Buying a Dumb Smart TV in 2025

When shopping for a new TV recently, I wanted something inexpensive but not full of ads. Enter one of the greatest features of the modern era, "basic tv mode" on Google TV platform:

I purchased a TCL QM7, but presumably all Google TVs are similar: it prompts to configure "Google TV" or "Basic TV" mode on startup. After confirming that Google TV mode resembles the interface from Idiocracy, I factory reset and chose basic mode. The result is a streamlined Android interface with a few preinstalled apps (YouTube, Netflix, etc.) that aren't much of a bother if you just want to select HDMI inputs and call it a day.

Note that basic mode still forces you to agree to some terms before using the TV, just not as many as Google TV mode. The TV also has a microphone, but it can be disabled via a toggle switch on the bottom.

Xfinity XB3 hardware mod: Disable WiFi and save 2 watts

Background

Comcast has a prepaid "Xfinity NOW" service that's cheaper than normal Xfinity, with unlimited data instead of a 1.2TB/month cap. If you currently have Xfinity, the NOW online signup is hidden, but when I called to cancel my Xfinity service on a date a couple weeks in the future, the NOW signup started working immediately. (I initially queried a neighbor's address to confirm that NOW was available in my area.)

The catch is that you can't use your own modem. They provide a free Arris TG1682P (also known as the XB3), but it's huge and uses more power (14.9 watts) than my Arris SB8200 (9.8 watts). I suspect they retired millions of these things and treat NOW as a recycling service.

The XB3 lets you enable bridge mode via the admin page at http://10.0.0.1/, and IPv4/IPv6 works just like a plain modem, but even in bridge mode, the gateway broadcasts several hidden SSIDs with no option to disable the radios. Curiously I did not see an `xf

Paul Marks pmarks-net

Buying a Dumb Smart TV in 2025

Xfinity XB3 hardware mod: Disable WiFi and save 2 watts

Background