Tablo Device for OTA TV

[sam_gordon]

Streaming was not the powerhouse it is now when ATSC 1.0 launched. If broadcasters can monetize their OTA signal like it is a streaming service, they will make it happen.


ATSC 1.0 launched in 1996 and NTSC was turned off in 2009.
13 years.

ATSC 3.0 launched in 2017 and has already made it to 75% of the US market by population.
2030 is 13 years.

I know we are both just guessing but it seems to me like 2028-2030 might be possible.

Just being in a market though doesn't really show how many consumers are able to receive & view it.

I agree we're both just guessing.

 

[fla4fun]

Well, if free OTA goes away, I guess I won’t be watching any tv. I don’t subscribe to any streaming services. I cut the cable about seven years ago (had DISH), and the only thing I really watch is the local news if there’s a hurricane around. I will not pay for tv ever again!

@BrianL I wouldn’t count out that old antenna of yours. That is the type of antenna I am using. Mine is mounted in the attic space above my garage, and the house was wired with coax when it was built so there is a plug in every room. I get stations from both Orlando and Tampa.

 

[BrianL]

Well, if free OTA goes away, I guess I won’t be watching any tv. I don’t subscribe to any streaming services. I cut the cable about seven years ago (had DISH), and the only thing I really watch is the local news if there’s a hurricane around. I will not pay for tv ever again!

@BrianL I wouldn’t count out that old antenna of yours. That is the type of antenna I am using. Mine is mounted in the attic space above my garage, and the house was wired with coax when it was built so there is a plug in every room. I get stations from both Orlando and Tampa.

No, I know it will work - I just need to run the cable as it is no longer connected. I don't necessarily want to run it into the attic and fish it through a wall when a 20 dollar flat one will do the job.

 

[BrianL]

I'm interested in a Tablio too. I have an old OTA TiVo Bolt that has been on its last legs for a while and finally just gave up the ghost.

I have a flat ChannelMaster antenna that works very well:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074TWSQFM

FWIW, I do pay for DirectTV streaming too. I have the "MyEntertainment" package for $35 per month. It gets me some cable channels that I like to watch.

Dang - $35? Mine is like $85 and it's going to go up!

 

[hardcorestitch]

Does anybody use one of these? I am strongly considering cutting my DirecTV Stream service and just going with over-the air channels. The Tablo device looks like a pretty good option to have a DVR for the broadcast networks and local digital channels. It's not expensive (and on sale right now), so I was thinking about it. Does anyone have any experience with them - pros, cons? Some video reviews seem pretty solid, but customer reviews seem to vary. Thanks.

It does look good on the surface. However, note that the only ESPN broadcasts that you’ll get with Tablo will be any event that airs on ABC nationally (like the NBA Finals, college football, and others) or is simulcast on a local channel per NFL rules. Many other sports (like Formula 1, tennis and others) will be exclusive to ESPN cable and streaming and not on ABC.

 

[BrianL]

It does look good on the surface. However, note that the only ESPN broadcasts that you’ll get with Tablo will be any event that airs on ABC nationally (like the NBA Finals, college football, and others) or is simulcast on a local channel per NFL rules. Many other sports (like Formula 1, tennis and others) will be exclusive to ESPN cable and streaming and not on ABC.

Well, I barely ever watch sports at all so....

 

[kdonnel]

No, I know it will work - I just need to run the cable as it is no longer connected. I don't necessarily want to run it into the attic and fish it through a wall when a 20 dollar flat one will do the job.

Terrain and proximity to the broadcast towers can really change the effectiveness and reliability of an antenna.

Back when I was recording HD OTA broadcasts I spent a good amount of time getting my attic mounted Channel Master 4228 positioned just right. Looks like they sell it now as the EXTREMEtenna 80.
https://www.channelmaster.com/products/extremetenna-80-outdoor-tv-antenna-cm-4228hd

I found that my local CBS station was the one that required the most attention during spring and fall. Placement that worked great would suddenly not get me a reliable signal when the leaves started dropping or coming in. Once they were gone or all the way on the tree my signal was great. I eventually found raising it just 2 inches more made all the difference and gave me a year round reliable signal.

In my case I am 40-50 miles from the broadcast antennas and the vast majority of the ATSC locals are(Well they were years ago) broadcast UHF. Your area might be all VHF, or a mixture, or like me mostly UHF.

That means your outdoor antenna might not be totally appropriate if it is one geared mostly to VHF or UHF and the channels are broadcast on the opposite spectrum.

But it could also be that your particular terrain requires an outdoor antenna for a quality signal. I helped a neighbor with an antenna and found that being lower on the other side of the street was just different enough that we could not get a reliable signal in the attic and needed to mount the antenna outside.

Something to research before running a cable. If it comes to that, you might just run the cable temporarily outside and in a window just to see before doing all the fishing.

 

[BrianL]

Terrain and proximity to the broadcast towers can really change the effectiveness and reliability of an antenna.

Back when I was recording HD OTA broadcasts I spent a good amount of time getting my attic mounted Channel Master 4228 positioned just right. Looks like they sell it now as the EXTREMEtenna 80.
https://www.channelmaster.com/products/extremetenna-80-outdoor-tv-antenna-cm-4228hd

I found that my local CBS station was the one that required the most attention during spring and fall. Placement that worked great would suddenly not get me a reliable signal when the leaves started dropping or coming in. Once they were gone or all the way on the tree my signal was great. I eventually found raising it just 2 inches more made all the difference and gave me a year round reliable signal.

In my case I am 40-50 miles from the broadcast antennas and the vast majority of the ATSC locals are(Well they were years ago) broadcast UHF. Your area might be all VHF, or a mixture, or like me mostly UHF.

That means your outdoor antenna might not be totally appropriate if it is one geared mostly to VHF or UHF and the channels are broadcast on the opposite spectrum.

But it could also be that your particular terrain requires an outdoor antenna for a quality signal. I helped a neighbor with an antenna and found that being lower on the other side of the street was just different enough that we could not get a reliable signal in the attic and needed to mount the antenna outside.

Something to research before running a cable. If it comes to that, you might just run the cable temporarily outside and in a window just to see before doing all the fishing.

Yeah, we have 4 major VHF and 2 UHF. Terrain isn't a big deal here. I am pretty sure with an antenna that high it would work. I remember when we put it up as a kid - yeah, it's the same house. No more fooling with rabbit ears! I am still tempted to jsut get a $20 flat one and see how that works out. That is assuming I buy this gadget to begin with. Maybe when I call to cancel DirecTV they will give me a sweetheart discount to stay - for a while at least.

 

[robinb]

Dang - $35? Mine is like $85 and it's going to go up!

It's just that one of their "genre packs" that you can get alone. You have to hunt for it on the DirectTV website since it defaults to regular streaming offers that are more.

https://www.directv.com/genre-packs/myentertainment/

 

[BrianL]

It's just that one of their "genre packs" that you can get alone. You have to hunt for it on the DirectTV website since it defaults to regular streaming offers that are more.

https://www.directv.com/genre-packs/myentertainment/

No Disney Channel on that? That is one I like to have - though they really don't have much at the moment. I am always waiting for that next Secrets of Sulphur Springs or something. It all ends up on D+ eventually though.

 

[robinb]

No Disney Channel on that? That is one I like to have - though they really don't have much at the moment. I am always waiting for that next Secrets of Sulphur Springs or something. It all ends up on D+ eventually though.

No, but the Kids Genre has it for $20 per month: https://www.directv.com/genre-packs/

 

[fla4fun]

Yeah, we have 4 major VHF and 2 UHF. Terrain isn't a big deal here. I am pretty sure with an antenna that high it would work. I remember when we put it up as a kid - yeah, it's the same house. No more fooling with rabbit ears! I am still tempted to jsut get a $20 flat one and see how that works out. That is assuming I buy this gadget to begin with. Maybe when I call to cancel DirecTV they will give me a sweetheart discount to stay - for a while at least.

Do you have the ability to connect an antenna to your tv in addition to whatever cable/satellite service you have? You could at least find out how well a flat antenna picks up in your house. I had both connected before I dropped DISH because DISH wanted extra money for local channels to be added on the package. If a flat antenna doesn’t bring in the signal well, it might change your mind about what you want to do.

 

[BrianL]

No, but the Kids Genre has it for $20 per month: https://www.directv.com/genre-packs/

Huh? I'd need more than that though. Isn't Disney and some of the other big companies suing over these slimmed down cable offerings? I think they didn't like it. Honestly, if I could just get the Disney Channel & XD, plus FX/FXX I'd be about all set. I wouldn't mind keeping TNT/TBS too. FX Networks are next day on Hulu too, so really I could do without. I wish TDC did that.

 

[BrianL]

Do you have the ability to connect an antenna to your tv in addition to whatever cable/satellite service you have? You could at least find out how well a flat antenna picks up in your house. I had both connected before I dropped DISH because DISH wanted extra money for local channels to be added on the package. If a flat antenna doesn’t bring in the signal well, it might change your mind about what you want to do.

Sure, I could hook one up to the TV and see what's what. I just really want DVR capability, so the Tablo unit caught my eye.

 

[robinb]

Huh? I'd need more than that though. Isn't Disney and some of the other big companies suing over these slimmed down cable offerings? I think they didn't like it. Honestly, if I could just get the Disney Channel & XD, plus FX/FXX I'd be about all set. I wouldn't mind keeping TNT/TBS too. FX Networks are next day on Hulu too, so really I could do without. I wish TDC did that.

I wish we could actually pick out which channels we want! I thought that was what streaming was supposed to be. Nah. It's just cable TV wrapped up in an internet bow.

 

[dizneegirl]

If you want the cable kind of stuff, but at a lower cost, look at Sling (the paid service) - they have TNT, TBS, Food, Discovery, History, HGTV, USA, etc, etc, for less than $50/month. Two basic packages to choose from, and then you can add on, if you want certain extras. No OTA channels/networks (except in a very few markets). They also have an OTA DVR (Sling AirTV), but I find Tablo to be more reliable, personally.

Prime Days are coming, as is Black Friday, if you're looking for a(nother) sale. You can also find some good deals on Tablo on eBay, if you buy that way. I actually got our Tablo 4th gen that way, as I was a little leary after the two AirTVs had trouble.

 

[BrianL]

If you want the cable kind of stuff, but at a lower cost, look at Sling (the paid service) - they have TNT, TBS, Food, Discovery, History, HGTV, USA, etc, etc, for less than $50/month. Two basic packages to choose from, and then you can add on, if you want certain extras. No OTA channels/networks (except in a very few markets). They also have an OTA DVR (Sling AirTV), but I find Tablo to be more reliable, personally.

Prime Days are coming, as is Black Friday, if you're looking for a(nother) sale. You can also find some good deals on Tablo on eBay, if you buy that way. I actually got our Tablo 4th gen that way, as I was a little leary after the two AirTVs had trouble.

Honestly, at this point I would only really miss FX and Disney, and FX I would get on Hulu as I will definitly get that if I drop DirecTV. Honestly, I really only watch lots of repeats of Law & Order, SWAT, Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob's Burgers - that's like 99% of my TV watching. I still watch a few network TV shows, and other than that it's stuff on FX, like Alien: Earth and Hulu's got that covered. It makes almost no sense to keep it at those prices. Also, my beloved L&O has a FAST channel now too - it's on Roku, but I don't know if it is on Tablo, which would be convenient.

Really, it makes 100% sense to just do it, but it's always hard to make a change.

 

[kdonnel]

I wish we could actually pick out which channels we want! I thought that was what streaming was supposed to be. Nah. It's just cable TV wrapped up in an internet bow.

Streaming was always supposed to be the consumer paying more for the content than they did to their cable/satellite provider.

The consumer's just didn't know that was the plan.

 

[dizneegirl]

I understand the hard to make a change... I was the same. Finally got internet (Starlink) that could handle streaming, so I just bit the bullet and ditched Dish. That was after I found Sling, though... same kind of stuff we were used to, made it easier.

 

[BrianL]

Streaming was always supposed to be the consumer paying more for the content than they did to their cable/satellite provider.

The consumer's just didn't know that was the plan.

That is the end game I think. Really though, it's still cheaper than traditional cable packages...though it is always inching up, up, up! Honestly, if I could just not pay anything for sports, that'd work for me - they take the lion's share of all the fees.