Tech Review: Tablo Broadcast TV Streaming and DVR Device

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If you've just started the journey of trying to find a way to watch and record over-the-air TV broadcasts anywhere in your home, the leading devices in 2024 are Tablo (by Nuvyyo, a subsidiary of Scripps) and HDHomeRun (by Silicondust). On the other hand, if you've stumbled across this post and are wondering why anyone would need this kind of equipment, consider this scenario: My living room is the only place that receives clean broadcasts from most of the L.A. TV stations. I have a second TV and antenna in my home office and, having a big tree just outside the window, the reception in that room frequently drops out. The Tablo has fixed that problem by taking the feed from the living room antenna and distributing it over my internet connection to our smart TV, Samsung tablet, an iPhone, Roku, and (finally, in late 2024) an Apple TV.

Before proceeding further, I ran through the Tablo vs. HDHomeRun pros and cons several times before choosing the former. The reasons for that choice are simple: This tech is new to me, so I don't need much, or anything complex... Having built-in storage is a plus, and the Tablo is cheaper. Upon putting it to use, these are my findings:

Tablo Pros:

• Current (4th Generation) models feature two or four tuners, meaning you can watch/record a maximum of two/four channels simultaneously.

• The program guide is free.

• 128 GB of internal storage (114 GB usable) for recording shows...

• DVR storage can be expanded by adding a hard drive up to 8 GB (via USB-A connection on the back of the Tablo).

• Live TV can be paused. I often use this feature, shifting my attention to something more productive (like writing this blog) during commercial breaks.

• It can be used with many devices. I have the Tablo app installed on my Samsung TV, Samsung tablet, iPhone, and Roku. Apple TV support was added recently (Oct. 2024).

Tablo Cons:

• The menu isn't very responsive... It's laggy/painfully slow on all of my devices.

• The menu is whacky. While writing this, under "Live And Upcoming Sports" (on the Samsung TV app), it lists a college and NFL game starting at the same time. Whaaat? Oh, now that I'm looking up the details on the internet, these games are days apart. The lack of info listed isn't helpful (click to expand this photo).

• There is no option to watch on a computer.

• Changing channels requires more clicks than it should. I really wish the "previous channel" button on my Samsung TV remote would work with this app, but it doesn't. Let's say I'm going back and forth between two live sports broadcasts... If I'm watching one and want to get to the other, I have to exit the program, navigate to the other listing, select "watch live", then watch the "loading" icon spin for 5-6 seconds before video starts playing. (UPDATE! If I'm watching on the new (late 2024) Apple TV app, bringing up the progress bar while watching a program offers a "back" option. The Samsung TV app doesn't have that.)

• Setup would have been a big problem for someone less tech savvy. The initial progress kept stalling out on my Samsung tablet. There was no indication why, but I sailed right past that problem spot when I tried again with an iPhone instead.

• We might have a problem when ATSC 3.0 is implemented.

Expanding on that last point, broadcasting standards are currently a mess. In the US, we are currently straddling both ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) standards 1.0 and 3.0 (aka "NextGen TV"). With 3.0, there's a chance many of the broadcast TV signals will be encrypted, and the current Tablo and HDHomeRun devices might not be able to decrypt them. We might lose the ability to record shows. The possibility of making broadcast TV less accessible overall runs counter to the expectation we've always had from companies that have been granted a license by the FCC to use our public airwaves. That uncertainty plays into why I bought the base model. Broadcasters in the U.S. are required to continue sending out ATSC 1 signals until 2027, so we still have some time before some of these devices potentially become paperweights.

Again, the main reason for products like Tablo or HDHomeRun exist is to enhance the broadcast TV viewing experience. At home, this device distributes over-the-air programming from networks like CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS, etc. to both TVs and some devices that otherwise don't function as TVs. On a Reddit thread, I saw someone ask "CNN?" No! These devices are completely separate from cable TV. From something like this, don't expect access to FOX News, MSNBC, CNN, or any of those other partisan channels that we should all avoid anyhow (I have a degree in Broadcasting - email me or leave a comment below if you don't understand the harm cable TV "news" has caused our society).

In case this thought crosses you mind, normally, you can only watch content via Tablo over your home network. I've read that if your home internet uses a VPN (virtual private network), you can tap into your TV feed from anywhere. I haven't tried this, so I am only reporting this may be possible.

Although the list of "cons" is just as long as the "pros" above, I don't at all regret buying this device for $100. A tip about the cost, though... Amazon doesn't price match and, a week after buying the Tablo from that retailer, Best Buy had it on sale for $80. I had thought about doing a return, but eh... I would have paid the shipping cost, so repurchasing this from Best Buy instead would have ending up saving me probably <$10. I should have shopped with a company that prices matches to begin with. Also, these devices are made in China. This is not a partisan opinion: Trump tariffs in 2024 and beyond might make this device cost more soon.

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I borrowed this Emmy.

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"Tech Review: Tablo TV Streaming and DVR Device"

Written by: Justin Kilmer

Peer reviewed by: Janine Kilmer

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