I have a Tablo duo, 2 tuners. I have had it for a year and use my own 500 GB external hd. This device works very well, so easy and intuitive, and supplies tv to my 3 tvs. The commercial skip is great.
I'd say it's between the Recast and the Tablo. Both can be used without a subscription, though Tablo really goes out of their way to make the subscription free much worse. I went with the Tablo Dual Lite, since the initial purchase price was lower and I already had a 2TB hard drive. It also works with Roku, where Recast does not.
I have a Tablo Quad, the latest version with 4 tuners. I'll advise anyone to stay away from buying that model. The performance is very slow, takes over 3 minutes from the time you open the app just to get to the Live TV menu. I thought my issue was unique or that I had a defective equipment until I started reading the Tablo forums and realized I was not alone! Having changed everything including replacing the hard drive with an SSD drive, changing my OTA antenna, changing my network switch and my routers, everything.....I've finally gave up and I bought the HDHomerun. I am a consumer, not an influencer and I am not paid by either company. So this my experience as an end user. The HDHomerun requires a bit of technical knowledge to setup recording, but the step by step instructions are readily available on their website including videos. Once you set that up, you will be in heaven! It's like night and day compared to the Tablo, which unfortunately is now on its way to the dump site!
Thanks for doing the comparison on the DVR's. I may have to listen again since it is somewhat confusing between have the device or doing the cloud DVR services.
I have a life-time Plex pass, but I'm currently using Channels DVR with TV Everywhere -- This integrates my OTA guide with streaming services like Philo...
Readers note: Sling Blue and Orange plans are now $40/month! A huge increase since this video was created. I've just canceled as a consequence, hence increased interest in building a new DVR/Home Entertainment System. Thanks for the video!
OTA uses mpeg2 compression. It's about 19 mbits compressed streams. It's cleaner because most cable companies take the compressed signal from an OTA channel and compress it again to pump through their cable.
I have a mix of different Technologies are used for watching TV. I have a 1 GB FiOS connection. I got rid of cable over a year ago and have not looked back. I also use a TiVo Bolt the older model that will do both cable and OTA. the issue I have is the remote Tivo Mini boxes crash all the time now since they have done the software update over a year ago. I'm thinking of getting rid of TiVo, but I need to find a good 4K DVR solution. I got in on the $1 a month Hulu deal for a year. That does allow me to watch some of the DVR shows that we watch here at home.
Correction: ATSC 1.0 OTA digital signals are HIGHLY compressed using the outdated MPEG-2 codec and often heavily pixelate during complex scenes, such as sports. It's just that cable providers re-compress the broadcast channels for their transmissions, so there is a double compression.
Thank you for showing how the fire tv recast worked it is vauge af online idk I guess cuz u need fire devices. It now integrates sling and Hulu and TH-cam tv so it's a whole guide of all channels
The HdHomerun is good if your TV is way on the other side of the house and you don't want to run coax cable to it. Also for long cable runs and you loos signle. The HDhomerun and my @ can be viewed on a smart TV
Same here. We also use the "Channels DVR" guide and DVR server running on a repurposed laptop with a 2tb hard drive. That gives the ability to locally record everything coming in from Locast and Philo. Channels also has a remote login feature which allows you to watch any of your recording from anywhere with no Geo restrictions.
@@bobohara3974 I see you use the Channels DVR to record Locast and Philo. Does the Channel DVR apps guide allow you to search future shows, say up to a week, and record this way as we do on the cable providers?
@@bujer121 Yes it does. You can use the search box or scroll the guide. I normally just use the search box, but of course what you're searching for has to be listed somewhere in your provider(s) future showings in order to be found. Once found I simply create a pass to record "all new episodes" from all sources.
Thanks for the great comparison. I had the Fire recast but the reduction in video quality wasn't acceptable and I returned it. Any of the video quality devices won't work for me and my larger screen tv. I like the ability to add the 2.5" hard drive to Tablo, but then the reduction in quality again. My requirement is that the device is installed next to the A/V center rather than the router, also. There is a rumor that Fire Recast is going to improve their product, so I will wait till an upgraded version is released.
I have I haven't really been looking at this otay I didn't buy one TV antenna from Halo I never really got a chance to use it yet. It's kind of hard for me to move around and have limited use of one hand one arm. I found this TH-cam how to find the most useful products to date.
I have both the Tablo and the ReCast. The 14 day free OTA guide on the ReCast is better that the Tablo, as the ReCast, out of our 36 OTA channels, only two guides are missing (METV & METV+), the Tablo 6 channel guides are missing.
The Tablo reboots if it has a weak signal over and over. Known issue they just don't appear to be able to fix or don't want to. Outside of that they are good devices. Just be sure you have good signals on All channels, or avoid tuning to those channels.
If the Recast had an HDMI out, I would have bought it the minute it was released. I don’t want (or have the need) to stream my signal to the tv, which would be right next to the device. Plus hard wiring has the most reliable signal. Already made the HDMI out suggestion (as an option) to Amazon for when they come out with a next gen unit. Hopefully they’ll do it.
You were very informative and easy to listen to. Most put me to sleep and I still don't know what I'm going to do. Thanks! I will go with Tablo because my main TV is Roku but the other is fire stick. Not very tech savy but feel I need it to work forbs both and I like the lifetime subscriptions in case the programing changes or other tech changes
Hi. I am heavily invested in Roku devices. Does anyone know which of the mentioned DVRs will give us OTA local channels and integrate that nicely with Phillo? I'd like to use my Roku devices to steam both Phillo and all my local channels in a single channel guide or grid. I used to love TH-cam TV till they recently raised their prices!
Unfortunately, not with Roku it appears. Look into "Channels TV Everywhere". I don't have any personal experience with these, but I'm in the same boat as a big Roku usee, and I have been researching as well. But from my understanding, it looks like if you want this integration with Philo, you need to go with anything not Roku unfortunately and then pair it with TvHomeRun. Rather than using the TVHomeRun guide and interface, you can use TVHomeRun as your OTA to WiFi/DVR, and then substitute the Channels - TV Everywhere as your platform for your guide that consolidated everything. Here is a good video describing it in more detail: th-cam.com/video/QwUEbS_S5KE/w-d-xo.html Also, here are threads below that talk about it. Cheers! www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/fuf3n5/plex_live_tv www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/cc6gu0/is_amazon_fire_recast_the_only_dvr_solution_that
"Channels" with Locast (networks) and Philo BUT available on a Firestick and a few others but not available on Roku. Channels can double as a client based DVR server as well. We love the this setup. No known integrated guide for Roku that I'm aware of. We started with Roku and switched to Firesticks,,,,, and never looked back. Rokus are too restrictive, clunky, and always seem to have buffering issues. Got 4 of those paper weights in the drawer next to me.
Are you saying you don't have internet service on your smart phone? if you have a smart phone with a data plan you can stream anything using your data plan. I would purchase a special cable that connects to your phone and to your TV's HDMI port and then stream Netflix, Hulu or whatever you want. You do not want to use your hot spot unless you want to blow thru that data in about 15 hours.
Amazon Recast has four tuners but only two transcoders, so you can only watch on 2 devices at the same time, though you could be recording two other shows.
Current Tablo software allows 1080 8gbits recording and 1080 10gbits/720p but the file sizes are larger and you need a good network connection. 720p 5gbits is the recommended setting.
I was hoping you would cover the TiVo Edge; what do you think of their device? TiVo was the first company to introduce DVRs for cable over 25 years ago and now have OTA units. Any thoughts?
I already had a lifetime Plex subscription(Years ago it was around $75 on sale). Used with a 4 year old HD Homerun quatro it's been great. Might try a 4K model.
I have the HDHR Flex 4k. Plex is NOT compatible with the Nextgen ATSC 3.0 content yet. Since you already have a Quatro, do not waste $$ on a Flex 4k unless you have lots of ATSC 3.0 channels. Me, I was cutting the cord so I got the HDHR Flex 4k to hedge my bets.
Ok here we go; my wife is recording over 50 show presently and says that number can go up depending on the season. She differently records 2 channels at the same time and have done a few 3 show recordings at the same time. We record 99% of what we watch because we are gone in the evenings and like to watch out shows on our schedule and fast forward thru commercials (hate commercials). I currently have a 4K fire stick using Kodi software and IPVanish VPN. We selling our house and moving into a new constructed house with network wiring in all the rooms. We are currently using Satellite Dish Networks and will be cutting the cord before we move. I also have a large HD antenna in the attic and pickup roughly 100 local channels, I also have Netflix, Amazon Prime. I do like Plute TV which I pickup from Kodi. I saw the above video and it was great but still undecided with what OTA DVR would work for us. I'm a retired IT Network person so I'm familiar with most of this stuff. I ready to order a new Amazon Cub and DVR from your website if you can recommend which DVR would work best for us. My wife like the ability to look 2 weeks ahead in the TV guide to set uo future recordings. Also can you setup programming via your smart phone omg the go? I don't mind the cost of new hardware so I'm not looking to a save a dollar just want to get the best hardware that has the most to offer. I'm ready to pull the plug on satellite TV so let me know what you think. I don/'t mind buy a separate HD either, the more we can record the better, sometimes we are gone for months in our motorhome and like coming home and not missing any shows.
Earl, sorry about the delay in response. I hope this is still useful. I think a Fire TV Recast may be a good fit for you since you are already in the Fire TV eco-system. Plus, you won't have to pay any kind of subscription fees for guide data. The only drawback on the Recast is that you can't set recordings from the app on your phone, which I covered in the video. If that's a dealbreaker, then a HDHomeRun or Tablo would work. HDHomeRun is better suited if you are pulling everything through Kodi.
Nice review.....something definitely worth mentioning in your reviews is which DVR services let you skip past commercials, this is a big sticking point for some folks. Philo for example does not let you skip past the commercials.
One thing to point out is that Sling Blue or Sling Orange is $30/month now not $15/month- thats a 100% increase since you made your video- thats why a lot of cord cutters are talking about as far as costs increasing. OTA will never go up- its free. I also have a Tablo but now they are price gouging as well. I didnt know that Amazon didnt charge for a EPG. Yea its pricey up front but so was Tablo and then Tablo gouges you on a yearly guide cost as well as additional cost for DVR. Thanks for your video very helpful.
You bet. I hope it helps. The $15 price you see with Sling TV is actually from an old promotion. The regular rate for Sling TV was $20 per month at the time. Production gaffe on my part.
Hi. thank you for your videos. Can you tell me which option would be best for me. I am simply trying to record what I see and hear on my TV. I use a box similar to Kodi to get my free stations and shows. The main reason I want to do this is so I an go back watch the shows and fast forward though commercials . I would appreciate your time. David
If I have an Amazon recast dvr on the TV in my living room and an Amazon Fire Cube in my bedroom will they play off/connect to each other? Meaningful will the cube in my bedroom connnet and play saved movies/shows from the Recast dvr in my living room? And if I'm in my living room will the Recast DVR connect to the Fire Cube in my bedroom?
The thing that you forgot to mention about Plex is that it also has a lifetime subscription aka one & done. Well worth every dime. One fee and that's it. It's only a matter of time before things like Pluto or Philo etc.., are added natively to the plex guide. Plex makes silicon dust rock out the most above the rest of the tuners if you don't mind a higher initial setup cost. PLEX FTW! Accept nothing less...
@@CordCuttingReport except their DVR functionality doesn't work. It's been a constant failure since 2018 and is the reason I watched this video. I've used the HDHomerun DVR and it does work, but isn't as elegant. Software that works beats bells and whistles that fail.
I think the whole criteria for determining which hardware will become the best DVR will be dependent upon which company will integrate the new ATSC 3.0 tuners in their devices. I am a little disappointed that we don't see much new videos or news from the TabloTV company. They were very interactive up to last year. I was wondering if they are working on updates to any new product line for the new ATSC 3.0. At that time, the older ATSC 1.0 Tablo TV's will become obsolete after the grace period ends. I would rather have a new Tablo TV as an adapter rather than try and replace my television.
@@vince3676 Thanks. But I don't see how you are going to interface this into an existing ATSC1 DVR as mentioned in the video? This inputs the tuner via USB. The tuner has to be integral with the recording hardware in each device. You would need to bypass the internal ATSC1 tuner first. Let me know if you come up with a solution. Each of these companies should be working on an updated model. One would be wasting their money getting a new ATSC1 system right now and trying to modify or adapt it within the year with no guarantees that it would be successful.
The HomeRun setup was very easy to use but I have noticed some lag in some of the service for recording or watching TV. However, i wanted to use it with the Channels service to record from apps they support but, that service is extremely difficult to set up unless your very computer savvy. Might try Philo. I tried the new Discovery service but my wife said they have old content.
What an incredible review since I’m in this market now. I’ll be a chord cutter (Fios) next week and looking for the hardware/software package. I appreciate your videos and welcome any help in my current endeavor!!
I’ve been trying to get rid of my satellite DVR, but my biggest problem is my WIFI. In the morning, streaming is fine, but in the evening during high usage, there is a lot of buffering. This prevents me from using a lot of solutions like Amazon Recast or TiVo. I thought the Tablo Quad HDMI would be a good solution since I can connect it directly to the TV via HDMI, but apparently it still relies on the network for some purposes. And again, during high network usage, there was heavy buffering.
I have a Samsung 4k smart tv with a modified 4k Firestick so which should i be looking for ? I don't want monthly payments on the box tuner., which is probably better at picking up more channels. I wish my Sony DHG-HDD500 till it died 8 yrs later it was great and picked up everything possible.
What are the alternatives for people like me who only want to record broadcast TV and know how to program a VCR? All these apps and wifi connections are useless to me.
Tablo just released an OTA DVR that plugs directly into your TV through a HDMI port. I haven't tested it yet, but it requires no WiFi. You can read about it here: cordcuttingreport.com/2020/11/10/new-tablo-dual-hdmi-that-plugs-into-your-tv/
- If you have multiple televisions, do you only need one antenna and one fire recast and as long you have wifi you can view live tv and recordings on any of the TVs? - if the wifi goes out will i be able to watch live tv via recast or will i have to disconnect it and connect it directly to the TV?
Great video on OTA recording. Question.....I live in Texas in the winter and in Wisconsin during the summer. How can I record local OTA football games in Wisconsin during the winter and enjoy watching them while in Texas?
Thanks. Good question. I would set up an HDHomeRun in Wisconsin and subscribe to a Plex Pass ($5 per month) to manage your recordings/Live TV. You may have to set up port forwarding on your router, but you can watch your recordings remotely with Plex and even live OTA TV. I tested this during a recent trip to Aruba, but haven't put together a video yet.
I began cutting the cord in 2016 and love it. Cut my cable bill in more than half. I tried many devices and streaming services/plans. Settled on Fire TV's and sticks with a Fire TV Recast for local TV. Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max and Hulu get me all the TV/movies I can ever want. Some of these services are shared with/by other family members, until they mitigate this it's expected and they know it happens. For one year Verizon subscribers get Disney+ for free.
I'm cutting our Satellite soon and have been researching what I need to keep my husband happy. I have a Samsung 4k Smart TV. I need a DVR that I can use to record shows off of Locast. I need to be able to set up a live TV series to record every time it comes on. Is that feasible? I'm sure that I will most likely end up adding a good streaming service; which of course my husband will want to record some of. What DVR would you recommend to cover these needs? Also, what type if any of add on service for the guide. BTW I've really been enjoying your videos.
My Recast keeps disconnecting making it difficult to watch tv on my phone outside of my home. I’ve tried Ethernet and WiFi but had the same results. I’ve read this is a common issue. Any suggestions?
Hi, thanks for the hard work doing these reviews. I want to buy an inexpensive ATSC Digital Converter Box, single or dual ota DVR with an hdmi output. I will be using it in a national forest with a projector and with little or no internet reception. I own the clearstream 2v antenna and I know the towers are under 30 miles away. I would like the easiest interface possible. I looked at the airtv player but it requires internet. I also checked out the tablo dual hdmi but was hoping to spend a little less. I also looked at the mediabox homeworx, iview 3500stbiii and ematic AT103B. What are your favorite set top tuners with the features I want? TIA
Hi, I did some tinkering here with a projector and TV tuner I had on hand. I think your challenge will be having software that works with the tuner. Your best shot might be using something like the WinTV-dualHD from Hauppauge. Connecting it directly into the projector probably won't do the job because you can't download the Hauppage software on the projector. So you could connect the tuner to a laptop or PC, then try to run a HDMI cord from the computer to the projector. That's the best I could come up with. I have an older guide on the dualHD here: cordcuttingreport.com/2019/10/17/best-usb-tv-tuner/ Good luck and I hope that helps.
@@CordCuttingReport Hi, thanks for the quick reply. Do you think the WinTV-dualHD is a better option then the mediabox homeworx, iview 3500stbiii or ematic AT103B set top boxes? If so, why? These 3 tuners can all be hooked up to the hdmi projector and my antenna so Im not sure what the benefits are with either option. Can you explain? Thanks!!
My question is,by networking all the Air Channels,wouldn't the Firestick on it's Live TV Menu Guide,integrate all the Air Channels in,as well,for free? What good is a DVR that doesn't let you set a timed recording for the future? as in the Amazon? Or one w/o a HDD? So many catches to these things. The free guide on Amazon is great & multiple streams/multiple simultaneous recordings,but if you can't set a timed recording,what good is the DVR? that defeats the whole purpose of owning one,especially if it costs over $230+ They all seem to have such a catch, I also think, you can't call a device a DVR,if it doesn't include it's own hard drive, especially when they cost over $200+ & NO HDD?! That's absurd in my opinion, but I know Tablo is popular, that just seems like a potential deal breaker to me, though I am tech savvy & have terabytes of HDD's, still,that is pretty lame of them to NOT include an HDD in a DVR..
Got a spare cable wire? I use this trick as a benchmark test before I buy an antenna. th-cam.com/video/bItAkPK-cqY/w-d-xo.html Also look at sites like antennaweb.org and type in your address or zip code.
how good are any of the options for skip forward (30 sec) and skip rewind (15 sec) or fast forward (1x, 2x, 3x) at skipping commercials in a semi-manual way like on Direct TV?
I'm thinking about getting an HDHomeRun, but Tivo Bolt OTA has a traditional remote with numbers to change channels. Do any HDHR compatible devices allow typing or speaking a channel number to avoid scrolling to a desired station?
I don't think there is proper support within any of the potential HDHR hubs for that. But I could be wrong. I haven't investigated how Google Assistant might work on NVIDIA Shield/HDHR. If I find something, I'll post it or make a video.
@@CordCuttingReport I ordered a HDHR Scribe Quatro. Placing it closer to the antenna may reduce signal loss that is causing some stations to fluctuate between 45-55%; currently I have about 10 feet before connecting it to the in-wall coax that runs to the jack by my TV. I have an older Roku that still works well, but I've read the HDHR app on it isn't as good as other platforms and I wouldn't mind getting a new device with better navigation. NVIDIA makes the best graphic cards (IMO) so I expect the Shield to be a great product and it has more RAM than competitors. An AppleTV would compliment my iPhone and MacBook Pro once Apple releases the new model with the A12X chip. I ran across a video of RabbitEars.info's Live Band feature. It captures HDHR's tuner reception to update their map. It seems pretty kewl to compare the reception of others experience in the same area.
Now that studios are starting to have their own streaming services and things are getting more and more scattered throughout the web, if you are a heavy TV watcher, cutting the cord does indeed cost a lot more per month than a cable service. Plus, many of these programs are beginning streaming exclusive. Network TV is becoming more of a vast desert, except for local football team broadcasts and local news.
Thanks for the review. Where do you feel the new airtv Anywhere falls into this lineup? Does it have a 14 day guide with recording sites for a fee? Does it record in 720? Or better? Would it be good for 65-75" TVs?
I have a brief story on the site about the new AirTV Anywhere being announced/released. But I haven't put my hands on one yet. So I can't really tell you much about picture quality at this point. There is no fee associated with the channel guide, but you are paying for the Sling TV subscription.
@@CordCuttingReport Any chance for an update? AirTV can be used for free on Sling App, even with no Sling subscription. Add to that the ability to access remotely, it seems like it might be a good option for cord cutters.
Is there a similar device to these without the DVR part? I have a monitor and I just want some sort of box that will let me tune in to my local channels (using an antenna).
@@CordCuttingReport Yes just a monitor. I just want some sort of tv tuner box that directly connects to my monitor's hdmi port. I have a computer too, but most of the usb tuners I found seem really low quality and I have to turn on my computer to watch tv. I like the network tuners/dvrs but I don't trust the ones manufactured by smaller companies (read a lot of reviews saying they don't last). I was going to get the fire recast but it doesn't support android tv or chromecast. -.-
Thanks for sharing I have been searching for some explanation about recast and you nailed it the best one is the Amazon recast I'm getting it this week what do you think.
I am getting ready to cut the cable. I do like to record tv shows so I can watch when I want not when they are aired. Can any of the products record a tv series at a specific time each day or week?
@* I believe most of them do. Even on my Dish satellite I can only see 2 weeks ahead in the menu but I can click on "Record" entire series. So every week the next 2 weeks will automatically get added to your record list. So you don't have to go in every 2 week to add 2 more weeks, it records the whole series. That's my understanding.
Question. In my area, when you shut off service for cable. Even tho it's shut off, we are still able to get local networks and TV through the cable line. Being that we don't need a antenna for local networks, are we still able to use the HD HomeRun connect, and it's guide subscription? Or do these only work with OTA networks?
I have the razor phone too, does your phone have camera issues as well? Also my charging port stopped working, so I have to wirelessly charge it all the time.
Great video with clear explanations of variations in features and software. I will be installing one of these after a little more research. Which of the 3 devices has the best performing tuner with reference to sensitivity?
How is it 'cord cutting' if you must have Internet to get the channels? TV Used to be FREE over the air - like radio, I have the Ematic w/DVR so TV's FREE. All these things seem expensive and appear to require a monthly fee ON TOP OF what one pays for HS Internet Access. Jus Sayin it seems like there's a cord required.
Great reviews and info. I was wondering why you didn't include a XVidia Shild TV Pro in here. I want to do a setup that has great OTA with an outside antenna. My router is in the basement and the old dump plasma tv is one floor above that. Number one question for me; Do I have to have a smart tv to do any of this, if the OTA antenna has to come in by the router which is in a room away from the dumb tv?
So i currently have COX cable. How do i get started. Can you explain in non-tech terms? The primary user is senior citizen to whom tv is his window on the world. Can cord cutting be made simple to install and simple to use .
Requirements for this type set-up: 1) Get an antenna. 2) Connect it to a OTA (over the air) DVR (Tablo, or one of the others) 3) Connect the DVR to your router (Tablo can be wireless or wired) 4) Connect your TV to your Wifi through a device (like a Roku), or just get a Smart TV. 5) Add any steaming channels you want to your device (like a Roku), such as Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sling -whatever. Pay for what you want, while all your OTA channels are free.
what device can i use with a digital antenna in a attic, with two tv’s connected to it, one TV on a third floor, and one TV in the basement with out internet and without having to record? no apps, no internet, no recording, no roku, no multiple channels, no subscriptions, nothimg but a signal local boston channels....that’s it. what device can i use to just hook up a tv in a basement without any fancy stuff or monthly fees? could i boost the digital antenna signal from the attic to reach the basement from four floors up?
In that case, you should try out an amplifier. You can read this guide. It needs to be updated, but you can skip down to the section on amplifiers for a couple of recommendations that should help with what you want to accomplish. cordcuttingreport.com/antenna-splitter-guide/
Cord Cutting Report. Thank you again. I ran into a geek squad guy and suggested trying an R6 cable and eliminating the splitter. From what he was saying, i should be able to get reception in the basement from the attic. also changing the direction of the antenna could help. i think it’s going to take some experimental work
What's a "digital antenna"? The "yagi" UHF/VHF antennas are the best and have been around for many, many decades. Channel Master makes a powered 8-way amplifier with equal signal outputs which works great for running numerous TVs.
I'm slightly confused for the lifetime tablo sub is it 150 dollars once for the life time of the account, as in i just pay the 150 and that's it or is it one of those things where they bill you on a yearly basses or whatever. oh and the app means i only need one tablo right I mean I have a roku soooo ?
I have a Tablo lifetime subscription. I love it. Best thing is that it needs to be only near the antenna coax, not your TV, nor you Router. The antenna plugs in it, but the Tablo outputs wirelessly to to your router's WiFi. I originally got a Tablo because my inside household antenna could pickup channels in only location it the house, the Tablo allowed me to use that antenna to be used by all my TVs. The DVR service came as an added bonus, and loved that, too! Then your receiving devices need to connect to your router's WiFi via apps. My lifetime subscription also enables me to connect to Tablo remotely, either at work, or in a different country (or continent).
So I just purchased a Fire Stick and a Fire tv Recast am I to understand I Cannot record shows that I would get on the fire stick? I dont have an HD Antenna . Or is there another type of DVR that will allow me to record shows. I dont want to buy an Antenna.
Terry, Sorry to break the news, but OTA is short for over-the-air broadcasts that you get through a TV antenna. That's what the Recast is made for. I don't know where you want to record shows from. Hope that clears things up.
New Sub bruh...always,thought it would be super confusing,but uh out broke it dwn and you were clear and to the point....COST ,ADVANTAGES & LIMITATIONS! Will be bck to ask a few questions based on my kind of TV...really want to get my mom of the cable addiction bc they r ip her off!:Thank you so much!
If you've ever used a really well thought out DVR (like TiVo), you're going to hate the Amazon Fire recast. It is a product that "almost does most things." And it is full of annoyances that are just poor design choices. It is about as good as your local cable company DVR.
Ok I have the 4k Firestick and have just purchased the Amazon Recast that I am still learning how to use. My question is; my Firestick is plugged into one of my Sony audio receivers HDMI port. The cat5 ethernet LAN connection is plugged into the Firestick. Should I have the Firestick plugged into my smart TV HDMI port instead of my audio receiver? My smart tv has a network cable to the network, If I install the Firestick to my TV should I use the network cable in the TV or Firestick? I been having a constant buffering problem when I watch movies via Kodi running a VPN.
I would plug the Firestick directly into the TV. Connect your network cable to the Firestick, not the TV. I don't use VPNs so I can't speak to whether there's an issue there. Hope that helps.
I have had TiVo DVR’s for cable for over 25 years and considering getting their OTA model. The units are in the $200 area, but their subscription service is higher.
If you're using any of these tuners/DVRs shown here, you only need the antenna that connects to the back of the box. You do need Internet service. If you're in some kind of bundle that includes your landline, you might want to consider porting your number to Google Voice. Here's my guide on that: cordcuttingreport.com/port-phone-number-google-voice/
This was a very informative review. I recently canceled my Dish account and I believe that I am going with a Tablo OTA DVR. This video is a year old now and before I move forward I wanted to ask if my best option is current. Due to channel selections (news), I have started a subscription to Sling, but the cost has gone up from what the guide shows. I want to be able to log in remotely which still seems like something that I can do with Tablo. I believe that I will need to make a $20 annual TV guide subscription and a lifetime premium service subscription to get features like a commercial skip. I cannot stand commercials. Does tablo have a fast forward option if the show does not permit commercial skip? I had planned on going the HD Homerun route, but I believe they are eliminating their dvr service. The last item is that when I clicked the tablo link from above it does not take me to your store, it shows the Tablo store instead? Are you sure you would get some income on this? Thank you.
SO I'm trying to understand if I buy the 1tb Amazon Recast I will connect my Amazon 4K Firestick to the recast or is both device totally separator from each other? I have to make sure I don't lose out using my fire stick with all my apps on it.
The Recast and Fire Stick are separate. The Recast has an internal hard drive for recordings. Your Fire Stick more or less acts like a receiver to the Recast. The Recast has built-in TV tuners, DVR functionality and hard drive space.
Well I got the new Amazon Fire Cube but still have the same problem with Kodi buffering 99% of the time. I can barely watch an old movie on CinemaHD in 480. Ive tried a million different things with no buffer fix. All other streaming works fine like Netflix.
Great reviews for the products themselves, but having a DVR that requires the Internet to use the antenna defeats one main benefit of watching antenna TV, it doesn't use internet bandwidth/data!
I hear that. I like Hauppauge products for a no-Internet option, but I was focusing on ones that integrate with streaming devices. Maybe I need to do a separate video about what you're talking about.
@@dank9296 So how did you write this on here without paying for internet? This is pretty cool technology if you are willing to learn about it and it will make things simpler watching ota tv. I live rural and get okay internet but definitely not great. Idk where your getting at with your comment cause apparently this product is not for you whether you dont wanna pay for internet or just dont have access.
I am looking for solutions for an elderly person that doesn’t have internet…fixed income SS only. So, people like me fixing something up for others have this situationnn :)
W/ the Cloner Alliance do you have problems w/ glitching like a FPS w/ this device? Maybe every 12 seconds playing a recording the best way to see it is have the Ticker Tape words below like on CNN or Fox Busin channel. Danke
I have bought two NEW Tivo Bolt OTA's this week at 2 different Best Buy stores and both locked up on me. This is part of the message I received on BOTH Tivo's. "Please report this problem. You have encountered and unexpected error, and the UI can not continue. Please report this issue as part of your participation in our beta program". It goes on with some technical stuff. I was trying to set both Tivos up for the first time. I've never owned a Tivo and never participated in any beta program. I could not set up and account because Tivo is asking for both the unit Serial # which is on the bottom of the Tivo and they want Tivo MAP (Media Access Key) # which you have to retrieve from the main menu. Can't access main menu if Tivo locks up on you which it did twice. I think maybe either Tivo or Best Buy, of both, are knowingly selling faulty Tivos.
Why would I need a Tablo Quad for multiple TVs? If I don't want to record more than two shows at a time, why does it matter how many TVs I have? Wouldn't the Tablo Dual Lite work regardless of number of TVs?
If you get the Quad, if you are recording 2 shows, you can tune a 3rd show live on any device (including a TV) that has the app on it. The quad will allow up to 4 recordings or up to 4 live streams at the same time. If you only plan to record 2 or watch 2 and neither at the same time, then the dual is fine for you. But, get the Tablo Quad so you have 4 tuners. You never know when you are recording 2 shows and want to watch a different show on a 3rd tuner or record a 3rd show etc.
Ive watched many reviews on these devices and your comparison is by far the best one I have seen. Well done.
Thanks very much.
I have a Tablo duo, 2 tuners. I have had it for a year and use my own 500 GB external hd. This device works very well, so easy and intuitive, and supplies tv to my 3 tvs. The commercial skip is great.
I'd say it's between the Recast and the Tablo. Both can be used without a subscription, though Tablo really goes out of their way to make the subscription free much worse. I went with the Tablo Dual Lite, since the initial purchase price was lower and I already had a 2TB hard drive. It also works with Roku, where Recast does not.
I have a Tablo Quad, the latest version with 4 tuners. I'll advise anyone to stay away from buying that model. The performance is very slow, takes over 3 minutes from the time you open the app just to get to the Live TV menu.
I thought my issue was unique or that I had a defective equipment until I started reading the Tablo forums and realized I was not alone!
Having changed everything including replacing the hard drive with an SSD drive, changing my OTA antenna, changing my network switch and my routers, everything.....I've finally gave up and I bought the HDHomerun.
I am a consumer, not an influencer and I am not paid by either company. So this my experience as an end user.
The HDHomerun requires a bit of technical knowledge to setup recording, but the step by step instructions are readily available on their website including videos. Once you set that up, you will be in heaven!
It's like night and day compared to the Tablo, which unfortunately is now on its way to the dump site!
Thanks for doing the comparison on the DVR's. I may have to listen again since it is somewhat confusing between have the device or doing the cloud DVR services.
I have a life-time Plex pass, but I'm currently using Channels DVR with TV Everywhere -- This integrates my OTA guide with streaming services like Philo...
Readers note: Sling Blue and Orange plans are now $40/month! A huge increase since this video was created. I've just canceled as a consequence, hence increased interest in building a new DVR/Home Entertainment System. Thanks for the video!
OTA uses mpeg2 compression. It's about 19 mbits compressed streams.
It's cleaner because most cable companies take the compressed signal
from an OTA channel and compress it again to pump through their cable.
The newson channel is really cool. Easy to get full live broadcasts from any city you want.
I have a mix of different Technologies are used for watching TV. I have a 1 GB FiOS connection. I got rid of cable over a year ago and have not looked back. I also use a TiVo Bolt the older model that will do both cable and OTA. the issue I have is the remote Tivo Mini boxes crash all the time now since they have done the software update over a year ago. I'm thinking of getting rid of TiVo, but I need to find a good 4K DVR solution. I got in on the $1 a month Hulu deal for a year. That does allow me to watch some of the DVR shows that we watch here at home.
Correction: ATSC 1.0 OTA digital signals are HIGHLY compressed using the outdated MPEG-2 codec and often heavily pixelate during complex scenes, such as sports. It's just that cable providers re-compress the broadcast channels for their transmissions, so there is a double compression.
Thank you for showing how the fire tv recast worked it is vauge af online idk I guess cuz u need fire devices. It now integrates sling and Hulu and TH-cam tv so it's a whole guide of all channels
The HdHomerun is good if your TV is way on the other side of the house and you don't want to run coax cable to it. Also for long cable runs and you loos signle. The HDhomerun and my @ can be viewed on a smart TV
We use Philo and Locast which gives us everything we need.
Same here. We also use the "Channels DVR" guide and DVR server running on a repurposed laptop with a 2tb hard drive. That gives the ability to locally record everything coming in from Locast and Philo. Channels also has a remote login feature which allows you to watch any of your recording from anywhere with no Geo restrictions.
@@bobohara3974 I see you use the Channels DVR to record Locast and Philo. Does the Channel DVR apps guide allow you to search future shows, say up to a week, and record this way as we do on the cable providers?
@@bujer121 Yes it does. You can use the search box or scroll the guide. I normally just use the search box, but of course what you're searching for has to be listed somewhere in your provider(s) future showings in order to be found. Once found I simply create a pass to record "all new episodes" from all sources.
Thanks for the great comparison. I had the Fire recast but the reduction in video quality wasn't acceptable and I returned it. Any of the video quality devices won't work for me and my larger screen tv. I like the ability to add the 2.5" hard drive to Tablo, but then the reduction in quality again. My requirement is that the device is installed next to the A/V center rather than the router, also. There is a rumor that Fire Recast is going to improve their product, so I will wait till an upgraded version is released.
I have I haven't really been looking at this otay I didn't buy one TV antenna from Halo I never really got a chance to use it yet. It's kind of hard for me to move around and have limited use of one hand one arm. I found this TH-cam how to find the most useful products to date.
I have both the Tablo and the ReCast. The 14 day free OTA guide on the ReCast is better that the Tablo, as the ReCast, out of our 36 OTA channels, only two guides are missing (METV & METV+), the Tablo 6 channel guides are missing.
The Tablo reboots if it has a weak signal over and over. Known issue they just don't appear to be able to fix or don't want to. Outside of that they are good devices. Just be sure you have good signals on All channels, or avoid tuning to those channels.
If the Recast had an HDMI out, I would have bought it the minute it was released. I don’t want (or have the need) to stream my signal to the tv, which would be right next to the device. Plus hard wiring has the most reliable signal. Already made the HDMI out suggestion (as an option) to Amazon for when they come out with a next gen unit. Hopefully they’ll do it.
You were very informative and easy to listen to. Most put me to sleep and I still don't know what I'm going to do. Thanks! I will go with Tablo because my main TV is Roku but the other is fire stick. Not very tech savy but feel I need it to work forbs both and I like the lifetime subscriptions in case the programing changes or other tech changes
Hi. I am heavily invested in Roku devices. Does anyone know which of the mentioned DVRs will give us OTA local channels and integrate that nicely with Phillo? I'd like to use my Roku devices to steam both Phillo and all my local channels in a single channel guide or grid.
I used to love TH-cam TV till they recently raised their prices!
Unfortunately, not with Roku it appears. Look into "Channels TV Everywhere". I don't have any personal experience with these, but I'm in the same boat as a big Roku usee, and I have been researching as well. But from my understanding, it looks like if you want this integration with Philo, you need to go with anything not Roku unfortunately and then pair it with TvHomeRun. Rather than using the TVHomeRun guide and interface, you can use TVHomeRun as your OTA to WiFi/DVR, and then substitute the Channels - TV Everywhere as your platform for your guide that consolidated everything. Here is a good video describing it in more detail:
th-cam.com/video/QwUEbS_S5KE/w-d-xo.html
Also, here are threads below that talk about it. Cheers!
www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/fuf3n5/plex_live_tv
www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/cc6gu0/is_amazon_fire_recast_the_only_dvr_solution_that
"Channels" with Locast (networks) and Philo BUT available on a Firestick and a few others but not available on Roku. Channels can double as a client based DVR server as well. We love the this setup. No known integrated guide for Roku that I'm aware of. We started with Roku and switched to Firesticks,,,,, and never looked back. Rokus are too restrictive, clunky, and always seem to have buffering issues. Got 4 of those paper weights in the drawer next to me.
What would best option be for folks that do not have any internet ?
Ematic makes a TV tuner with the capability to attach a USB drive to record shows.
I like Hauppauge products. Here's something I covered a while back.
cordcuttingreport.com/2019/10/17/best-usb-tv-tuner/
Are you saying you don't have internet service on your smart phone? if you have a smart phone with a data plan you can stream anything using your data plan. I would purchase a special cable that connects to your phone and to your TV's HDMI port and then stream Netflix, Hulu or whatever you want. You do not want to use your hot spot unless you want to blow thru that data in about 15 hours.
@@EarlBalentine DEFEATS the purpose of cord cutting. Why pay for nettfliks if you cut the cord to WATCH TV and MOVIES FOR FREE!!??
Correction on Amazon Recast:
I have the 1 TB model. It has FOUR (4) tuners - NOT two (2).
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Amazon Recast has four tuners but only two transcoders, so you can only watch on 2 devices at the same time, though you could be recording two other shows.
Outstanding review! Thanks for taking the time to help out us cord-cutters.
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It appears that OTA is really OTI but what if the internet takes a dump? What is the best option for whole home OTA?
Current Tablo software allows 1080 8gbits recording and 1080 10gbits/720p but the file sizes are larger and you need a good network connection. 720p 5gbits is the recommended setting.
I was hoping you would cover the TiVo Edge; what do you think of their device? TiVo was the first company to introduce DVRs for cable over 25 years ago and now have OTA units. Any thoughts?
I already had a lifetime Plex subscription(Years ago it was around $75 on sale). Used with a 4 year old HD Homerun quatro it's been great. Might try a 4K model.
I have the HDHR Flex 4k. Plex is NOT compatible with the Nextgen ATSC 3.0 content yet. Since you already have a Quatro, do not waste $$ on a Flex 4k unless you have lots of ATSC 3.0 channels. Me, I was cutting the cord so I got the HDHR Flex 4k to hedge my bets.
Ok here we go; my wife is recording over 50 show presently and says that number can go up depending on the season. She differently records 2 channels at the same time and have done a few 3 show recordings at the same time. We record 99% of what we watch because we are gone in the evenings and like to watch out shows on our schedule and fast forward thru commercials (hate commercials). I currently have a 4K fire stick using Kodi software and IPVanish VPN. We selling our house and moving into a new constructed house with network wiring in all the rooms. We are currently using Satellite Dish Networks and will be cutting the cord before we move. I also have a large HD antenna in the attic and pickup roughly 100 local channels, I also have Netflix, Amazon Prime. I do like Plute TV which I pickup from Kodi.
I saw the above video and it was great but still undecided with what OTA DVR would work for us. I'm a retired IT Network person so I'm familiar with most of this stuff. I ready to order a new Amazon Cub and DVR from your website if you can recommend which DVR would work best for us. My wife like the ability to look 2 weeks ahead in the TV guide to set uo future recordings. Also can you setup programming via your smart phone omg the go? I don't mind the cost of new hardware so I'm not looking to a save a dollar just want to get the best hardware that has the most to offer. I'm ready to pull the plug on satellite TV so let me know what you think. I don/'t mind buy a separate HD either, the more we can record the better, sometimes we are gone for months in our motorhome and like coming home and not missing any shows.
Earl, sorry about the delay in response. I hope this is still useful. I think a Fire TV Recast may be a good fit for you since you are already in the Fire TV eco-system. Plus, you won't have to pay any kind of subscription fees for guide data. The only drawback on the Recast is that you can't set recordings from the app on your phone, which I covered in the video. If that's a dealbreaker, then a HDHomeRun or Tablo would work. HDHomeRun is better suited if you are pulling everything through Kodi.
Nice review.....something definitely worth mentioning in your reviews is which DVR services let you skip past commercials, this is a big sticking point for some folks. Philo for example does not let you skip past the commercials.
If you record all your shows with Philo you can skip the commercials, live you cannot. We record everything, you just have to watch it in 30 days
One of the best videos on OTA I've seen. Well done. I'd love to hear your thoughts/video on TH-cam TV.
Thanks very much. I have some other videos in the works.
One thing to point out is that Sling Blue or Sling Orange is $30/month now not $15/month- thats a 100% increase since you made your video- thats why a lot of cord cutters are talking about as far as costs increasing. OTA will never go up- its free. I also have a Tablo but now they are price gouging as well. I didnt know that Amazon didnt charge for a EPG. Yea its pricey up front but so was Tablo and then Tablo gouges you on a yearly guide cost as well as additional cost for DVR. Thanks for your video very helpful.
You bet. I hope it helps. The $15 price you see with Sling TV is actually from an old promotion. The regular rate for Sling TV was $20 per month at the time. Production gaffe on my part.
So.. startups operate at a loss in the beginning. Meaning the introductory $20/mo is unprofitable
Hi. thank you for your videos. Can you tell me which option would be best for me. I am simply trying to record what I see and hear on my TV. I use a box similar to Kodi to get my free stations and shows. The main reason I want to do this is so I an go back watch the shows and fast forward though commercials . I would appreciate your time. David
Tablo! I love it! Even pay for comercial skip.
Just what I was looking for. Very good informative video. Thank you
If I have an Amazon recast dvr on the TV in my living room and an Amazon Fire Cube in my bedroom will they play off/connect to each other?
Meaningful will the cube in my bedroom connnet and play saved movies/shows from the Recast dvr in my living room?
And if I'm in my living room will the Recast DVR connect to the Fire Cube in my bedroom?
The thing that you forgot to mention about Plex is that it also has a lifetime subscription aka one & done. Well worth every dime. One fee and that's it. It's only a matter of time before things like Pluto or Philo etc.., are added natively to the plex guide. Plex makes silicon dust rock out the most above the rest of the tuners if you don't mind a higher initial setup cost. PLEX FTW! Accept nothing less...
Good call. Wish I mentioned that. Plex is definitely great.
@@CordCuttingReport except their DVR functionality doesn't work. It's been a constant failure since 2018 and is the reason I watched this video. I've used the HDHomerun DVR and it does work, but isn't as elegant. Software that works beats bells and whistles that fail.
I think the whole criteria for determining which hardware will become the best DVR will be dependent upon which company will integrate the new ATSC 3.0 tuners in their devices. I am a little disappointed that we don't see much new videos or news from the TabloTV company. They were very interactive up to last year. I was wondering if they are working on updates to any new product line for the new ATSC 3.0. At that time, the older ATSC 1.0 Tablo TV's will become obsolete after the grace period ends. I would rather have a new Tablo TV as an adapter rather than try and replace my television.
Hdhomerun is the only one currently im aware of releasing a 3.0 box. They do have one on kickstarter for 199.99 right now
www.geniatech.com/product/a683/
@@vince3676 Thanks. But I don't see how you are going to interface this into an existing ATSC1 DVR as mentioned in the video? This inputs the tuner via USB. The tuner has to be integral with the recording hardware in each device. You would need to bypass the internal ATSC1 tuner first. Let me know if you come up with a solution. Each of these companies should be working on an updated model. One would be wasting their money getting a new ATSC1 system right now and trying to modify or adapt it within the year with no guarantees that it would be successful.
The HomeRun setup was very easy to use but I have noticed some lag in some of the service for recording or watching TV. However, i wanted to use it with the Channels service to record from apps they support but, that service is extremely difficult to set up unless your very computer savvy. Might try Philo. I tried the new Discovery service but my wife said they have old content.
So none of these will let you set up to record in the future? You have to be there to push the record button?
The Fire Recast does. I use it every day to record/time shift my local news station OTA from antenna. Too bad Amazon quit supporting the Recast!
What an incredible review since I’m in this market now. I’ll be a chord cutter (Fios) next week and looking for the hardware/software package. I appreciate your videos and welcome any help in my current endeavor!!
Incredible?😳
I’ve been trying to get rid of my satellite DVR, but my biggest problem is my WIFI. In the morning, streaming is fine, but in the evening during high usage, there is a lot of buffering. This prevents me from using a lot of solutions like Amazon Recast or TiVo. I thought the Tablo Quad HDMI would be a good solution since I can connect it directly to the TV via HDMI, but apparently it still relies on the network for some purposes. And again, during high network usage, there was heavy buffering.
Do I attach my antenna to my Tablo or it on
only works attached to a modem? Does the Tablo not work without buying a hard drive for it?
Tablo seems to be the way to go
I have a Samsung 4k smart tv with a modified 4k Firestick so which should i be looking for ? I don't want monthly payments on the box tuner., which is probably better at picking up more channels. I wish my Sony DHG-HDD500 till it died 8 yrs later it was great and picked up everything possible.
What are the alternatives for people like me who only want to record broadcast TV and know how to program a VCR? All these apps and wifi connections are useless to me.
Tablo just released an OTA DVR that plugs directly into your TV through a HDMI port. I haven't tested it yet, but it requires no WiFi.
You can read about it here: cordcuttingreport.com/2020/11/10/new-tablo-dual-hdmi-that-plugs-into-your-tv/
@@CordCuttingReport Thanks! Hope you do a review soon.
Do you have a review of the TiVo OTA bolt with 1TB hard drive and 4 tuners? Also how does this compare to the other OTA dvrs you have reviewed?
I've got the Bolt OTA running a 3TV drive and I absolutely love it. Very friendly and intuitive to use, and also runs the basic streaming apps.
- If you have multiple televisions, do you only need one antenna and one fire recast and as long you have wifi you can view live tv and recordings on any of the TVs?
- if the wifi goes out will i be able to watch live tv via recast or will i have to disconnect it and connect it directly to the TV?
I have Xfinity internet and the only thing I'm really trying to record is golf on the local channels, what would recommend
Great video on OTA recording. Question.....I live in Texas in the winter and in Wisconsin during the summer. How can I record local OTA football games in Wisconsin during the winter and enjoy watching them while in Texas?
Thanks. Good question. I would set up an HDHomeRun in Wisconsin and subscribe to a Plex Pass ($5 per month) to manage your recordings/Live TV. You may have to set up port forwarding on your router, but you can watch your recordings remotely with Plex and even live OTA TV. I tested this during a recent trip to Aruba, but haven't put together a video yet.
I began cutting the cord in 2016 and love it. Cut my cable bill in more than half. I tried many devices and streaming services/plans. Settled on Fire TV's and sticks with a Fire TV Recast for local TV. Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max and Hulu get me all the TV/movies I can ever want. Some of these services are shared with/by other family members, until they mitigate this it's expected and they know it happens. For one year Verizon subscribers get Disney+ for free.
I'm cutting our Satellite soon and have been researching what I need to keep my husband happy. I have a Samsung 4k Smart TV. I need a DVR that I can use to record shows off of Locast. I need to be able to set up a live TV series to record every time it comes on. Is that feasible? I'm sure that I will most likely end up adding a good streaming service; which of course my husband will want to record some of. What DVR would you recommend to cover these needs? Also, what type if any of add on service for the guide. BTW I've really been enjoying your videos.
My Recast keeps disconnecting making it difficult to watch tv on my phone outside of my home. I’ve tried Ethernet and WiFi but had the same results. I’ve read this is a common issue. Any suggestions?
Hi, thanks for the hard work doing these reviews. I want to buy an inexpensive ATSC Digital Converter Box, single or dual ota DVR with an hdmi output. I will be using it in a national forest with a projector and with little or no internet reception. I own the clearstream 2v antenna and I know the towers are under 30 miles away. I would like the easiest interface possible. I looked at the airtv player but it requires internet. I also checked out the tablo dual hdmi but was hoping to spend a little less. I also looked at the mediabox homeworx, iview 3500stbiii and ematic AT103B. What are your favorite set top tuners with the features I want? TIA
Hi, I did some tinkering here with a projector and TV tuner I had on hand. I think your challenge will be having software that works with the tuner. Your best shot might be using something like the WinTV-dualHD from Hauppauge. Connecting it directly into the projector probably won't do the job because you can't download the Hauppage software on the projector. So you could connect the tuner to a laptop or PC, then try to run a HDMI cord from the computer to the projector. That's the best I could come up with.
I have an older guide on the dualHD here:
cordcuttingreport.com/2019/10/17/best-usb-tv-tuner/
Good luck and I hope that helps.
@@CordCuttingReport Hi, thanks for the quick reply. Do you think the WinTV-dualHD is a better option then the mediabox homeworx, iview 3500stbiii or ematic AT103B set top boxes? If so, why? These 3 tuners can all be hooked up to the hdmi projector and my antenna so Im not sure what the benefits are with either option. Can you explain? Thanks!!
Sorry, I'm not familiar with those other models.
My question is,by networking all the Air Channels,wouldn't the Firestick on it's Live TV Menu Guide,integrate all the Air Channels in,as well,for free? What good is a DVR that doesn't let you set a timed recording for the future? as in the Amazon? Or one w/o a HDD? So many catches to these things. The free guide on Amazon is great & multiple streams/multiple simultaneous recordings,but if you can't set a timed recording,what good is the DVR? that defeats the whole purpose of owning one,especially if it costs over $230+ They all seem to have such a catch, I also think, you can't call a device a DVR,if it doesn't include it's own hard drive, especially when they cost over $200+ & NO HDD?! That's absurd in my opinion, but I know Tablo is popular, that just seems like a potential deal breaker to me, though I am tech savvy & have terabytes of HDD's, still,that is pretty lame of them to NOT include an HDD in a DVR..
How can you tell if you can receive local channels through the antenna? I live in a somewhat remote location.
Got a spare cable wire? I use this trick as a benchmark test before I buy an antenna.
th-cam.com/video/bItAkPK-cqY/w-d-xo.html
Also look at sites like antennaweb.org and type in your address or zip code.
@@CordCuttingReport Sometimes I take a small HD antenna with me in my truck and sit outside the stadium and watch the game.
Are there local installers available in Springfield Missouri?
how good are any of the options for skip forward (30 sec) and skip rewind (15 sec) or fast forward (1x, 2x, 3x) at skipping commercials in a semi-manual way like on Direct TV?
Thanks for all the good info. One question. Can any of the DVRs that you would use with Roku pause live TV? Thanks.
Looking at the Tablo Quad for my parents, but want to know if you can use a GE universal remote to operate it?
Yes. According to Tablo, the GE Universal Remote is compatible.
I'm thinking about getting an HDHomeRun, but Tivo Bolt OTA has a traditional remote with numbers to change channels. Do any HDHR compatible devices allow typing or speaking a channel number to avoid scrolling to a desired station?
I don't think there is proper support within any of the potential HDHR hubs for that.
But I could be wrong. I haven't investigated how Google Assistant might work on NVIDIA Shield/HDHR. If I find something, I'll post it or make a video.
@@CordCuttingReport I ordered a HDHR Scribe Quatro. Placing it closer to the antenna may reduce signal loss that is causing some stations to fluctuate between 45-55%; currently I have about 10 feet before connecting it to the in-wall coax that runs to the jack by my TV.
I have an older Roku that still works well, but I've read the HDHR app on it isn't as good as other platforms and I wouldn't mind getting a new device with better navigation. NVIDIA makes the best graphic cards (IMO) so I expect the Shield to be a great product and it has more RAM than competitors. An AppleTV would compliment my iPhone and MacBook Pro once Apple releases the new model with the A12X chip.
I ran across a video of RabbitEars.info's Live Band feature. It captures HDHR's tuner reception to update their map. It seems pretty kewl to compare the reception of others experience in the same area.
Now that studios are starting to have their own streaming services and things are getting more and more scattered throughout the web, if you are a heavy TV watcher, cutting the cord does indeed cost a lot more per month than a cable service. Plus, many of these programs are beginning streaming exclusive. Network TV is becoming more of a vast desert, except for local football team broadcasts and local news.
Question, is DVR just for recording live content?
Thanks for the review. Where do you feel the new airtv Anywhere falls into this lineup? Does it have a 14 day guide with recording sites for a fee? Does it record in 720? Or better? Would it be good for 65-75" TVs?
I have a brief story on the site about the new AirTV Anywhere being announced/released. But I haven't put my hands on one yet. So I can't really tell you much about picture quality at this point. There is no fee associated with the channel guide, but you are paying for the Sling TV subscription.
@@CordCuttingReport yeah. I'm thinking about trying one
@@CordCuttingReport Any chance for an update? AirTV can be used for free on Sling App, even with no Sling subscription. Add to that the ability to access remotely, it seems like it might be a good option for cord cutters.
Is there a similar device to these without the DVR part? I have a monitor and I just want some sort of box that will let me tune in to my local channels (using an antenna).
Are you saying you just have a monitor with no computer? Need some more info on this one.
@@CordCuttingReport Yes just a monitor. I just want some sort of tv tuner box that directly connects to my monitor's hdmi port. I have a computer too, but most of the usb tuners I found seem really low quality and I have to turn on my computer to watch tv.
I like the network tuners/dvrs but I don't trust the ones manufactured by smaller companies (read a lot of reviews saying they don't last). I was going to get the fire recast but it doesn't support android tv or chromecast. -.-
Thank you for the review. I have an Android TV with no channel guide for local antenna tv. Which DVRs would work for me? Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing I have been searching for some explanation about recast and you nailed it the best one is the Amazon recast I'm getting it this week what do you think.
Did I hear correctly that Amazon will no longer support the Recast?
What about the Tivo edge with all in and nocharge
Did you say the Fire TV recast that you cannot set a timer in advance to record something say like record this program weekly?
No. I think you might be referring to setting recordings through the mobile app.
I am getting ready to cut the cable. I do like to record tv shows so I can watch when I want not when they are aired. Can any of the products record a tv series at a specific time each day or week?
@* I believe most of them do. Even on my Dish satellite I can only see 2 weeks ahead in the menu but I can click on "Record" entire series. So every week the next 2 weeks will automatically get added to your record list. So you don't have to go in every 2 week to add 2 more weeks, it records the whole series. That's my understanding.
Question. In my area, when you shut off service for cable. Even tho it's shut off, we are still able to get local networks and TV through the cable line. Being that we don't need a antenna for local networks, are we still able to use the HD HomeRun connect, and it's guide subscription? Or do these only work with OTA networks?
I tried logging into their forms. But can't seem to register my email.
HDHomerun makes a tuner that can tune cable. It is different that the one that tunes OTA.
I have the razor phone too, does your phone have camera issues as well? Also my charging port stopped working, so I have to wirelessly charge it all the time.
I'm definitely having some buyer's remorse with it. Still charging OK. Camera is eh...
Great video with clear explanations of variations in features and software.
I will be installing one of these after a little more research.
Which of the 3 devices has the best performing tuner with reference to sensitivity?
How is it 'cord cutting' if you must have Internet to get the channels? TV Used to be FREE over the air - like radio, I have the Ematic w/DVR so TV's FREE. All these things seem expensive and appear to require a monthly fee ON TOP OF what one pays for HS Internet Access. Jus Sayin it seems like there's a cord required.
Please do a review of TiVo as well.
Great reviews and info. I was wondering why you didn't include a XVidia Shild TV Pro in here. I want to do a setup that has great OTA with an outside antenna. My router is in the basement and the old dump plasma tv is one floor above that. Number one question for me; Do I have to have a smart tv to do any of this, if the OTA antenna has to come in by the router which is in a room away from the dumb tv?
So i currently have COX cable. How do i get started. Can you explain in non-tech terms? The primary user is senior citizen to whom tv is his window on the world. Can cord cutting be made simple to install and simple to use .
Requirements for this type set-up:
1) Get an antenna.
2) Connect it to a OTA (over the air) DVR (Tablo, or one of the others)
3) Connect the DVR to your router (Tablo can be wireless or wired)
4) Connect your TV to your Wifi through a device (like a Roku), or just get a Smart TV.
5) Add any steaming channels you want to your device (like a Roku), such as Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sling -whatever. Pay for what you want, while all your OTA channels are free.
what device can i use with a digital antenna in a attic, with two tv’s connected to it, one TV on a third floor, and one TV in the basement with out internet and without having to record?
no apps, no internet, no recording, no roku, no multiple channels, no subscriptions, nothimg but a signal local boston channels....that’s it.
what device can i use to just hook up a tv in a basement without any fancy stuff or monthly fees?
could i boost the digital antenna signal from the attic to reach the basement from four floors up?
In that case, you should try out an amplifier. You can read this guide. It needs to be updated, but you can skip down to the section on amplifiers for a couple of recommendations that should help with what you want to accomplish.
cordcuttingreport.com/antenna-splitter-guide/
B
Cord Cutting Report. Thank you again.
I ran into a geek squad guy and suggested trying an R6 cable and eliminating the splitter. From what he was saying, i should be able to get reception in the basement from the attic. also changing the direction of the antenna could help.
i think it’s going to take some experimental work
What's a "digital antenna"? The "yagi" UHF/VHF antennas are the best and have been around for many, many decades. Channel Master makes a powered 8-way amplifier with equal signal outputs which works great for running numerous TVs.
Atena? What do you recommend. I have TV in 2 rooms. How to set up if your tv is not near a window. I attempted one and never got a signal?
I'm slightly confused for the lifetime tablo sub is it 150 dollars once for the life time of the account, as in i just pay the 150 and that's it or is it one of those things where they bill you on a yearly basses or whatever. oh and the app means i only need one tablo right I mean I have a roku soooo ?
I have a Tablo lifetime subscription. I love it. Best thing is that it needs to be only near the antenna coax, not your TV, nor you Router. The antenna plugs in it, but the Tablo outputs wirelessly to to your router's WiFi.
I originally got a Tablo because my inside household antenna could pickup channels in only location it the house, the Tablo allowed me to use that antenna to be used by all my TVs. The DVR service came as an added bonus, and loved that, too!
Then your receiving devices need to connect to your router's WiFi via apps. My lifetime subscription also enables me to connect to Tablo remotely, either at work, or in a different country (or continent).
So I just purchased a Fire Stick and a Fire tv Recast am I to understand I Cannot record shows that I would get on the fire stick? I dont have an HD Antenna . Or is there another type of DVR that will allow me to record shows. I dont want to buy an Antenna.
Terry, Sorry to break the news, but OTA is short for over-the-air broadcasts that you get through a TV antenna. That's what the Recast is made for. I don't know where you want to record shows from. Hope that clears things up.
New Sub bruh...always,thought it would be super confusing,but uh out broke it dwn and you were clear and to the point....COST ,ADVANTAGES & LIMITATIONS! Will be bck to ask a few questions based on my kind of TV...really want to get my mom of the cable addiction bc they r ip her off!:Thank you so much!
Awesome, thanks for kind words and support. Happy to share what I know.
If you've ever used a really well thought out DVR (like TiVo), you're going to hate the Amazon Fire recast. It is a product that "almost does most things." And it is full of annoyances that are just poor design choices. It is about as good as your local cable company DVR.
Hmm, there is also devices like vbox xti-4174 with atsc support. It doen't required monthly fees.
Nice video. You gained a subscriber. :D
Ok I have the 4k Firestick and have just purchased the Amazon Recast that I am still learning how to use. My question is; my Firestick is plugged into one of my Sony audio receivers HDMI port. The cat5 ethernet LAN connection is plugged into the Firestick. Should I have the Firestick plugged into my smart TV HDMI port instead of my audio receiver? My smart tv has a network cable to the network, If I install the Firestick to my TV should I use the network cable in the TV or Firestick? I been having a constant buffering problem when I watch movies via Kodi running a VPN.
I would plug the Firestick directly into the TV. Connect your network cable to the Firestick, not the TV. I don't use VPNs so I can't speak to whether there's an issue there. Hope that helps.
What would you recommend for 2 tivo 4k units on 2 tvs to record?
I have had TiVo DVR’s for cable for over 25 years and considering getting their OTA model. The units are in the $200 area, but their subscription service is higher.
Do I Need an Antenna For My TVS Both Upstairs & Downstairs?.? I need to Keep my AT&T Internet Service and I Need a Landline Too. Help!!!!
If you're using any of these tuners/DVRs shown here, you only need the antenna that connects to the back of the box. You do need Internet service.
If you're in some kind of bundle that includes your landline, you might want to consider porting your number to Google Voice. Here's my guide on that:
cordcuttingreport.com/port-phone-number-google-voice/
This was a very informative review. I recently canceled my Dish account and I believe that I am going with a Tablo OTA DVR. This video is a year old now and before I move forward I wanted to ask if my best option is current. Due to channel selections (news), I have started a subscription to Sling, but the cost has gone up from what the guide shows. I want to be able to log in remotely which still seems like something that I can do with Tablo. I believe that I will need to make a $20 annual TV guide subscription and a lifetime premium service subscription to get features like a commercial skip. I cannot stand commercials. Does tablo have a fast forward option if the show does not permit commercial skip? I had planned on going the HD Homerun route, but I believe they are eliminating their dvr service. The last item is that when I clicked the tablo link from above it does not take me to your store, it shows the Tablo store instead? Are you sure you would get some income on this? Thank you.
SO I'm trying to understand if I buy the 1tb Amazon Recast I will connect my Amazon 4K Firestick to the recast or is both device totally separator from each other?
I have to make sure I don't lose out using my fire stick with all my apps on it.
The Recast and Fire Stick are separate. The Recast has an internal hard drive for recordings. Your Fire Stick more or less acts like a receiver to the Recast. The Recast has built-in TV tuners, DVR functionality and hard drive space.
Well I got the new Amazon Fire Cube but still have the same problem with Kodi buffering 99% of the time. I can barely watch an old movie on CinemaHD in 480. Ive tried a million different things with no buffer fix. All other streaming works fine like Netflix.
Great reviews for the products themselves, but having a DVR that requires the Internet to use the antenna defeats one main benefit of watching antenna TV, it doesn't use internet bandwidth/data!
I hear that. I like Hauppauge products for a no-Internet option, but I was focusing on ones that integrate with streaming devices.
Maybe I need to do a separate video about what you're talking about.
@@dank9296 So how did you write this on here without paying for internet? This is pretty cool technology if you are willing to learn about it and it will make things simpler watching ota tv. I live rural and get okay internet but definitely not great. Idk where your getting at with your comment cause apparently this product is not for you whether you dont wanna pay for internet or just dont have access.
I am looking for solutions for an elderly person that doesn’t have internet…fixed income SS only.
So, people like me fixing something up for others have this situationnn
:)
W/ the Cloner Alliance do you have problems w/ glitching like a FPS w/ this device? Maybe every 12 seconds playing a recording the best way to see it is have the Ticker Tape words below like on CNN or Fox Busin channel. Danke
I want to record programs while at work. I want it to last at least 5 years or more. So what do I get? Video is not clear on this
I have an nvidia shield and I have a cable streaming app what device can I use to record?
Thanks for the great video! Pittsburgh guy?
Which is best option if you don’t have home internet
I have bought two NEW Tivo Bolt OTA's this week at 2 different Best Buy stores and both locked up on me. This is part of the message I received on BOTH Tivo's. "Please report this problem. You have encountered and unexpected error, and the UI can not continue. Please report this issue as part of your participation in our beta program". It goes on with some technical stuff. I was trying to set both Tivos up for the first time. I've never owned a Tivo and never participated in any beta program. I could not set up and account because Tivo is asking for both the unit Serial # which is on the bottom of the Tivo and they want Tivo MAP (Media Access Key) # which you have to retrieve from the main menu. Can't access main menu if Tivo locks up on you which it did twice. I think maybe either Tivo or Best Buy, of both, are knowingly selling faulty Tivos.
Why would I need a Tablo Quad for multiple TVs? If I don't want to record more than two shows at a time, why does it matter how many TVs I have? Wouldn't the Tablo Dual Lite work regardless of number of TVs?
If you get the Quad, if you are recording 2 shows, you can tune a 3rd show live on any device (including a TV) that has the app on it. The quad will allow up to 4 recordings or up to 4 live streams at the same time. If you only plan to record 2 or watch 2 and neither at the same time, then the dual is fine for you. But, get the Tablo Quad so you have 4 tuners. You never know when you are recording 2 shows and want to watch a different show on a 3rd tuner or record a 3rd show etc.
Have ever heard of a Superbox it play regional local channel also
What a great informative video, best one on the subject matter.
Thanks. Appreciate it.
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