Using mine for about 2 weeks now. Is snappy, not buggy, not freezing. I have discovered, as with any digital signal, smoothness and functionality is dependent on good signal strength. I tried the WiFi connection by itself, even after the firmware update (2.2.47 Nov23') that addressed this, but the direct ethernet connection is still superior to using the WiFi alone in my observation. Great Product
Nothing close to being a replacement for a tivo. In order to use on a tv you have to run the app...through another app (Firestick, Chromecast, Roku). Dealbreaker
Is that all I been on PC Hauppauge OTA Since 1994 the days of ISA slots 🤣🤣and then moved on to DVR in 2002 with SageTV and it still running to this very day.
The DVR functionality is what I wanted. I have 2 issues with using live TV and the guide. 1. The guide let's you choose 'all channels' or 'favorites', but it defaults to 'all channels'. You should be able to either select your default choice, or default to favorites. 2. There is no channel up/down functionality, you have to back out to the guide every time you want to view a new channel ( and the guide is back to showing all channels). Tablo really needs to fix this issue.
Yes, when I use the iOS app, I can't select Favorites anymore for some reason! (it's greyed out). I need to investigate that. I also hear on you the channel up/down functionality, but actually a lot of broadcast TV DVRs are extremely slow to switch channels. The AirTV is even worse. Switching channels is much faster on Tablo if you can believe it. - Brian
This was a terrific objective review of the Tablo 4th Gen. I'm curious if I need a 4-tuner Tablo. I suspect a 2-tuner one would work fine, but... And I'd like an Apple TV app now, but I could use a Roku stick that we have for the time being. Cord cutting comes with a lot of options, but the permutations of each offering make it tricky to understand everything. Sigh 🙂
There's just not a lot to record on OTA TV for me to need 4 tuner capability. Nice to have but no biggie. And at $95(final$) for 2 tuners, just fine with me.
TIP: Missing thumbnails for a recording? Press and quickly release the reset button on the bottom of the unit to do a reboot. Reboot is pretty quick ...and now your thumbnails are back for rewind and FF.
The 4th generation Tablo works well enough and does not require an annual fee for guide service like the legacy Tablos. The Roku and android apps work, but I don’t find them as intuitive as apps for legacy devices. As a Tablo user for many years, the new one disappoints me in several ways. There is no Windows app, no remote access, no commercial skip, and no support for the user community to create 3rd party apps like Tablo Ripper. The new Tablo requires a separate Roku and android app from the old Tablo, which means my Roku now has 2 apps for Tablo. Setup failed several times because it refused to register under my existing Tablo account. Not until I created a 2nd account with another email address would the new Tablo register. The new Tablo is feature poor compared to the old Tablo. I had hoped in buying a new Tablo I’d feel good about retiring my old one. Instead, I’ll be keeping it until the annual subscription runs out in November. I hope by then they at least come up with a Windows app - I have no intention of giving up the ability to watch my Tablo in a small window while working on a spreadsheet, etc.
After a few days of use, I do like the improved picture quality from not transcoding, instead keeping the original MPEG-2. The Gen 4 software on the Roku is still pretty buggy but hopefully they will address that soon. ( I realize it is 1.0 software). The inability to schedule a manual recording (by date & time) is a big negative to me. I hope and expect this product will mature nicely however.
According to their website, the recordings are transcoded to MPEG-4: Video Format: MPEG2 (recordings saved to onboard storage will be transcoded to MPEG4 to maximize capacity) us-store.tablotv.com/products/tablo
I just got some clarification on the transcoding: when recording to the internal flash memory, the recordings will be transcoded to MPEG4. When recording to external USB drive they will not. Thanks for the comment on this! - Brian
Well.... I bought a Tablo 4th gen 2 tuner unit from the Tablo store on Amazon in March 2024. It worked pretty well until last night. It's dead. I checked the power supply with a multi-meter and it's still putting out 12v dc but the Tablo is dead as a brick. No lights at all. Unplugged and repowered and pressed the reset button on the bottom all to no avail. Dead unit. The Tablo website says it's got a 12 month warranty but the page to get a return authorization reads like it's only for 30 day returns. I will try calling later today but I'm not wanting to wait weeks or months for a replacement since new season TV shows are starting next week! Bummer!
Hi Brian, great videos, concise and very well presented! I have two questions: 1. If ATSC 3.0 becomes the only standard (in 2027 or thereabouts) Will this DVR not work at all in recording OTA programs and be obsolete? 2. If I really need to have remote viewing, which OTA DVR would you recommend? Thanks!
As a long time TABLO user, I was crushed to find out that the corporate takeover has resulted in customer service reps no longer in Canada, but (you guessed it) India. You mentioned that a real person answers the phone. NO! I called and left messages every day for week. No one answers, no one calls you back.
I just tried calling them and got a real person after waiting 2 mintues. He had an Indian accent, but he was a human being! Try calling them during late night hours; they're open until 2:30AM. I called at 10PM PST.
Bought tablo quad and returned because the tablo app for Samsung TV is no longer supported. So much for watching on "all of your devices." Tried to contact support via chat. No one was available. They eventually got back to me a few hours later. By then I already had it boxed for return. I also wanted to mention that, since I could not use it on my TVs, I would try to connect it to my computer and broadcast that to TV. In order for that to happen it was necessary to connect via ethernet, not wifi. That would call for rewiring in the attic. I did not see a way to add streaming apps to record them, and the instructions are lacking, both in the app and what came in the box.
I think as they add more streaming services we are going to see pay channels.I will like to see 10play from A.U in the USA. I will be glad to pay for that. also I have the old school tablo with a lifetime subscription and never used the commercial skip. I just use the remote to fast fwd and I think you can do the same with the 4th gen. I am on a Roku and uploaded the app already and ordered mine today. I love the tablo.
Very nice review. But I don’t have Internet connection in my home. I just have an antenna. Can I still get this device? or do I need to have Internet connection at home as well? Because I thought the purpose of using an antenna TV is to “Cut the Cord” but, having Internet in your home is pretty much having a cord come to your home.
Hi Mike, unfortunately the Tablo Gen 4 won't work without Internet access. It is a bummer. I'm guessing the reason is that the included Internet streaming channels help subsidize the cost of the free channel guide. The older version of the Tablo (like the Tablo Quad or Dual Lite) will work without Internet connection.
@@disablemycable Thanks for your reply. Let me ask you this question, that you would be much better to answer than most. When people say “cut the cord” I always thought that meant either: you have a cell phone in your home (& no land line) and you have only a TV antenna. but if you’re getting Internet service through a cable or phone company, is that still consider “cutting the cord”? (because basically you have a hard wired cord connection coming to your home)
Hi Mike, the original meaning of "cutting the cord" was to cut cable TV in favor of broadcast and/or streaming TV. It was strictly referring to cutting cable TV. It definitely didn't have anything to do with cutting a phone landline. Now the definition has become more ambiguous, especially since wireless Internet options are now available. I don't have a strict new definition of the term anymore.
@@disablemycable Thanks for your reply. (So let’s throw out my sentence I said about cell phone verse landline) But if “Cutting the Cord” Original meaning, was the cutting cable TV. That’s really misleading, because all you’re doing is you’re still getting your Internet company paid for through your cable or phone company. & you’re just not choosing the cable TV option portion of it. but you’re still choosing the Internet portion. Since I no longer have Internet or cable TV, what I’ve been told that, cable & phone companies have caught onto the the fact of people not getting cable TV, but doing all their streaming through the Internet, and those companies have adjusted the prices for that. So as far as I can see, if you have a hard wire coming to your home for internet (regardless of the Wi-Fi you have inside your home) I don’t consider that as “cutting the cord”. So all these ads for OTA DVRs, that say “cut the cord”, are really not cutting any cord (if they require Internet service)
I purchased a Tablo Quad a little over a year ago and paired it up with an Channel Master attic antenna and a WD 2 TB USB Storage Drive. I paid the subscription fee for a year and found it unnecessary to have. I don't have nowhere near the channels you have but the dvr is great, the signal is clear for the most part. I need an outdoor antenna but I don't wish to mount one and don't wish to pay to have one mounted.
@@guillermoparedes6450 Channel Master STEALTHtenna Digital HDTV Directional Outdoor TV Antenna - VHF, UHF Aerial with Adjustable Angle Bracket for Mast Pole or Vertical Surf
@@disablemycable oh I was asking if the app had a casting button. I guess not. I wish tablo would work for frame tv users. I can post the device and antenna somewhere out of the way and still take advantage of the live tv.
Yeah, there was no cast button that I could find. But, I was talking about native iOS screen mirroring. You can do that if you have a Roku or Apple TV: www.disablemycable.com/blog/mirror-your-ipad-to-your-tv/
@@disablemycable thanks so much for this. I went on ahead and bought the Air2 because there was at least an app. Screen mirroring sounds like a nightmare to do everytime. Wish they had a casting function. I like tablo’s app more
Great video! Considering purchasing. In your review "cons" you list "no remote viewing or commercial skip offered". Please clarify what you mean by commercial skip. Are you not able to fast forward through commercials when watching the Tablo DVR? Thank you.
Some DVRs had the capability to automatically skip through commercials. On the Tablo, you can still fast forward past them very easily yourself by pressing the fast forward button, so it's not a big deal - Brian
ATSC 3.0 is NOT 4K, 4K is part of the standard but unless I am wrong, no broadcasters are broadcasting 4K. I have been using the original Tablo for several years and love it. I wish they have an NVMe drive slot inside.
I am using a Tivo bolt still. I like the unit but i am looking for a replacement in the next few months. I would like to find another dvr that hooks up directly to my tv. I have tv antennae wired thru out my house from my roof antennae and also have eithernet wired thru out my house. I have a number of older HD tvs that are not smart tvs so i do need a dvr that uses hdmi connection to my tv.
The old Tablo line had a model with HDMI output but I'm not sure if those will be made any longer. The Mediasonic box (and other low-end DVRs) also have HDMI output, but the features and user interface are nothing compared to TiVo. How about the TiVo Edge for Antenna? www.disablemycable.com/blog/tivo-edge-for-antenna-dvr/ Or, just get Rokus for your non-smart TVs and use the new Tablo Gen 4...
I have the original t i v o bolt which has both the card and OTA tuner. Because it has the option for both, TiVo charges me 140 a year. I'm thinking of replacing the TiVo bolt, with this unit. While I don't think I need the four tuner model, I figure it's best to get it up front and pay the additional cost. Thoughts? I have a fire TV on all the TVs, so it's not like I need the additional features of the tablo.
Hi Brian I have the Tablo Gen4 Dvr like it very only problem is it Crash or It Freeze up I have it hooked up To the Wi-Fi is it better to use the ethernet cable and I have good internet access thank you
I connected the same to my tv and wifi......just couldn't figure out how to show on tv.....i have no idea how to put it on screen on tv i have a LG 55lb6300 uq tv.
First off, this looks like a great product and JUST ordered it! We were cord cutters in 2010, and back then the best solution IMO was Windows 7 NUC computer with an OTA Tuner quality and Windows media center to manage the DVR side. This WAS an awesome setup, until I didn't read the fine print when upgrading to Win10. Guess what? Windows media center was NOT compatible with Win10, which was BS. I am curious if anyone out there is still running a Win7 rig w/Windows Media Center?
it is possible x 2.5. 1) run windows 7 rig wo using otherwise, ie surfing the web. or roll the dice w some vigorous virus checking. 2) there's way to install Media Center into W10, weather you deserve 3,4 or 6 college credits after? 3) some of W7 TV Tuners do have Linux drivers that work, if you or nephew install Linux you're up to 8,9, 12 college credits at that point. Networking a recording w other TVs still possible, ie upstairs gets better reception than downstairs, share.
It refers to the number of tuners, which means the number of different shows that you can watch or record at the same time. So if you have a 4-tuner model, then you can have four people in your home watching different channels on it at the same time. Or, you could record 4 different shows at the same time. - Brian
Good report. Thanks. Just discovered and purchased on Halloween23'. The fees stopped my purchase previously. Have the homeworx tuner with storage but just a mess to use. This looks great for OTA.
Hey Brian. I'm not trying to be a jerk here. I love your reviews! I just want to point out that you are using an expression incorrectly. 1.) A "SHOWSTOPPER" is a positive thing. It is a moment in a show that is SO good, that the progress of the show STOPS (temporarily) for the roaring applause to subside! 2.) You should be using the term (for how you intend it), "DEAL-BREAKER" (i.e. meaning something that is too egregious to allow continuing with the deal ... or purchase). I know when you're used to using a certain term, it can be hard to stop, but you should make the effort. Keep up the great reviews! 👍
Hey, thanks for the insight! I got the term "showstopper" from my time in the software industry. According to Wikipedia: "A bug severe enough to delay or halt the release of the product is called a "show stopper"[38] or "showstopper bug".[39] It is named so because it "stops the show" - causes unacceptable product failure." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bug#:~:text=A%20bug%20severe%20enough%20to,%22%20%E2%80%93%20causes%20unacceptable%20product%20failure. Perhaps that definition is not as widely known. Interesting how the same term can have opposite meanings in different industries though. Thanks again, Brian
@@disablemycable Hey Brian. Apologies, I never got a notification that you had replied to my comment. I just stumbled upon this video again while looking for new info on Tablo. Anyway, I understand where you're coming from. If you got used to a term because of the software industry niche you worked in, I imagine you won't be changing (out of habit, if nothing else)! It just jumped right out at me as kind of the opposite of how the term is generally used ... so please forgive my sensitivity! 😅 In addition to 'deal-breaker', another expression more generally understood, is 'non-starter.' Again, because of your personal experience, I know you won't be changing ... but if anybody else reacts similarly to me, at least you'll know where it's coming from! 😉 Keep up the great video reviews! You've got a nice 'down-to-earth' style that works well for these vids. Take care.
I've had the Tablo Duo for a number of years and have subscribed to the Channel Guide and Commercial Skip apps. If the Tablo G4 does not need a Channel Guide subscription, does it also include Commercial Skip, or do I have to subscribe to that again?
I purchased Tablo latest one it did scan majority of channels but missed few channels m (which are coming up on the TV but not showing up on the Tablo stream so cannot record these showing up on the TV) . Overall ok purchase..
i baught that tablo and i love it also i baught the adth box for nextgen tv so when the atc 1.0 leaves i will still have the adth box that box also has dvr but cant firgure to use with the adth box time will tell.
Hi Brian - You reviewed Tablo Gen 4 and SiliconDust HDHomeRun in Dec 2023 and picked Tablo as your #1 choice for now. I wonder if the poor Amazon user rating on Tablo Gen 4 vs a much better rating of SiliconDust HDHomeRun would dissuade you from making that choice?
I see them as aimed at two different markets. Tablo is for the mass market consumer, so you're going to get a lot of non-tech savvy people using them. HDHomeRun is more suitable (in my opinion) for enthusiasts, who will tolerate things like not having instructions, finding your own software to use with it, etc. So yeah, Tablo Gen 4 is going through some growing pains now as the bugs are being fixed (though it works well for me on iOS), but I still think it's the best unit for the masses. BTW, I'm seeing 3.5 stars for Tablo Gen 4 (2-tuner) and 4.5 for Silicon Dust HDHomerun, so not a huge difference. - Brian
Hi Brian - Thanks for the quick reply. You are right that the rating gap between those 2 is not that huge. I can certainly understand that Tablo Gen 4 is going through early teething pain. If they are committed to fixing those quirks, I will seriously consider their 4-tuner product when it is released. Cheer!
Hi Brian - I have one more question for you. Can you recommend a way to capture snippets of the OTA broadcast programs through these 2 boxes that don't have HDMI out?
How does the video signal get to the TV? How do you control it? Bought one from Best Buy but none of this made any sense. They don't answer their phones so I returned it. Is there a dvr that connects to a TV and has a remote?
You have to use the Tablo app on a streaming device (or mobile device) to watch your recordings (or live TV). The upside of doing that is that you can watch live TV and recordings on multiple TVs or devices in your home. There is an older Tablo DVR that connects to your TV via HDMI and uses a remote.
Hi, I have the older Tablo Quad I purchased as a refurbished unit a couple months ago. I keep having buffering issues with it. I have contacted support and nothing they said to do has helped it. I have excellent wifi in my house. Now I am thing about purchasing the new 4th Tablo generation 4tuner that is out that can only be purchased through BestBuy. Do you think that this may work better than my old Tablo Quad and not have so many buffering isses?
I would say, just to be sure, plug in your old Tablo Quad directly into your router using an Ethernet cable and see if that fixes the problem. If that doesn't help, then try the Table 4G. I haven't heard of widespread buffering problems with it, and it's a totally different design. - Brian
I have Duel Tablo Lite device with only the 24 hour menu for OTA. I think I heard that Tablo was going to give us the 2 week advance menu for no cost as an upgrade? Is that true?
On the Tablo website.... I paraphrase, "it will happen, after the legacy DVRs are transitioned over to the new platform'. assuming with a firmware update.... But no timetable was given...
You could either add a splitter and add another antenna cable going to the Tablo, or just hook up the Tablo to one of your existing TV antenna cables and watch live TV through the Tablo app (on your Fire Stick or other device) instead of through your TV.
I am a totally blind person. We are having an outdoor TV antenna installed next week. The installer recommended a Tablo. This is why I was checking out your video. Thank you, by the way. My question is, do you know if the Tablo can receive and or record the second Audio program? This Audio sub channel sometimes lets you hear the show in Spanish but the reason I am interested in it is because, often, this channel lets you hear audio description for the blind for certain shows.
Hi MIchael, that is an excellent question. I don't know the answer, but you can call Tablo and ask them directly. If you get a moment, let me know what they say! Thanks, Brian support.tablotv.com/hc/en-us
@@disablemycable I just spoke to someone at Tablo and, per the previous discussion, he did sound like he might have been from India. 😀 he said it would be dependent on the TV that I have the Tablo hooked to. So, if that TV supports the playing of the second Audio program, then it would be able to be used both in live TV and in playback of recordings. I'm getting an Amazon fire TV which I am told does support that. He seemed to be more knowledgeable about closed captioning which is for the death. But it sounded like the second audio track works the same way. At least that is what he thinks. I really hope he's right. Because, if not, also per a previous discussion, that would be a showstopper for me. LOL! The installer is coming this coming Monday to hook it all up. So I will let you know that evening whether it all works. Because if not, I will have to have him hook my fire TV directly to the antenna and I have no clue what the wiring is in our home for that. So please keep your fingers crossed for me.
HI Michael, thanks so much for taking the time to share this information! I hope it works! BTW, I don't think the Fire TV has an antenna input. If the Tablo doesn't work out, they'll hook your antenna directly to your TV, IF it has a built-in tuner. Looking forward to hearing what happens. Thanks! Brian
Hi Brian, your videos are great, thank you! Can you expand on one point -- In your "Top 5" Video about 8 months ago you mentioned the Tablo was the worst Tuner of the 5 tested as it did not pick up some of the sub channels the other tuners did. While you said this is your new #1, you did not speak to the Tuner quality. Has that changed since you earlier review? I am looking at the WIFI version of both Tablo and AirTV -- all options. I currently have Roku on all TV and I am leaning toward the Tablo. However, if there is a significant difference in Tuner quality and stations I can pull in, I may go with Sling. Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks for your comments! Tuner quality is very hard to accurately test for, which is why I left that out of my video on Tablo Gen 4. In my latest testing though, the Tablo Gen 4 was able to pick up the hard-to-get channel that my previous Tablo couldn't. Tuner quality was very similar to that of AirTV2. I personally would go with Tablo Gen 4 over AirTV2 unless you need the ability to watch recordings and live TV away from home.
Here's what I ran into on the channel scan. It picked up all the channels available to me locally but on some of the sub-channels it just showed the channel number but not detail on the grid(right of the channel number) and as a result I could not connect to those channels. Those channels showed all green dots on my phone when scanning so I know they have a good signal plus they always showed up when the antenna was connected directly to the tv. I rescanned, rebooted and even did a hard reset....basically starting all over and I still get the same results. I see on their forums that many have the same problem. Any idea what could be the problem? Any tips? I'm about ready to send it back.
@@disablemycable After further review(I'm watching football right now) 3 of the channels show up as internet ones at the bottom of the guide. So no reason to duplicate. The rest are just junk channels so I can live w/o. Not sure I want someone from India on my network anyway. Overall the Tablo is not perfect but I have some ideas on how to improve my environment. Thanks for responding.
I have not had that problem with Tablo Gen 4, although I've only had it for a week. I've noticed some other bugs (related to recording FAST channels, not broadcast). I'll list all bugs that I find in this article: www.disablemycable.com/blog/tablo-gen-4/
Oh they've done a fine job botching the 3.0 rollout, particularly with DRM. But the problem remains that ATSC 1.0 goes away in 2027. So any device with a TV tuner that you buy that doesn't support 3.0 is a three year then throw it away device. That's what doesn't work for me, not lack of Nextgen TV features.
@@disablemycable I seem to remember several delays in the transition from analog to HDTV so you're probably right. But the official date as of today is in 2027. Those in charge of all of this could mess up a wet dream. The DRM, the repack, the continued use of VHF especially the low VHF are all great examples.
Yeah, unfortunately, it's still pretty slow. I don't remember if it's faster than the Tablo Dual Lite, but I know it wasn't a huge improvement, if at all. Many of the DVR tuners are slow to change channels for some reason. - Brian
Enjoyed the video. I too like the customer service Tablo offers, but was saddened to hear from one commentor that since they sold out, it is not the case anymore. I currently have a Quad 4 HDMI on my main tv with the lifetime guide and I really like it. I'm running a Televes Datboss LR Mix Hi VHF/UHF 75 mile antenna that works great. The Televes antenna comes with a built in amplifier with an aux. port for a second antenna connection. I was thinking about running a RG-6 coax to my bedroom and setting up a Gen 4 Tablo on that second tv as it would be nice to be able to watch and copy antenna content in that room. It is about 40 ft from my cable modem so I think the wireless would work fine. I'm wondering if the two different Tablos would conflict with each other. Has anyone ever tried running this combination? The stand-alone unit is on sale right now, but I hate to buy it and set it up only to have issues with my Quad 4. Would appreciate anyone's opinion on this.
I haven't tried it myself, but I've heard on social media that other folks have run both types of Tablos at the same time with no problems, since they use different apps. - Brian
My wife ordered the unit so we will give it a shot. I have one question though. Once I have it installed on my second tv, will I be able to control it with my tv remote as far as channel selection and recording? I know we have to download the tablo app to our tv. @@disablemycable
I bought one. I like it. It works, but I wish I had know that it does not work with LG smart televisions. I am getting a smart box to able to watch it on my big screen. :(
Do you have to connect your tv to a antenna 1st and scan for channels or can you mount a antenna and connect the tablo all at one time and then scan for channels? Also how do you get the channels and menu onto your tv from this Tablo?
@@disablemycableSo you're saying on top of having this device you need to use something like a Roku to get their app/channel which then you're able to watch on TV. This whole company defeats the purpose of getting over-the-air free TV because you can't use their device unless you have a streaming device or smart TV. So this means you need to go out and spend money to get a device or a smart TV that can play their app then what's the use of trying to cord cut when you have another added cost for a separate device or a smart TV on top of the outrageous price that they're charging for their device. Sounds to me not an effective way to cord cut but the idea initially sounds good that you don't need to get an antenna for every TV you have yet this is negated by either needing to get a streaming device or a smart TV so in the end it turns out that this company is just horrible at what they do because they are not helping people to cord cut no matter what the outcome is or what they try to make it out to be.
@@disablemycable This seems to be extremely pertinent information that isn't being said enough. I don't want a Roku. If this requires Roku to work, then it is marketing for Roku and should say so. Why doesn't it? I would like more information on how it integrates. What about Prime? Smart tvs? Sounds like something we'd like but I have visions of my many old outdated boxes/gadgets sitting in bins in the basement....
My experience: Channels don't populate pictures on recorder menu. Unit upgrades software every other day, irritating. App disappears randomly and requires a complete new install. Lots of irritating, time wasting glitches.
@disablemycable I was looking into just a tv antenna.. but this looks great thanks .. this tv stuff is out of control.. we'll be paying for air quality soon 🤦🏾 great video
I am trying to set this up and want to throw it out the window. It won't connect to wifi or the Ethernet cable and support isn't available on Sundays 😂😂😂
This must be for t.v.'s that are not digital and records t.v. shows; I just plugged in an antenna and set the t.v. to antenna and you can only get what is available within 50 miles or so to the t.v. stations, otherwise you don't get anything extra on OTA.
For a person that doesn’t understand this you could’ve showed how to hook it up. I don’t understand you hook it to a television or do you hook it to your computer. You didn’t help a person who is not Computer Smart
I am a current tablo costumer with a tablo lite. I bought into the hype of purchasing a tablo 4th generation. Major mistake. Setup is not easy, moving from one tablo to another, as they are on different apps and dont recognize your existing account. But the main problem....the 4th generation will not read your saved stuff from your hard drive that was attached to the old tablo. That makes no sense! And tablo does not make that well known on their website. I have a ton of stuff still on my hard drive, so that makes the upgrade pretty useless to me. But the tablo company is MAKING me pay return shipping for something that they didnt make clear on their website. So if you have an existing tablo, dont bother buying a new one if you have things on your hard drive. And the company will not work with there customers on this issue. Wont be buying any new tablos in the future from this company
Thanks for sharing. This is expected, unfortunately. The way customer service explained it to me was that the format used on the old Tablo models was in some format they needed to make it compatible with Apple TV (because Apple REFUSES to use universal formats). This is one of the reasons that getting the video from a Tablo-attached external drive was always a chore. The company never gave us an easy solution, but instead directed me to forums where other users had work arounds.
Thanks for the comment! Last time I tried streaming from my TiVo outside my home, some shows were forbidden to be streamed remotely. Are you able to stream all of your shows? - Brian
I’ve never had an issue streaming shows outside my home on TiVo but I pretty much watch the same things. But that’s interesting. I’m going to keep an eye on that. Thanks for letting me know. :)
I just checked on four shows recorded , AGT was one of them and no issues streaming recorded shows outside my network. I have a TiVo bolt. Did you ever update your app for streaming ?
Thanks for checking! I had a problem streaming Star Trek outside my home, but I was using a TiVo Edge for Antenna. Also, that was a while ago so maybe an app update fixed it. - Brian
I can't think of why that wouldn't work, although I haven't tried it myself. I just would avoid watching streaming channels (to avoid using up all of your data). - Brian
Using mine for about 2 weeks now. Is snappy, not buggy, not freezing. I have discovered, as with any digital signal, smoothness and functionality is dependent on good signal strength. I tried the WiFi connection by itself, even after the firmware update (2.2.47 Nov23') that addressed this, but the direct ethernet connection is still superior to using the WiFi alone in my observation. Great Product
Thanks for sharing your experience! Glad it's working great for you. - Brian
How do you get it to record? It doesn't make it clear
Still using a Tivo Bolt OTA from 2018 but it is nice to see Tablo actively developing OTA products. Will definitely be our next OTA DVR purchase.
Nothing close to being a replacement for a tivo. In order to use on a tv you have to run the app...through another app (Firestick, Chromecast, Roku). Dealbreaker
Is that all I been on PC Hauppauge OTA Since 1994 the days of ISA slots 🤣🤣and then moved on to DVR in 2002 with SageTV and it still running to this very day.
Your gonna be screwed with 3.0 and DRM these crooks are moving too
The DVR functionality is what I wanted.
I have 2 issues with using live TV and the guide.
1. The guide let's you choose 'all channels' or 'favorites', but it defaults to 'all channels'.
You should be able to either select your default choice, or default to favorites.
2. There is no channel up/down functionality, you have to back out to the guide every time you want to view a new channel ( and the guide is back to showing all channels).
Tablo really needs to fix this issue.
Yes, when I use the iOS app, I can't select Favorites anymore for some reason! (it's greyed out). I need to investigate that. I also hear on you the channel up/down functionality, but actually a lot of broadcast TV DVRs are extremely slow to switch channels. The AirTV is even worse. Switching channels is much faster on Tablo if you can believe it. - Brian
This was a terrific objective review of the Tablo 4th Gen. I'm curious if I need a 4-tuner Tablo. I suspect a 2-tuner one would work fine, but... And I'd like an Apple TV app now, but I could use a Roku stick that we have for the time being. Cord cutting comes with a lot of options, but the permutations of each offering make it tricky to understand everything. Sigh 🙂
There's just not a lot to record on OTA TV for me to need 4 tuner capability. Nice to have but no biggie. And at $95(final$) for 2 tuners, just fine with me.
TIP: Missing thumbnails for a recording? Press and quickly release the reset button on the bottom of the unit to do a reboot. Reboot is pretty quick ...and now your thumbnails are back for rewind and FF.
Great tip, thanks for sharing! - Brian
The 4th generation Tablo works well enough and does not require an annual fee for guide service like the legacy Tablos. The Roku and android apps work, but I don’t find them as intuitive as apps for legacy devices. As a Tablo user for many years, the new one disappoints me in several ways. There is no Windows app, no remote access, no commercial skip, and no support for the user community to create 3rd party apps like Tablo Ripper. The new Tablo requires a separate Roku and android app from the old Tablo, which means my Roku now has 2 apps for Tablo. Setup failed several times because it refused to register under my existing Tablo account. Not until I created a 2nd account with another email address would the new Tablo register. The new Tablo is feature poor compared to the old Tablo. I had hoped in buying a new Tablo I’d feel good about retiring my old one. Instead, I’ll be keeping it until the annual subscription runs out in November. I hope by then they at least come up with a Windows app - I have no intention of giving up the ability to watch my Tablo in a small window while working on a spreadsheet, etc.
Thanks for the astute comments. Agreed!
No commercial skip? I just fast forward, easy peezy.
Exactly! - Brian
After a few days of use, I do like the improved picture quality from not transcoding, instead keeping the original MPEG-2.
The Gen 4 software on the Roku is still pretty buggy but hopefully they will address that soon. ( I realize it is 1.0 software).
The inability to schedule a manual recording (by date & time) is a big negative to me.
I hope and expect this product will mature nicely however.
Thanks for your good comments and observations! - Brian
According to their website, the recordings are transcoded to MPEG-4:
Video Format:
MPEG2 (recordings saved to onboard storage will be transcoded to MPEG4 to maximize capacity)
us-store.tablotv.com/products/tablo
I just got some clarification on the transcoding: when recording to the internal flash memory, the recordings will be transcoded to MPEG4. When recording to external USB drive they will not. Thanks for the comment on this! - Brian
@@disablemycableDoes it record in raw mpeg 4?
@@Frank-qn1xq Sorry, I don't know that level of detail. You can try calling them to find out.
Well.... I bought a Tablo 4th gen 2 tuner unit from the Tablo store on Amazon in March 2024. It worked pretty well until last night. It's dead. I checked the power supply with a multi-meter and it's still putting out 12v dc but the Tablo is dead as a brick. No lights at all. Unplugged and repowered and pressed the reset button on the bottom all to no avail. Dead unit. The Tablo website says it's got a 12 month warranty but the page to get a return authorization reads like it's only for 30 day returns. I will try calling later today but I'm not wanting to wait weeks or months for a replacement since new season TV shows are starting next week! Bummer!
Hi Brian, great videos, concise and very well presented! I have two questions: 1. If ATSC 3.0 becomes the only standard (in 2027 or thereabouts) Will this DVR not work at all in recording OTA programs and be obsolete? 2. If I really need to have remote viewing, which OTA DVR would you recommend? Thanks!
As a long time TABLO user, I was crushed to find out that the corporate takeover has resulted in customer service reps no longer in Canada, but (you guessed it) India. You mentioned that a real person answers the phone. NO! I called and left messages every day for week. No one answers, no one calls you back.
I just tried calling them and got a real person after waiting 2 mintues. He had an Indian accent, but he was a human being! Try calling them during late night hours; they're open until 2:30AM. I called at 10PM PST.
Bought tablo quad and returned because the tablo app for Samsung TV is no longer supported. So much for watching on "all of your devices."
Tried to contact support via chat. No one was available. They eventually got back to me a few hours later. By then I already had it boxed for return.
I also wanted to mention that, since I could not use it on my TVs, I would try to connect it to my computer and broadcast that to TV. In order for that to happen it was necessary to connect via ethernet, not wifi. That would call for rewiring in the attic.
I did not see a way to add streaming apps to record them, and the instructions are lacking, both in the app and what came in the box.
Hi Brian, I hear that there is a new transparent antenna that is now bundled with the Tablo. Could you do a review and share your thoughts?
I think as they add more streaming services we are going to see pay channels.I will like to see 10play from A.U in the USA. I will be glad to pay for that. also I have the old school tablo with a lifetime subscription and never used the commercial skip. I just use the remote to fast fwd and I think you can do the same with the 4th gen. I am on a Roku and uploaded the app already and ordered mine today. I love the tablo.
Yeah, fast forward and rewind work great on the new Tablo. Very snappy! - Brian
Very nice review. But I don’t have Internet connection in my home. I just have an antenna. Can I still get this device? or do I need to have Internet connection at home as well? Because I thought the purpose of using an antenna TV is to “Cut the Cord” but, having Internet in your home is pretty much having a cord come to your home.
Hi Mike, unfortunately the Tablo Gen 4 won't work without Internet access. It is a bummer. I'm guessing the reason is that the included Internet streaming channels help subsidize the cost of the free channel guide. The older version of the Tablo (like the Tablo Quad or Dual Lite) will work without Internet connection.
@@disablemycable Thanks for your reply. Let me ask you this question, that you would be much better to answer than most. When people say “cut the cord” I always thought that meant either: you have a cell phone in your home (& no land line) and you have only a TV antenna. but if you’re getting Internet service through a cable or phone company, is that still consider “cutting the cord”?
(because basically you have a hard wired cord connection coming to your home)
Hi Mike, the original meaning of "cutting the cord" was to cut cable TV in favor of broadcast and/or streaming TV. It was strictly referring to cutting cable TV. It definitely didn't have anything to do with cutting a phone landline. Now the definition has become more ambiguous, especially since wireless Internet options are now available. I don't have a strict new definition of the term anymore.
@@disablemycable Thanks for your reply. (So let’s throw out my sentence I said about cell phone verse landline) But if “Cutting the Cord” Original meaning, was the cutting cable TV. That’s really misleading, because all you’re doing is you’re still getting your Internet company paid for through your cable or phone company. & you’re just not choosing the cable TV option portion of it. but you’re still choosing the Internet portion.
Since I no longer have Internet or cable TV, what I’ve been told that, cable & phone companies have caught onto the the fact of people not getting cable TV, but doing all their streaming through the Internet, and those companies have adjusted the prices for that. So as far as I can see, if you have a hard wire coming to your home for internet (regardless of the Wi-Fi you have inside your home) I don’t consider that as “cutting the cord”.
So all these ads for OTA DVRs, that say “cut the cord”, are really not cutting any cord (if they require Internet service)
Hi Mike, yeah, you could definitely argue that folks who still have Internet are not completely "cutting the cord".
Question? Does it record shows with the TV off?
Yes it does. It's completely independent of the TV. Good question. - Brian
I purchased a Tablo Quad a little over a year ago and paired it up with an Channel Master attic antenna and a WD 2 TB USB Storage Drive. I paid the subscription fee for a year and found it unnecessary to have. I don't have nowhere near the channels you have but the dvr is great, the signal is clear for the most part. I need an outdoor antenna but I don't wish to mount one and don't wish to pay to have one mounted.
What model attic antenna did you get? Do you recommend it?
@@guillermoparedes6450 Channel Master STEALTHtenna Digital HDTV Directional Outdoor TV Antenna - VHF, UHF Aerial with Adjustable Angle Bracket for Mast Pole or Vertical Surf
Also don't care for the new Tablo because it does not allow for remote viewing like the Legacy Models.
Can you cast or air play from IPhone or Ipad?
I have a Samsung Frame TV. They don’t have it as an app!
That is a great idea! I haven't tried it yet but I think it would work. Give it a try and let me know! - Brian
@@disablemycable oh I was asking if the app had a casting button. I guess not.
I wish tablo would work for frame tv users. I can post the device and antenna somewhere out of the way and still take advantage of the live tv.
Yeah, there was no cast button that I could find. But, I was talking about native iOS screen mirroring. You can do that if you have a Roku or Apple TV: www.disablemycable.com/blog/mirror-your-ipad-to-your-tv/
@@disablemycable thanks so much for this. I went on ahead and bought the Air2 because there was at least an app. Screen mirroring sounds like a nightmare to do everytime.
Wish they had a casting function. I like tablo’s app more
Great video! Considering purchasing. In your review "cons" you list "no remote viewing or commercial skip offered". Please clarify what you mean by commercial skip. Are you not able to fast forward through commercials when watching the Tablo DVR? Thank you.
Some DVRs had the capability to automatically skip through commercials. On the Tablo, you can still fast forward past them very easily yourself by pressing the fast forward button, so it's not a big deal - Brian
ATSC 3.0 is NOT 4K, 4K is part of the standard but unless I am wrong, no broadcasters are broadcasting 4K. I have been using the original Tablo for several years and love it. I wish they have an NVMe drive slot inside.
Yes, you're right! - Brian
I am using a Tivo bolt still. I like the unit but i am looking for a replacement in the next few months. I would like to find another dvr that hooks up directly to my tv. I have tv antennae wired thru out my house from my roof antennae and also have eithernet wired thru out my house. I have a number of older HD tvs that are not smart tvs so i do need a dvr that uses hdmi connection to my tv.
The old Tablo line had a model with HDMI output but I'm not sure if those will be made any longer. The Mediasonic box (and other low-end DVRs) also have HDMI output, but the features and user interface are nothing compared to TiVo. How about the TiVo Edge for Antenna? www.disablemycable.com/blog/tivo-edge-for-antenna-dvr/ Or, just get Rokus for your non-smart TVs and use the new Tablo Gen 4...
I have the original t i v o bolt which has both the card and OTA tuner. Because it has the option for both, TiVo charges me 140 a year. I'm thinking of replacing the TiVo bolt, with this unit. While I don't think I need the four tuner model, I figure it's best to get it up front and pay the additional cost. Thoughts? I have a fire TV on all the TVs, so it's not like I need the additional features of the tablo.
The TiVo is a nice unit, but I hate paying fees, so I would check out the Tablo if I were you. Grab it while it's on sale. - Brian
Thanks very much for the information! Question: is there something similar to this that streams 4K?
Check out some of the HD Homerun DVRs which offer 4K. www.disablemycable.com/blog/hdhomerun/
Hi Brian I have the Tablo Gen4 Dvr like it very only problem is it Crash or It Freeze up I have it hooked up To the Wi-Fi is it better to use the ethernet cable and I have good internet access thank you
Yes, some users have reported the unit being more reliable over Ethernet. It's worth a try. - Brian
I connected the same to my tv and wifi......just couldn't figure out how to show on tv.....i have no idea how to put it on screen on tv i have a LG 55lb6300 uq tv.
You have to use an app to view content from the Tablo. More info for LG here: www.tablotv.com/for-lg-webos/
First off, this looks like a great product and JUST ordered it! We were cord cutters in 2010, and back then the best solution IMO was Windows 7 NUC computer with an OTA Tuner quality and Windows media center to manage the DVR side. This WAS an awesome setup, until I didn't read the fine print when upgrading to Win10. Guess what? Windows media center was NOT compatible with Win10, which was BS. I am curious if anyone out there is still running a Win7 rig w/Windows Media Center?
Oh man, I was a big fan of Windows Media Center! But I've moved on, haha. - Brian
it is possible x 2.5. 1) run windows 7 rig wo using otherwise, ie surfing the web. or roll the dice w some vigorous virus checking. 2) there's way to install Media Center into W10, weather you deserve 3,4 or 6 college credits after? 3) some of W7 TV Tuners do have Linux drivers that work, if you or nephew install Linux you're up to 8,9, 12 college credits at that point. Networking a recording w other TVs still possible, ie upstairs gets better reception than downstairs, share.
What do you mean by 4 Channels? I've seen the 2 channel version and the 4 channel version. What are the channel functions for?
It refers to the number of tuners, which means the number of different shows that you can watch or record at the same time. So if you have a 4-tuner model, then you can have four people in your home watching different channels on it at the same time. Or, you could record 4 different shows at the same time. - Brian
I’ll stick with my TiVo Bolt. When Tanlo comes out with a 4K, ATSC 3.0 device, with upgradeble storage, I’ll buy it.
Good report. Thanks. Just discovered and purchased on Halloween23'. The fees stopped my purchase previously. Have the homeworx tuner with storage but just a mess to use. This looks great for OTA.
Thanks! I'm enjoying mine. - Brian
Brian also here, south texas. Anticipating this.
Hi there, can this device be used in Australia? Or can you recommend something similar for Australia please?
Sorry, this won't work in Australia; neither will Air TV. HD Homerun might, but you'd have to confirm.
No need to upgrade since I currently have 4-tuner quad and have able to view remotely
Yup, agreed! - Brian
Does anyone know why watching remotely was not included in the newer model?
@@michaelharris9203 Read this: support.tablotv.com/hc/en-us/articles/18977241481620-Why-Doesn-t-the-4th-Generation-Tablo-Support-Tablo-Connect-Out-of-Home-Streaming-
Hey Brian. I'm not trying to be a jerk here. I love your reviews!
I just want to point out that you are using an expression incorrectly.
1.) A "SHOWSTOPPER" is a positive thing. It is a moment in a show that is SO good, that the progress of the show STOPS (temporarily) for the roaring applause to subside!
2.) You should be using the term (for how you intend it), "DEAL-BREAKER" (i.e. meaning something that is too egregious to allow continuing with the deal ... or purchase).
I know when you're used to using a certain term, it can be hard to stop, but you should make the effort.
Keep up the great reviews! 👍
Hey, thanks for the insight! I got the term "showstopper" from my time in the software industry. According to Wikipedia:
"A bug severe enough to delay or halt the release of the product is called a "show stopper"[38] or "showstopper bug".[39] It is named so because it "stops the show" - causes unacceptable product failure."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_bug#:~:text=A%20bug%20severe%20enough%20to,%22%20%E2%80%93%20causes%20unacceptable%20product%20failure.
Perhaps that definition is not as widely known. Interesting how the same term can have opposite meanings in different industries though.
Thanks again,
Brian
@@disablemycable
Hey Brian. Apologies, I never got a notification that you had replied to my comment. I just stumbled upon this video again while looking for new info on Tablo.
Anyway, I understand where you're coming from. If you got used to a term because of the software industry niche you worked in, I imagine you won't be changing (out of habit, if nothing else)!
It just jumped right out at me as kind of the opposite of how the term is generally used ... so please forgive my sensitivity! 😅
In addition to 'deal-breaker', another expression more generally understood, is 'non-starter.' Again, because of your personal experience, I know you won't be changing ... but if anybody else reacts similarly to me, at least you'll know where it's coming from! 😉
Keep up the great video reviews! You've got a nice 'down-to-earth' style that works well for these vids. Take care.
No need to apologize! Thank you for your kind words and your feedback! I appreciate it! - Brian
@@disablemycable 👍😊
I've had the Tablo Duo for a number of years and have subscribed to the Channel Guide and Commercial Skip apps. If the Tablo G4 does not need a Channel Guide subscription, does it also include Commercial Skip, or do I have to subscribe to that again?
Unfortunately there is no auto commercial skip on the Gen 4. The fast forward button is very snappy though so I just use that. - Brian
I purchased Tablo latest one it did scan majority of channels but missed few channels m (which are coming up on the TV but not showing up on the Tablo stream so cannot record these showing up on the TV) . Overall ok purchase..
Try turning on or off the signal booster in the settings menu (top right of screen)
i baught that tablo and i love it also i baught the adth box for nextgen tv so when the atc 1.0 leaves i will still have the adth box that box also has dvr but cant firgure to use with the adth box time will tell.
Hi Brian - You reviewed Tablo Gen 4 and SiliconDust HDHomeRun in Dec 2023 and picked Tablo as your #1 choice for now. I wonder if the poor Amazon user rating on Tablo Gen 4 vs a much better rating of SiliconDust HDHomeRun would dissuade you from making that choice?
I see them as aimed at two different markets. Tablo is for the mass market consumer, so you're going to get a lot of non-tech savvy people using them. HDHomeRun is more suitable (in my opinion) for enthusiasts, who will tolerate things like not having instructions, finding your own software to use with it, etc. So yeah, Tablo Gen 4 is going through some growing pains now as the bugs are being fixed (though it works well for me on iOS), but I still think it's the best unit for the masses. BTW, I'm seeing 3.5 stars for Tablo Gen 4 (2-tuner) and 4.5 for Silicon Dust HDHomerun, so not a huge difference. - Brian
Hi Brian - Thanks for the quick reply. You are right that the rating gap between those 2 is not that huge. I can certainly understand that Tablo Gen 4 is going through early teething pain. If they are committed to fixing those quirks, I will seriously consider their 4-tuner product when it is released. Cheer!
Hi Brian - I have one more question for you. Can you recommend a way to capture snippets of the OTA broadcast programs through these 2 boxes that don't have HDMI out?
How does the video signal get to the TV? How do you control it? Bought one from Best Buy but none of this made any sense. They don't answer their phones so I returned it. Is there a dvr that connects to a TV and has a remote?
You have to use the Tablo app on a streaming device (or mobile device) to watch your recordings (or live TV). The upside of doing that is that you can watch live TV and recordings on multiple TVs or devices in your home. There is an older Tablo DVR that connects to your TV via HDMI and uses a remote.
Hi, I have the older Tablo Quad I purchased as a refurbished unit a couple months ago. I keep having buffering issues with it. I have contacted support and nothing they said to do has helped it. I have excellent wifi in my house. Now I am thing about purchasing the new 4th Tablo generation 4tuner that is out that can only be purchased through BestBuy. Do you think that this may work better than my old Tablo Quad and not have so many buffering isses?
I would say, just to be sure, plug in your old Tablo Quad directly into your router using an Ethernet cable and see if that fixes the problem. If that doesn't help, then try the Table 4G. I haven't heard of widespread buffering problems with it, and it's a totally different design. - Brian
I have Duel Tablo Lite device with only the 24 hour menu for OTA. I think I heard that Tablo was going to give us the 2 week advance menu for no cost as an upgrade? Is that true?
Yes, they said they are working on the upgraded firmware for owners of old Tablos. However, I don't know how long that will take. - Brian
On the Tablo website.... I paraphrase, "it will happen, after the legacy DVRs are transitioned over to the new platform'. assuming with a firmware update.... But no timetable was given...
How would I hook this up if I have one antenna feeding 2 tv's? Each tv has a Firestick.
You could either add a splitter and add another antenna cable going to the Tablo, or just hook up the Tablo to one of your existing TV antenna cables and watch live TV through the Tablo app (on your Fire Stick or other device) instead of through your TV.
I believe you can hook them both up and run 2 different apps and keep you lifetime subscription
Yeah, they are two separate apps so that should work. - Brian
I am a totally blind person. We are having an outdoor TV antenna installed next week. The installer recommended a Tablo. This is why I was checking out your video. Thank you, by the way. My question is, do you know if the Tablo can receive and or record the second Audio program? This Audio sub channel sometimes lets you hear the show in Spanish but the reason I am interested in it is because, often, this channel lets you hear audio description for the blind for certain shows.
Hi MIchael, that is an excellent question. I don't know the answer, but you can call Tablo and ask them directly. If you get a moment, let me know what they say! Thanks, Brian support.tablotv.com/hc/en-us
@@disablemycable I just spoke to someone at Tablo and, per the previous discussion, he did sound like he might have been from India. 😀 he said it would be dependent on the TV that I have the Tablo hooked to. So, if that TV supports the playing of the second Audio program, then it would be able to be used both in live TV and in playback of recordings. I'm getting an Amazon fire TV which I am told does support that. He seemed to be more knowledgeable about closed captioning which is for the death. But it sounded like the second audio track works the same way. At least that is what he thinks. I really hope he's right. Because, if not, also per a previous discussion, that would be a showstopper for me. LOL! The installer is coming this coming Monday to hook it all up. So I will let you know that evening whether it all works. Because if not, I will have to have him hook my fire TV directly to the antenna and I have no clue what the wiring is in our home for that. So please keep your fingers crossed for me.
HI Michael, thanks so much for taking the time to share this information! I hope it works! BTW, I don't think the Fire TV has an antenna input. If the Tablo doesn't work out, they'll hook your antenna directly to your TV, IF it has a built-in tuner. Looking forward to hearing what happens. Thanks! Brian
@@disablemycable oh. I thought it did. Well, we already ordered it and it will be here on Thursday. It should work with the Tablo, though. I hope.☺️
Could you put a 3.0 tuner in-line before this unit and it would still work?
No, because this box has no HDMI input. It only has antenna input. - Brian
Hi Brian, your videos are great, thank you! Can you expand on one point -- In your "Top 5" Video about 8 months ago you mentioned the Tablo was the worst Tuner of the 5 tested as it did not pick up some of the sub channels the other tuners did. While you said this is your new #1, you did not speak to the Tuner quality. Has that changed since you earlier review? I am looking at the WIFI version of both Tablo and AirTV -- all options. I currently have Roku on all TV and I am leaning toward the Tablo. However, if there is a significant difference in Tuner quality and stations I can pull in, I may go with Sling. Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks for your comments! Tuner quality is very hard to accurately test for, which is why I left that out of my video on Tablo Gen 4. In my latest testing though, the Tablo Gen 4 was able to pick up the hard-to-get channel that my previous Tablo couldn't. Tuner quality was very similar to that of AirTV2. I personally would go with Tablo Gen 4 over AirTV2 unless you need the ability to watch recordings and live TV away from home.
Thank you for your response. That is very helpful.
Here's what I ran into on the channel scan. It picked up all the channels available to me locally but on some of the sub-channels it just showed the channel number but not detail on the grid(right of the channel number) and as a result I could not connect to those channels. Those channels showed all green dots on my phone when scanning so I know they have a good signal plus they always showed up when the antenna was connected directly to the tv. I rescanned, rebooted and even did a hard reset....basically starting all over and I still get the same results. I see on their forums that many have the same problem.
Any idea what could be the problem? Any tips? I'm about ready to send it back.
Try calling Tablo support. I believe they can manually add channels to the guide in your area. Let me know if that works out. Thanks - Brian
@@disablemycable After further review(I'm watching football right now) 3 of the channels show up as internet ones at the bottom of the guide. So no reason to duplicate. The rest are just junk channels so I can live w/o. Not sure I want someone from India on my network anyway. Overall the Tablo is not perfect but I have some ideas on how to improve my environment. Thanks for responding.
Would it be a possibility that Tablo could/would update it's firmware to 3.0 in the future?
It's a shame that humans can't be updated that way.
But believe it or not some things in life take a hardware upgrade too....
Question, does this also record Internet FAST channels? I thought that was the point of the newest model.
Yes, it can record the FAST channels that are available on the box, which is pretty cool! - Brian
@@disablemycable thanks, I may check this out.
I am wondering, after the fast channels are recorded… Can commercials be fast forwarded? Thanks.
What is a fast channel?
@@fadetoblack51 like Tubi or Pluto. Apparently the new Tablo has channels like those services. Very small selection so far as the box just came out.
I currently have a recast and have to unplug or restart it every so often.
Is the Tablo more reliable?
I have not had that problem with Tablo Gen 4, although I've only had it for a week. I've noticed some other bugs (related to recording FAST channels, not broadcast). I'll list all bugs that I find in this article: www.disablemycable.com/blog/tablo-gen-4/
Do you have to have a paid subscription to use the Roku app?
No paid subscription needed for Tablo Gen 4.
How do you watch it on a LG tv?
You would have to get a streaming box like Amazon Fire TV Stick or ONN from Walmart. There is also a Roku app but it is more buggy.
Oh they've done a fine job botching the 3.0 rollout, particularly with DRM. But the problem remains that ATSC 1.0 goes away in 2027. So any device with a TV tuner that you buy that doesn't support 3.0 is a three year then throw it away device. That's what doesn't work for me, not lack of Nextgen TV features.
I believe that ATSC 1.0 will be around for another 10 years at least due to the poor rollout of 3.0.
@@disablemycable I seem to remember several delays in the transition from analog to HDTV so you're probably right. But the official date as of today is in 2027. Those in charge of all of this could mess up a wet dream. The DRM, the repack, the continued use of VHF especially the low VHF are all great examples.
Can multiple tvs view different shows simultaneously?
The Tablo Gen 4 has two tuners, so two TVs can view different shows independently.
How slow is it to tune into a channel? My Tablo OTA Lite is is dang slow.
Yeah, unfortunately, it's still pretty slow. I don't remember if it's faster than the Tablo Dual Lite, but I know it wasn't a huge improvement, if at all. Many of the DVR tuners are slow to change channels for some reason. - Brian
Enjoyed the video. I too like the customer service Tablo offers, but was saddened to hear from one commentor that since they sold out, it is not the case anymore. I currently have a Quad 4 HDMI on my main tv with the lifetime guide and I really like it. I'm running a Televes Datboss LR Mix Hi VHF/UHF 75 mile antenna that works great. The Televes antenna comes with a built in amplifier with an aux. port for a second antenna connection. I was thinking about running a RG-6 coax to my bedroom and setting up a Gen 4 Tablo on that second tv as it would be nice to be able to watch and copy antenna content in that room. It is about 40 ft from my cable modem so I think the wireless would work fine. I'm wondering if the two different Tablos would conflict with each other. Has anyone ever tried running this combination? The stand-alone unit is on sale right now, but I hate to buy it and set it up only to have issues with my Quad 4. Would appreciate anyone's opinion on this.
I haven't tried it myself, but I've heard on social media that other folks have run both types of Tablos at the same time with no problems, since they use different apps. - Brian
My wife ordered the unit so we will give it a shot. I have one question though. Once I have it installed on my second tv, will I be able to control it with my tv remote as far as channel selection and recording? I know we have to download the tablo app to our tv. @@disablemycable
I bought one. I like it. It works, but I wish I had know that it does not work with LG smart televisions. I am getting a smart box to able to watch it on my big screen. :(
Works well with a Firestick
Roku Ultra works well
no 3.0 is a deal breaker sadly but otherwise this would be a good pick for me
My tablo doesn't pick up all the channels my tv picks up with my antenna? Can someone help?
Do have an indoor or outdoor antenna?
@@disablemycable indoor
@disablemycable my antenna gets 35 channels, but the tablo only picks up 7
I do have a chromecast hooked up
Go to setting and select the signal booster/amplifier. Try off or on.
Good idea!
Do you have to connect your tv to a antenna 1st and scan for channels or can you mount a antenna and connect the tablo all at one time and then scan for channels? Also how do you get the channels and menu onto your tv from this Tablo?
Actually, you connect your antenna to the Tablo, not the TV. To view on a TV, you have to use a Roku with the Tablo app.
@@disablemycableSo you're saying on top of having this device you need to use something like a Roku to get their app/channel which then you're able to watch on TV. This whole company defeats the purpose of getting over-the-air free TV because you can't use their device unless you have a streaming device or smart TV. So this means you need to go out and spend money to get a device or a smart TV that can play their app then what's the use of trying to cord cut when you have another added cost for a separate device or a smart TV on top of the outrageous price that they're charging for their device. Sounds to me not an effective way to cord cut but the idea initially sounds good that you don't need to get an antenna for every TV you have yet this is negated by either needing to get a streaming device or a smart TV so in the end it turns out that this company is just horrible at what they do because they are not helping people to cord cut no matter what the outcome is or what they try to make it out to be.
@@disablemycable This seems to be extremely pertinent information that isn't being said enough. I don't want a Roku. If this requires Roku to work, then it is marketing for Roku and should say so. Why doesn't it? I would like more information on how it integrates. What about Prime? Smart tvs? Sounds like something we'd like but I have visions of my many old outdated boxes/gadgets sitting in bins in the basement....
The quality of the sub channels on a OTA is terrible there in SD only ,the big networks are in HD,all those sub channels are useless not Tablo fault
Do you need to buy an antenna in order to use this?
Yes. You can pay a little extra to get the one they sell, or get your own. Here are my suggestions: www.disablemycable.com/antennas/
@@disablemycable Oh ok. Thanks for responding back. I appreciate it.
Can’t get it to connect to WiFi 😩
Give them a call. They actually have customer service folks who will answer the phone. support.tablotv.com/hc/en-us
What happens to the channel guide after the subscription is done?
There is no subscription with the new Tablo. It's just free forever if you have the new Tablo.
@@disablemycable sounds interesting. Just seen that they are for sale at Best buy.
@@disablemycable Why did you mention a free 2 weeks subscription guide if it's free forever for new Tablo?
Thanks for your question. What I meant is that the guide covers 2 weeks into the future, not that you only get the guide for two weeks. - Brian
@@disablemycable that's cool. I'm thinking about getting the total system for $110 on the site. That antenna it comes with seems nice.
My experience: Channels don't populate pictures on recorder menu. Unit upgrades software every other day, irritating. App disappears randomly and requires a complete new install. Lots of irritating, time wasting glitches.
Can this be hooked up to ur firestick?
Yes, there is a FireStick app. I haven't tried it myself yet though. - Brian
@disablemycable I was looking into just a tv antenna.. but this looks great thanks .. this tv stuff is out of control.. we'll be paying for air quality soon 🤦🏾 great video
@@gregoryburkhead7813 Yes and works well.
Yes, fire stick app works great, just be sure you get the latest version.
The app's icon should be black with the word Tablo in white and the word TV in white on a turquoise background.
I am trying to set this up and want to throw it out the window. It won't connect to wifi or the Ethernet cable and support isn't available on Sundays 😂😂😂
This must be for t.v.'s that are not digital and records t.v. shows; I just plugged in an antenna and set the t.v. to antenna and you can only get what is available within 50 miles or so to the t.v. stations, otherwise you don't get anything extra on OTA.
For a person that doesn’t understand this you could’ve showed how to hook it up. I don’t understand you hook it to a television or do you hook it to your computer. You didn’t help a person who is not Computer Smart
I am a current tablo costumer with a tablo lite. I bought into the hype of purchasing a tablo 4th generation. Major mistake. Setup is not easy, moving from one tablo to another, as they are on different apps and dont recognize your existing account. But the main problem....the 4th generation will not read your saved stuff from your hard drive that was attached to the old tablo. That makes no sense! And tablo does not make that well known on their website. I have a ton of stuff still on my hard drive, so that makes the upgrade pretty useless to me. But the tablo company is MAKING me pay return shipping for something that they didnt make clear on their website. So if you have an existing tablo, dont bother buying a new one if you have things on your hard drive. And the company will not work with there customers on this issue. Wont be buying any new tablos in the future from this company
Thanks for sharing. This is expected, unfortunately. The way customer service explained it to me was that the format used on the old Tablo models was in some format they needed to make it compatible with Apple TV (because Apple REFUSES to use universal formats). This is one of the reasons that getting the video from a Tablo-attached external drive was always a chore. The company never gave us an easy solution, but instead directed me to forums where other users had work arounds.
A forced internet connection is a deal breaker, should work without it using the Wi-Fi.
no 3.0, it has to go
iPhones suck!
Sorry, but I’m having a problem following you. 🙃
Where do you live at, I live in Ozark Missouri have a good night
My name is David what is your name
Sucks you can’t stream outside your home. TiVo is still the best.
Thanks for the comment! Last time I tried streaming from my TiVo outside my home, some shows were forbidden to be streamed remotely. Are you able to stream all of your shows? - Brian
I’ve never had an issue streaming shows outside my home on TiVo but I pretty much watch the same things. But that’s interesting. I’m going to keep an eye on that. Thanks for letting me know. :)
I just checked on four shows recorded , AGT was one of them and no issues streaming recorded shows outside my network. I have a TiVo bolt. Did you ever update your app for streaming ?
Thanks for checking! I had a problem streaming Star Trek outside my home, but I was using a TiVo Edge for Antenna. Also, that was a while ago so maybe an app update fixed it. - Brian
I have a hockey stick that will take care of that hockey puck.
Can you use a android cell phone hotspot? If you don't have home Internet service.
I can't think of why that wouldn't work, although I haven't tried it myself. I just would avoid watching streaming channels (to avoid using up all of your data). - Brian