Show More Here’s the hard truth for cord-cutters right now: The ideal over-the-air DVR doesn’t exist. While some products are better than others, all of them—from Tablo to TiVo to HDHomeRun with Plex—have at least one critical weakness.

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If you want to record broadcast TV channels from an antenna, you must decide which of those weaknesses you’ll tolerate. The good news is that, and we’re likely to see even more over-the-air DVR products. But if you want to start recording broadcast channels now, here’s a rundown of where the current products stand. Updated November 14 to add our in-depth review of the new Latest DVR news • Plex a catalog of streaming content for its. Feature content from sources such as GQ, Vanity Fair, Engadget, and others.

The launch piggybacks off the Plex debuted a year ago. The best OTA DVR for most cord-cutters. Some sticking points haven't changed, but Tablo's latest whole-home DVR for cord-cutters is inexpensive and easy to use. The launched in late March, and it replaces the old two-tuner model as the best choice for most people. This whole-home solution streams recordings to nearly any connected device. Plug in an external hard drive and an antenna, connect the Tablo box to your network over Wi-Fi or ethernet, and you can stream live or recorded TV through the Tablo app on phones, tablets, computers, media streamers, and smart TVs. (While Tablo offers a pricier DVR with 64GB of built-in storage, the Lite version is cheaper even after you factor in an external 1- or 2TB hard drive, plus it has a faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi connection.) Tablo is simple to set up, has broad device support, and offers common DVR functions such as live TV time-shifting and catching up with recordings in progress.

In recent months, all Tablo models have also gained more recording options and reduced loading times for live TV. Best of all, you never need to switch inputs from the streaming box you’re already using. Those pluses help compensate for Tablo’s audio and video quality, which doesn't compare to native broadcast quality, and its lack of ad-skipping features.

TiVo's cord-cutting DVR gets a boost from voice control, mobile streaming, and lower subscription fees, but it's still missing some modern touches. We said that our previous pick in this category, the, felt a bit like a relic of the cable TV era.

TiVo has erased at least some of that criticism with its new TiVo Bolt OTA, which is built on much more modern hardware. But TiVo continues to ignore many of the best streaming TV services that appeal to cord cutters, and its best DVR still services just one TV unless you're willing to invest in additional expensive hardware. Best OTA DVR for power users. Plex is the most powerful over-the-air DVR solution you can get, but not the easiest to use.

If setting up a DVR using Plex was more straightforward, it would be our no-reservations top pick. As it stands, installing a Plex-based DVR is a daunting process involving products from at least three other manufacturers (you'll need a TV tuner; a TV antenna; and a set-top box, NAS box, or personal computer). That mix can lead to difficult-to-troubleshoot problems. Once you have everything assembled, you'll have a powerfully extensible system that delivers granular control over the recording and recording-management processes.