I’ve got the Gen 4 (actually two of them) but ran into numerous issues. Battling issues over the past year. Latest issues are missing guide data and now can’t schedule new recordings or previously scheduled recordings (that were working fine) now stopped recording.
Anyway, long story short, too many problems with Tablo and Tablo guide data … so I decided to switch to ZapperBox new 4 tuner box soon to be released. Hopefully my numerous Tablo numerous issues will be soon in the distant past.
Yes, the past year has been a ridiculous rollercoaster compared to the previous 9 or 10 for us. When the Tablo is working though, it’s great.
I have a two tuner Zapperbox. Which I do not use all the time. At our house, the main device is a legacy 4 tuner Tablo, which has been solid.
The Zapperbox is a different kind of device, since it connects to your TV via HDMI. Though sharing tuner and recordings across your home network to other Zapperbox devices is being worked on. But, they are actively developing the device, with firmware updates multiple times per year. They are working through the ATSC3.0 DRM problems, and getting better and better over time.
Isn’t Zapper rather expensive?
Yes when compared to Tablo, but the ZapperBox is much more than the 4th Gen Tablo.
The device that @Way2fst mentions is currently on perorder for $299.99, with delivery expected around the first of the year. Plus you must subscribe to their guide service for $50/year or $400/lifetime. So yes, it is much more expensive, but you get 4 ATSC 3.0/1.0 tuners which will future proof the device if/when ATSC 1.0 broadcasts are sunseted. If/when ATSC 1.0 broadcasts are sunseted, your 4th Gen Tablo will just be a paper weight. When the ZapperBox is compared to other ATSC 3.0 devices such as the HDHR Flex, it is much more competitive.
Just wondering…I know you’re saying future-proof, but is there a possibility that the Zapperbox won’t work if the ATSC 3.0 standard is changed?..or they somehow won’t certify that particular device due to hardware? Is there anything that a firmware update wouldn’t fix that could render it inoperable?
Yes, that’s a steep up-front cost, but in the long run it’s probably going to be worth it, since many spend $100 or $200/month on cable or other services. We’ve been using our lifetime guide subscription on the OG Legacy device for 10 years this month.
I have another question about Zapperbox - if I use it with Plex or Jellyfin, I can stream within or outside my network on any supported device, is that correct?
Since I don’t own a ZapperBox, I can only answer with what I have learned from LonTV, AntennaMan and ZapperBox’s website.
It is my understanding that the ZapperBox is the only ATSC 3.0 device that currently can handle the current DRM challenges. It is able to record and play DRM encrypted channels. They are working on a software update that will allow DRM encrypted recordings to be played on other ZapperBoxes or ZapperBox mini’s on the same network. The next major release will be to start supporting Rokus, FireTVs, ONN boxes, etc. As far as I know, the ZapperBox does not support Plex and I have no idea about Jellyfin.
I don’t think anyone can claim to be 100% future proof since it’s possible that the standard could be completely changed, but at this point in the game I think they have done everything possible to insure that their device will work with whatever the broadcasters throw at them.
I’m definitely considering pre-ordering one. I have very little faith that Tablo will be offering an ATSC 3.0 unit anytime in the near future and if they do, I’m afraid that it would have the same growing pains that the 4th Gen Tablo has had.
The only reliable way to know zapper’s capabilities would be to contact the company.
They have so many models, with specs changing as they update, that i personally am confused.
I do believe some of their products can receive nextgen, but only if it’s not encoded. nextgen currently being broadcast is not encoded, yet, correct? Those regs remain to be decided.
zapper is not selling de-entcryption devices, AFAIK.
Tablo remains the VolksDVR.
I would not count on anything “remote”. So, yes, captive one device record and play from same one device, that could work. And I know that 4th gen users are stuck in locked in land as well… but we in the OG world or Plex DVR world know of a universal OTA world that really, in many ways, would blow your mind. And… of course, Zapperbox is constrained by the same stupid temporal licensing… on top of mind you, individual per recording temporal keys… all of which are… again, temporal. That is, today, you can watch what you recorded on Zapperbox, but tomorrow, that’s not guaranteed at all.
If you are getting annoyed at the recent issues related to the Tablo guide, then maybe a Zapperbox isn’t for you right now. It is a high price point to be what is effectively a beta tester for new hardware and features while also going through the growing pains of ATSC 3.0 and DRM encryption. Just my 2 cents.
The reason I bought Tablo was becuase $120 one time cost. Moving to ZB will allow you to use ATSC 3.0, even though its current state is a mess. I cannot deny that I have been watching and reading the ZB and HDHR devices. If HDHR supported DRM, id go that route. I would really love for for Tablo to work and be reliable along with its various app platforms. I guess $120 was to good to be true.
Tablo could clean this up by making the internet a weekly dump back to there servers rather than real time instance. That was promised back in the original NFL season start crash of last year. Still waiting.
The Zapperboxes work great, I have 3 of them, only problem is no streaming until end of the year according to them. DRM works fine but it is like TiVo, only HDMI connected.
There is also a Zapper M3 MIni, same as a TiVo Mini, that lets you stream without having to run a cable it. This only works with ATSC 1 and no DRM ATSC 3 right now, full ATSC 3 DRM streaming is around December.
According to the techs at ZB they DO have it fully working right now, have to wait for approvals and things before releasing it to us.
That’s good to hear on Zapperbox. I’ve been watching their developer progress for the last year and they seem to be able to remain on schedule with their published roadmap. That’s why when the pre-order for the 4-tuner device became available (given all the issues I’ve been having with Tablo gen 4), I committed.
I’ll keep the Tablo around as it will still serve a purpose, but the Zapperbox will eventually take front and center. Hopefully once that happens, complaints to me from my wife about unreliable antenna TV (that I bought) will stop LOL.
Just came across this - haven’t had a chance to watch it yet.
Wasn’t there recently a gigantic battle with hearings and documentation before the FCC about the fact that A3SA has no approved gateway products or no specifications that allow gateways to be implemented.
It’s my understanding that any TV reception equipment for bought now, in the belief that said equipment offers “futureproofing”, is a pipedream.
Zapper suggests their boxes (or some of them, at some time in the future) offer future proofing, so I am already suspicious. Guess that’s my own ignorance getting in the way me experiencing full nextgen zapper goodness huh?
Tablo is really awful. Seems like every day around 5pm to 6pm CT it becomes unresponsive. I’m of the impression it is related to Tablo servers and guide service … when those aren’t working well, it negatively impacts the Tablo user experience and this is at the root of my issues with the gen 4 device.
I wonder if servers providing content to the different DTV markets or MSA’s has something to do with such issues. We’re in the CDT D/FW market but we [thankfully] don’t see many issues.
Sorry you’re running into that.
You might be running into an intermittent connection issue. This article may help: Sources of Obstructions and Interference for Antenna TV – Tablo
Thanks for the response TabloTV. My antenna reception is great, no obstructions. I’ve got it pole mounted high up, 200 mile antenna and I’m only 33 mi away from the transmitters.
Since my post, I’ve started tracking the interruptions. I moved the Tablo LAN connection to my gateway device directly, bypassing my security/firewall appliance. Errors are not daily, more like weekly (or longer periods), but around the same time (between 4:30p and 6p CT). Prior to my Aug 11 post, I did capture an error on Tue Jul 22nd at 4:35 pm and started tracking more closely early September.
From my logs, I see the Tablo device can transmit packets to your cloud server, but I get receive errors back from the Tablo cloud server. Error reported: experiencing multiple reception errors during the period noted. When they occur, Tablo is un-usable and hangs.
Oct 03, 2025 5:16 PM Fri Tx errors 0 Rx errors 104,475
Sep 25, 2025 5:57 PM Thu Tx errors 0 Rx errors 528,414
Sep 18, 2025 5:56 PM Thu Tx errors 0 Rx errors 507,949
Sep 11, 2025 5:55 PM Thu Tx errors 0 Rx errors 346,714
Sep 04, 2025 5:50 PM Thu Tx errors 0 Rx errors 449,758
Just thought I’d mention in case there is any kind of maintenance going on with the TV guide or something else. But my Tablo is the only device experiencing reception issues on my network, as noted.