A Comparison of the Best Broadcast TV Recorders (DVRs) in 2024

by | Last updated Feb 6, 2024

If you are using an antenna to watch TV, I highly recommend picking up a broadcast TV DVR (digital video recorder) to record entire seasons of your favorite shows so you can watch them anytime. It makes the broadcast TV experience much more like a streaming service!

Tablo, AirTV, TiVo, and Homeworx DVRs
Tablo, AirTV, TiVo, and Homeworx DVRs

Considerations

Here are some questions you should ask yourself when looking for an over-the-air DVR:

  • Does it have a recurring fee for the channel guide?
  • Does it show upcoming TV shows and movies, not mixed in with paid content?
  • How many channels does the tuner pick up?
  • Does it come with internal storage, or do I need to supply my own USB drive?
  • Does it need to be connected directly to your TV, or can you watch through apps?
  • Can you watch on multiple TVs?
  • Can you watch live TV and recordings away from home?
  • Can it connect to your network through Wi-Fi, or does it need wired Ethernet cable from your router?

There is no one DVR that is best in every situation. Here are the broadcast DVRs that I recommend depending on your setup and needs.

1. Tablo Generation 4 DVR – My #1 Pick for Most People!

Tablo DVR Generation 4
Tablo Generation 4 DVR

Tablo has two and four-tuner DVRs that solve my biggest gripe with DVRs: the subscription fee. This unit has zero recurring fees for the channel guide! On top of that, it’s got Wi-Fi, 50 hours of internal storage (as well as ability to plug in external USB drives), and a really cool Netflix-style filterable grid of upcoming movies and TV shows that makes it a joy to find new content. On top of that, it’s easy to set up and use, and it’s backed by customer service that you can actually call up and talk to.

Probably the biggest downsides are the lack of Apple TV app and a buggy Roku app that many online are complaining about, leading some to purchase a $20 ONN streaming box from Walmart to use their Tablo Gen 4s with.

Hopefully Tablo will solve these issues soon.

Pros

  • No subscription fees for the 14-day channel guide – finally!
  • 50 hours of internal flash memory storage included.
  • Can connect to your network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
  • Pretty painless setup process. Easy to use.
  • Much better customer support than most other DVR companies; you can actually talk to a human being if you call them.
  • Roku app has a filterable Netflix-style grid of upcoming movies and TV shows making it fun to find new content to record.
  • Better picture quality if you record to external storage.
  • Has the ability to record shows from the included free ad-supported streaming services!
  • Low $99 cost! Cheaper than the old Tablo Dual Lite, which is $149.99.
  • Four-tuner version is available for $139.99.

Cons

  • No remote viewing or commercial skip offered.
  • Users report lots of bugs and crashing with the Roku app. iOS and Android are much better.
  • No ATSC 3.0.
  • Can’t view recordings from a browser.
  • No Apple TV app yet.
  • Only works in the United States. Does not work in Canada (due to streaming licensing issues).
  • Can’t watch live TV or recordings away from your home network.
  • No manual recording (by entering date and time); you only can record by clicking on a TV show.
  • Can’t watch live or recorded TV when your Internet is down.

2. HDHomeRun Flex and Scribe DVRs – Some Models Support ATSC 3.0

HDHomeRun Flex Duo
HDHomeRun Flex Duo

The HDHomeRun DVRs by Silicon Dust have lots of satisfied enthusiasts on various cord-cutting Facebook groups, with people praising the tuner quality as being the best out of the major DVRs. This is definitely the most “geeky” DVR, as it can be used with third-party software like PLEX and NextPVR, but that takes some independent research and effort.

Certain models by Silicon Dust support ATSC 3.0 (Next Generation TV). The Flex Duo does not, while the Flex 4K and Scribe 4K do (on two out of four tuners). These are the only models among the ones I’ve reviewed that support ATSC 3.0.

The big caveat with these DVRs is that they require a direct Ethernet connection to your home network. There is no option for Wi-Fi. For some people, this is a show-stopper because they don’t want to run CAT-5 cable through their homes. If you’re OK with this requirement, then keep reading!

You can watch live TV and your recordings using the HDHomeRun app, available for Windows, Mac, and most streaming TV platforms and mobile devices. However, you are not able to watch live TV or your recordings outside of your home network using the HDHomeRun app. So, this unit is not a good choice if you want to watch away from home.

The Scribe 4K has 1TB of built-in internal storage with four tuners. The Flex models do not have internal storage, but you can plug in an external USB hard drive. The Flex Duo has two tuners, while the Flex 4K has four.

There is no HDMI output, so you won’t be connecting these directly to your TV.

The 24-hour channel guide is free, but there is a $35/year charge for the two-week channel guide and DVR functionality. The app features a grid showing upcoming shows, movies, and sports, similar to the grid that I love on Tablo (which is now available without subscription). This is a great way to discover new content that every DVR should have.

Setup of the tuner is plug-and-play. However, in my unit, there were no instructions on how to set up the DVR functionality. I eventually found some instructions online and got it set up, but overall the included documentation is lacking.

If you don’t mind connecting your router directly to your DVR via Ethernet cable (as opposed to using Wi-Fi), and you are not looking to watch your recordings outside of your home, then the HDHomeRun DVRs are well worth your consideration due to its excellent tuner and easy-to-use software, with the DVR functionality requiring some research online to get working.

HD HomeRun Pros

  • Tuner picks up a lot of channels.
  • HDHomeRun app is intuitive and easy to use once set up.
  • The “Discover” tab in the app shows upcoming shows, movies, and sporting events without paid content; great for discovering things to record.
  • Compatible with third-party DVR software for the video geeks out there.
  • Some models support ATSC 3.0 on two of four tuners.
  • Very small size.

HD HomeRun Cons

  • No Wi-Fi is a show-stopper for those who don’t want to run cable from their router.
  • $35 annual fee is required for DVR functionality and two-week channel guide, although you can use free third-party apps to do this.
  • The HDHomeRun app does not work when you are away from your home network; can’t view live TV or recordings when you travel, though there are third-party apps that can do this.
  • No documentation on how to set up the DVR is included.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. I test or research each product or service before endorsing. This site is not owned by any retailer or manufacturer. I own this site and the opinions expressed here are mine. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.


3. AirTV 2 / AirTV Anywhere

AirTV 2 DVR
AirTV 2 DVR

The AirTV DVRs from Sling (which is owned by DISH) have good tuners, are completely wireless, and have no channel guide subscription fees.

The AirTV 2 has two tuners to allow viewing or recording of two broadcast TV show at a time. It requires an external USB hard drive for recording. Note that it only uses the first 2TB of drive space, so don’t buy a bigger drive for it.

The AirTV Anywhere has four tuners and 1TB internal hard drive.

They can connect to your home network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. There are apps that allow viewing from many different devices including web, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, iOS, or Android.

No paid subscription is required, making the AirTV products worthy of consideration. You just need to sign up for a free Sling TV account.

However, the Tablo has a superior channel guide that presents all of the shows or movies available in a Netflix-style grid which makes it easy to find shows you want to record in the future. I would only consider AirTV if you want to be able to view your recordings remotely when away from home. Read my full review:

AirTV Pros

  • No fees for the channel guide!
  • Great tuner (brings in the most channels).
  • Has Wi-Fi.
  • Can watch live TV and recordings away from home.
  • Easy to set up and use.

Air TV Cons

  • Paid streaming services are mixed in with upcoming broadcast TV shows in the user interface, making it harder to find free content.
  • Doesn’t work with all USB drives (or any SSDs). Might need to purchase a recommended USB drive rather than use one you already have.
  • Only uses the first 2TB of drive space.
  • Can only set up recordings through the guide. No manual recording setup.
  • Lots of users online have complained about virtually non-existent tech support.
  • No ATSC3.0.

Other DVRs

These DVRs are not my top choices, but they may be appropriate in some circumstances.

TiVo Edge for Antenna DVR with All-In Service – DISCONTINUED

2024 Update: It appears that the TiVo Edge for Antenna has been discontinued. You still may be able to find it on eBay though so I’ll keep this section up for a while. Original writeup is below.

The TiVo Edge for Antenna has two tuners and an internal 500GB hard drive for recording. I got mine with the All-In Service where you pay a flat fee for lifetime channel guide access, which makes the total cost of ownership less than that of the Tablo with channel guide.

Setting up the Tivo Edge for Antenna requires that it be connected to a TV via HDMI and some settings are only available through that connected TV. Therefore, if you get this unit, you’ll probably want to keep it near your primary TV even though you can watch recorded shows on the TiVo Online website using a non-Chrome browser. You can also purchase a TiVo Mini Lux ($199) to watch live TV and recordings on other TVs.

The TiVo Edge also supports external USB drives, so you can add almost unlimited storage capacity by swapping drives.

TiVo Edge for Antenna
TiVo Edge for Antenna

The TiVo Edge for Antenna might be a good option if you want to avoid paying recurring fees for a channel guide, AND if you are OK with connecting your DVR directly to your TV. Just make sure you get the version with “All-In Service”, which means you’re paying for a lifetime subscription with no recurring fees.

The TiVo app definitely has some quirks that could be show-stoppers for you. For example, not all of your recorded shows are available for viewing when you are away from home. Read my detailed review:

TiVo Edge Pros

  • Great tuner (brings in the most channels).
  • Once set up, user interface is easy to use.
  • Greate remote control.
  • Commercial skip works well, when available.
  • Voice search works well.
  • Has Wi-Fi.
  • Superior picture quality.
  • Good customer support. I was easily able to reach a human being on their phone line.

Tivo Edge Cons

  • Appears to be discontinued but you may be able to find it on eBay.
  • Must be connected directly to your TV via HDMI.
  • Can’t watch on other TVs without purchasing an additional box for $199.
  • Can’t watch some recordings outside of your home.
  • Only offered with two tuners.
  • No Roku or Fire TV apps. Not good for watching on multiple TVs (can watch through non-Chrome browser).
  • There is a fee for the channel guide (lifetime deal is offered though).
  • Paid streaming services are mixed in with broadcast TV shows in “What to Watch” section.
  • Big and bulky size.
  • Expensive compared to other DVRs.
  • Internet connection is required.
  • No ATSC3.0.

Converter Boxes that Record – Extreme Budget Option

Many outboard TV converter boxes (or “tuner boxes”) also record to outboard USB storage devices. These usually run for only about $40!

Mediasonic HOMEWORX HW130STB
Mediasonic HOMEWORX HW130STB

So, what’s the catch? Well, these boxes don’t connect to the Internet, so the channel guide is not as slick as with the other units I’ve mentioned. Also, the user interfaces are not as refined. You can’t watch one channel while recording another. But, these are SO much cheaper than the other options, it may be worth looking at if you’re willing to tolerate these shortcomings. We tolerated much worse when we were using VHS VCRs!

On the upside, you can take the hard drive from this unit and plug it into your computer and watch the recordings that way. You can’t easily do that with the Tablo since the recording format is proprietary.

Among the many cheap tuner boxes with recording, I recommend the Homeworx DVR Digital Converter:

Homeworx Pros

  • Super low cost!
  • No Internet or Wi-Fi required.
  • Can plug the hard drive into your computer and it will recognize your recordings.

Homeworx Cons

  • User interface is primitive.
  • Channel guide goes less than 24 hours into the future.
  • Remote control is pretty bad.
  • Has to hook directly to your TV via HDMI.
  • Only one tuner so you can’t watch one show while recording another.
  • Can only view live TV on the TV it is currently hooked up to.


PlayOn – Requires Subscription, Records Internet Video, Not Live TV

This service (not a hardware box) lets you movies and shows from Internet streaming services, as opposed to broadcast TV. For example, say you want to record a TV episode from Hulu, or a movie from Netflix or Disney+. PlayOn lets you do this. Cost starts at $39.99 for 350 cloud recordings or unlimited recordings to your computer.

You install the software on your computer and choose from channels to record from. Current channels include Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, HBO, Disney+, and many network and cable TV websites, but not all (it doesn’t work with Sling TV for example). I personally have not tried it, but several readers recommended it. Let me know what you think!


The Bottom Line: Which DVR Should I Get?

My number one pick for most users is Tablo Gen 4 because of its free channel guide and ease of use. Most existing Tablo users should probably not upgrade though unless they are paying channel guide fees.

If you don’t mind connecting your DVR to your router via Ethernet cable (as opposed to Wi-Fi), and you want to get the most channels possible with a lower-cost channel guide, check out the HDHomeRun DVRs.

If you want to be able to watch live TV and recordings away from home, check out AirTV.

If you want the absolute cheapest DVR solution, and you know exactly what you want to record and when it airs, then a generic solution like the Mediasonic Homeworx DVR might be best for you.


What Happened to the Amazon Fire TV Recast?

Amazon Fire TV Recast
Amazon Fire TV Recast

Amazon’s DVR, the Fire TV Recast, was discontinued in August 2022 unfortunately. It’s too bad because it had a polished user interface and was easy to set up with its internal drive. You might still be able to find one on eBay, but it’s unclear how long Amazon will continue to support it, so I would not recommend buying one used at this point.


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Brian Shim, DisableMyCable.com

I'm an electrical engineer (BSEE Caltech) with twenty years of experience designing industrial and consumer products, and now a web developer who loves to share ways to save money on TV content, Internet access, and cell phone plans! Read more about me here.

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11 Comments
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Don
Don
1 month ago

Hi Brian, how can I record movies and shows I watch on my Fire TV stick? I have a Tivo Edge for cable, but I haven’t figured out how to use the Fire stick with it. Is there a better DVR for that?

Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor
2 months ago

Disable My Cable? Most the tuners I just read about require internet. Internet in my area is available with a cable of all things! With a $59.99 monthly fee!
The small OTA receivers are all junk. They work fine initially but…
Does not Sony or other big names offer an OTA receiver/recorder that meets my needs?

Keith Ritchel
Keith Ritchel
3 months ago

Could you explain the broadcast atsc3.0 and atsc1.0, I just put up a new traditional antenna. In 2027 am I still going to be able to receive the new atsc3.0, I grew up with rabbit ears and aluminum foil for reception.

Kevin Jeff
Kevin Jeff
6 months ago

Brian,
Excellent summary of the DVR options. I had one additional question that is not addressed (here or anywhere I could find on the internet.) I have converted all of our home videos to digital files (.mpg) and am looking for a way to easily access on my TV’s and other devices. Do any of the top DVR allow you to add home videos to your data base of recorded content? If yes, do any of them provide a good way to organize this content?

Rich LaBell
Rich LaBell
10 months ago

Brian, Thanks for the complete rundown, a great webpage! I want to go with the Tablo but have eight other tvs spread from the garage, basement, hobby room, deck, etc that we watch while we do pottery for our art shows. Presently I split the cable signal and also feed the antenna into a switch that sends an amplified signal to all of them simultaneously so we can move from one room to another where ever we happen to be. I use my Firestick in the front aux hdmi port of the Denon surround for the main tv and also send it only to my bedroom on an hdmi splitter. I only have four wifi capable tvs. How can I connect all of the older tvs through the switch system? The switch has a cable in/out and several three-way RCA in for video/left/right.

Rich
Rich
10 months ago
Reply to  Brian Shim

Thanks Brian, I’ll explore that idea.

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