The best OTA DVRs for cord cutters in 2023 | Digital Trends
If you’ve made the jump from cable TV providers to streaming services, like many folks have, and have even gone the extra mile by adding an over-the-air TV antenna to bring back your local TV stations for news and sports, then you might be missing one thing: your digital video recorder (DVR).
Relax, there’s hope. Adding an OTA DVR to your setup will bring back that sweet ability to record, rewind, fast-forward, and skip commercials so, like your streaming services, you can watch all that free live programming at your leisure, like the DVR days of old. Today’s leading OTA DVRs are sleek, can store up to hundreds of shows and movies, and some models can even connect to the internet. But it is worth noting that not all OTA DVRs have internal storage built-in and users often have to purchase a separate external hard drive or pay a monthly or yearly fee for a DVR service that allows for additional recording features and storage options.
We’ve spent a lot of time setting up OTA antennas, installing DVRs, and generally tweaking these systems to get the most out of them. We believe the Tablo Dual Lite is the best OTA DVR for most people, but we do have some other suggestions in case it’s not right for you. Each offers very specific strengths, and one just might be the perfect fit.
Tablo Dual Lite OTA DVR
The best overall OTA DVR
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MediaSonic ATSC Digital Converter Box
The best budget OTA DVR
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Sling Media AirTV 2
The best OTA DVR for Sling users
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SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K
The best versatile OTA DVR for ATSC 3.0
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TiVo Edge for Antenna
Best all-in-one OTA DVR
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Mục Lục
Tablo Dual Lite OTA DVR
The best overall OTA DVR
Pros
- Versatile approach works with streaming devices
- Easy to set up
- Dual OTA tuners
- Optional premium services for upgrades
Cons
- USB hard drive not included
- Switching channels is a little clunky
For starters, the Tablo Dual Lite is super easy to set up and use. Its app-based interface is clean and simple, and after a quick scan, it lets you pick which of your available channels you’d like to add to your guide instead of assuming you want them all. But the Tablo’s key advantage is its ability to be placed anywhere in your home, whether that’s near your TV or router. Unlike other OTA DVRs, which need to be connected to your antenna, hardwired to your router, and in some cases connected to your TV, the Tablo only needs an antenna connection and power. In fact, it has no TV output at all — for that you can look into one of Tablo’s other products, the $150 Tablo Dual HDMI OTA DVR.
Instead, Tablo streams your OTA channels to your TV via a compatible media device, like an Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or Nvidia Shield. If you have the right smart TV, you may not need an external device at all. Here’s the full list of compatible devices, which is extensive and offers something for almost everyone, with the exception of PlayStation console owners.
With two OTA tuners, the Tablo Dual Lite can receive and record two different channels simultaneously, but you’re not limited to two devices. Depending on the speed of your home network, up to six devices can watch content simultaneously. Given how many of us watch content on our phones and tablets, that’s a lot of potential screens powered by a single receiver.
The Dual Lite doesn’t come with any built-in storage (Tablo sells a 128GB version if that’s what you want), but this adds to its flexibility: You can decide how much storage you want by simply adding your own USB hard drive. Some kind of storage is required, however, even if you decide not to record shows.
On its own, the Tablo will give you 30 days of guide info and the ability to record and livestream any OTA content you can receive. For a subscription fee of $5 per month (or $50 per year), you get 14 days of guide info, advanced recording features (like the ability to start a recording two minutes earlier or later), and a must-have feature for frequent travelers: Remote-view capability for access to the entire system from anywhere with a decent internet connection.
Tablo Dual Lite OTA DVR
The best overall 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 Fire TV, and, of course, record your live local channels … as long as you’re willing to attach your own external hard drive.
But this model has another trick: It’s especially friendly with Sling TV, and can seamlessly integrate with your Sling TV, showing your local OTA channels along with the streaming Sling channels, so you get everything in one spot.
The model can manage two live TV shows at the same time or record them both as necessary, and categorize recordings in a number of ways, including single episodes or as part of a series. The Sling compatibility also means you can download the Sling TV app on your smartphone, and then access your live TV feeds directly from your mobile device.
Of course, the AirTV 2 doesn’t have so many advantages if you aren’t using Sling. But it can still help you record and view your live shows as long as you have a set-top box as well as an HD antenna. That makes it an excellent option for adding some HDR to your cable-free home TV setup.
Sling Media AirTV 2
The best OTA DVR for Sling users
SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K
The best versatile OTA DVR for ATSC 3.0
Pros
- ATSC 3.0 compatible
- Four tuners for simultaneous viewing
- Easy setup
- Compatible with lots of third-party apps
Cons
- Full DVR features requires subscription
- External storage required for recording
If you’re looking to future-proof your OTA broadcast game, the HDHomeRun Flex 4K is a tiny device with a ton of features. While it is on the higher end of the budget scale on this list, what you get for that is a device that streams your OTA live local TV signal over your home network to all your connected devices, such as smartphones, tablets, computers, streaming devices, and smart TVs. It features four tuners (all four can receive ATSC 1.0 while two get ATSC 3.0 signals), which means you can watch four different channels at a time if you like.
Depending on your preferred platform, watching TV from the Flex 4K can be done using SiliconDust’s own HDHomeRun app. But one of the best things about the Flex 4K is its, er, flexibility to also use various third-party apps for Android, iOS, and Windows 10, as well as desktop software on Windows 7 and 8, Mac, and Linux operating systems. This thing will gel well with everything from VLC Media Player, Plex, Kodi, Windows Media Center, and more. One great solution we recommend is the excellent Channels app for Apple TV, iOS, Android, and Fire TV devices.
Now, back to the main reason this device is on our list. The HDHomeRun Flex 4K can access ATSC 3.0 broadcasts, also known as “NextGenTV,” the upcoming OTA broadcast standard that will eventually deliver 4K HDR broadcasting over the air to two of its four tuners. Some of these channels already exist, and the Flex 4K will automatically detect any of these channels in setup, but the best part is that you’ll be future-proof when ATSC 3.0 is fully rolled out. In the meantime, however, you’ll be able to enjoy existing channels in HD.
As far as the HDHomeRun Flex 4K’s DVR status is concerned, out of the box it has no recording capabilities. For that, you need to add your own hard drive or NAS drive. SiliconDust sells its own 2TB drive, the HDHomeRun Servio, that can save up to 300 hours of programming, but you can obviously get your own external drive or even use your computer’s internal HDD.
That said, the HDHomeRun app alone only allows basic DVR functions, such as play, pause, and rewind live TV, and the viewing guide only shows you 24 hours of programming. If you want the full features of the DVR, like the 14-day guide, scheduling and recording live TV, watching and recording channels simultaneously, and recording entire series/seasons, for that you need to add the annual HDHomeRun subscription for $35, which isn’t bad. But it’s worth noting, however, that you can opt not to use their service and find another one, such as the aforementioned Channels service ($8 per month / $80 per year) or even Plex’s popular Plex Pass subscription ($5 per month / $40 per year) if you’re a Plex user.
SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K
The best versatile OTA DVR for ATSC 3.0
TiVo Edge for Antenna
Best all-in-one OTA DVR
Pros
- Access to live TV an streaming services in one
- Built-in 500GB storage
- Reputable TiVo brand
- Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support
Cons
- Expensive
- No ATSC 3.0
If you want a holistic solution out of the box that basically covers your live TV, recording, and access to any streaming services you’re subscribed to, then the TiVo Edge for Antenna might be a great, albeit more expensive, solution.
Billing itself as the “most advanced over-the-air antenna DVR on the market,” the TiVo Edge comes with its lifetime service fee paid in full, upfront, as part of the $350 price tag, making it the most expensive on our list. What you get for that is an antenna-ready OTA DVR with two ATSC 1.0 tuners that let you watch and record both at the same time. It has a built-in 500GB hard drive suitable for up to 75 hours of recordings that you can access anywhere from your phone, tablet, or computer with the Tivo app. Scheduling is covered, too, which you can also do from the app, and you can schedule full seasons and series of shows as well.
The TiVo Edge for Antenna is one of the only OTA DVRs on our list that also integrates access to whatever streaming services you subscribe to. Be it Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime Video (no Hulu for some reason, though), you can use the included remote and/or its voice commands to search for shows, sports, or movies and it will search across all your services, and live TV for the results in one place.
Record, fast-forward, rewind, and pause your live TV content and use TiVo’s “skip it” button to automatically bypass the commercials. The TiVo Edge uses HDMI 2.0, supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG, and supports Dolby Atmos sound. The device has optical audio out, two USB 3.0 ports, ethernet, and built-in Wi-Fi 802.11.ac.
One last note is that there is a version without the all-in service, with the 500GB hard drive, for $199, but it is currently sold out on its sole distributor, Channel Master.
TiVo Edge for Antenna
Best all-in-one OTA DVR
Frequently Asked Questions
How does an OTA DVR work?
An OTA (over-the-air) DVR works in conjunction with your home’s TV antenna to provide you with an experience closer to a cable subscription. Not to be confused with an OTA tuner/receiver, which simply receives the signal from the antenna. If your TV doesn’t have a tuner built-in (most smart TVs nowadays do), a tuner provides the interface for accessing them, but does not, on its own, always have recording capabilities. Once your antenna is lined in, OTA DVRs allow you to record over-the-air programming, sometimes across multiple stations at once. Many OTA boxes can store up to 500GB or more of recorded shows and movies, just like a cable-DVR package. Advanced OTA DVRs even have access to streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu.
Will ATSC 3.0 improve reception?
Yes. Once broadcasters are beaming signals in 4K with added HDR support, the picture we’ll see on our TVs should be noticeably improved, especially compared to older ATSC broadcasting. Like most major tech advances, though, the format has arrived before hardware has fully caught up. It may be a while before ATSC 3.0 is standard in every OTA DVR home.
Do Smart TVs have a built-in antenna?
Not quite. While certain smart TV brands can connect you to free programming through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, OTA signals are only captured by an external antenna that requires a connection to your home’s TV (or compatible OTA tuner/receiver).
What’s the latest version of OTA broadcasts?
ATSC 3.0, officially known as NextGen TV, is the next version of over-the-air HDTV broadcasts. With support for 4K resolution, HDR, and Dolby Atmos, it’s eventually going to replace the existing ATSC system. The rollout of ATSC 3.0-compatible OTA receivers has been slow, but they’re beginning to show up now, and we expect to see more soon.
Do I need a certain antenna for OTA DVRs?
Getting the most out of your OTA setup really begins with your antenna. The kind you buy and where you place it will determine how many channels you receive. Digital Trends has a comprehensive guide to selecting the right antenna for your home, which we encourage you to check out before you commit to an OTA DVR. And don’t worry — any antenna that you buy today will work with NextGen TV when it’s time to make the switch.
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