TCL AndroidTV - Internal Tuner removal?

by psydon1602

So, i own one of the TCL AndroidTV based model - U55C7006 to be specific.

https://www.tcl.eu/en/products/uhd-c70-u55c7006

It is updated to Android 8.0 - latest available for this specific model.

Also it has integrated DVB-T2/C/S2 tuner, so i wonder if is possible to remove/desolder that tuner from TVs motherboard?

I mean i know it is physically possible to do that, but i wonder if the rest of AndroidTV OS will function properly without it?

Like rendering it to be large monitor.

I was googling around and some TVs can function when tuner is removed.

I'm asking because i am from Austria (EU), and over here we have to pay government tax-license ( around 22 euros - 24 USD) per month, for any device which has tuner integrated (radio or TV). With that money government is financing its own national channel ORF - whether you are watching it or not.

I'm using my TV mainly for streaming and gaming, and law over here also states - if you remove the tuner from TV and render it incapable of receiving OTA signal, you can be exempted from paying such a tax.

szutyi

Just out of curiosity: If you never watch broadcast tv how do they know if you have removed the tuner or not? Do they storm into your house to check?

koshergoy

Maybe you will get better results checking local electronics repair shop.

darko_s

We have the same tax here in Croatia, it sucks. I also don't know if it will function, maybe try to ask some service repair center?

But can i ask how did you get Oreo on your tv? Was it automatic update? I have the same model and mine is still on android 7?

How is Oreo compared to Nougat?