Anyone using an andriod ota dvr? looking to cut the cord

[lsd]

I'm currently running w7 wmc with a ceton tuner and although I love wmc I'm finding myself watching almost no TV. I have a HT room where I spend most of my screen time watching blu-rays.
I'm looking to cut the cord because brighthouse networks is being far too ignorant about the competition in the area. I'm on a promo with tv /50mbs internet for ~110/m. Right now I can get 1gig centurylink fiber for ~$105/m. I figure I can add a ota dvr + hulu/netflix and keep the wife & kids happy. Since hulu and netflix dropped their wmc apps I'd really rather ditch the wmc htpc completely and get a single unified box.
I've been looking and there doesn't seem to be much. The only one I found is this http://www.mygica.tv/smart-tv-boxes.php?model=ATV-586

Any recommendations that don't require separate subscriptions?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Shield TV + Kodi + PVR Backend (even WMC if you have it all setup) + HDHomerun on the network = win

 

[lsd]

Too many issues with my set up and using pvr backend. I'm running serverwmc on a g3258 wmc pc with a kodi htpc client and firetv w/ kodi/emby. It has never been stable enough for daily usage, even with low memory/cpu usage I will get buffering or the server quitting every so often. The plex tv app on the firetv is the most reliable but the app ui is terrible.
I just really rather ditch the living room htpc completely.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Too many issues with my set up and using pvr backend. I'm running serverwmc on a g3258 wmc pc with a kodi htpc client and firetv w/ kodi/emby. It has never been stable enough for daily usage, even with low memory/cpu usage I will get buffering or the server quitting every so often. The plex tv app on the firetv is the most reliable but the app ui is terrible.
I just really rather ditch the living room htpc completely.

Fair enough, the FireTV pretty much sucks as a Live TV streamer for Kodi use (it can't deinterlace content to save its soul I have found). That is why I have Chromeboxes (or better) under every TV, but that gets expensive and then you need ANOTHER box for Netflix/Hulu/etc.

With that said, I really wouldn't trust most of those cheap Android Boxes. Most of them are a hacked together mix of highly proprietary and open source software (many use a forked version of Kodi) and they don't give any good support or updates. The only good company out of all of them (or at least has a history of being good) is Wetek. Give their products a look.

Otherwise if you REALLY don't want anything Kodi-based or HTPC-ish then basically you are TiVo's current target market. The Roamio is the only really solid option out there, but you will have to pay to play. But you will get everything in a single box with real support.

 

[EvilYoda]

This caught my eye a few days ago:

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/05/channel-masters-dvrs-add-sling-tv-to-entice-cord-cutters/

Waiting for actual reviews but an easy to use unified "cord cutter" box would be fantastic. SlingTV and an OTA antenna with recording abilities...might be what pushes me over the edge in terms of recommending it to my parents.

 

[lsd]

Thanks for the Wetek suggestion, I'm liking that remote so I'll be taking a closer look at it.

 

[lsd]

This caught my eye a few days ago:

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/05/channel-masters-dvrs-add-sling-tv-to-entice-cord-cutters/

Waiting for actual reviews but an easy to use unified "cord cutter" box would be fantastic. SlingTV and an OTA antenna with recording abilities...might be what pushes me over the edge in terms of recommending it to my parents.

Yep saw that but a bit on the pricey side for me.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Thanks for the Wetek suggestion, I'm liking that remote so I'll be taking a closer look at it.

They have decent support and they actually give back when they use opensource stuff (which is a plus). A lot of people like their products, I have never used one.

 

[lsd]

http://www.cnx-software.com/2016/01...tuner-with-a-smartcard-reader-and-an-ssd-bay/
Might be a quad core 4k box coming out soon? I'm going to hold off for a bit.

 

[poofyhairguy]

http://www.cnx-software.com/2016/01...tuner-with-a-smartcard-reader-and-an-ssd-bay/
Might be a quad core 4k box coming out soon? I'm going to hold off for a bit.

Wow, that looks awesome.

 

[Kartajan]

Option 1:NVidia Shield ($200) for playback device. Tablo 2 or 4 tuner($197 or $285 on Amazon) DVR (Lifetime guide data=$150) *Tablo can share with other devices on apps.

Option 2: ChannelMaster DVR+ ($399 w/ 1T HDD or $250 w/o HDD) Guide data included, but not sharing with other devices.

Option 3: Tivo Bolt ($300 + about $150/ year after the first) (Tivo can share with Tivo, some limited app support for phones/ etc.)

Option 4: NVidia Shield($200) + SiliconDust Connect Tuners($80 per 2 tuners) + SiliconDust DVR(DVR still in development, $30/ year for guide data) Tuners can share with other devices

 

[Binky]

Too many issues with my set up and using pvr backend. I'm running serverwmc on a g3258 wmc pc with a kodi htpc client and firetv w/ kodi/emby. It has never been stable enough for daily usage, even with low memory/cpu usage I will get buffering or the server quitting every so often. The plex tv app on the firetv is the most reliable but the app ui is terrible.
I just really rather ditch the living room htpc completely.

I run a win8/WMC PVR backend with two kodi clients and it works very well. It did take some work to get it working like I wanted it to work with Kodi (default kodi wmc interface is horrible). I run mine so that it has a "recorded TV" section off the main menu that is not related to the terrible WMC interface.

You might try rebuilding your backend box first before ditching it.

 

[soulcougher73]

I'm not sure saving $5/m is worth if in your scenario. Just stick with tv/internet combo you already have. Now if it was $50/m that would probably be worth while.

 

[NutBucket]

Well, he's also going from 50M to 1G internet speed.

If you want to go cheap on the DVR, check this out: http://amzn.com/B00GOILYB6

Basically a tapeless VCR. The program guide sucks but if you know what you want record it's perfect.

 

[soulcougher73]

Well, he's also going from 50M to 1G internet speed.

If you want to go cheap on the DVR, check this out: http://amzn.com/B00GOILYB6

Basically a tapeless VCR. The program guide sucks but if you know what you want record it's perfect.

I only have like 25mb down on a good day and i stream everythign fine etc. I cant see the benefit of going to 1G to save just $5 but give up your current cable/dvr.

And im a cord cutter with Tivo Roamio OTA DVR(lifetime sub), netflix and 25mb internet.

 

[NutBucket]

I don't either. I was simply pointing out where the money is going

And yes, the OTA Roamio for $299 is a great deal. Too bad my folks bought a regular Roamio + lifetime service before the OTA model was announced

 

[Face2Face]

I'm currently running w7 wmc with a ceton tuner and although I love wmc I'm finding myself watching almost no TV. I have a HT room where I spend most of my screen time watching blu-rays.
I'm looking to cut the cord because brighthouse networks is being far too ignorant about the competition in the area. I'm on a promo with tv /50mbs internet for ~110/m. Right now I can get 1gig centurylink fiber for ~$105/m. I figure I can add a ota dvr + hulu/netflix and keep the wife & kids happy. Since hulu and netflix dropped their wmc apps I'd really rather ditch the wmc htpc completely and get a single unified box.
I've been looking and there doesn't seem to be much. The only one I found is this http://www.mygica.tv/smart-tv-boxes.php?model=ATV-586

Any recommendations that don't require separate subscriptions?

So out of curiosity, if you are going to be getting Hulu+. why would you need to record OTA? Doesn't Hulu + have the major network shows the next day?

 

[lsd]

So out of curiosity, if you are going to be getting Hulu+. why would you need to record OTA? Doesn't Hulu + have the major network shows the next day?

Hulu has much more content available so it will be there to fill in the gaps I guess. If I find too much overlap I will cancel it.

I ended up canceling cable+TV and ordering 40mb/s fiber from centurylink for $35/m. I also found an old usb ota tuner I'm going to use in the interim. I'm still eyeing that wetek+ box, I haven't seen anything else that fits what I'm looking for.