DW and I have decided to become cord cutters!We cancelled our Directv account, but DW liked her DVR. We looked around and found this Tablo OTA DVR.It records any OTA channels we get. ALSO, we can access it from anywhere if we have sufficient internet bandwidth! I can pull it up on my laptop from 2,000 miles away and watch any recorded program, or what is airing in real time at home. AND, the icing on the cake, it can be a whole home DVR!DW is pleased.Only 2 downsides:1. It has no storage memory so you have to buy a USB external HDDand2. It does not hook directly to your television. It goes through your home network either by WIFI or Ethernet. You have to have a media streaming device, like Chromecast, on your TV. Or, have a smart TV with built in WIFI. That is why it is a whole home DVR. Every TV with a media streaming device is connected to it.DISCLAIMER: I have no connection with this product or company other than being an owner of one of their units.

Instead of another gadget that sucks band width why not simply take your Direc DVR with you?

Not to be a stickler, but Sat TV has no cord. I take my tailgater and dish box with me where ever I camp all over the west. That's cord cutting!And downside #3 to your OTA box: OTA TV. Is the OP claiming that OTA TV is a valid substitute to premium Sat TV? I beg to differ!

Bobbo wrote:DW and I have decided to become cord cutters!We cancelled our Directv account, but DW liked her DVR. We looked around and found this Tablo OTA DVR.It records any OTA channels we get. ALSO, we can access it from anywhere if we have sufficient internet bandwidth! I can pull it up on my laptop from 2,000 miles away and watch any recorded program, or what is airing in real time at home. AND, the icing on the cake, it can be a whole home DVR!DW is pleased.Only 2 downsides:1. It has no storage memory so you have to buy a USB external HDDand2. It does not hook directly to your television. It goes through your home network either by WIFI or Ethernet. You have to have a media streaming device, like Chromecast, on your TV. Or, have a smart TV with built in WIFI. That is why it is a whole home DVR. Every TV with a media streaming device is connected to it.DISCLAIMER: I have no connection with this product or company other than being an owner of one of their units.Sounds like it could be a great way to get your TV fix, BUT, please BRING YOUR OWN WIFI HOT SPOT.Streaming via a campgrounds WiFi will be your problem..Most campground BARELY have enough "bandwidth" to retrieve simple emails.. Streaming via campground WiFi unless it is done at 2am-3am will result in a lot of frustration for YOU..Streaming during day and evening hrs will also result in OTHER "campers" having to SUFFER from extremely slow speeds and in some cases not being able to get on the WiFi at all.Don't be a WiFi hog.

Tablo is a pretty good unit, we are waiting for our Simple.TV2 unit, it's very similar but will also accommodate cable (clearQAM). We also cut the cord (figuratively not literally) and got rid of our sat. tv. The only time you need internet bandwidth is when you want to program the unit, after that it streams to your Roku or other similar device through your own network, no internet connection required.We use our current unit to record shows and movies when we have cable or over the air signals. Then we have them to watch when we have no cell data service, cable or over the air signal.

Rotis wrote:Tablo is a pretty good unit, we are waiting for our Simple.TV2 unit, it's very similar but will also accommodate cable (clearQAM). We also cut the cord (figuratively not literally) and got rid of our sat. tv. The only time you need internet bandwidth is when you want to program the unit, after that it streams to your Roku or other similar device through your own network, no internet connection required.We use our current unit to record shows and movies when we have cable or over the air signals. Then we have them to watch when we have no cell data service, cable or over the air signal.Be aware that in many places the Cable companies are DROPPING "CLEAR QAM". Per some FCC rule changes a few years ago, cable companies are no longer "obligated" to continue analog OR in the clear unscrambled QAM BASIC channels.Instead as long as the cable co offers a free or low cost (rental) cable box they CAN enable the "private" data bit in the QAM data stream. Once the private bit is enabled, ALL QAM capable tuners without a cable card WILL ignore the PRIVATE QAM channels.In reality, the OP mentioned "cutting cords" which means they are dropping ALL paid programming (as in no sat OR cable) and are planning to use a OTA (Over the Air) tuner/DVR which has capability to STREAM via Internet the content of what they have recorded.The recorder stays at home and they simply use the Internet from anywhere (campground WiFi?) to look at their recordings.The downside of the OPs plan IS the campground WiFi (free Internet access), after they try streaming ONCE Via campground WiFi ("buffering" anyone?) they WILL be buying their own WiFi hot spot..

Able to watch home networks anywhere! | Good Sam Community

Bobbo
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2016
OP here.

Guys, I put the phrase
Bobbo wrote:
if we have sufficient internet bandwidth!

into the very first post on purpose. It was to warn everyone that this needs evaluation. It is not for everyone. For us, it is not for heavy use, but for surgical selection of something we would otherwise miss.

I agree that this is not for folks who use the park's WIFI. I agree that cellular data plans can easily be overshot. I agree that not everyone is happy being limited to just OTA programming.

This is just another option. Put it on the list with Directv, Dish Network, Hughes satellite internet, (phone company of your choice) call plans and/or data plans. They all need evaluation before being chosen.

FOR US ------ this is perfect. DW is very pleased. We have now been Directv free for a month, and neither of us has missed it a bit.
MrWizard
Moderator
Feb 01, 2016
i have one of these Homeworx PVR

only tunes one channel, but it doesn't need the internet or a subscription
it uses a USB external driver or memory stick
the files are not encryted
and you can move that drive to your PC to copy, edit, watch the recordings, even convert them to DVD with free software from the internet or paid programs like sonys vegas or adobe premier etc..
if the drive gets full, save it, use another usb drive
rekoj71
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
I would like this thing to take with me fulltiming as it's an over the air DVR, and I don't have sat on my RV, but I do like to record some of the OTA network stuff. That way the only bandwidth I would be using to make it work might be to program it or to download a program guide. The streaming would be on my own network inside my RV that way.
Rotis
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
Bill.Satellite wrote:
Never said it was an issue for the OP but it would be a HUGE issue for anyone trying to following his footprints.

Maybe, maybe not, most people are capable of figuring out what works for them. I know everyone doesn't think like I do, even though I like to think I'm right, I'm only right for me.

I think the OP just put it out there to let people know about it, they can figure out if it would work for them or not. Not everyone has to be told whats best for them.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2016
Never said it was an issue for the OP but it would be a HUGE issue for anyone trying to following his footprints.
Rotis
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
Bill.Satellite wrote:
While a tiny group of RVers have come upon (or can afford) unlimited internet services, this is NOT the standard and not for the "normal" RVer. For those without that option this scenario is completely worthless unless you only plan to watch a couple of hours of TV per week. Even if I wanted to pay the huge premium to Verizon to be on their 40GB/month plan (or AT&T) it would gall me that I had to pay so much for so little (TV).

TV is not the main reason we have those data plans, TV to us, is not that important. We got them when they had the GB war a year or so ago. We don't pay THAT much more than our "Premium satellite service" cost us at the time.

It sounds like the OP is aware of and has a handle on his bandwidth situation. It's not a bad solution for him at all, just depends on how much TV you want to watch I guess.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jan 31, 2016
While a tiny group of RVers have come upon (or can afford) unlimited internet services, this is NOT the standard and not for the "normal" RVer. For those without that option this scenario is completely worthless unless you only plan to watch a couple of hours of TV per week. Even if I wanted to pay the huge premium to Verizon to be on their 40GB/month plan (or AT&T) it would gall me that I had to pay so much for so little (TV).
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 31, 2016
If you have sufficent internet bandwidth (I am very glad you included that phrase as it shows you have some understanding of the issues involved)

Now your internet bandwidth comes from one of two or 3 sources.

1: Your own cellular internet data plan (Phone or hot spot) So long as you understand what happens when you go over your plan limits.. GO FOR IT.

2: Park Wi-Fi,, Normally already overloaded by too many users.

3: 2 way satellete.,. There are two popular services and several resellers. ONE has the bandwith but alas, is not compatible with the RV lifestyle.

Additional: RING (Dot com) sells a 200 dollar doorbell that lets you answer the door from anywhere, talk to and WATCH the person ringing it. And no, I don't have, I think it is too expensive. (uses cellular data).
Rotis
Explorer
Jan 31, 2016
Bobbo wrote:
DW and I have decided to become cord cutters!

We cancelled our Directv account, but DW liked her DVR. We looked around and found this Tablo OTA DVR.

It records any OTA channels we get. ALSO, we can access it from anywhere if we have sufficient internet bandwidth! I can pull it up on my laptop from 2,000 miles away and watch any recorded program, or what is airing in real time at home. AND, the icing on the cake, it can be a whole home DVR!

DW is pleased.

Only 2 downsides:

1. It has no storage memory so you have to buy a USB external HDD

and

2. It does not hook directly to your television. It goes through your home network either by WIFI or Ethernet. You have to have a media streaming device, like Chromecast, on your TV. Or, have a smart TV with built in WIFI. That is why it is a whole home DVR. Every TV with a media streaming device is connected to it.

DISCLAIMER: I have no connection with this product or company other than being an owner of one of their units.

Bobbo, sorry for going off topic. I'm sure you'll like your Tablo, we have friends that have one and they say it works great. I think you'll find you won't miss Directv at all.
Rotis
Explorer
Jan 31, 2016
joebedford wrote:
Rotis wrote:
We dropped our premium satellite service because it was terrible, nothing much worth watching unless you like mindless dribble, bathroom humor, foul language and the dumbing down of America.
I think you mis-typed: that's what you get OTA.

OTA is no better or worse, it's pretty much the same. There are only a few shows we like to watch, which we record to watch when we want. Same with satellite tv, there was just no point in paying that much for hundred's of channels that have nothing worth watching to get just a few good ones. It wasn't the cost, it's the value you get for your money.

With our data plans we have access to the shows we like and can watch them when we want. Watching tv is not that important to us but I can see it is extremely important to some people and there's nothing wrong with that at all.

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