The latest Tablo news along with tips to maximize your free TV experience. 

Tablo Q&A – Is the 4th Generation Tablo a Good Replacement for the Amazon Recast?

4th Generation Tablo on a shelf.
4th Generation Tablo on a shelf.

Today’s question comes from Louise who asks, “My Amazon Recast has stopped recording TV series. Is Tablo a good replacement for the Recast?”

Amazon officially discontinued its over-the-air DVR, the Amazon Fire TV Recast, in 2022. While the company promised software security updates through 2026, users have recently been frustrated by a slow breakdown of the device’s functionality, including the inability to set series recordings.

Because the Amazon Recast was modeled on the same whole-home network-based approach as Tablo, it’s easy for former Recast owners to make the switch to a 4th Generation Tablo.

With Tablo, Louise can use the same TV antenna, the same Fire TV devices and the same internet connection she used for her old DVR. Once initial setup is complete, she’ll be able to set series recordings once again using the Tablo app.

There are a few things Amazon Recast owners should note before making the switch:

  • Smaller Recording Storage
    Tablo has about 50 hours of onboard storage. Recast users who routinely recorded more programs may wish to add a compatible USB hard drive and expand Tablo’s storage.
 
  • No Amazon Live Grid Integration
    While the Tablo app does offer its own live TV grid, which blends OTA and a selection of free streaming channels, Tablo content cannot be integrated into Amazon’s own live grid guide alongside sources like Philo and Pluto TV.

For those small tradeoffs, Tablo will provide:

  • Regular app and firmware updates.
  • Arguably, better picture quality.
  • The ability to watch, pause, record and stream content on a wider variety of supported devices.
  • 7-day a week customer support by phone, email or chat.
  • And much more, with no ongoing fees or subscriptions.

Not sure which Tablo model is right for you? Check out our quiz!

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!

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