No internet use

Can Tablo give us an update on when they might update Tablo to work when there is no internet access?

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Bump and second. It is insane that this was not included in the original release.

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We understand your concerns about having a 4th Generation Tablo DVR that can function offline. While we can’t give an ETA on this, rest assured this a top priority of our development team.

We thank you for your patience and will keep you up to date.

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This problem manifested itself on the first NFL weekend. The following Monday (September 9th), we all received an email from “The Tablo TV Team” indicating the software changes were being made so OTA TV would work even when there was a loss of connectivity.

We are now about half-way through the NFL regular season, with no fix in sight.

Earlier generations of Tablo TV worked when internet access was unavailable, so your developers must have a codebase you can access to implement this in the 4th generation product.

You think we’ll see this bug fixed before the end of the NFL season?

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It’s not a bug. It was designed that way, and now they are changing the design, which obviously takes time.

The original Tablo also has issues when the internet is out. No web client, Roku stops working if the Roku loses any power, etc.

Let’s give the Tablo folks time to improve this design.

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Based on a large number of posts desiring that legacy units work when the internet was out plus the introduction of the legacy HDMI model why would a company architect and design a new generation of tablo dependent on the internet. And a power outage is a completely different problem from internet outage.

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The “problem” and any “solution” are difficult. I don’t own a 4th gen, but definitely curious to know how they plan to handle it and what the “rules” (decisions) are that they make in the various cases.

Easier, if certain things were part of the original design. If not, this could be a real headache to do.

I am a tech novice, however it seems to me obvious that gen 4 can’t just be quick jiggered to work w/o internet connection, correct?

To do that, you’d really need an “all new” redesigned from the ground up gen 5, not just a refreshed and facelifted gen 4. And I have seen no suggestions or rumors anywhere about an upcoming gen 5, or its great features.

Maybe time to PM Lon and AntennaMan for the scoop on future product.

BTW I am counting myself fortunate that even with my roku ultra vers 14 and latest Tablo app, my Tabs are working OK, just a little clunk time to time. BTW my TV is a Samsung at least 15 years old.

Perhaps you’re both correct. If that’s the case, the TabloTV team has no business emailing Gen4 owners promising a fix to be worked on as a priority with alacrity.

For me, personally, I switched my main TV to use HDHR via Channels DVR.

The HDHR Flex 4K and the Tablo Gen4 are connected to the same antenna via a splitter. There’s no difference in reception. However, I do get several unencrypted ATSC3 channels with the HDHR.

I’m hoping that Tablo’s fix for the Gen4 will permit it to be accessed locally via Channels DVR like earlier versions of Tablo - at least for OTA channels.

its a software change not a hardware change. Thats what firmware updates are for. There is no need for a new device.

First, you’re probably right.

I say “probably”, because you can’t get something that can’t be provided. If the changes require more memory and the memory isn’t there, then it can’t be done. Likewise, if the changes require more processing power that can’t be adequately provided, then it can’t be done.

I only mention that, because it can cause generational hardware upgrades (new hardware) on set top boxes.

for sure there are instances of changes needing new hardware in products, no argument there.

But in this case we’re talking about the device just functioning as it does currently when the internet connection outside your house is out or Tablos servers are down. We arent asking for new features that require more power or memory. Just to continue functioning as it currently can when an internet connection cannot be made. Theres no hardware missing for that to happen.Its just software logic that needs adjustment.

Bump to see if there’s any update on this from the company.

Can Tablo gen 4 be fixed to function when my internet connection is down and just display antenna channels? HDHomerun has this capability, so I know it is doable. Is there a workaround or something?

There is a thread about that here:

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We’ll move this to that thread.

To answer this question, offline Tablo is in the works, but we can’t, unfortunately, give an ETA on it yet.

We look forward to giving everyone a clearer update on this soon.