Cut Cable, Save Money – How Can You Do That And STILL Have a DVR?!

Posted by Donna

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Is it time to cut the cable cord? Have you looked at your cable bill lately? A study by Leichtman Research says the average monthly spending for TV service is $109 USD. Ouch.

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What options do you have? For a lot of people, the answer is streaming subscriptions. Netflix, HBO Now, Hulu, Sling TV, etc.

Streaming options are great for movies and particular series produced by those service providers. But what if you want to watch sports? And what about regular network TV?

Evaluate Your Preferences

Before you consider alternatives to your current cable subscription, you need to evaluate your TV habits. What you prefer to watch will help clarify your true options.

If you shun network TV and just watch a lot of movies… then a streaming service is a perfect option and you can easily cut cable. Depending upon where you live you can try Netflix or HBO Now or Hulu, etc. Not only do these providers have large databases of movie content, many of them also produce their own series, “TV Shows.”

When you are seriously into sports on TV, then your options can be limited. But it depends on the sports you prefer. If you enjoy all sports then it can be especially challenging to cover that variety.

On the other hand, if you have specific sport preferences then you could subscribe just to those particular services. Examples: NBA League Pass, PGA Tour LIVE, MLB.TV, etc. You could also subscribe to ESPN+, DAZN, or fuboTV.

Cut cable and still have Network TV?

That’s the focus of this article – network TV without cable services, cut that cable! If you enjoy network programming but the cable subscription is just too much (or simply annoying), then I have a solution.

In 2015, I cut out cable – cold turkey. Seriously! I was just annoyed that I had to pay so much for the service and still didn’t get the channels I liked. Plus the DVR box would often behave badly. Grrr.

I spent waaay too much time researching other options but finally found an upstart company that looked like it could work for me. And that’s how I began using the Tablo device.

No, I’m not an affiliate. I just really like the service and it’s saved me a bundle of money!

Tablo TV Tuner (from Nuvyyo Inc)

With Tablo you can cut the cable

Tablo is a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) for OTA (Over The Air) transmissions. Basically, the Tablo device records what you request through any OTA transmissions. But it’s not a stand-alone device – there are a number of other components required.

Requirements:

Tablo needs OTA transmissions and that means an antenna
Tablo is a streaming device and does not connect directly to your TV – you need a streaming device
Of course, you’ll need a Tablo box
Most Tablo devices do not include storage so you’ll need an external USB storage device
For recordings you need a Tablo Guide Data Subscription to select channels and shows

Maybe you’re getting a bit nervous now as all you wanted was a way to watch TV without cable and this is getting complicated. No worries – it’s not hard at all and I’ll walk you through it. Afterall, I did it myself back in 2015!

Steps to setting up Tablo

1. HD Antenna

Before you do anything else, you need to confirm whether your location can pick up OTA (Over The Air) signals well enough to make this worthwhile. You don’t want to cut your cable unless you have a functional alternative. I suggest you visit a retailer which has generous return policies and start testing – if the model you chose doesn’t work well then return it and try another one. Try Best Buy or Radio Shack/The Source, etc.

I’ve been very pleased with my current antenna but I did try three others (hmmm, might have been four) before I kept this one. I use a ClearStream 2V HD TV Antenna. It can be mounted outdoors but I keep mine inside right on the floor in front of large sliding doors to my balcony – clear path to pick up signals. It’s not particularly attractive, but it works very well (I hide it behind the drapes).

NOTE: Don’t forget to rescan your TV channels whenever you attach a new antenna. I forgot once during my antenna testing and was really frustrated for an hour before I rescanned!

The Tablo website has antenna tips and suggestions too.

2. Streaming Method If you’re picking up a decent range of channels with your antenna, then you’re good to go. But to watch with Tablo on the TV you’ll need a streaming device as it does not connect directly to the TV. The Tablo connects to the antenna. Luckily, you have MANY options to choose from and you may even already be using one of them:

Smart TV powered by Roku or Android TV or many LG systems
Set-top box – Roku, Apple TV, NVIDIA SHIELD TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xiaomi MiBox
Streaming stick – Roku Stick, Chromecast dongle, Amazon Fire TV Stick
Gaming device – NVIDIA SHIELD or XBox One

NOTE: You don’t have to watch on the TV. You can stream through Tablo apps on other screens like your: Computer/Laptop through Chrome or Safari browser, Tablet (iPad or Android), or smartphone (iPhone or Android). What do I use? I went with a set-top Android box – MINIX NEO U1 (with Air Mouse – gotta have the air mouse). I wanted to use an Android box option as it was easier to also connect and use Kodi. Looks like the current model is MINIX NEO U9. But when that needs to be upgraded, I would probably move to the NVIDIA box.

3. Tablo Tuner – the key to cut your cable The Tablo box has different options as well and the most important factor is the number of tuners. That determines how many devices and recordings can be active at the same time. Personally, I wouldn’t consider anything less than the Tablo Quad (4-tuner) model. I still have my original purchase from 2015 and it’s a 4-tuner model. Think of your circumstances – even if you’re a one-person household, could you possibly be recording more than one show while you’re also watching a recording? If you purchase a 4-tuner model then you won’t have to worry about conflicts as much.

4. USB Hard Drive

The Tablo box does not come with built-in storage – at least most of them don’t. So you need an external hard drive to store all your recordings. It’s critical to choose from the supported devices Tablo lists on their website, otherwise you may have recording issues.

I use a Western Digital Elements 1 TB external USB hard drive. Works perfectly and it’s not too expensive.

5. Tablo Guide Data Subscription

This is the Tablo online channel listing and programming. Without a subscription you’ll only be able to see programs within a 24-hour window. If you want to schedule recordings of an entire series – say every new broadcast of a particular TV show – then you need a subscription.

I purchased a lifetime subscription – one less thing to think about later!

Other Features of Tablo

A few things I really like about Tablo:

Tablo connects to the antenna, not the TV. That means you can physically place the antenna in the best location for reception regardless of where you have your TV(s).
Streaming with Tablo means fewer cables, less mess. Since the screens do not need to be physically connected to the Tablo box, nor the TV antenna.
Because Tablo relies on your WiFi network for streaming, the same Tablo box can feed screens (TV or otherwise) in multiple locations throughout your home at the same time.
The Tablo Connect service (out-of-home streaming) allows you to access your device from anywhere there is WiFi. When my friend, Lisa, had a work assignment in Germany it was really nice to be able to connect with a little bit of home by watching some of her favourite shows. NOTE: You control who gets access, it’s not random!
The Tablo app now has an ad-skipping feature. Very cool.

Room For Future Improvement

Some people have commented that the video quality could be improved. Personally, I rarely notice any issue here – but I’m not a videophile.
Sometimes the ad-skipping is a bit temperamental. I just press the 30-second jump forward a few times – all good.
Tablo Connect (out-of-home streaming):
1. Is not available through every device – specifically set-top boxes.
2. Will lose connectivity if your modem/router has issues or requires a reset. But that’s an issue with the modem/router, not with Tablo.
You don’t have the option of setting up different user accounts like you do with Netflix. So if there is more than one person in the household, you’ll need some sort of system to clarify who can delete recordings.

Cost-Benefit – Tablo vs Cable

All right – fun stuff. Let’s do the math so you can see how cutting your cable can save you money! And for this exercise, I’ll provide the two extremes (well, almost extremes): the more expensive setup and the cheapest setup.

NOTE: All amounts are quoted in USD at a particular point in time – prices can change at any time. Really – I don’t control that!

Total Cheapest = $234.92:

Antenna – Mohu Blade $39.95
Streaming – Chromecast $35.00
Tablo – 2-tuner Lite $109.99
USB drive – WD Elements 1TB $44.99
Subscription – monthly $4.99

Total More expensive = $727.66:

Antenna – ClearStream 2V HD $82.70
Streaming – NVIDIA SHIELD $199.99
Tablo – 4-tuner Quad $199.99
USB drive – WD Elements 4TB $94.99
Subscription – lifetime $149.99

If you’re paying the average cable monthly bill of $109 then the cheapest setup above pays for itself in just over two (2) months. That’s a pretty amazing ROI (Return On Investment)! But you would still be paying a monthly Tablo Guide Data subscription of $4.99. Plus your experience might be less than ideal with a 2-tuner Tablo and streaming with the cheapest option.

If you go with the more expensive option then it pays for itself in just under seven (7) months. It’s more money upfront but you don’t have ongoing expenses. Plus the streaming experience should be much better with the 4-tuner and the NVIDIA.

Or you could choose something in between.

Either way, the money is clear – if you can receive antenna signals, you should consider cutting the cord!

Will You Cut the Cable Cord?

If you want to save money then a “cut the cable cord” option should be considered in your overall strategy. You probably already have a streaming subscription – something like Netflix. You just need to take another step forward.

Let’s review the factors:

Evaluation – How do you watch TV right now? What type of shows interest you most?
Review options – Consider streaming (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) and subscription services (NBA League Pass, MLB.TV, etc.)
Antenna Testing – Determine whether you can receive decent signal transmissions where you live
If the stars align, then go Tablo:
1. Confirm your streaming method – Chromecast, Apple TV, NVIDIA, etc.
2. Select your Tablo tuner – I recommend a Quad
3. Get a USB Hard drive – ensure it’s compatible with Tablo
4. Choose your Tablo Guide Data Subscription

I’ve provided you with my preferred approach – the setup I use in my own home. You can read about more options and see additional reviews on the Tablo devices on the CordCutters website or TechHive. And, of course, you can check out the source on the Tablo TV site.