Pretty sure I am going to get a Tablo, so which version?
HDMI seems mostly out of stock, but an option
Need to record and view in 1080P
Connect to 2 tvs. Can either do wired/wireless or a 10mish HDMI cable (2 bedrooms upstairs)
Would prefer to install an internal HD (seen some seem to have a bay for an HD). versus an external connected HD.
I can run an ethernet cable to the tablo or if it supports it wifi to get to internet (probably going to get the TV guide service).
Assuming both versions are available (HDMI and wifi), which one do ppl suggest? Finding it hard to get enough info to figure out what the differences are (other than wifi versus HDMI)
The network connected model will allow you to record and view in 1080p since it transcodes what you are recording or view to a maximum resolution of 1080p. The HDMI unit does not transcode the signal, therefore you will receive what is broadcasted up to 1080i.
The network version is designed to connect to multiple TV’s with or without a guide subscription. The HDMI version was principally designed to connect to one TV. It can be used to connect to multiple TV’s if you purchased the guide subscription. However, you are limited on the streaming devices that are supported. The only other option for connecting to 2 TVs is to use an HDMI splitter at the Tablo and send the same signal to both TVs. Unfortunately, the remote will only work where the Tablo is installed, so the second TV will have no control over what is being watched.
Both current versions allow for internal storage. My personal preference is external storage with it’s own power supply. The Tablo units can get rather warm during usage, especially if all 4 tuners are in use. For that reason I prefer to keep my storage separate and also keep the power requirements as low as possible by having my storage powered separately.
The HDMI models can only use an external USB drive, no SATA connector. I have a Dual HDMI Tablo connected to our main living room TV. We have a TCL TV in our kitchen that runs on Roku so Tablo app loads directly on the TV. We have various other TVs in other rooms with Roku sticks attached. All these can watch live or recorded TV since we have the guide subscription. The HDMI models cannot stream to portable devices like Apple and Android tablets or phones, or computers, but we don’t care about that. The Network models allow you to watch live and recorded programs from any device, even if you don’t have a guide subscription. If you don’t get the guide subscription, live and recorded programs can only be watched from the TV the HDMI model is attached to. I like the HDMI models because there is no transcoding of the video involved with live and recorded programs.
I prefer the networked Tablo. (I’ve used the 4 tuner version since 2016) This is due to the fact that I can use it on multiple devices.
I can watch programs on my TV’s using Rokus, on my Android phones with the Tablo app and on my PCs.
This versatility is what sold me on the networked Tablo.
I have a dual-tuner HDMI. I also have both Roku and Fire TV devices. The native interface is basically the same as the Fire TV. The Roku interface is not as nice and looks a bit clunky. In testing, I found the IR adapter I put on my Fire TV isn’t interpreted quite the same. The back button on an IR remote isn’t interpreted the same as the back button on the Fire TV remote (what Amazon calls the Alexa remote.)
I was looking at the HDHomerun at one point, but went with the Tablo because it can be joined to your network wirelessly, whereas the HDHomerun requires it be hardwired to the network. My antenna co-ax terminates at my TV which is not near my router, and crawling under my house was not going to happen.