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Smart-TV blocklist for Pi-Hole

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Re: Smart-TV blocklist for Pi-Hole

#241

Post by Marsymars »

tra3 wrote: post #107
rahimnathwani wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm assuming you're talking about Xfinity xFi. If so, you can just put it in bridge mode and use your own router. Your own router will need to use a different private address range (e.g. 192.168.1.x or 172.16.0.x) because then you'll still be able to connect to the xFi admin interface on 10.0.0.1 (e.g. if you decide to turn off bridge mode).

Shaw, but apparently they get it from Comcast. I kinda like some of the features they offer in the mobile app. Would be a shame to lose it.

The mobile app features shouldn't be related to whether you're using their router/modem, or whether you have it in bridge mode with your own router. Which features are you referring to?

I actually switched away from Shaw due to my dissatisfaction with their router/modems. Their modems are all have obnoxiously high power draws (active cooling required?!), can't have wifi entirely disabled even if you use your own access point, and all use the trashy[1] Intel PUMA chipsets. Switched to TekSavvy using Shaw last-mile infrastructure so I can use my own modem and chipset. (And support TekSavvy's lobbying efforts.) Losing access to the Shaw hot spots was a bit of a pain, but for me, it was worth it.

[1] https://approvedmodems.org/bad-modems/

Re: Smart-TV blocklist for Pi-Hole

#242

Post by nobody9999 »

Nextgrid wrote: post #213
nobody9999 wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I would pay a premium for a TV with no internet connection. No premium required. Just set your TV's with a static IP address and block outbound access to that address at your firewall. I also blackhole the DNS entries of specific hosts that the TV attempts to contact. Blocking the IP address is sufficient, but I choose to nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure. ;)

> Just set your TV's with a static IP address and block outbound access to that address at your firewall. If you're assuming the TV is malicious, why trust it to honor that static IP setting? Doesn't even have to be malicious - a bug or carelessness could mean that it temporarily falls back to DHCP for some time in the boot process. A separate VLAN (or wireless network) with the entire thing isolated and not being ab…

>If you're assuming the TV is malicious, why trust it to honor that static IP setting? Doesn't even have to be malicious - a bug or carelessness could mean that it temporarily falls back to DHCP for some time in the boot process.

I guess you missed this part, eh?

   I also blackhole the DNS entries of specific hosts 
   that the TV attempts to contact. Blocking the IP 
   address is sufficient, but I choose to nuke it from 
   orbit. It's the only way to be sure. ;)

Re: Smart-TV blocklist for Pi-Hole

#243

Post by bennysomething »

Nextgrid wrote: post #221
bennysomething wrote: post #187

Can someone explain this to me: are smart TVs full of adverts now? In both Europe and USA? Are dumb TVs still a thing?

Some smart TVs display ads, others are "upgraded" into displaying ads later on even if they didn't do so originally, but most importantly, a lot of them spy on what you're watching. Dumb TVs are difficult to come by, what you now need is professional displays. They come in different ranges and the prices & features vary a lot. Digital signage ones which might be a poor fit for a TV as they're very expensive, have dif…

Thanks for this. Does just unplugging the TV from the internet work too? All my TV comes from my pc underneath my TV. Or is installing barebones android myself an possibility?

Re: Smart-TV blocklist for Pi-Hole

#244

Post by tra3 »

Marsymars wrote: post #241
tra3 wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Shaw, but apparently they get it from Comcast. I kinda like some of the features they offer in the mobile app. Would be a shame to lose it.

The mobile app features shouldn't be related to whether you're using their router/modem, or whether you have it in bridge mode with your own router. Which features are you referring to? I actually switched away from Shaw due to my dissatisfaction with their router/modems. Their modems are all have obnoxiously high power draws (active cooling required?!), can't have wifi entirely disabled even if you use your own acce…

I like it showing me when a new device connects to the network; time based usage limits. I'm assuming if I put it in bridge mode and have my own router I'm going to lose that. How is shaw going to know who/what is connecting if my router assigns and manages DHCP?

Re: Smart-TV blocklist for Pi-Hole

#245

Post by kasabali »

syshum wrote: post #45
TeamXe wrote: post #32

For those who are still looking for dumb tvs these are the best ones available as far as I'm aware. Bought one last year and works as expected. https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.htm...

sceptre seems to be the last brand offering dumb displays I am just waiting for the first "smart" computer monitor

Samsung has 27"-32" monitors running Tizen

Re: Smart-TV blocklist for Pi-Hole

#246

Post by Marsymars »

tra3 wrote: post #244
Marsymars wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The mobile app features shouldn't be related to whether you're using their router/modem, or whether you have it in bridge mode with your own router. Which features are you referring to? I actually switched away from Shaw due to my dissatisfaction with their router/modems. Their modems are all have obnoxiously high power draws (active cooling required?!), can't have wifi entirely disabled even if you use your own acce…

I like it showing me when a new device connects to the network; time based usage limits. I'm assuming if I put it in bridge mode and have my own router I'm going to lose that. How is shaw going to know who/what is connecting if my router assigns and manages DHCP?

Right, those are router features, if you don’t use the Shaw router you won’t have those features via the Shaw router, but those are pretty basic basic features for modern routers. (I use Eero, which has the features you listed via its app.)

I’ve got no real skin in your pick of router though, the Shaw one is fine if you’re okay with its limitations.

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