Today’s question comes from Stan who asks, “Do I have to use my smartphone as a remote with the Tablo box? I would rather use a more traditional remote control.”
Because a 4th generation Tablo device doesn’t come with its own remote control, some folks have a misconception that you need to control the DVR with a smartphone instead. That’s just not true.
Day-to-day viewing and operation of your Tablo doesn’t require a mobile device at all.
Instead, you’ll use the remote that came with your existing compatible smart TV or streaming device to control your Tablo DVR.
This means the same familiar remote control you already use to watch programs on Netflix and other apps on your television or streaming device, is the same remote you’ll use to access live TV and recordings from your Tablo via the Tablo app.
And if you don’t love the remote that came with your TV, you can easily connect a compatible streaming device like Roku or Amazon Fire TV to your television and use its remote control instead. This flexibility is one of the many benefits of Tablo’s whole-home DVR approach.
The only times you need a smartphone or tablet are to complete first-time setup of your Tablo device and to make changes to some high-level settings.
Any other time, you can enjoy your favorite shows with Tablo while your phone stays on the charger.
Have a question about watching TV that you’d like answered? Send us a note and you may see your question on the Tablo blog and in an upcoming issue of our newsletter, Stay Tuned!
