Tablo for those not SOLD on OTA only

[PiX64]

I saw this today and thought i would pass it along to all of you. I am a very happy Tablo OTA quad tuner customer, but this takes it one step farther for those who cannot get OTA or simply don't want it:


http://www.tablotv.com/blog/cedia-20...e-card-support

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by PiX64

I saw this today and thought i would pass it along to all of you. I am a very happy Tablo OTA quad tuner customer, but this takes it one step farther for those who cannot get OTA or simply don't want it:


http://www.tablotv.com/blog/cedia-20...e-card-support

Sounds great but it has to do DRM or else it will not be worth it.

[TechBill]

It will capture my attention if it can do HDHomerun Plus + 2 HD-DVR + Tablo =



Bill

[crarbo1]

How is Tablo with cable card, better than Tivo? You have to pay for EPG data and the device, so I don't see much upside with going this direction. I realize that you are paying more for epg with Tivo, but for the device is lest for Tivo (Roamio 4 tuner vs Tablo OTA 4 tuner).

Not on the Tivo bandwagon at all, just want to understand if Tablo would offer something that Tivo wouldn't.

Thanks,
Chuck

[PiX64]

Originally Posted by crarbo1

How is Tablo with cable card, better than Tivo? You have to pay for EPG data and the device, so I don't see much upside with going this direction. I realize that you are paying more for epg with Tivo, but for the device is lest for Tivo (Roamio 4 tuner vs Tablo OTA 4 tuner).

Not on the Tivo bandwagon at all, just want to understand if Tablo would offer something that Tivo wouldn't.

Thanks,
Chuck

Tivo is restricted to lots of additional hardware, as well as guide data per device... it becomes quite expensive.

This would allow all the greatness that is Tablo like remote viewing, bring your own clients, web uis, so on and so forth with the added bonus of being able to use a cable card for people that choose too...

really not that much different than a HDHR with CC EXCEPT it has the built in guide data, and DVR... HDHR does not.

[mechling-burgh]

Does this work only with copy freely like SageTV or does it use DRM like Windows so you can record HBO or use it on Warner cable?

[PiX64]

No idea at this point. They are just playing around with the idea, and if there is enough of a demand for it they will continue their tinkering and release a product... thats all the info i got right now

[crarbo1]

Originally Posted by PiX64

Tivo is restricted to lots of additional hardware, as well as guide data per device... it becomes quite expensive.

This would allow all the greatness that is Tablo like remote viewing, bring your own clients, web uis, so on and so forth with the added bonus of being able to use a cable card for people that choose too...

really not that much different than a HDHR with CC EXCEPT it has the built in guide data, and DVR... HDHR does not.

PiX64,
Thanks for your reply. Can you explain to me how Tablo works then as I am confused.
What hardware would I need and epg subscriptions to be able to record 8 channels at once and be able to watch everything on 3 different TV's. Assume I have nothing but the TV's and up to 2 cable cards.

Just trying to see what is involved just in case I would need to go this direction.

Thanks,
Chuck

[PiX64]

Originally Posted by crarbo1

PiX64,
Thanks for your reply. Can you explain to me how Tablo works then as I am confused.
What hardware would I need and epg subscriptions to be able to record 8 channels at once and be able to watch everything on 3 different TV's. Assume I have nothing but the TV's and up to 2 cable cards.

Just trying to see what is involved just in case I would need to go this direction.

Thanks,
Chuck

OK

So lets say tablo comes out with a CC version of their hardware. You would then need only a tablo CC edition, and your own HDD connected directly to the back of the tablo. Currently the size limitation is 2TB however they are rapidly working on breaking this barrier and have made great progress to my understanding.

Thats all you need for recordings, EPG, setting up and scheduling. There is a monthly fee of 4.99 for guide data, or 49.99 a year, or 149.99 for a lifetime subscription. this subscription includes as many tablo devices as you have... so for example i have 2 a quad tuner and my original dual tuner I gave to my dad. Both are setup on my account and I pay 1 fee yearly of 49.99

Now for watching stuff. you would need
- Web browser (chrome, mozilla, safari) all work good for me
- a smart phone
- a tablet (native ios (currently ipad only), or android tablet >= 7" in size)
- a chromecast for tv (currently limited to android casting, and is working well, but finicky - they are working to improve this and add ios support of casting
- a Roku (roku 3 wired works the best, but wireless, and roku2 xs wired also work well)
- **** forgot Apple TV
- any device running plex ( I co built a plex channel specifically for Tablo which provides live tv to any plex client, as well as access to recordings with playback, and recordings schedule.) It is currently in its first release and has a few bugs, but overall works quite well for myself. Dave and I got super busy with work and such and haven't had much time to upgrade things... hopefully soon.

Hope that helps.

[crarbo1]

Originally Posted by PiX64

OK

So lets say tablo comes out with a CC version of their hardware. You would then need only a tablo CC edition, and your own HDD connected directly to the back of the tablo. Currently the size limitation is 2TB however they are rapidly working on breaking this barrier and have made great progress to my understanding.

Thats all you need for recordings, EPG, setting up and scheduling. There is a monthly fee of 4.99 for guide data, or 49.99 a year, or 149.99 for a lifetime subscription. this subscription includes as many tablo devices as you have... so for example i have 2 a quad tuner and my original dual tuner I gave to my dad. Both are setup on my account and I pay 1 fee yearly of 49.99

Now for watching stuff. you would need
- Web browser (chrome, mozilla, safari) all work good for me
- a smart phone
- a tablet (native ios (currently ipad only), or android tablet >= 7" in size)
- a chromecast for tv (currently limited to android casting, and is working well, but finicky - they are working to improve this and add ios support of casting
- a Roku (roku 3 wired works the best, but wireless, and roku2 xs wired also work well)
- **** forgot Apple TV
- any device running plex ( I co built a plex channel specifically for Tablo which provides live tv to any plex client, as well as access to recordings with playback, and recordings schedule.) It is currently in its first release and has a few bugs, but overall works quite well for myself. Dave and I got super busy with work and such and haven't had much time to upgrade things... hopefully soon.

Hope that helps.

That does help, thanks!
I guess I will keep my eye out on this just in case I have to migrate from SageTV one day.

Thanks,
Chuck

[PiX64]

I wanted to post here that there is a new firmware update in the works which I actually have already running on my Quad Tuner Tablo which may interest many of you. I know there was always a demand for auto extending live tv events being recorded (mainly sports, and "live voting shows") directly in the SageTV product.

I know Slugger created some awesome stuff like SRE and such, but this is built right into the product now. I haven't tested it as of yet as i don't really watch sports or anything really that has "voting" shows, but here is a brief overview of a small portion of the update:

NEW - Smart Scheduling
Prevents Tablo from recording duplicates
Will record HD in favor of SD if both formats are available
If two episodes are available it will pick the broadcast with the highest signal strength
Automatically extends recording time for airings marked as 'live' (including sports and specials)
Smart Scheduling can be enabled within Settings

[tmiranda]

The way I read it the live shows are extended by a user selected amount of time. This is not as good as SRE which monitors the event and ends it whenever it ends, but it is a big improvement.

I have to say, the tablo programmers have been busy improving this product and what they have done in a short time is very good.

[mistergq]

Because of the cable card support, this is becoming interesting. However, we are going to need more tuners and the support for recording to server or some other functionality. To go from 15+ TBs to 2 TB is just not realistic at this point. Also, need HD PVR support because HBO and Cinemax cannot be copied with cable card. The NFL network I have through HD PVR because it does not display correctly on HD 200.

[PiX64]

Originally Posted by tmiranda

The way I read it the live shows are extended by a user selected amount of time. This is not as good as SRE which monitors the event and ends it whenever it ends, but it is a big improvement.

I have to say, the tablo programmers have been busy improving this product and what they have done in a short time is very good.

The way the recording extender works is that it takes shows you have set to record and if they are marked LIVE in the guide data (such as voting shows, and live sports) the tablo firmware will auto extend your recordings so that you do not miss anything.. No user intervention at all. its all firmware based.

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by PiX64

The way the recording extender works is that it takes shows you have set to record and if they are marked LIVE in the guide data (such as voting shows, and live sports) the tablo firmware will auto extend your recordings so that you do not miss anything.. No user intervention at all. its all firmware based.

How does it know when the live event is really over? Is it using a mechanism similar to SRE, that goes out and monitors various websites to see when the event ends?

I would have expected it to work more like the DVR that Comcast provides (when you schedule a recording, if the guide data is marked "live", it asks if you would like to add some padding to the end of the event, and lets you adjust how much in 15 minute increments). With the Comcast method, you are still guessing at how much extra time you might need, but it's better than nothing.

[PiX64]

Originally Posted by Tiki

How does it know when the live event is really over? Is it using a mechanism similar to SRE, that goes out and monitors various websites to see when the event ends?

I would have expected it to work more like the DVR that Comcast provides (when you schedule a recording, if the guide data is marked "live", it asks if you would like to add some padding to the end of the event, and lets you adjust how much in 15 minute increments). With the Comcast method, you are still guessing at how much extra time you might need, but it's better than nothing.

yeah - i don't know the exact logic on how it works, but I have been told by Tablo Support that it uses its epg provider to monitor the recording marked live, and auto extend it based on updated guide data and info found in the stream. much like SRE. No manual intervention by user is required.

[wayner]

That might work for most sporting events, but I doubt it would work for NHL playoffs where the event can run hours over the scheduled end.

[PiX64]

Originally Posted by wayner

That might work for most sporting events, but I doubt it would work for NHL playoffs where the event can run hours over the scheduled end.

OKAY.

Im just telling you what I was told by Tablo Support and what I have observed working.

Curious though why would you think that it wouldn't work for NHL playoffs? Are those not live? (obviously they are) Are those not marked as live in the guide and the supporting metadata?

[wayner]

I am guessing that they work by adding end padding of something like 30-60 minutes. That will work with college basketball games that often end 15 minutes after the allotted time, or NBA games that go into OT, or NHL regular season games that go to OT and then a shootout.

But if an NHL playoff game is scheduled to end at 10 pm and it doesn't actually end until 12:30 am because the game was won in the third overtime period then it is unlikely that they will have added enough padding unless somehow they monitor whether the game has actually ended.

[PiX64]

Just an update --

Tablo no has thumbnail support for ffw and rrw on both the roku ui and the web ap. NO it is not as cool as comskip, but its a darn close second and gets me over the pain and agony of missing comskip that became so near and dear to my heart :-)

There is also a new Plex Channel vr 2.0 which is a complete overhaul of the code we initially released. Huge improvements for anyone interested