Cable and satellite can get expensive, but you don’t have to Pay a huge monthly bill To watch TV. If you live in a city or town with good over-the-air reception, TV antenna placement is an easy way to Cut the rope And get free TV. Pair this with an OTA recorder and you’ll be able to pause live TV, save your shows for later, and fast-forward through commercials. Many of the DVRs we tested will allow you to stream recorded content to multiple TVs or when you’re away from home.
The downside, of course, is that “free” can turn into, well, not free, especially if your DVR charges a monthly fee. For example, a basic DVR such as a AirTV2 It starts at around $100, before a hard drive is added, while the TiVo Edge with all the bells and whistles is currently $350 (with a lifetime subscription). However, compared to cable TV’s cost Live TV services like Hulu Plus Live TV or youtube tv, Even the most expensive DVR antenna will pay for itself in time.
It is worth noting that the next version of the broadcast standard is called ATSC NextGen TVNow available in over 50% of homes. NextGenTV promises up to 4K visuals in the future as well as interactive features not possible with standard broadcasting. some TVs have NextGen tuners on boardwhile one DVR is currently available – file HDHomeRun Flex 4K. Meanwhile, the Tablo ATSC 3.0 Quad HDMI OTA DVR is late in the foreseeable future.
There are three notable OTA DVR products to consider when purchasing a cord-cutting DVR: AirTV2 and the TiVo Edge for antennaand Nuvyyo Tablo Quad. Each has its own unique features, tuner, and capabilities, but there is one that I would recommend to beginners and old hands alike. Unfortunately, our previous recommendation, Amazon FireTV Recast, it was turned off. Let’s dive in and take a look at the best OTA DVR options.
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TiVo has the best hardware name recognition here, and if you want a traditional DVR, the Edge antenna is your best option. While the Tivo Edge is pricier than the other products here (especially after adding a lifetime OTA DVR service), the antenna’s Edge also offers plenty of features including streaming apps, all packed with a TiVo interface.
Right now, Channel Master is offering the Edge DVR plus lifetime service for $349 (down from $449).
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The AirTV 2 does have its positives, especially since it’s the cheapest OTA DVR we’ve recommended and works without incurring a monthly fee. However, this OTA DVR is really designed to complement your $40 per month Sling TV subscription by adding local channels. And you need to add an external hard drive (not included) to make the AirTV 2 work as a true DVR, though it lacks live TV pauses. If you want the pause function, it’s worth upgrading to a file AirTV anywhere Which includes a built-in 1TB hard drive for $200.
Read our review of the AirTV 2.
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The Tablo Quad is the latest version of the popular cord-cutting DVR and comes with comprehensive features. There’s room for an internal hard drive and the inclusion of four tuners should satisfy even the most demanding user. Everything is controlled through the Tablo app. With that said, an OTA DVR isn’t the easiest device to set up, and you’ll need to pay a subscription Access to many of its features.
Read our Nuvyyo Tablo Quad review.
OTA DVR Types: Set-top Vs. Networked TV Streaming Device?
There are two main types of DVR options: a traditional set-top box, which connects directly to a single TV via the HDMI output; Or a networked TV streaming device, which connects to your home network and streams to your devices at home or on the go. The antenna’s TiVo Edge is a traditional set-top box (which also has indoor streaming) while AirTV 2 and Tablo Quad are networked live TV broadcasters.
A set-top box is best for people who usually watch on one TV, while a network device is for people who want to watch on multiple devices — a streaming device like Roku or Amazon Fire TV and other devices like phones and tablets. In general, a network TV broadcast device is the most flexible OTA DVR option, and can best complement live TV applications or services such as Netflix.
Sarah Teo/CNET
Other features to look for
No matter which style of OTA DVR you choose, there are some features that are common to both that you should look out for.
Two or more HD tuners: Just one tuner is not enough. When it comes to high fidelity tuners, the more fun your device will be. The minimum is two channels so you can record two channels at the same time, or watch one while recording another, but heavy antenna heads may appreciate more.
1 TB or more of storage: Depending on what device you have, a terabyte of onboard storage should provide about 150 hours of program content. But if you choose a device like TiVo That automatically shows “she thinks you like” can run out pretty quickly. This is why you also need…
The ability to add additional storage via USB or an SD card: An external hard drive is an excellent option, provided the DVR doesn’t require a proprietary model. Generally, A cheap 1TB external hard drive is about $50.
A 14-day program guide is essential for a modern DVR.
Sarah Tew/CNET 14 Days of Guide Data: While seven days is really the minimum useful amount, two weeks gives you more flexibility.
No Ongoing Fees: Most people cut the cord to save money, so paying another monthly fee doesn’t make much sense. TiVo offers a lifetime service option so you pay for the device and direct the data upfront.
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