I fully agree, Tablo should have the option for recording in non-transcoded 720p/1080i mpeg2. In addition to there being devices which can decode it, for those who wish to record and archive shows or specials, the end user should be able to save them as originally shown not transcoded to h.264.
@kennethervinyoung Very odd. We worked on this yesterday and this morning to try and reproduce this but we can't seem to replicate this behaviour.. We've heard of another report like this, so we'll continue to investigate.@DaFury We've been investigating and doing some thorough testing on the delivery of the shorter segments for live TV startup, and it appears that in some cases, it can lead to more buffering.We don't have an ETA yet, but we're looking at implementing a 'switch' to toggle the fast start for Live TV, this way users can enable the feature and to see if it works for them. I don't have too many others details to share just yet, but we absolutely intend to address this as soon as we can.
Did you record a show under the “prior” firmware, then run the update to 2.1.18, then look under “Recordings” via a Roku 2 box? If you do, you should see the recording you made under the “old” firmware is “not visible” on the Roku app but if you check via the iPad or web app, the show is “visible” and playable.
@kennethervinyoung Very odd. We worked on this yesterday and this morning to try and reproduce this but we can't seem to replicate this behaviour.. We've heard of another report like this, so we'll continue to investigate.@DaFury We've been investigating and doing some thorough testing on the delivery of the shorter segments for live TV startup, and it appears that in some cases, it can lead to more buffering.We don't have an ETA yet, but we're looking at implementing a 'switch' to toggle the fast start for Live TV, this way users can enable the feature and to see if it works for them. I don't have too many others details to share just yet, but we absolutely intend to address this as soon as we can.
Any update on the switch? My 4 tuner is working flawlessly except for the buffering issue.
@roraniel The next release is nearly there. We’ve got a few more things we’d like to address and some testing to do, but we’re getting close.
Thanks. We are very happy overall with the Tablo.
Here’s my 2 cents regarding the long buffer times to start watching Live TV, etc. I think it would be awesome if a new model of Tablo DVR were to come out in the future which offered direct output connections (HDMI, Composite, Optical, etc.) in addition to the existing HLS method that is currently available. This would provide the best of both worlds. Place this new Tablo model at the “Main TV” for the best viewing experience there. As for the rest of the house, HLS isn’t the end of the world. If you want things to be faster, go use the “Main TV” in the house. Most kids (at my house and friends) don’t even have a TV in their rooms these days. It’s either a PC or a laptop and/or a tablet. So, for kids, the fast-tune idea is essentially moot.
Yes, I realize that such a box would cost more as it would require more hardware, possibly licensing (not sure if HDMI, etc. requires licensing). But, I, for one, would be very willing to ante up and pay for such a box. For one thing, it would allow me to take that p.o.s. Roku box out of “service” and make it go sleep with the fishes. Second, I would love to have those fast-tuning abilities during breaking news events such as severe weather without having to split the antenna cable and hook direct to the TV and then have to switch TV inputs to the TV tuner. It’s doable, but I’d love to have everything in one neat package as I’m sure most of us would.
Basically, after reading the very educational and well-written post by Tablo Support earlier in this thread, it sounds like this would probably be the only way to satisfy those who want all of the conveniences of the current Tablo together with those of a regular TV tuner/DVR.
A much simpler solution: split your OTA antenna cable and send 1 cable directly to the tuner in your HDTV. You’ll get Live TV on the TV with fast channel switching. Use the Tablo only for DVR purposes.
Just like anything else there are different strokes for different folks.
For our purposes the the load times are a non issue and channel surfing OTA is not a requirement. We do 90% of our viewing using other media (Netflix, Amazon, Roku Channels) and about 5% recorded OTA so we rarely watch live TV and if we want to watch live TV waiting a few seconds is acceptable. The buffering is what is annoying for us but I can see where others would want to duplicate a direct to TV experience to avoid changing inputs. For us getting the Tablo achieved the never changing inputs goal as all our movies get streamed via Plex so the BluRay player never gets used.
Looking at the Tablo’s capabilities I assume a household like ours was there target demographic.
@marsradioA much simpler solution: split your OTA antenna cable and send 1 cable directly to the tuner in your HDTV. You’ll get Live TV on the TV with fast channel switching. Use the Tablo only for DVR purposes.
This is exactly what we do. Watching Tablo content/recordings is then similar to watching Netflix or Amazon Prime.
@marsradioA much simpler solution: split your OTA antenna cable and send 1 cable directly to the tuner in your HDTV. You’ll get Live TV on the TV with fast channel switching. Use the Tablo only for DVR purposes.
This is what we do as well. The only live tv we watch is the local news/weather.
I have a Roku3, 4 tuner model(directly connected to Internet) and do all scheduling with the PC app. The problems I’m experiencing are related to how the Roku3 and Tablo communicate. I do not experience any issue if I watch on my laptop which is over WiFi. However with the Roku3 I get 4 or 5 times buffering during shows and I get totally hung. When I go to recordings it just says wait and never comes back. The only way to fix it is to reboot Roku and if that does not work to reboot the Tablo. This freezing is happening to me on a daily basis.
You can watch Tablo on FireTV by sideloading either the Android native app or the Android Web app but you will need a wireless mouse to operate it.
@theuser86 et al
A much simpler solution: split your OTA antenna cable and send 1 cable
directly to the tuner in your HDTV. You’ll get Live TV on the TV with
fast channel switching. Use the Tablo only for DVR purposes.
directly to the tuner in your HDTV. You’ll get Live TV on the TV with
fast channel switching. Use the Tablo only for DVR purposes.
I do the same. And, fortunately, I’m not noticing any signal loss with the split. Yes, for OTA channel surfing, I can switch TV inputs. It’s not a biggie. Also, if all I need to do is flip back and forth between a couple channels, then there is no buffering after the first initial buffer. Basically, the tuners stay on those channels simultaneously and thus going back and forth, say, between 2 games, is very fast.
Having a direct connection would allow for everything to happen from the same box.
However, my true hang up is the Roku. I actually have a brand new Amazon Fire TV box which I’m going to hook up soon. So, if Tablo is able to make an app for Amazon Fire TV, then that would also allow me to hold a funeral for the Roku box.
I also recently purchased a new TV. It’s a Vizio. I have to say that Vizio’s apps so far are absolutely bullet-proof! Netflix, Amazon, iHeart, etc. just purr along without even a single pixel of a glitch. So, if Tablo were to create an app for Vizio, that would help too. Sadly, I have no intention of going the route of Apple TV.
@a9erfan You and I are in the same hell with the Roku box. I have to say that tech support from Roku compared to Tablo support is like night and day. Roku is just horrible. They ignore the 500-pound elephant in the room (such as their botched firmware update in early October) and do all they can to impugn the end user’s setup. I want to be done with Roku, and Tablo will be the only reason the Roku box remains plugged in now that I can watch Netflix, Amazon and Crackle via either the Vizio and the Fire TV box.
We even use Plex to enjoy family home movies. Plex via Roku is a complete train wreck!!! But, when I use Plex via Xbox 360 and now on the Vizio TV, it purrs along just fine without a single rebuffer or glitch. All of this equipment is on the same network. Yet, Roku points the finger at my equipment.
So, once again, I’m squeaking the wheel voicing my hopes that Tablo will create an app for Amazon and/or Vizio.
I believe you could do it through Plex too. But this doesn’t change the fact the a native app needs to be developed, and hopefully soon.
@BraveUpNorth
Plex noob question, I thought you need a PC running Plex server 24/7 in order to watch Tablo with Plex channel on FireTV, do you ?
Don't have a Fire TV yet. I think Santa has one for me though.
Currently using the Android app/Chromecast.
Plex requires you to download the Media Server software (free), and set it up on a PC. Not sure if you are asking if the PC that you downloaded Plex to needs to be running 24/7, or if the media server itself needs to be. That PC is always on in our house, but Plex is left off, at least on that CPU.
@TabloSupport If your message means what I think it means, you are making my Little Lion very happy....
@BraveUpNorth
There were no hidden messages here!
