NEW - Legacy Tablo Firmware Release (v. 2.2.58)

Announcements
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Hi there Tablo family!

A new Tablo firmware is on the way for legacy network-connected Tablo DVRs.

This excludes the Tablo DUAL HDMI and QUAD HDMI.

Among other improvements, this firmware enables the Legacy Transition, which provides more choices for using and accessing your Tablo moving forward.

This is a long post, so we’ve added these handy section links:

About the 2.2.58 Firmware

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Like all Tablo firmware updates, this is being distributed in a staged rollout over the next few weeks. A small number of customers will receive the update today, with more added to the rollout every weekday.

When your DVR is eligible for the update, a notification will pop up within most Tablo apps and will look like this:

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Here’s what you can expect:


Release Notes for Legacy Tablo Firmware 2.2.58

• Adds legacy transition support for network-connected Tablo devices
• Adds connectivity improvements for Wi-Fi mesh networks
• Bug fixes and performance improvements

NOTE: Post-upgrade database processes (if needed) may take several minutes to complete. During this time the LED will be blinking. Do not power down the Tablo until the LED is solid again

Visit TabloTV.com/legacy for details on the legacy transition and how to enable it on your Tablo after the firmware update.


About the Legacy Transition

Along with some other improvements, the core content in this firmware update is support for what we call the ‘Legacy Transition’.

This allows owners of legacy network-connected Tablo devices to access and manage those DVRs via newer 4th Generation Tablo apps.

Updating your firmware WILL NOT prevent you from accessing your Tablo through the legacy Tablo apps you use today.

It simply gives you more options for using and accessing your Tablo going forward.

You can learn more and explore the choices the Tablo legacy transition firmware enables on the Tablo website at tablotv.com/legacy.


Getting Started

Before you can access your legacy Tablo device from 4th Generation Tablo apps, your Tablo will need to be updated to the 2.2.58 firmware using any legacy Tablo app.

The firmware is being distributed in a staged rollout over the next few weeks, so you will need to wait until your Tablo is eligible.

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When your Tablo receives the firmware update notification, please follow these steps to get started with the Legacy Transition:

  • Update your firmware using a legacy Tablo app
  • Download the 4th Gen Tablo app on your smartphone or tablet
  • Create a new Tablo account (unless you’ve previously set up a 4th Generation Tablo device)
  • Once your account is confirmed, complete the shortened setup process as directed in the app
  • Download 4th Generation apps and connect to your Tablo on your smart TVs and other devices

Get detailed step-by-step how-to instructions on the Legacy Transition website and the Tablo Knowledge Base.

What to Expect with the Legacy Transition

When you access your legacy Tablo via 4th Gen Tablo apps you’ll see:

  • A fully revamped and easy-to-use interface
  • Most completed recordings and schedules created on your legacy Tablo device (see below for the exceptions)
  • Subscription-free TV guide data and DVR features, including the ability to set series recordings
  • Access to 60+ free streaming channels within the 4th Generation Tablo interface (US residents only)
  • Most settings options (see below for exceptions)

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What you won’t see are:

  • Features like Automatic Commercial Skip and Tablo Connect. Those will continue to be available via legacy Tablo apps for those with active TV Guide Data and Premium Service subscriptions.
  • Some functionality around manual recordings. You won’t be able to set or edit manual recording schedules using 4th Gen Tablo apps or see older manual recordings in your library. But, freshly completed manual recordings will be visible and playable from the LATEST category in the LIBRARY screen on 4th Generation apps.
  • Settings for features like Automatic Commercial Skip or Tablo Connect, which aren’t available via 4th Generation apps.

FAQs

If you have questions about this firmware update, the Legacy Transition, or how to enable it, additional information is available on the Tablo Knowledge Base, including:

Information for Samsung & LG App Users

Legacy device owners running firmware 2.2.58 may experience frequent reloading, causing interrupted navigation and/or playback on 4th Generation Tablo apps for Samsung and LG smart TVs. Legacy Tablo apps for Samsung and LG will not be affected. A hotfix will be available soon, but in the meantime, a workaround is available to stabilize your experience.

Information for Tablo HDMI Owners

If you own a Tablo DUAL HDMI or Tablo QUAD HDMI, which are not eligible for the transition, you can learn more about the Legacy Trade-In Coupon program on the Tablo website and Knowledge Base.

Eligible participants are not required to physically return their legacy HDMI Tablo devices to take part in the program or redeem their coupon.

General Firmware Update Help

If you have trouble connecting to your Tablo after the update, wait 10 minutes, then reboot the Tablo and try again.

For other tips and tricks on successful firmware updates head over to the Knowledge Base.

Otherwise, if you have any feedback or questions about this release, please post them below.

If you need support, place a ticket and we’ll be in touch soon.

2 Likes
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Too bad I have the HDMI version and not supported, I’ve the 4th generation as well, 30 off to swap for a newer version doesn’t seem like a nice deal specially since your company runs deals all year with the same amount for a discount

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And if legacy firmware 2.2.58 turns out to be a turd can it be rolled back.

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As one of the beta testers for this, it is a really cool update. I still use my legacy app on my computer but use the 4th gen app on other devices. I can set up manual recordings on my legacy and play them back on the 4th gen (something desired by many, though the manual recording does have to be created after the firmware update).

Despite the difference in age (my legacy is over 10 years old while my 4th gen is just a few years old), it performs quite well in channel switching. I am using my legacy device a whole lot more now since I have a bigger hard drive on it than my 4th gen (still using built in drive).

I am so glad this is finally released.

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We know that the gen 4 apps have an unhealthy reliance on tablo servers. Has this same reliance been introduced into this new legacy firmware.

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Offline mode is introduced with this version, which automatically prompts you to go into offline mode when your Tablo cannot communicate with Tablo Servers.

It also will prompt you to go back into online mode when it senses communication to the Tablo Servers can be reestablished.

Kinda surprised they didn’t mention this in the firmware release post.
*cough* @TabloTV *cough*

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PLEASE ----- like zippy above many of us want to know if you will leave the current legacy update on your server so we can revert if the new update turns out to be crap???

I am so happy with my legacy unit. I know your attempt is to make things better so how about honoring the simple request from so many to allow a reversion if the new update fails to satisfy.

How long will it be before my legacy Tablo unit will be forced to update or die in effect???

If I am honest I am tempted to hard wire and JTAG my legacy unit but even if I do that I suspect a return to the old firmware will be followed by a forced upgrade anyway. Am I correct?

Beta Testors: Can you leave both Tablo apps on your device and select either of them as you wish? e.g. - I have commercial skip so for some shows I would use the legacy app and enable the skip feature, which is fantastic. BUT if I wanted to investigate some of the new stuff I would access my Tablo via the Gen 4 app. In essence can I use both apps as per my needs or do I need to settle in to using one of the generation of apps? Make sense?

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Yes, you can go back and forth as much as you want between the Legacy app and the 4th gen app. For me, the legacy app is useful for my PC as well as setting up manual recordings, while I like the 4th gen for everything else. You can certainly keep both apps installed on all your devices.

Whenever the firmware is updated, it shows up in both the legacy and 4th gen app, so it doesn’t matter where it is updated. Schedules can be set up in either app and played back in either app. It really is very flexible.

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Snowcat, if I record a network show with commercial skip enabled and elect to watch that recording using the Gen 4 app will the skip work or do I need to drop back to the legacy app to watch that recording with skip enabled?

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Since gen4 does not support commercial skip, it would only work on the legacy app. Same thing if you wanted to use the remote connect feature of the legacy Tablo.

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How do you turn off all FAST channel support in 2.2.58 firmware.

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Another question (or two or three) - how do users of both the OG/Legacy and Gen4 manage the channels? Are they separated?..one set for the Gen4 and one for the Legacy?..or is the channel selection merged?

I suppose they still function as two distinct and separate units. Is that correct? So the Gen4 app can now see the Legacy device but the Legacy app can’t see the Gen4 device.

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You can manually remove all FAST channels from the guide, though you have to do it every time more FAST channels are added. There is no “disable FAST channels” option. But FAST Channels can only be modified, watched, and recorded in the 4th gen app. The legacy app doesn’t see them.

The channel guide is the same for both legacy and 4th gen app, with the exception of FAST channels (only in 4th gen app). One thing I thought was interesting is that I had my legacy PC app up and then ran a channel scan on my 4th gen app on my phone. The legacy app automatically went the channel scan page and did the scan simultaneously with my phone app. I saved the changes in my phone (no need to do it on both).

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It’s one unit. Now if you have a legacy and a 4th gen device, the legacy app will only see the legacy Tablo, while you can switch back and forth on the 4th gen app between the two devices.

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snowcat or others,

Do the thumbnails work exactly the same way when playing back a recording and does it still only take 10 minutes or less to generate thumbnails when the recording is done. I know about needing to have an available tuner I mean in a scenario where a recording is done and no others recordings are currently happening.

Thanks in advance. I know what its like to be a beta testor where folks want to know how its been for YOU. You signed up for it, LOL!!

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On a gen 4 not selecting any FAST channel does not disable all the crap architecture that manages and phones home

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Thanks for the clarification. What I’m asking (not very clearly) is whether or not the two devices still store separate channel lineups - one for the Legacy and one for the Gen4. From the Gen4 app, if I load the Legacy device do I see a separate channel guide listing for that device?..or, do they share the same channel lineup and guide listing now? I hope this makes sense.

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Many thanks are due to @snowcat and the other members of our Beta team.

Yes of course. You can use the same method you have always used to roll back any other firmware upgrade.

As you said, the apps rely on the servers.

If you don’t ever want any FAST channels, then don’t use any 4G app and restrict yourself to the classic Tablo apps.

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There was SO MUCH else that needed to be communicated. We had to draw the line at some point :slight_smile:

But if the feature exists in a 4th Gen app, legacy Tablo devices that have completed the legacy transition steps should be able to take advantage of it.

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Yes. Nothing will change with this since that’s a base device-level function.

We recommend checking out the Legacy Transition page on the website as well as the FAQ links to the Knowledge Base.

Many of your questions are likely already answered there.