The latest Tablo news along with tips to maximize your free TV experience. 

FAQs – Can I Use Multiple Tablo OTA DVRs in My Home?

MULTIPLE TABLO OTA DVRS IN HOME

All Tablo units are designed to be ‘whole-home’ – meaning a single Tablo OTA DVR can serve live and recorded video to all of your TVs and devices. However, some Over-the-Air TV viewers have asked whether it’s possible or advisable to add tuners by running multiple Tablo OTA DVRs within a household.

YES – It is possible to use more than one Tablo DVR within your home and even on the same home network.

This multiple-Tablo deployment could be useful or even preferable to a single DVR in certain circumstances, but there are considerations to ponder before proceeding with this setup.

Two Dual-Tuner Tablo DVRs vs. One QUAD Tuner Tablo DVR

Tablo QUAD tuner

Extra tuners provide the flexibility to have more concurrent live or recording streams. TV viewers with larger families, a large selection of Over-the-Air TV channels, or a deep and abiding love for all TV series will often require more than two available tuners.

Whether those extra tuners come on a single device, or on several devices is partially a matter of preference.

For example, some families have specifically chosen a multiple-Tablo setup so they can have ‘His & Hers’ DVRs, or to assign a specific DVR to kids programming vs. adult programming.

Those who utilize a dual-antenna setup to capture OTA signals from multiple directions may also choose to run multiple Tablo DVRs versus using a combiner, connecting one Tablo to each TV antenna.

Snowbirds and those with vacation homes may also wish to own two different Tablo DVRs, placing one at their primary residence and one at their secondary home. That way they can enjoy live and recorded television from both locations using the out-of-home streaming feature Tablo Connect.

Cost-wise, if you’re able to get the Tablo DUAL LITE on sale, the price of two units is comparable to a Tablo QUAD.

(Or save even more with open box deals on our webstore!) 

Considerations for a Multiple Tablo OTA DVR Household:

Before choosing a multiple Tablo DVR setup, or adding an additional Tablo DVR to your household, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  • You will need a direct antenna connection to both Tablo DVR units, which would mean adding a splitter or distribution amplifier to your setup, or a secondary antenna. Splitting your signal between devices may impact your signal quality and reception for channels with weaker signals.
  • You will need to purchase a hard drive for each Tablo unit for recording storage unless the Tablo models you’re using have onboard storage.
  • Unless you plan to run your secondary Tablo without a subscription, you will need to purchase a separate TV Guide Data Service subscription and Premium Service subscription for each DVR.
  • You will need to switch between Tablo A and Tablo B (using the disconnect button in your Tablo apps) to set recordings or view recordings since each Tablo will maintain its own separate database. That’s why two-Tablo families often dedicate a DVR to a specific family member, group, or content type.
  • Distributing high-quality video streams requires a solid home WiFi network to avoid buffering. When viewing 6-12 simultaneous HDTV streams on a single home network, overall throughput (the amount of data going from point A to B) can be quite high, exposing previously unseen slowdowns caused by interference or older, slower equipment.

Are you running a multiple-Tablo household? Tell us why you chose this approach via Twitter or Facebook.

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Updated August 30, 2021

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How to restart your phone/tablet

Sometimes, just restarting your smartphone or tablet can clear up issues with apps. The links below will provide detailed instructions on how to force close your Tablo app. 

Apple iPhone

Android smartphones 

Most Android smartphones and tablets can be restarted by holding the POWER button and then selecting RESTART or POWER OFF and RESTART from the POWER OPTIONS menu.

NOTE: Newer Samsung devices require you to hold the POWER/SIDE button and VOLUME DOWN to make the POWER OPTIONS menu appear. On the Google Pixel 6, hold the POWER and VOLUME UP buttons.

How to force close your Tablo app?

Sometimes, just restarting the app can fix things. The links below will provide detailed instructions on how to force close your Tablo app. 

Apple iPhone/iPad

Android smartphones/tablets 

Need help with the final steps?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.  Follow the steps in the video below for a full walkthrough of the remaining parts of the Tablo setup process.

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Getting your channels...

You can get channels for free!
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Streaming Channels
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Tablo gives you more!
  • Pause, Record, Replay
  • Enjoy your shows whenever it’s convenient for you.
  • 50+ hours of built-in storage
  • Expandable via USB for up to 8TB of additional space.
  • Your Local Channels
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Tablo gives you more!
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  • Far more than a standard antenna can deliver.
  • Subscription-Free Entertainment
  • Get premium content without paying for costly streaming services.
  • Pause, Record, Replay
  • Enjoy your shows whenever it’s convenient for you.
  • 50+ hours of built-in storage
  • Expandable via USB for up to 8TB of additional space.

This is an estimate only. Actual broadcast TV channels received may vary based on TV antenna location, reception, topography, and other obstructions. Streaming channels require an internet connection. View the Channel Details Report for specifics of each channel and to help determine what antenna is needed. 

Reception alert:  Based upon the location you entered, you may not get many of the major networks.  As a result, Tablo may not be the best fit for you.  Please enter your full address above for best accuracy. 

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