Tablo Blog

Introducing a Different Kind of Tablo OTA DVR - Tablo DUAL HDMI

November 10, 2020

If 2020 had a theme, it would be ‘expect the unexpected’.

In that spirit, we’ve done the most 2020 thing we could think of… Something so unexpected we even surprised ourselves!

We made the first ever TV-connected Tablo Over-the-Air DVR, Tablo DUAL HDMI!

Keep reading for details… 

Wait? You Put an HDMI on a Tablo?!

When we announced the first Tablo in 2013, the concept of a DVR that connected to your home’s WiFi router instead of your TV via HDMI was hard for folks to wrap their brain around.

Seven years and lots of happy customers later, we still think the super flexible whole-home approach of network-connected Tablo DVRs is a great choice for most cord cutters. That’s why we’re going to keep making Tablo DVRs that work this way.

But many folks who watch TV with an antenna still prefer a more traditional DVR set up that comes with its own remote and connects directly to a single TV via HDMI.

Until today, these cord cutters had few options from which to choose. Thanks to the Tablo DUAL HDMI, they can finally enjoy a quality, affordable, and yet powerful DVR that meets their needs.

Same Great Tablo Interface, New Form Factor

The new Tablo DUAL HDMI is the perfect way to supplement popular streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime that cord cutters already enjoy on their Smart TVs with free live and recorded local TV channels.

We’ve built powerful dual-tuner quad-core DVR hardware that connects directly to any modern television via HDMI and merged it with the intuitive DVR interface that existing Tablo OTA DVR owners know and love.

Just plug and play! The on-screen setup wizard will have you browsing all the great HDTV content from broadcast stations like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and more in no time.

Using the DUAL HDMI DVR’s dedicated remote, cord cutters can enjoy great Tablo DVR features including a traditional live TV grid guide, one-touch series recording, automatic commercial skip, and much more without the need for a separate streaming device or Smart TV.

What’s Different About Tablo DUAL HDMI

While the Tablo DUAL HDMI has a lot in common with our network-connected Tablo OTA DVRs, there are some fundamental differences.

• Raw MPEG2 Video
  As a TV-connected OTA DVR, Tablo DUAL HDMI records and displays Over-the-Air TV in raw MPEG2 video format at the resolution and bitrate in which it is broadcast, including 1080i @30fps and 720p @60fps, where available.
  
  This means you can squeeze about 130 hours of HDTV recording on to a 1TB drive, versus up to 700 for a network-connected Tablo, which optimizes the video for streaming and storage. With that in mind, you may wish to choose a larger hard drive to connect to your Tablo DUAL HDMI.
  
  
• Included Remote
  Since the Tablo DUAL HDMI’s interface is running on the DVR itself, it comes with its own dedicated IR (infrared) remote. This new Tablo remote can automatically switch to the Tablo’s input and even control the power and volume on supported TVs via CEC.
  
  
  
  

• Less Reliant on Internet for Basic Viewing
  Tablo DUAL HDMI is an ideal DVR for cord cutters who travel in RVs or live in rural areas where internet access is spotty. While Tablo DUAL HDMI does require internet access for setup, this DVR enables you to continue enjoying live and recorded programming on your primary television without internet access for up to two weeks.

But Wait, There’s One More Thing!


While the Tablo DUAL HDMI has a lot in common with traditional set-top-box DVRs, it has a superpower that no other traditional DVR can match.

With an active TV Guide Data Service subscription, it can stream live and recorded antenna TV on up to two secondary televisions in your home without the need for additional proprietary hardware.

Once Tablo DUAL HDMI is set up, simply download free Tablo apps on streaming set-top-boxes and Smart TVs running the following operating systems and connect to your Tablo DUAL HDMI DVR:

• Roku
• Amazon Fire TV
• Android TV

For a list of supported devices and additional details, visit the TV-connected Tablo DVRs page.

NOTE - Streaming content from Tablo DUAL HDMI to other devices within the home requires a VERY strong WiFi network.

If you experience buffering, you may need to connect your Tablo and/or your streaming device to your router via Ethernet. 

Pricing & Availability

Tablo DUAL HDMI is available exclusively at TabloTV.com at an MSRP of $149.99 US or $197.99 CAD with shipping NOW! before December 1st.

Everything you love about Tablo
All the features and benefits that make Tablo OTA DVRs awesome haven't changed with the Tablo DUAL HDMI, including:

Software Updates and Support

All generations of Tablo OTA DVRs receive free regular firmware and app updates, as well as basic DVR functionality, including:

• 24 hours of TV Guide Data (traditional grid guide)
• Manual recording (one-time or recurring)
• Playback controls including pause, rewind, and fast-forward
• Support for 5.1 Surround Sound passthrough
  
  

Optional Tablo Guide Data Service

All Tablo OTA DVRs include a 30-day free trial of the Tablo TV Guide Data Service, which gives cord cutters total control over DVR scheduling and viewing. Along with episode and series synopses, cover art, and metadata for programs airing over the next two weeks, a Tablo TV Guide Data Service subscription provides powerful, and yet easy-to-use advanced DVR features like:

• One-touch series recording (ALL or ALL NEW)
• Advanced recording options (adjustable start/stop times, keep X recordings, record by channel)
• Automatic extended time on live TV show recordings
• Automatic avoidance of duplicate recordings
• In-home streaming to secondary televisions
• And much more

Optional Tablo Automatic Commercial Skip Service

All Tablo OTA DVRs include a 30-day free trial of the optional Tablo Premium Service subscription which enables the Automatic Commercial Skip feature. Automatic Commercial Skip makes it even easier to enjoy most recordings from Tablo OTA DVRs without any commercial interruptions by eliminating the need to manually fast-forward over ads.

Unlike other offerings which rely on intensive computing power or humans to identify commercial breaks, Tablo uses a cloud-based hybrid of digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms and machine learning to deliver more accurate results.

Have questions about the Tablo DUAL HDMI OTA DVR before or after you buy?

Don’t hesitate to reach out via Facebook or Twitter or directly to our support team.

We’re always happy to help!

FAQs

What's the difference between TV-connected Tablo OTA DVRs like Tablo DUAL HDMI and network-connected Tablo OTA DVRs?
TV-connected Tablo DVRs like Tablo DUAL HDMI offer a more traditional set-top-box DVR setup. They connect directly to your television while at the same time provide the powerful and yet easy-to-use OTA DVR interface that Tablo customers know and love. TV-connected Tablo DVRs are designed for cord cutters who primarily watch programming on a single television.

On the other hand, network-connected Tablo OTA DVRs don’t connect to your television at all. Instead they connect to your home’s WiFi router to distribute live and recorded TV to multiple internet-connected devices like Smart TVs, streaming boxes and sticks, smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Does Tablo DUAL HDMI allow me to stream video to other devices?
While TV-connected Tablo DVRs are designed for cord cutters who primarily watch programming on a single television, Tablo DUAL HDMI does enable streaming to a limited selection of internet-connected devices within the home.

Depending on the quality of your home network, Tablo DUAL HDMI can stream to up to two compatible Smart TVs or streaming set-top-boxes at the same time.

The DUAL HDMI is not compatible with existing Tablo apps for computers, smartphones, tablets, Apple TV, or select Smart TVs.

Do I need internet to use a Tablo DUAL HDMI DVR?
Yes. You DO need internet access to use Tablo DUAL HDMI DVR. The device requires internet connectivity for setup, to download TV Guide Data, to perform overnight maintenance, Automatic Commercial Skip, and for periodic firmware updates. However, Tablo DUAL HDMI can still play back live TV and recordings during internet outages or in locations where internet access is limited.

Will Tablo DUAL HDMI be available at Amazon or Best Buy?
Tablo DUAL HDMI will be sold exclusively at TabloTV.com.