as the primary video source except when using game consoles or playing DVDs. 1080 is more than adequate resolution for our needs.

There aren't too many options left in that size, and even fewer without built-in streaming service devices, which is a functionality we would not be using. Sound isn't important because we always run TV sound through the stereo system.

Any suggestions - other than splurging on capabilities to "grow into" which we won't yet be using?
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Old 01-21-2019, 10:35 PM
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In general, the 'smart' capabilities are treated as a separate unit of the tv, in terms of the menu system and all that. If you're not going to use that type of stuff, you probably wouldn't even know it was there anyway. Just sayin'

Should we be assuming that you want an inexpensive TV, then?
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Old 01-22-2019, 06:51 AM
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In general, the 'smart' capabilities are treated as a separate unit of the tv, in terms of the menu system and all that. If you're not going to use that type of stuff, you probably wouldn't even know it was there anyway. Just sayin'

Should we be assuming that you want an inexpensive TV, then?
Partly I'd like to keep the price low, but also I am concerned that if the set has additional circuitry for those functions, the maker has skimped somewhere else in the build in order to hold it within a competitive price bracket. And partly it just galls me to buy features I don't want.

I was looking at a Sharp. I know Hisense owns that brand now. Are they OK or is that a brand known for frequent failure?
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Old 01-22-2019, 03:31 AM
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Buy a cheap 2-3 year old used set that no longer receives updates and the apps no longer work? I don't even list "smart" TVs as "smart" anymore as by the time they come my way most of the apps don't work anymore and no updates are available.

The upside of this is many otherwise decent sets that are still working in every other respect are being discarded or sold cheaply.

Just make sure it isn't one of the models that always goes into the "smart" menu. I has a Soniq 50" set the other day that did that. Takes 15-30 secs to even startup as it's waiting for the android based interface to load - then there's no way to get the interface to go away without the remote - So it couldn't even be used as dumb monitor - Everything was just stuck in window with no easy way to kill the interface and just have full screen video.
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Old 01-22-2019, 01:59 PM
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The smart TV functionality actually brings pricing down. Companies like Netflix pay to have bloatware preinstalled and the companies collect and sell your viewing data.

I would just not connect the TV to your network if you aren't interested in using the smart features.
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Old 01-22-2019, 04:55 PM
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The smart TV functionality actually brings pricing down. Companies like Netflix pay to have bloatware preinstalled and the companies collect and sell your viewing data..
Hmmm...an old friend of mine gave me a heads-up about this practice when I posed the same question on FB. Can't say I'm fond of the idea.
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Old 01-22-2019, 07:56 PM
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I just keep an eye out for the commercial grade sets. Often they have a better range of inputs and don't have overly fancy bezels but the premium is paying a little bit more for something that can go from standby to on in under 5 seconds.
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Old 01-23-2019, 01:30 AM
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I have an Insignia 39 inch 720p tv, got it for 130 bucks. No smart anything, just a plain old dumb tv. Sufficient for what me and my roommates use it for, mostly gaming on the PS4. Not a bad option if you want something cheap and simple.
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Old 01-23-2019, 07:06 AM
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I have an Insignia 39 inch 720p tv, got it for 130 bucks. No smart anything, just a plain old dumb tv. Sufficient for what me and my roommates use it for, mostly gaming on the PS4. Not a bad option if you want something cheap and simple.
That's Best Buy's store brand, right? Is it an actual company or is it like Realistic or Kenmore where they are made on contract by a "real" company?
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Old 01-23-2019, 01:08 PM
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Yes, Insignia is Best Buy's house brand.

My In-laws have an Insignia 39". The speaker is timid but the picture is OK.

If your OTA TV sites are not all in the same direction, avoid this set. It has no manual tuning mode, no add-channel mode, and entering an RF channel won't work. Scanning is the only way to acuire channels.
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Old 01-23-2019, 04:46 PM
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If your OTA TV sites are not all in the same direction, avoid this set. It has no manual tuning mode, no add-channel mode, and entering an RF channel won't work. Scanning is the only way to acuire channels.
We don't view OTA. Our reception with an indoor passive antenna is awful. Dunno if boosting would help or just provide stronger noise. I think I'd need an attic or rooftop antenna to pull in stations clearly.
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Old 01-28-2019, 02:01 PM
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Originally Posted by WhiskeyRebel View Post
We don't view OTA. Our reception with an indoor passive antenna is awful. Dunno if boosting would help or just provide stronger noise. I think I'd need an attic or rooftop antenna to pull in stations clearly.
Digital TV is not always easy, but there are often workarounds.

If you're within 30 miles of your local full-power stations (15 from LPTV stations), you are less likely to have a problem with weak signals than with multipath.

Go to a website that shows the locations of TV transmitter sites (e.g. tvfool.com) to find out where the TV stations are (in relation to where you are). If you find that your main TV is in a room that faces AWAY from the local stations, and you want to use an indoor antenna, consider placing an antenna in a window facing the stations, install an amplifier, and drill a hole in the floor to lead the cable though the basement or the crawlspace, to a splitter, which will allow you to feed several sets. An attic antenna can feed such a system as well if not better.

Also pay attention to the actual (RF) channels all your local stations will be on. If the're all on actual channel 14 or above, a small antenna may be able to receive all of them. If any of them are 7 through 13, you'll want an antenna with High-VHF capability (you may still get the H-VHF stations, if you're VERY close). If any are on 2 through 6, you'll need an all-channel antenna, which must be installed outdoors or in the attic.

Last edited by Robert Grant; 01-28-2019 at 02:19 PM.
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  #13  
Old 01-24-2019, 11:04 AM
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That was a common big screw up. Even the early Sonys did it.
You have to read the manual before buying. In my area the stations
are in 4 directions. You have to point the antenna first hoping its on
the sweet spot. Then wait for a channel scan. All your old saved
channels are gone. I miss NTSC !

73 Zeno
LFOD !


Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Grant View Post
Yes, Insignia is Best Buy's house brand.

My In-laws have an Insignia 39". The speaker is timid but the picture is OK.

If your OTA TV sites are not all in the same direction, avoid this set. It has no manual tuning mode, no add-channel mode, and entering an RF channel won't work. Scanning is the only way to acuire channels.
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  #14  
Old 01-24-2019, 11:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zeno View Post
That was a common big screw up. Even the early Sonys did it.
You have to read the manual before buying. In my area the stations
are in 4 directions. You have to point the antenna first hoping its on
the sweet spot. Then wait for a channel scan. All your old saved
channels are gone. I miss NTSC !

73 Zeno
LFOD !
Get a Zenith DTV converter box go into the menu manually tune the carrier observe the OSD signal strength meter while peaking the antenna then transfer the antenna back to the crappy internal one in your TV.
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  #15  
Old 02-07-2019, 10:40 AM
dieseljeep dieseljeep is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Grant View Post
Yes, Insignia is Best Buy's house brand.

My In-laws have an Insignia 39". The speaker is timid but the picture is OK.

If your OTA TV sites are not all in the same direction, avoid this set. It has no manual tuning mode, no add-channel mode, and entering an RF channel won't work. Scanning is the only way to acuire channels.
The sound on some of these lower-end sets is pathetic! The speakers are really tiny. My brother had one of those sets and I hooked up one of those computer sound systems, small left and right speakers and a larger sub-woofer. It sounded a lot better!
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