ShhhHHhhhh. Don’t tell anyone, but I only watch live TV when I’m testing because users are having issues!
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The Tablo App for Roku crashes constantly when watching live TV. It drops back to the guide or Roku dashboard regularly.
Also it does not allow you to change channels. You select a channel then go back to the guide and select a different channel, and nothing. It just beeps when you select a second channel.
Also when you turn it on, it frequently shows the welcome screen like it lost my registration. You have to start the Tablo App over and over, and it will finally let you in.
There are many other problems but I won’t bother listing them here. The above are a deal breaker. Going back to regular antenna.
As a software developer of over 40 years I would be embarrassed about releasing such a dysfunctional product. The Roku App project manager should be terminated.
Tablo Firmware version: 2.2.48 (latest)
Roku App version: 0.8.401-734366
Roku Model: 3920RW
Roku OS: 12.5.0
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Mine was already off.
The registration screen only shows when there is some communication issues between your app and your Tablo.
I know this has been said dozens of times elsewhere, but rebooting everything and refreshing IPs might help with that. It’s likely you’ve tried this numerous times yourself, so maybe there’s a deeper issue.
As an example, when switching devices, I couldn’t access one Tablo while the dishwasher was running, but despite this fact, it still recorded two FAST channels without issue. When the dishwasher changed cycles, the Tablo connected instantly and did not disconnect.
And unfortunately, the Roku app is very buggy right now. It would be great if @TabloSupport should give us an estimate on any sort of update for this app. ITMT, I’m using Android and FireOS with fewer, but issues of their own.
I currently have no Tablo products and am considering the 4th Gen, 2-Tuner, 128GB Over-The-Air DVR & Streaming Player. However, all the community posts about the problems the 4th Gen is having with Roku (which I use for streaming) make me very hesitant. Question: I understand that I would set up the 4th Gen using the Tablo app on my iPhone. As a way around using the Tablo app in Roku, can I also use the Tablo app on my iPhone like a remote—i.e., to change OTA channels to watch live TV on my TV, set up recordings of OTA, etc.? If this is not the case, does anyone have any experience with Aluratek Live TV, DVR, and Streaming All-In-One Media Player? (This is NOT the same as the Aluratek - Digital TV Converter Box with Digital Video Recorder – Black.) It appears to be the only other thing on the market with features similar to that of the Tablo 4th gen (except that it does not have any internal storage). Thanks for any help.
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Welcome!
I looked at that very Aluratek before deciding on the Tablo. These two products work very differently, though. While they both allow the recording of OTA channels, from what I understood, the Aluratek PVR can only be used in one room at a time but has extra streaming platforms on it (I have a standard Aluratek PVR). The Tablo can be placed in one room and viewed anywhere on the same network, has no other streaming apps on it, but does offer free streaming stations you can record.
I had been using three PVRs around the house and bringing the flash drive with me from room to room in order to watch what I wanted, and I felt that the Tablo would better meet my needs.
I had been using a Roku in only one room and because I don’t watch live television very often, it was still a quite usable option. I have since switched this stick out while they work on updates, but mostly because the Android/FireOS app has more features.
You can certainly mirror your iPhone to most TVs and for sure your Roku. The thing to remember is that the quality might suffer. There may be jumps and freezes in video and audio playback, but this is based on your router’s capability.
You can use the Roku or your iPhone for scheduling recordings as well as live TV and recording playback, but the app is not built like a remote. I’m sure you’re familiar with the Roku remote app, which likely would not improve the Tablo app’s behavior when it comes to live TV playback. The big key to the Roku’s live TV watching seems to be pausing or using the jump back feature on the remote, creating a better buffer for the Roku that is more stable. Temporary fix for a temporary problem.
I’m impressed that you’ve done so much research and looked at so many different posts on this. It’s understandable that you’re still quite cautious when it comes to making a decision. As stated elsewhere, I would still very much buy this product (total of 3 now). If your main use will be recording and watching later (which I believe is the only way you can use the Aluratek), you will be fine. If you were already going to invest in one device that would take up an HDMI port on your TV, it might be worth picking up the $20 Walmart onn. box if one of your Rokus does have an issue. (The Tablo does not connect to any TV via the HDMI port.)
I think overall, you would be better with the Tablo. I can’t find a whole lot of information about the Aluratek, but with my current one, I cannot watch other stations or a recording while it is in use. The Tablo has more tuners and has helped me feel less tied-down. Even though I had 3 similar products, I still had to keep an eye on what was recording and when so I could swap out disks to watch on a different system.
Keep doing the research and keep asking questions!
Like this one – @TabloSupport , @TabloEngineering : Have you found a commonality in which Roku models/devices DO work with the Tablo app? Maybe a table, graph, some sort of chart that lists which ones seem to have issues and which ones do not? This would help users to see if their current Roku/RokuTV is working without issue. Thank you!
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@TabloSupport are there any updates to correct these crashes? I see alot of complaints like mine, but I don’t see REAL solutions, just various suggestions like refresh your install of Tablo, update your Roku, clear cache, etc. I want to see that the Tablo Support team is actually fixing this HUGE problem of crashes particularly viewing live TV. In addition, the Tablo app has a hard time resetting back to the home screen. For example, watching a live show and then back to the app to look at another channel and you can’t select it without getting completely out of the app, and back in.
On Roku can’t you do everything without using the Home menu? Since I never use the Home menu maybe that’s why my Roku’s never crash.
I’m not sure how you avoid the home screen since the app opens up there.
The problem with the Roku versions that are crashing, is that when live TV craps out, it returns to one of three places: The app home screen, the app live grid, or the Roku home screen. Users are trying to watch live TV from the grid. I’m not sure what you mean or how it solves anything.
… letting Tablo know which Rokus you have that aren’t having an issue might help them figure out why others are. ITMT, many systems are not working right.
Mine never crashes either. The primary Roku that I use is the Onn Roku Tv model H508X running software version 12.5.5 build 4174-EP.
The other 5 Roku’s of different models haven’t crashed either, most likely because I don’t use them as often or as long.
I do use the home screen.
I think very few users are having an issue with the built-in OS of their RokuTVs. That’s a very encouraging thing for people who rely on that for their main viewing.
In my testing, it seems very random. I can run for hours on the 3941 without issue, but then if I try it later, I need to pause. I think that even though they recommend the 5ghz network, I have fewer issues with the 2.4ghz network, perhaps this helps slow down and limit how much is shoved into memory, and doesn’t cause an overload in the RAM. IDK, but this has been an interesting thing to try to duplicate in consistent ways!
The Roku can be set to come up on different screens.
I failed to mention that I have a very stable and strong 300mb wifi signat as measured at the Roku.
And do you get locked out of the Home menu as decribed above and have to exit the app? If not may the Roku problems may not be ???. Or maybe limited to bottom feeding models.
I don’t get locked out
Is that a new Tablo app setting I missed?
I just haven’t seen many of the problems that others have seen with 4th gen or Roku, or the android mobile app for that matter.
The only thing I can say is that I made sure to have good, stable, fast wifi at all locations.
It just showed up as a Roku app. Roku shows the last update was on 01/04/24 @ 10:20 am
I just noticed that things work better for you at 2 4ghz. The measured signal strength at any location is normally stronger at 2.4 than 5.
Except that even in my apartment, I can literally get no further than 50 feet away from the WiFi router (45 by my actual measuring). Full bars there. This is why I wonder if the higher bandwidth is bombarding the device with too much information at once. OC, the older Roku is only able to recognize the 2.4ghz channel and has its own issues! I’m about to test the one on the 5ghz and see how well it works, but this is the one that gives me inconsistent results.
@zippy – are you saying you’ve found a way to avoid the Tablo app’s home page? If so, how?