5 Over-the-Air (OTA) DVRs: Tested & Reviewed for 2024

You can cut the cord from cable TV and start watching broadcast channels like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and PBS with a good antenna and the right Over-the-Air DVR.

I've tested several OTA DVR models, including those from Tablo, Hauppauge, HDHomeRun, and AirTV, to help you find the best fit for your viewing needs. Here are my straightforward insights and recommendations from years of experience with OTA DVRs.

For other OTA DVRs in the video (affiliate links):

VIDEO INDEX

0:00 - Intro
01:08 - Tablo 4th Generation OTA DVR
06:07 - HDHomeRun FLEX DUO
08:46 - AirTV 2 (for Sling TV)
10:44 - Hauppauge WinTV-dualHD USB TV tuner/DVR
12:24 - Zapperbox M1
14:37 - Conclusion

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[jeffreywyke]

Thanks for your presentation....free from all the show-off BS on so many other YouTube channels. You speak calmly, in a straight-forward and sensible/understandable way. Refreshing to say the least. I have subscribed. Thank you, sir!

[rudman]

SuperBox is the Best; greatly improved. I have been using it for over 6 years and still use my original box, in my garage.

[chuck]

Currently using an older gen. Tablo with a 1TB external drive. The main thing that made me buy that unit was the remote access feature. We stream video recordings from the Tablo at home (near the city) to a remote cottage with spotty antenna reception using Starlink internet. It works great! I hope this old unit never dies because it seems that nobody wants to offer remote streaming access any more. 😞

[paulblack]

Just discovered your video. I currently have the Tablo Quad 4 tuner with ssd expansion slot and really like the fact that I can watch recordings away from home. Unfortunately the new Tablo next Gen does not have that feature included but hopefully they’ll integrate it in the future. Thanks for your cord cutting video

[AAa-qdhb]

10 Reasons why OTA DRM ATSC 3.0 TV will fail.
Currently no 4K and you only get the main channel and no sub channels.

Channel Crawling = super slow channel changing.

No sound because of Dolby AC4 audio codec does not have a legal open source license to decode legally on many devices.

You may need non OTA home pay internet for updates and to unlock DRM encrypted ATSC 3.0 tv channels.

Possible DRM restrictions on DRM ATSC 3.0 recordings and no viewing anywhere on any device with no sound.

Emergency alert messages can not be received if DRM is blocking them.

OTA DRM ATSC 3.0 TV will fail because the FCC is not going to turn off ATSC 1.0 TV stations for many years if not enough people buy 3.0 TVs and 3.0 boxes.

No one has solve the problem of no government money for free DRM 3.0 TV tuner boxes because 1.0 TV turners and recorders will not work after that TV Station switches to 3.0 TV broadcasts.

(Range and signal error correction) OR (more sub channels and near 4k picture) trade off problem.

FCC is not forcing any 1.0 TV Stations to move over to 3.0 TV. So some TV stations will be on 1.0 and others will be on DRM 3.0.

The FCC is only allowing OTA Simulcasts of both 1.0 and DRM 3.0 at this time for testing purposes.

DRM ATSC 3.0 is a not finished product and is a work in progress mix of unproven ideas that has never gotten full FCC approval at this time.

Software updates for 3.0 tuner boxes may be needed for changes made to the unfinished and future added new official ATSC 3.0 standards modules.

Patent License problems. LG no longer sells TVs with ATSC 3.0 tuners.

Some 3.0 TV tuners companies may go out of business or stop updates leaving you with no DRM or software updates.

OTA ATSC 3.0 is better but is not perfect and still can be affected by weak tv signals: (distance, weather, planes, trees, buildings, trucks, poor antenna, etc).

FCC rules that 5 percent of old ATSC 1.0 coverage area does not need to be covered anymore = (SHORTER RANGE).

Viewing zone outside of your 15 minute city or town could be blocked.

Your TV viewing habits could be tracked by your serial number or IP address.

ATSC 3.0 is updatable until it is not updatable without new hardware tuners (ATSC 4.0, 5.0, 6.0,

Some of these 3.0 TV issues may be fixed over time.

This is only some of the mess with DRM ATSC 3.0 TV.

This is my opinion why DRM ATSC 3.0 TV will fail.

IMO. Stay on OTA 1.0 TV until DRM is removed from OTA ATSC 3.0 by law.

It is the people versus the hostile takeover by private DRM 3.0 TV stations for control over the USA public airwaves.

[jeffmassey]

I have a legacy Tablo DVR, and it's solid.
Earlier this year I got the NexGen 4 tuner DVR and it had been nothing but a PITA.
It lost communication after a modem password change.
It would never recognize my network or tablet even after countless hard resets.
Recently I learned Tablo's servers would go offline randomly which would result in an unusable product.
Maybe I got hit with one of those random server crashes, but it went back for a refund.
Having to get Tablo's permission to use this DVR made me realize that I didn't really own it, as opposed to the legacy model.

[josemedeiros]

Great review and video, I am very impressed with the Tablo OTA DVR, Tivo is just too expensive, and with their lifetime subscription it is $499.00

[nc]

Thank you for the comparison. But one correction, the Zapperbox is not the only one in the comparison with ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV processing capabilities.

The SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K QUATRO has two of its four tuners, capable of processing ATSC 3.0/NextGen TV signals.

[suesailor]

Great video. We have had an EyeTV DVR for almost 20 years. But it seems Geniatech is no longer supporting it and it has problems working on my MacBookPro with OS Sonoma. The hardware is just a little USB stick with the coax TV antenna screwed in to one end and the USB end connected to the computer. The software is quite nice. It only allows one channel at a time for viewing or recording to the Mac's hard drive.
So today I ordered the Tablo 4. I feel like I am abandoning EyeTV after all these years but it crashes/quits too often to be a dependable source for TV viewing. Again thanks for your DVR review.

[schadlarry]

HD Homerun + Plex Lifetime = free TV for life. Tubi has better content than most pay streaming services as well. I will say the HD Homerun UI is horrible though, add Plex or something to it.

[karlsachs]

Bought the Tablo at BestBuy based on your review. All the features work as described - except the over-the-air reception continuously pixelates or freezes. Had to return. I just didn't think the well reviewed and nationally advertised piece could be that bad. Too late, I read other equally complaining reviews. I have two 5 seconds videos. Same exact amplified indoor antenna connected to tv playing well (and still playing today) or, connected to Tablo 10 inches next to the tv pixelating. Tried it on all my three reasonably new TV's. Bought 3x stronger indoor antenna (am 5 miles - no high buildings - from tower). Turned Tablo-internal amplification on and off. Asked the store people. Wasted a lot of time.
Tablo should spend/charge 20.- more for a decent receiver - and Jim shouldn't sit on top of towers when taping reviews.
Karl

[johnkwolf]

Good afternoon from Texas Happy holidays

[lrlevy]

I have a tablo 4. It’s a bit quirky but between that and Philo tv I’m ditching YouTube TV and saving $50 a month

[GoodLuckBP]

I need a remote not my phone. So anything without a remote is a no go. We all need to separate from the stress of our thats just me!

[drwdzz]

How's the fast forward on the Tablo? does it buffer for a long time or is it quick?

[mateocarlos]

Some of my local stations broadcast in 4K. I don't recall this review mentioning if any of the devices playback in 4K. Did I miss it?

[kensmith]

I use the cheap $30 boxes that come under many brand names. They are fine for me.
There is no need to have an "app"
You just connect it up, scan and then use the remote for it all.

[billdungan]

I’m going with Tablo 4 tuner and an antenna a 2 terabyte hard drive. Dropping YTTV and getting the programs I want thru Disney and ESPN + bundle. Netflix, Apple TV free with my TMoble account. Waiting for the Apple TV update.
Thanks for this video

[billhennigan]

I had to buy the zapper as I need an hdmi output to my projector 4k Benq ht 4550I..Had problems support was good and fived my issues..$249.. was a lot for dvr dual tuner..

[GregWilcox-ll]

Good review, the only issue is that Tablo 4th gen. units do not work with Roku TV's. Tablo has been unresponsive to when a fix will occur.