Question 1

Ads seem to only show IOS clients, is there an Android, or PC client?

Accepted Answer

According to the user manual there are tablet apps for iOS and Android... specifically saying the iOS app is "iPad only" and the Android app is for "tablets".  There is also a web-based app for Mac and PC optimized only for Chrome and Safari at this time. I have successfully used my Tablo with a Roku3, iPad (multiple crashes), Chrome on a PC, and Safari on a Mac. I can also verify that the web-app does not fully work on Firefox on a Mac.

Question 2

Maybe a dumb ? What is the difference in the 2 Tuner and the 4 Tuner?

Accepted Answer

I'm not sure if my answer disappeared or what. The tuners receive broadcast signals through the antenna and unravel the channels, sending them to the TV screen or the DVR to be recorded (or both).

Two tuners can handle two different channels at once, like two pathways. It would let you watch one channel while recording another, or record two channels at the same time.

Four tuners lets you watch one live channel while simultaneously recording up to three others.

Most people need two, probably not four. One exception: If you have a souped-up digital TV that has PIP, for "picture in picture," that itself would demand two tuners. PIP lets you display one channel, live, in a postage-stamp size oblong at one corner while the rest of the screen is showing another channel. So you could watch a baseball game in the corner of the screen at the same time as you're watching the news, and flip between the two. That's a feature of some TV sets, and you'd need the two tuners. If you used that routinely and still wanted to record something from yet another channel to watch later, you'd need the four-tuner Tablo.

Question 3

can you get a remote control for it? my son is 19 months don't wan't him grabbing the tablet.

Accepted Answer

Watching TV provided by Tablo does not involve physical interaction with it at all. You access TV content using a 3rd party device connected to your home network (iPhone, Android, Web Browser, Roku box), so using a remote control with Tablo depends on the capability of the 3rd party device.

The simplest remote control capable device is probably the Roku. Set up the Tablo in a closet somewhere (but make sure the antenna can get good reception). Connect a Roku to your TV and set them both to be on your home WiFi network. Should meet your requirements.

Question 4

I'm cutting the cord. We have 4 tv, but usually only 1 in use at a time. With DishDVR I could feed all 4 TV's in the house via rf on coax cable to all locations. RF remote from any room.

Looks like I can record from OTA antenna with Tablo, and cast thru my router to all tv's using Chromecast adapters, and while using a tablet as remote.

And it looks like Tablo gives me access to any web based tv content.

Seems like a better solution than Tvio, with expensive adapters, that each req'd a monthly fee.

Am I missing something?

Mike

Accepted Answer

I can't speak for the Chromecast interface as I use my Tablo with the Roku app, but the Tablo is controlled using the Roku remote. You can set up scheduling from the app or from the Tablo web interface. I believe you can use a tablet as well, but my tablet's version of Android is too old (several years old) to use use with Tablo.

When you say access to any web based tv content, this isn't true at least now how I would define it. Tablo will allow you to watch your over-the-air antenna channels via a web browser, but you can't access like Comedy Central or NBC or anything using the Tablo. With Tablo, you can only watch live OTA TV or any recordings you've made.

Tablo's basically an OTA DVR addon for your Chromecast or Roku. It will have a monthly subscription fee or lifetime fee for the TV listings, but they haven't implemented either one yet. The prices will both be significantly less than Tivo's.

Question 5

If I have basic cable provided in my apartment through the wall to basic channels via a coax cable, can I plug it into the device and it will work since the basic cable in unencrypted or do I need to buy an antenna as well?

Accepted Answer

It will work, just keep in mind you will still need either the Apple TV, roku, or chromcast to get your recorded programing on your tv. As well as the external hard drive to store it. You'll also want to put a splitter before the tablo so you can watch live tv without having to stream it using the device, or at least I prefer it like that.

Question 6

Will this replace a VCR ?

Accepted Answer

it only has an antenna input-so once you hook up your antenna and hook up an external hard drive (you purchase separately), then yes, you can record the over the air shows.
I signed up for the guide, and it also allows you to record the whole series-so I can record Jimmy Fallon every weekday night, and watch them whenever and wherever I want !
I like this system-just remember that is does not have any other input (no composite or component or aux)..just an antenna.
works great for recording over the air shows.  hope this helps you.

Question 7

Would like to know what external hard drive you used for this device?  I want something that is easy to plug in and not worry about. Thanks.

Accepted Answer

According to Tablo directly:

So…. What works?
Tablo currently supports external hard drives up to 2 terabytes that are USB2 compatible. This includes USB 3.0 drives that are backwards compatible to 2.0. We do not currently support:
    USB Flash storage – Flash is simply not fast enough
    Networked (NAS) storage – There is too wide a variation in network speeds to support this
    External hard drives larger than 2 terabytes - these have different partition sizes which cause issues

What do we recommend?
We’ve had excellent success with portable USB powered hard drives from Seagate (especially the Backup Plus line) and the Western Digital (Elements line only). WARNING - We don't reccomend the Seagate powered 3.5" drives as they can report the wrong sector size or the Western Digital MyPassport line due to frequent USB disconnects.

That doesn’t mean that other brands or styles of USB hard drives won’t work, just that they may not have been tested yet.

You should also visit their forums directly for confirmation on drives by users - tablo/discussion/108/tested-hard-drives

Question 8

is this unit MAC compatible?

Accepted Answer

It is 100% html5 based web management.  It is designed to sit plugged into your network directly with a hdd attached and out of site.  You manage the device via any web browser (chrome,safari,Mozilla,etc.)

Question 9

Is there a monthly fee for using the Tablo?

Accepted Answer

Yep, $5/mo after 30 day free trial period to keep getting updated programming guide data.  There is also an annual and lifetime option available.  From their FAQ:

How much does the subscription cost?
Tablo DVR includes the first month’s subscription to program guide data for free. You may choose to continue your subscription for $4.99 US/month, $49.99 US/year, or purchase a lifetime subscription for the one-time cost of $149.99 US

Question 10

Is this DVR compatible with Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu and other streaming sites?

Accepted Answer

No.  The Tablo can be used to view & record OTA (over the air) TV using ROKU, android, iOS, and other devices.  The Tablo cannot be connected directly to your TVs using HDMI or other cable types.   Think of the Tablo as another video streaming service.  Because I already own 3 ROKU devices and everyone has a PC in my home, this is a perfect device to access & view broadcast TV.

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