15 thoughts on “TiVo Roamio OTA *with Lifetime* back in stock for $300”
So the Bolt is good for something after all…
Best $300 I’ve ever spent! Love my OTA!
I just got a Tablo. Can still return.
Would you recommend Tablo or this TiVo Roamio OTA deal?
That’s a tough one… Tablo’s got better client options with better placement options, but is much geekier and possibly not as reliable (given a now resolved Roku app issue due to Roku’s horsepower and an underlying OS update or something). TiVo is entirely dependable, but you’d really need Minis in other rooms or a Stream for mobile (if that was part of your plan).
Personally, I’m always tempted when this TiVo deal comes around but kind of figure by the time I’m really ready to cut the cable package, I’d replace it with something like Hulu vs hosting my own OTA recording device.
I bought this the last time the deal came around and could not be more pleased. We’d previously used a Channel Master DVR+ and I just find this so much more polished and it’s tuner was also able to pull in a channel that was giving us signal issues using the other machine. Love it!
I have 4 tuner Tablo from last year and a half and I bought TiVo OTA 4 months ago. I use TiVo a lot more than Tablo now. Tablo does give me live TV and recordings away from home on smartphones and tablets, but I am looking for TiVo Stream, so I can do same with TiVo. Then I may end up using TiVo a lot more.
Hey Dave, I’m curious: as I’ve never used or seen in person a Tablo, how do you think its UI/UX compares to TiVo? And is the HD PQ as good, given that Tablo must transcode (I think) all video for wifi streaming? Lastly, does Tablo search across and link to other apps (HBO, Amazon, etc.) in an attempt to unify your video sources, like TiVo’s OnePass feature? Given the way that Tablo plugs into a Roku or new Apple TV, which many cord-cutters already have, I can see the attraction but I wonder about the trade-offs vs. TiVo.
And still no TiVo Bolt OTA! Do you think the company is uncertain whether they continue on in the OTA-only market while they’re in the current leadership transition?
Tim, as far as picture quality while I’ve used both I haven’t used them in the same room or in close promixity. Tablo’s performance is more dependent on client capabilities and potentially networking than TiVo. As mentioned, they had a recent Roku problem (and seemed to suggest other platforms like Amazon Fire or Nvidia are more capable). As to UX, again, Tablo is more geeky in its approach. There’s no unified search, as Tablo is a viewing app on someone else’s output – there’s no direct video out.
Regarding Bolt OTA, who knows what’s going on. I hope they’re rethinking the original hardware approach that I’m aware of – it was basically the existing Bolt, but just OTA-only. I’d think they could produce something even cheaper to address that market. Having said that, TiVo moves at their own pace and I believe they held closed-door CES briefings.
I would prefer to get a Tivo OTA and not have to worry about data caps and Hulu.
Ordered one and a 3 TB AV drive. This will complement the lifetime Roamio I got on the summer sale and replace my monthly OTA. Loving Tivo.
Remember all you need is the CableCard bracket from another Roamio (IIRC, Woot sold refurbs for $30 not too long ago) to convert this to a base Roamio, compatible with cable (Tivo doesn’t bother to write different software for the OTA model).
“Remember all you need is the CableCard bracket from another Roamio … to convert this to a base Roamio, compatible with cable.”
Huh. Who knew?
I strongly assume that TiVo doesn’t cut off service if you do this, much like if you stick in a bigger hard drive, but I don’t know…
Again, the software is the same, & though it’s easy with the Roamio & Bolt models, few people bother to upgrade their hard drive.
Far fewer would ever bother to track down a bracket (most cable users seem to prefer the extra tuners the Plus & Pro model Roamios offer).
And the OTA with PLS is the bargain of all bargains. We all know what the “All-in”pricing will be AFTER the purchase price of the Bolt tha can tune to OTA. The Roamio is still and excellent DVR and more. For me, even if the pricing had not changed, there is absolutely NOTHING the Bolt offers that I would not miss, and, as it turns out, Roamios will be getting the “killer features” of the Bolt anyway: Skip Mode (now on my Roamios) and Commerical Advance coming soon. Now, considering the absolutely “sure to kill the Bolt’s chances at success” pricing, it really seems the very poor value. I would highly recommed anyone on the fence to NOT wait for the Bolt with OTA, but instead get this Roamio OTA with PLS for the mere price of $300. That pricing is as good as it gets with TiVo. Personally, I am glad I got the last remaining Roamios at the bargain price with PLS when TiVo was clearing its stock. I feel I have no less a DVR in the Roamio compared to the Bolt. The Roamio does everything one could hope a DVR can do. The Roamio is still state of the art.
Oops. In my previous post, I should have stated Commercial SkipMode and QuickMode. I get these marketing terms for the features cofused :).
So the Bolt is good for something after all…
Best $300 I’ve ever spent! Love my OTA!
I just got a Tablo. Can still return.
Would you recommend Tablo or this TiVo Roamio OTA deal?
That’s a tough one… Tablo’s got better client options with better placement options, but is much geekier and possibly not as reliable (given a now resolved Roku app issue due to Roku’s horsepower and an underlying OS update or something). TiVo is entirely dependable, but you’d really need Minis in other rooms or a Stream for mobile (if that was part of your plan).
Personally, I’m always tempted when this TiVo deal comes around but kind of figure by the time I’m really ready to cut the cable package, I’d replace it with something like Hulu vs hosting my own OTA recording device.
I bought this the last time the deal came around and could not be more pleased. We’d previously used a Channel Master DVR+ and I just find this so much more polished and it’s tuner was also able to pull in a channel that was giving us signal issues using the other machine. Love it!
I have 4 tuner Tablo from last year and a half and I bought TiVo OTA 4 months ago. I use TiVo a lot more than Tablo now. Tablo does give me live TV and recordings away from home on smartphones and tablets, but I am looking for TiVo Stream, so I can do same with TiVo. Then I may end up using TiVo a lot more.
Hey Dave, I’m curious: as I’ve never used or seen in person a Tablo, how do you think its UI/UX compares to TiVo? And is the HD PQ as good, given that Tablo must transcode (I think) all video for wifi streaming? Lastly, does Tablo search across and link to other apps (HBO, Amazon, etc.) in an attempt to unify your video sources, like TiVo’s OnePass feature? Given the way that Tablo plugs into a Roku or new Apple TV, which many cord-cutters already have, I can see the attraction but I wonder about the trade-offs vs. TiVo.
And still no TiVo Bolt OTA! Do you think the company is uncertain whether they continue on in the OTA-only market while they’re in the current leadership transition?
Tim, as far as picture quality while I’ve used both I haven’t used them in the same room or in close promixity. Tablo’s performance is more dependent on client capabilities and potentially networking than TiVo. As mentioned, they had a recent Roku problem (and seemed to suggest other platforms like Amazon Fire or Nvidia are more capable). As to UX, again, Tablo is more geeky in its approach. There’s no unified search, as Tablo is a viewing app on someone else’s output – there’s no direct video out.
Regarding Bolt OTA, who knows what’s going on. I hope they’re rethinking the original hardware approach that I’m aware of – it was basically the existing Bolt, but just OTA-only. I’d think they could produce something even cheaper to address that market. Having said that, TiVo moves at their own pace and I believe they held closed-door CES briefings.
I would prefer to get a Tivo OTA and not have to worry about data caps and Hulu.
Ordered one and a 3 TB AV drive. This will complement the lifetime Roamio I got on the summer sale and replace my monthly OTA. Loving Tivo.
Remember all you need is the CableCard bracket from another Roamio (IIRC, Woot sold refurbs for $30 not too long ago) to convert this to a base Roamio, compatible with cable (Tivo doesn’t bother to write different software for the OTA model).
“Remember all you need is the CableCard bracket from another Roamio … to convert this to a base Roamio, compatible with cable.”
Huh. Who knew?
I strongly assume that TiVo doesn’t cut off service if you do this, much like if you stick in a bigger hard drive, but I don’t know…
Again, the software is the same, & though it’s easy with the Roamio & Bolt models, few people bother to upgrade their hard drive.
Far fewer would ever bother to track down a bracket (most cable users seem to prefer the extra tuners the Plus & Pro model Roamios offer).
And the OTA with PLS is the bargain of all bargains. We all know what the “All-in”pricing will be AFTER the purchase price of the Bolt tha can tune to OTA. The Roamio is still and excellent DVR and more. For me, even if the pricing had not changed, there is absolutely NOTHING the Bolt offers that I would not miss, and, as it turns out, Roamios will be getting the “killer features” of the Bolt anyway: Skip Mode (now on my Roamios) and Commerical Advance coming soon. Now, considering the absolutely “sure to kill the Bolt’s chances at success” pricing, it really seems the very poor value. I would highly recommed anyone on the fence to NOT wait for the Bolt with OTA, but instead get this Roamio OTA with PLS for the mere price of $300. That pricing is as good as it gets with TiVo. Personally, I am glad I got the last remaining Roamios at the bargain price with PLS when TiVo was clearing its stock. I feel I have no less a DVR in the Roamio compared to the Bolt. The Roamio does everything one could hope a DVR can do. The Roamio is still state of the art.
Oops. In my previous post, I should have stated Commercial SkipMode and QuickMode. I get these marketing terms for the features cofused :).