My new Tablo 4th Gen works perfectly on the TV with a Roku Ultra. But I see in the Support section that Live TV and recordings don’t work on the Streaming Stick #3830, which is what I have on my other TV.
Is this a fundamental incompatibility or something a future update might resolve?
This appears to be a Roku issue, not a Tablo issue. My understanding is that Roku created a low-cost stick that doesn’t have the required specs for OTA.
From the Wikipedia page, the 3830 uses an Amlogic processor instead of Realtec. Maybe it doesn’t support MPEG2?
That makes sense, though it sucks. Roku may not believe it’s in their best interest to facilitate other devices as gateways to OTA programming.
I’ll get another Ultra. The Tablo isn’t much use on that other TV if I can only view their native (non-OTA) content.
I never thought I would miss cable/satellite…
We’ve been without cable or satellite and using Tablo with OTA for many years and don’t miss them at all. We use streaming services to fill in gaps. You’ll get settled in and hopefully save a bundle in the long run.
If you bought the stick on Amazon or BestBuy and you’re going to return it, make sure you include in your online review that it doesn’t work with Tablo.
In reviewing the specs on that chip, it looks like it doesn’t support H.262/MPEG-2 or H.264/MPEG-4 for video decoding.
Although, this set of specs shows slightly different results, which is still problematic for H.262/MPEG-2:
That would be our recommendation.
More info on why here:
Someone saw my Tablo in action and was really interested in one. I told him that you need a better then average antenna plus a Roku Ultra. He has an Apple TV streamer and I said that works well but you can’t start watching from beginning of show you’re recording. My wife and I do it constantly so important to us. Also a external HD 2TB minimum recommend 
Quirks and all still glad I brought one.
We haven’t had cable or satellite for 6+ years, so we’re converts. The Tablo replaces our TiVo OTA DVR system, which worked great until it didn’t. TiVo doesn’t make or service their devices, for which we paid a bundle, including a “lifetime” guide subscription. You can’t beat their interface but at about 10x the cost of this Tablo it was a loser purchase.
As dumb luck would have it, I kept an older Ultra that I had replaced with a newer model. Forgot all about it. I had to update everything since it had not been used for a while but I replaced my Streaming Stick with it and Tablo works like a charm now.
Thanks everyone.
I just hooked up a roku streaming stick plus 4k model sku=3830R and my live and recording play. Did something change? They didn’t work months ago and the app would just crash back to the guide.
Got Tablo Settings>Troubleshooting>Audio Compatibility Mode>On. This is known issue with Roku and Tablo. Should fix playback issue. Also check to make sure you have Roku firmware up to date. https://support.tablotv.com/hc/en-us/articles/32495759693972-Enabling-Audio-Compatibility-Mode-for-Roku-on-the-4th-Generation-Tablo
I don’t think you are understanding. I am saying they work fine. When tablo themselves are saying it shouldn’t work. Am I missing something?
It could be that none of the channels you’re watching require MPEG-2. Not being a DTV expert myself, I’m not sure this is the case.
The Roku Ultra Can Play All Required Video Formats
Tablo is one of a few Roku-compatible apps that delivers video in a format called MPEG2, which is used by over-the-air antenna TV. While most Roku devices support this, the newest Roku Streaming Stick Plus (model 3830) does not. If you have a Roku Streaming Stick Plus and find that you can play streaming channels but not antenna TV channels via the Tablo app, upgrading to the Ultra will resolve this.
I’d say the odds of “anywhere” having only mpeg4 ATSC 1.0 is slim to none. Well, at least in markets with 4 networks/stations or more.
Hi everyone.
Roku resolved the issue on their end, the Roku 3830 can now handle MPEG 2. However, you might still need Audio Compatibility Mode.
We’ll be updating our documentation accordingly.
