The very best OTA DVRs for wire cutters in 2023

If you happen to’ve made the jump from cable TV suppliers to streaming providers, like many of us have, and have even gone the additional mile by including an over-the-air TV antenna to convey again your native TV stations for information and sports activities, then you definately could be lacking one factor: your digital video recorder (DVR).

Loosen up, there’s hope. Including an OTA DVR to your setup will convey again that candy capacity to document, rewind, fast-forward, and skip commercials so, like your streaming providers, you may watch all that free reside programming at your leisure, just like the DVR days of outdated. Right this moment’s main OTA DVRs are modern, can retailer as much as lots of of exhibits and films, and a few fashions may even connect with the web. However it’s value noting that not all OTA DVRs have inside storage built-in and customers typically should buy a separate exterior exhausting drive or pay a month-to-month or yearly payment for a DVR service that enables for extra recording options and storage choices.

We have spent loads of time organising OTA antennas, putting in DVRs, and usually tweaking these techniques to get essentially the most out of them. We consider the Tablo Twin Lite is the perfect OTA DVR for most individuals, however we do have another options in case it is not best for you. Every presents very particular strengths, and one simply could be the right match.

Tablo Twin Lite OTA DVR

The very best general OTA DVR

For starters, the Tablo Twin Lite is tremendous simple to arrange and use. Its app-based interface is clear and easy, and after a fast scan, it permits you to choose which of your accessible channels you’d like so as to add to your information as an alternative of assuming you need all of them. However the Tablo’s key benefit is its capacity to be positioned wherever in your house, whether or not that’s close to your TV or router. In contrast to different OTA DVRs, which have to be related to your antenna, hardwired to your router, and in some instances related to your TV, the Tablo solely wants an antenna connection and energy. In reality, it has no TV output in any respect — for you could look into one among Tablo’s different merchandise, the $150 Tablo Twin HDMI OTA DVR.

As an alternative, Tablo streams your OTA channels to your TV by way of a compatible media device, like an Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Hearth TV, Chromecast, or Nvidia Protect. When you have the proper sensible TV, it’s possible you’ll not want an exterior system in any respect. Right here’s the full list of compatible devices, which is in depth and presents one thing for nearly everybody, except PlayStation console house owners.

With two OTA tuners, the Tablo Twin Lite can obtain and document two totally different channels concurrently, however you’re not restricted to 2 units. Relying on the velocity of your private home community, as much as six units can watch content material concurrently. Given how many people watch content material on our telephones and tablets, that’s loads of potential screens powered by a single receiver.

The Twin Lite would not include any built-in storage (Tablo sells a 128GB version if that is what you need), however this provides to its flexibility: You’ll be able to resolve how a lot storage you need by merely including your individual USB exhausting drive. Some form of storage is required, nevertheless, even if you happen to resolve to not document exhibits.

By itself, the Tablo will provide you with 30 days of information information and the flexibility to document and livestream any OTA content material you may obtain. For a subscription payment of $5 monthly (or $50 per 12 months), you get 14 days of information information, superior recording options (like the flexibility to begin a recording two minutes earlier or later), and vital characteristic for frequent vacationers: Distant-view functionality for entry to the whole system from wherever with an honest web connection.

Tablo Twin Lite OTA DVR

The very best general OTA DVR

MediaSonic ATSC Digital Converter Box

The best budget OTA DVR

Pros

• A strong budget model
• Multiple connection options
• Handy remote included

Cons

• Requires external hard drive
• ATSC onlly

If you’re looking to get yourself nudged over into the world of cord-cutters and OTA tuner or DVR ownership, but aren’t willing to drop the heavy dough required of a more robust interface, the MediaSonic ATSC Digital Converter Box may be more up your alley.

In terms of hardware, there are multiple connections to get you started. Once linked to your home’s antenna connection, you can output 1080p video to practically any TV in the home thanks to the box’s HDMI, coaxial, and composite video outputs. The included remote will net you all of the basic functions you’ll need to enjoy your recordings (more on that below), complete with play/pause, rewind/fast-forward, and an option to program your favorite stations into the clicker.

For recording purposes, this is where the “budget” handle certainly comes into play. Don’t expect the automatic recording of content across multiple tuners that you’ll find with some of the heavyweight OTA receivers on this list. While the MediaSonic is capable of 2TB of storage, that’s off of an external hard drive (USB 2.5 and 3.0 with MBR formatting). As the product name suggests, the MediaSonic is also only capable of picking up and recording ATSC signals, so apologies to our NTSC hopefuls.

When all is said and done, though, you’re simply not going to find a cheaper way into OTA viewing and recording. While the MediaSonic ATSC Digital Converter Box may lack streaming apps and an intuitive user experience, it’ll definitely get the job done.

MediaSonic ATSC Digital Converter Box

The best budget OTA DVR

Sling Media AirTV 2

The best OTA DVR for Sling users

Pros

• Great Sling TV support
• Versatile OTA streaming options
• Dual tuners

Cons

• Requires external hard drive

The AirTV 2 bears some similarities to our Tablo Dual pick, with the same sort of inherent flexibility that allows you to stream local channels over your Wi-Fi, work alongside other devices like a Roku or Hearth TV, and, in fact, document your reside native channels … so long as you are keen to connect your individual exterior exhausting drive.

However this mannequin has one other trick: It is particularly pleasant with Sling TV, and might seamlessly combine along with your Sling TV, displaying your native OTA channels together with the streaming Sling channels, so that you get every thing in a single spot.

The mannequin can handle two reside TV exhibits on the similar time or document them each as mandatory, and categorize recordings in a lot of methods, together with single episodes or as a part of a collection. The Sling compatibility additionally means you may obtain the Sling TV app in your smartphone, after which entry your reside TV feeds instantly out of your cellular system.

In fact, the AirTV 2 would not have so many benefits if you happen to aren’t utilizing Sling. However it may well nonetheless allow you to document and think about your reside exhibits so long as you have got a set-top field in addition to an HD antenna. That makes it a wonderful choice for including some HDR to your cable-free residence TV setup.

Sling Media AirTV 2

The very best OTA DVR for Sling customers

SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K

The very best versatile OTA DVR for ATSC 3.0

If you happen to’re seeking to future-proof your OTA broadcast sport, the HDHomeRun Flex 4K is a tiny system with a ton of options. Whereas it’s on the upper finish of the finances scale on this checklist, what you get for that may be a system that streams your OTA reside native TV sign over your private home community to all of your related units, reminiscent of smartphones, tablets, computer systems, streaming units, and sensible TVs. It options 4 tuners (all 4 can obtain ATSC 1.0 whereas two get ATSC 3.0 alerts), which implies you may watch 4 totally different channels at a time if you happen to like.

Relying in your most well-liked platform, watching TV from the Flex 4K will be carried out utilizing SiliconDust’s personal HDHomeRun app. However among the best issues concerning the Flex 4K is its, er, flexibility to additionally use varied third-party apps for Android, iOS, and Home windows 10, in addition to desktop software program on Home windows 7 and eight, Mac, and Linux working techniques. This factor will gel effectively with every thing from VLC Media Participant, Plex, Kodi, Home windows Media Heart, and extra. One nice resolution we advocate is the wonderful Channels app for Apple TV, iOS, Android, and Hearth TV units.

Now, again to the principle cause this system is on our checklist. The HDHomeRun Flex 4K can entry ATSC 3.0 broadcasts, also called “NextGenTV,” the upcoming OTA broadcast customary that can finally ship 4K HDR broadcasting over the air to 2 of its 4 tuners. A few of these channels exist already, and the Flex 4K will mechanically detect any of those channels in setup, however the perfect half is that you will be future-proof when ATSC 3.0 is absolutely rolled out. Within the meantime, nevertheless, you’ll take pleasure in present channels in HD.

So far as the HDHomeRun Flex 4K’s DVR standing is worried, out of the field it has no recording capabilities. For that, you should add your individual exhausting drive or NAS drive. SiliconDust sells its personal 2TB drive, the HDHomeRun Servio, that may save as much as 300 hours of programming, however you may clearly get your individual exterior drive and even use your pc’s inside HDD.

That mentioned, the HDHomeRun app alone solely permits primary DVR capabilities, reminiscent of play, pause, and rewind reside TV, and the viewing information solely exhibits you 24 hours of programming. If you’d like the total options of the DVR, just like the 14-day information, scheduling and recording reside TV, watching and recording channels concurrently, and recording total collection/seasons, for that you should add the annual HDHomeRun subscription for $35, which is not unhealthy. But it surely’s value noting, nevertheless, you could choose to not use their service and discover one other one, such because the aforementioned Channels service ($8 monthly / $80 per 12 months) and even Plex’s fashionable Plex Pass subscription ($5 monthly / $40 per 12 months) if you happen to’re a Plex person.

SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K

The very best versatile OTA DVR for ATSC 3.0

TiVo Edge for Antenna

Greatest all-in-one OTA DVR

If you’d like a holistic resolution out of the field that mainly covers your reside TV, recording, and entry to any streaming providers you are subscribed to, then the TiVo Edge for Antenna could be an excellent, albeit costlier, resolution.

Billing itself because the “most superior over-the-air antenna DVR in the marketplace,” the TiVo Edge comes with its lifetime service payment paid in full, upfront, as a part of the $350 price ticket, making it the costliest on our checklist. What you get for that’s an antenna-ready OTA DVR with two ATSC 1.0 tuners that allow you to watch and document each on the similar time. It has a built-in 500GB exhausting drive appropriate for as much as 75 hours of recordings you could entry wherever out of your cellphone, pill, or pc with the Tivo app. Scheduling is roofed, too, which you too can do from the app, and you’ll schedule full seasons and collection of exhibits as effectively.

The TiVo Edge for Antenna is without doubt one of the solely OTA DVRs on our checklist that additionally integrates entry to no matter streaming providers you subscribe to. Be it Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video (no Hulu for some cause, although), you should use the included distant and/or its voice instructions to seek for exhibits, sports activities, or films and it’ll search throughout all of your providers, and reside TV for the leads to one place.

Document, fast-forward, rewind, and pause your reside TV content material and use TiVo’s “skip it” button to mechanically bypass the commercials. The TiVo Edge makes use of HDMI 2.0, helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10, and HLG, and helps Dolby Atmos sound. The system has optical audio out, two USB 3.0 ports, ethernet, and built-in Wi-Fi 802.11.ac.

One final be aware is that there’s a model with out the all-in service, with the 500GB exhausting drive, for $199, however it’s at the moment offered out on its sole distributor, Channel Master.

TiVo Edge for Antenna

Greatest all-in-one OTA DVR

Often Requested Questions

Right this moment’s tech information, curated and condensed to your inbox

Examine your inbox!

Please present a sound electronic mail tackle to proceed.

This electronic mail tackle is at the moment on file. If you’re not receiving newsletters, please examine your spam folder.

Sorry, an error occurred throughout subscription. Please strive once more later.