The best OTA DVRs for cord-cutters in 2023

Cutting nan cord from your long-held cablegram supplier is 1 of nan astir rewarding feelings successful nan world of AV. No longer will you person to salary those crazy monthly subscription costs and instrumentality rental fees. It’s Stream City from present connected out! Admittedly, location is thing that gets mislaid successful nan modulation from cablegram boxes to antennas though, and that’s nan expertise to grounds your favourite shows and movies pinch a DVR box.

But conjecture what? If you’re rocking 1 of nan best HDTV antennas connected nan market, investing successful an over-the-air DVR will let you to grounds immoderate programming your indoor aliases outdoor receptor is capable to prime up. Brands for illustration Tablo and Tivo make these DVR devices, and we deliberation nan Tablo Dual Lite is nan top action retired there. Not only will it let you to grounds much than 1 programme astatine erstwhile (thanks to aggregate OTA tuners), but nan Dual Lite besides features immoderate snappy integrations for immoderate of nan apical streaming devices you tin buy, including nan Apple TV and Nvidia Shield.

Whether you’re looking to adhd DVR signaling to each antenna successful your location aliases conscionable one, we’ve put together this roundup of each nan champion OTA DVRs to thief you prime nan champion portion that fits your wants and needs.

Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

Tablo Dual Lite OTA DVR

The champion wide OTA DVR

For starters, nan Tablo Dual Lite is ace easy to group up and use. Its app-based interface is cleanable and simple, and aft a speedy scan, it lets you prime which of your disposable channels you’d for illustration to adhd to your guideline alternatively of assuming you want them all. But nan Tablo’s cardinal advantage is its expertise to beryllium placed anyplace successful your home, whether that’s adjacent your TV aliases router. Unlike different OTA DVRs, which request to beryllium connected to your antenna, hardwired to your router, and successful immoderate cases connected to your TV, nan Tablo only needs an antenna relationship and power. In fact, it has nary TV output astatine each — for that you tin look into 1 of Tablo's different products, nan $150 Tablo Dual HDMI OTA DVR.

Instead, Tablo streams your OTA channels to your TV via a compatible media device, for illustration an Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, aliases Nvidia Shield. If you person nan correct smart TV, you whitethorn not request an outer instrumentality astatine all. Here’s nan full database of compatible devices, which is extended and offers thing for almost everyone, pinch nan objection of PlayStation console owners.

With 2 OTA tuners, nan Tablo Dual Lite tin person and grounds 2 different channels simultaneously, but you’re not constricted to 2 devices. Depending connected nan velocity of your location network, up to six devices tin watch contented simultaneously. Given really galore of america watch contented connected our phones and tablets, that’s a batch of imaginable screens powered by a azygous receiver.

The Dual Lite doesn't travel pinch immoderate built-in retention (Tablo sells a 128GB version if that's what you want), but this adds to its flexibility: You tin determine really overmuch retention you want by simply adding your ain USB difficult drive. Some benignant of retention is required, however, moreover if you determine not to grounds shows.

On its own, nan Tablo will springiness you 30 days of guideline info and nan expertise to grounds and livestream immoderate OTA contented you tin receive. For a subscription interest of $5 per period (or $50 per year), you get 14 days of guideline info, precocious signaling features (like nan expertise to commencement a signaling 2 minutes earlier aliases later), and a must-have characteristic for predominant travelers: Remote-view capacity for entree to nan full strategy from anyplace pinch a decent net connection.

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MediaSonic ATSC Digital Converter Box

The champion fund OTA DVR

If you're looking to get yourself nudged complete into nan world of cord-cutters and OTA tuner aliases DVR ownership, but aren't consenting to driblet nan dense mixed required of a much robust interface, nan MediaSonic ATSC Digital Converter Box whitethorn beryllium much up your alley.

In position of hardware, location are aggregate connections to get you started. Once linked to your home's antenna connection, you tin output 1080p video to practically immoderate TV successful nan location acknowledgment to nan box's HDMI, coaxial, and composite video outputs. The included distant will nett you each of nan basal functions you'll request to bask your recordings (more connected that below), complete pinch play/pause, rewind/fast-forward, and an action to programme your favourite stations into nan clicker.

For signaling purposes, this is wherever nan "budget" grip surely comes into play. Don't expect nan automatic signaling of contented crossed aggregate tuners that you'll find pinch immoderate of nan heavyweight OTA receivers connected this list. While nan MediaSonic is tin of 2TB of storage, that's disconnected of an external hard thrust (USB 2.5 and 3.0 pinch MBR formatting). As nan merchandise sanction suggests, nan MediaSonic is besides only tin of picking up and signaling ATSC signals, truthful apologies to our NTSC hopefuls.

When each is said and done, though, you're simply not going to find a cheaper measurement into OTA viewing and recording. While nan MediaSonic ATSC Digital Converter Box whitethorn deficiency streaming apps and an intuitive personification experience, it'll decidedly get nan occupation done.

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Sling Media AirTV 2

The champion OTA DVR for Sling users

The AirTV 2 bears immoderate similarities to our Tablo Dual pick, pinch nan aforesaid benignant of inherent elasticity that allows you to watercourse section channels complete your Wi-Fi, activity alongside different devices for illustration a Roku aliases Fire TV, and, of course, grounds your unrecorded section channels ... arsenic agelong arsenic you're consenting to connect your ain outer difficult drive.

But this exemplary has different trick: It's particularly friends pinch Sling TV, and tin seamlessly merge pinch your Sling TV, showing your section OTA channels on pinch nan streaming Sling channels, truthful you get everything successful 1 spot.

The exemplary tin negociate 2 unrecorded TV shows astatine nan aforesaid clip aliases grounds them some arsenic necessary, and categorize recordings successful a number of ways, including azygous episodes aliases arsenic portion of a series. The Sling compatibility besides intends you tin download nan Sling TV app connected your smartphone, and past entree your unrecorded TV feeds straight from your mobile device.

Of course, nan AirTV 2 doesn't person truthful galore advantages if you aren't utilizing Sling. But it tin still thief you grounds and position your unrecorded shows arsenic agelong arsenic you person a set-top container arsenic good arsenic an HD antenna. That makes it an fantabulous action for adding immoderate HDR to your cable-free location TV setup.

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SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K

The champion versatile OTA DVR for ATSC 3.0

If you're looking to future-proof your OTA broadcast game, nan HDHomeRun Flex 4K is simply a mini instrumentality pinch a ton of features. While it is connected nan higher extremity of nan fund standard connected this list, what you get for that is simply a instrumentality that streams your OTA unrecorded section TV awesome complete your location web to each your connected devices, specified arsenic smartphones, tablets, computers, streaming devices, and smart TVs. It features 4 tuners (all 4 tin person ATSC 1.0 while 2 get ATSC 3.0 signals), which intends you tin watch 4 different channels astatine a clip if you like.

Depending connected your preferred platform, watching TV from nan Flex 4K tin beryllium done utilizing SiliconDust's ain HDHomeRun app. But 1 of nan champion things astir nan Flex 4K is its, er, elasticity to besides usage various third-party apps for Android, iOS, and Windows 10, arsenic good arsenic desktop package connected Windows 7 and 8, Mac, and Linux operating systems. This point will gel good pinch everything from VLC Media Player, Plex, Kodi, Windows Media Center, and more. One awesome solution we urge is nan fantabulous Channels app for Apple TV, iOS, Android, and Fire TV devices.

Now, backmost to nan main logic this instrumentality is connected our list. The HDHomeRun Flex 4K tin entree ATSC 3.0 broadcasts, besides known arsenic "NextGenTV," nan upcoming OTA broadcast modular that will yet present 4K HDR broadcasting complete nan aerial to 2 of its 4 tuners. Some of these channels already exist, and nan Flex 4K will automatically observe immoderate of these channels successful setup, but nan champion portion is that you'll beryllium future-proof erstwhile ATSC 3.0 is afloat rolled out. In nan meantime, however, you'll beryllium capable to bask existing channels successful HD.

As acold arsenic nan HDHomeRun Flex 4K's DVR position is concerned, retired of nan container it has nary signaling capabilities. For that, you request to adhd your ain difficult thrust aliases NAS drive. SiliconDust sells its ain 2TB drive, nan HDHomeRun Servio, that tin prevention up to 300 hours of programming, but you tin evidently get your ain outer thrust aliases moreover usage your computer's soul HDD.

That said, nan HDHomeRun app unsocial only allows basal DVR functions, specified arsenic play, pause, and rewind unrecorded TV, and nan viewing guideline only shows you 24 hours of programming. If you want nan afloat features of nan DVR, for illustration nan 14-day guide, scheduling and signaling unrecorded TV, watching and signaling channels simultaneously, and signaling full series/seasons, for that you request to adhd nan yearly HDHomeRun subscription for $35, which isn't bad. But it's worthy noting, however, that you tin opt not to usage their work and find different one, specified arsenic nan aforementioned Channels service ($8 per period / $80 per year) aliases moreover Plex's celebrated Plex Pass subscription ($5 per period / $40 per year) if you're a Plex user.

TiVo

TiVo Edge for Antenna

Best all-in-one OTA DVR

If you want a holistic solution retired of nan container that fundamentally covers your unrecorded TV, recording, and entree to immoderate streaming services you're subscribed to, past nan TiVo Edge for Antenna mightiness beryllium a great, albeit much expensive, solution.

Billing itself arsenic nan "most precocious over-the-air antenna DVR connected nan market," nan TiVo Edge comes pinch its life work interest paid successful full, upfront, arsenic portion of nan $350 value tag, making it nan astir costly connected our list. What you get for that is an antenna-ready OTA DVR pinch 2 ATSC 1.0 tuners that fto you watch and grounds some astatine nan aforesaid time. It has a built-in 500GB difficult thrust suitable for up to 75 hours of recordings that you tin entree anyplace from your phone, tablet, aliases machine pinch nan Tivo app. Scheduling is covered, too, which you tin besides do from nan app, and you tin schedule afloat seasons and bid of shows arsenic well.

The TiVo Edge for Antenna is 1 of nan only OTA DVRs connected our database that besides integrates entree to immoderate streaming services you subscribe to. Be it Netflix, Disney+, aliases Amazon Prime Video (no Hulu for immoderate reason, though), you tin usage nan included distant and/or its sound commands to hunt for shows, sports, aliases movies and it will hunt crossed each your services, and unrecorded TV for nan results successful 1 place.

Record, fast-forward, rewind, and region your unrecorded TV contented and usage TiVo's "skip it" fastener to automatically bypass nan commercials. The TiVo Edge uses HDMI 2.0, supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, and supports Dolby Atmos sound. The instrumentality has optical audio out, 2 USB 3.0 ports, ethernet, and built-in Wi-Fi 802.11.ac.

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Tablo Quad 1TB DVR

The champion OTA DVR for aggregate HD antennas

Sometimes you request an OTA DVR that tin grip much than conscionable 1 antenna signal. If you person much than 2 HD antennas hanging astir your house, you’ll astir apt want to put successful nan Tablo Quad DVR. Not only does this bad boy grip up to 4 abstracted tuners astatine once, but it besides includes a whopping 1TB of soul storage. That’s a batch of recorded episodes of Blue’s Clues (or immoderate it is nan cool kids watch these days). And if a coagulated terabyte isn’t enough, you tin adhd further retention by connecting an outer 8TB USB drive.

Yes, it’s 1 of nan astir costly OTA DVRs connected nan market, but nan Tablo Quad tin besides interface pinch up to six streaming devices astatine nan aforesaid time. But beryllium judge to person it connected to your Wi-Fi if you want to beryllium capable to return those Blue’s Clues episodes connected nan go. It's besides nan apical of nan statement of nan Tablo OTA DVR lineup that our No. 1 prime connected this database (the $150 Tablo Dual Lite) is from. Like it's smaller sibling, it supports 5.1 situation sound and tin besides pat into nan $5-per-month subscription work that gives you nan expanded TV guideline data, Live TV position grid, further signaling features, and Tablo Connect, which allows you to entree your unrecorded and recorded contented from anywhere.

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