RFI: Over The Air DVRs

[HeavyDuty]

After six months in the rental with cable TV, I’ve realized all we do is watch local and national broadcast news and stream other services. The kicker is that I time shift the news programs, currently using the TiVo box that the cable company provides.

At the new place I’m considering skipping cable TV, putting up an OTA antenna and a personally owned DVR and just streaming the rest of our content. There seem to be quite a few of these devices available, some with internal storage and others with provisions for flash storage. I think I noticed that some can put content to multiple TVs on your Wi-Fi.

Does anyone have any experience with these that can offer advice?

[HeavyDuty]

Step 1: OTA powered antenna arrived today. I need to do some wiring at the house to try it upstairs, but I’ll plug it into the TV first in the living room so I have a signal baseline.

[Redhat]

After six months in the rental with cable TV, I’ve realized all we do is watch local and national broadcast news and stream other services. The kicker is that I time shift the news programs, currently using the TiVo box that the cable company provides.

At the new place I’m considering skipping cable TV, putting up an OTA antenna and a personally owned DVR and just streaming the rest of our content. There seem to be quite a few of these devices available, some with internal storage and others with provisions for flash storage. I think I noticed that some can put content to multiple TVs on your Wi-Fi.

Does anyone have any experience with these that can offer advice?

I did this almost 3 yrs ago. We use the Tablo and it's been ok except periodically it needs to be reset.

https://www.tablotv.com/

[HeavyDuty]

I did this almost 3 yrs ago. We use the Tablo and it's been ok except periodically it needs to be reset.

https://www.tablotv.com/

That’s one of the ones I was reading about. Is yours a network one or the type that is connected to one TV? The network one without a remote is the one that interests me.

Do you have the subscription?

[Redhat]

That’s one of the ones I was reading about. Is yours a network one or the type that is connected to one TV? The network one without a remote is the one that interests me.

Do you have the subscription?

Yes, we have the Quad model and it runs through the wifi so we can watch on mutliple tv's. We use it in conjunction with Roku boxes because I had to install the app.

I do have the basic annual subscription but they also have an extra option for commercial skip that costs more. I don't use it. I also had to purchase a hard drive to install because my model didn't come with one so I picked 500GB and it just goes right into the box.

[HeavyDuty]

Yes, we have the Quad model and it runs through the wifi so we can watch on mutliple tv's. We use it in conjunction with Roku boxes because I had to install the app.

I do have the basic annual subscription but they also have an extra option for commercial skip that costs more. I don't use it. I also had to purchase a hard drive to install because my model didn't come with one so I picked 500GB and it just goes right into the box.

I was pretty well set in getting that one, I think I’ll jump. I’m hoping I can plug it right into the upstairs Eero mesh repeater and have it go everywhere.

The TV portion of cable is almost $100 a month. This is a no-brainer.

Thanks!

[Redhat]

I was pretty well set in getting that one, I think I’ll jump. I’m hoping I can plug it right into the upstairs Eero mesh repeater and have it go everywhere.

The TV portion of cable is almost $100 a month. This is a no-brainer.

Thanks!

There are many options out there these days and it seems to be a growing community...good luck!

[Guerrero]

@HeavyDuty what OTA antenna did you get?

[JohnO]

Years ago I purchased an OTA TV antenna. First thing I noticed was the picture quality was significantly better than Cable. I got all the local channels, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS and a bunch of other channels. Obviously reception is based on location and proximity to transmitters. Shortly thereafter I was on the phone with the Cable co. and then in the car returning their cable box. I was done with them!

[HeavyDuty]

@HeavyDuty what OTA antenna did you get?

Just a cheap one off Amazon that gets good reviews:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H1KQ3SH

I’m hoping to hook it up this weekend.