大约 6 个月前，我停止支付有线电视费用，我不得不说我真的很高兴。我一直是那些认为有线电视绝对必要的人之一，并且总是花 100 美元左右来拥有大约 300 个左右的频道。然而，随着时间的推移，我意识到我只在这里和那里观看了几个频道，而且我正在观看的很多内容都是通过 iTunes、Netflix或Amazon Prime视频进行的。我(Did)真的只需要CNN、ESPN和一些本地频道的电缆连接吗？
好吧，对于一些直播电视活动来说，这很棒：奥斯卡、新闻等等。但是，无论如何，我可以在没有有线电视盒的情况下观看所有这些！直到我在某处读到一篇文章，我才知道有一种叫做无线(OTA )频道(Air)的东西。这些都是免费播放的高清频道。这包括ABS、CBS、NBC、Fox等频道。所以我真的很兴奋，因为我可以在没有机顶盒的情况下观看我想要的一切。
我唯一遇到的问题是节目指南和节目录制！现在机顶盒不见了，我没有DVR，也没有节目指南。天线的另一个问题是并非所有区域都能获得所有本地频道。幸运的是，使用在线DVR服务可以解决所有这些问题。其次，这些服务中的大多数现在都在其套餐中包含本地频道，因此您不必担心天线和拥有专用硬件DVR。
在本文中，我将介绍在线DVR领域的一些大玩家，并提及几家仍在销售优质硬件DVR(DVRs)的公司。如果您没有良好的Internet连接，可以随时离线使用的物理盒式DVR可能是更好的选择。(DVR)
钛合金
TiVo已经存在了很长时间，并且是第一批为我们提供DVR的人（至少是一个运行良好的好设备）。我喜欢 TiVo 的设备系列的一点是，它们面向那些订阅了有线电视和想要使用高清天线的人。
上面截图中的设备是TiVo Roamio OTA 1TB DVR，售价 399 美元。现在这听起来可能是一个高昂的价格，但您必须记住，没有月服务费。以前，他们过去每月收取 15 美元的频道阵容等费用，但现在他们已经取消了这些费用。
它也有点像新的Apple TV，因为您可以使用它在您的(Apple)OTA频道和任何视频流媒体服务（如Netflix、Hulu、HBO、亚马逊(Amazon)等）上搜索电影和电视节目。该设备将允许您录制长达 150 小时的高清内容。它的背面还有 4 个调谐器，因此您一次最多可以录制 4 个节目。他们还有一个很棒的移动应用程序，可让您通过手机或平板电脑控制设备和录音。您还可以在移动设备上观看您的录音。
我不会谈论他们的有线电视盒选项，因为如果您正在阅读这篇文章，我假设您不需要有线电视。总体而言，如果您通过无线方式获得清晰的高清本地频道， TiVo仍然是一个不错的选择。(TiVo)如果没有，请查看以下其他服务。
吊带电视
Sling TV也已经存在了很长时间，它们是该国最大的直播电视流媒体服务。几乎所有流媒体设备也支持 Sling，因此您可以毫无问题地观看您的频道。
目前，他们有两个包：橙色和蓝色。橙色(Orange)每月 20 美元，包括 30 个频道，蓝色每月 25 美元，包括 45 个频道。不过，我喜欢Sling的地方在于，他们有很多其他频道和附加功能，您可以添加额外的月费。有些每月5美元，有些则更多。此外，他们有大量国际频道，您也可以添加额外的频道。
显然，如果您添加很多东西，这可能会变得非常昂贵，但是您可以选择并随时更改您的频道阵容。Sling 还有一个简单易用的云 DVR(Cloud DVR)功能，用于录制节目和电影。
我看到Sling的唯一缺点是您需要确保您所在的地区在他们播放本地频道（如NBC等）的市场列表中。不幸的是，并非所有市场都能获得所有本地频道。查看此链接(this link)以了解 Sling 在您所在地区提供哪些本地频道。
此外，如果您使用橙色服务，您只会获得一个流。如果你选择蓝色，你会得到 3 个流。如果您同时获得橙色和蓝色，您将获得 4 个同时流。
YouTube 电视
市场上的新播放器是YouTube TV，它为您提供 40 多个频道，每月 35 美元。谷歌(Google)是云之王，他们最大的卖点是他们很棒的DVR服务。它们还包括服务中的所有本地频道（ABS、CBS、NBC、Fox），这很棒。
您首先需要检查您所在地区是否提供该服务。只需(Just)开始注册免费试用，它就会询问您的邮政编码或自动确定您的位置。然后它会告诉你是否可以注册。
此外，您最多可以为每个家庭创建六个不同的帐户，每个人都将拥有自己的个性化设置和单独的DVR。您可以录制的节目数量没有限制。Google会将每条录音最多保留 9 个月。不过，目前您只能在美国(United) 境内进行流式传输。(States)
每个会员资格一次最多可以同时拥有三个流。因此，六个帐户中的三个可以同时流式传输。最后，YouTube Red不包含在YouTube TV会员资格中，但您可以观看YouTube Red Originals。YouTube TV还包括点播节目，具体取决于频道。
现在直播电视
接下来是DirecTV Now，每月 35 到 70 美元不等，价格稍贵一些，但可以让您访问多达 120 个频道。您还可以访问 25,000 多个点播标题。
DirecTV Now最大的缺点是它目前没有任何DVR功能，这很重要！显然，这将很快到来，但在撰写本文时，还没有DVR。
另一个缺点是每个帐户只能同时拥有 2 个流。您可以以每月 5 美元的价格添加HBO ，而在(HBO)Sling上每月的费用高达 15 美元。如果您是 AT&T 无线客户，并且家里有 DirecTV，那么无论如何您都可以免费访问HBO 。
DirecTVNow的一大优势是您获得的频道比竞争对手多得多。一旦他们添加DVR，这将是不同选项之间的密切联系。
PlayStation Vue
另一种选择是PlayStation Vue，这实际上是一项相当不错的服务。Vue试图成为一个更全面的服务，有点像DirecTV Now。大约 38 个频道的价格从每月 40 美元起，一路上涨到每月 75 美元，超过 90 个频道，后者包括HBO和Showtime。
您可以获得所有本地频道，只要它们在您所在地区可用(available in your area)。只要您在城市内，您还可以在移动设备上观看所有本地频道。他们有一个不错的云 DVR(Cloud DVR)功能，最多允许 5 个同时流。
您最终使用的服务将取决于您喜欢看什么样的电视以及您的需求。如果您需要国际频道，那么 Sling TV 是最佳选择。如果你最关心本地频道，你可以得到一个Tivo和一个高清天线。如果您有很多人将同时进行流媒体播放，那么具有两种颜色服务的PlayStation Vue或 Sling 是一个不错的选择。那里有很多选择，所以在选择时花点时间。
几乎所有这些服务的另一个好处是您可以随时取消。此外，他们中的大多数人都有免费试用，所以给他们一个星期的机会，看看你最喜欢哪一个。享受！
DVRs You Can Use Without Needing a Cable Subscription
I stopрed paying for cable about 6 months back and I have tо say that I’m really happу. I’ve always beеn one of those people whо thought cable was absolutely neceѕsary and always ponied up the $100 or so to have about 300 or sо channels. However, over time I rеalized I only watch a few channels here and there and a lot of the stuff I was watching was via iTunes, Netflix, or Amаzon Prime vіdeo anyway. Did I really need a сable connection for juѕt CNN, ESPN and a few local channels?
Well, for some live TV events it’s great: Oscars, news, etc., etc. However, I could watch all of that anyway without my cable box! I never knew until I read an article somewhere that there is something called Over the Air (OTA) channels. These are all HD channels that are broadcast for free. This includes channels like ABS, CBS, NBC, Fox, and lots more. So I was really excited that I could watch just about everything I wanted anyway without the cable box.
The only issues I had were the program guide and the recording of shows! Now that the cable box was gone, I had no DVR and I had no program guide. The other issue with antennas is that not all areas get all local channels. Luckily, using an online DVR service solves all of these problems. Secondly, most of these services now include local channels in their packages, so you don’t have to worry about antennas and having a dedicated hardware DVR.
In this article, I’ll go through some of the big players in the online DVR space as well as mention a couple of companies that still sell good hardware DVRs. If you don’t have a great Internet connection, a physical box DVR that can be used offline at all times might be a better option.
TiVo
TiVo has been around for a long time and were the first people to give us the DVR (at least a good one that worked well). What I like about TiVo’s lineup of devices is that they are geared towards those who have a cable subscription and those who want to use HD antennas.
The device above in the screenshot is the TiVo Roamio OTA 1TB DVR, which sells for $399. Now that may sound like a steep price, but you have to remember that there are no monthly service fees. Previously, they used to charge $15 a month for getting the channel lineup, etc., but now they have gotten rid of the fee.
It also acts kind of like the new Apple TV in that you can use it to search for movies and TV shows across your OTA channels and any video streaming service like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon, etc. The device will allow you to record up to 150 hours of HD content. It also has 4 tuners on the back, so you can record up to 4 programs at once. They also have a great mobile app that allows you to control the device and recordings from your phone or tablet. You can also watch your recordings on your mobile device.
I won’t talk about their cable box options as I’m assuming you don’t want cable if you are reading this post. Overall, TiVo is still a great option if you get clear HD local channels over-the-air. If not, check out the other services below.
Sling TV
Sling TV has also been around for a long time and they are the biggest live TV streaming service in the country. Sling is also supported on pretty much every streaming device out there, so you’ll have no issue watching your channels.
Currently, they have two packages: orange and blue. Orange is $20 a month and includes 30 channels, blue is $25 a month and includes 45 channels. What I like about Sling, though, is that they have a whole lot of other channels and extras that you can add for additional monthly fees. Some are $5 a month, some are more. Also, they have a slew of international channels that you can add too for extra.
Obviously, this can get quite expensive if you add a lot of stuff, but you get to pick and choose and can change your channel lineup whenever you like. Sling also has a simple to use Cloud DVR feature for recording shows and movies.
The only downside I have seen to Sling is that you need to make sure your area is in the list of markets where they stream local channels like NBC, etc. Unfortunately, not all markets can get all local channels. Check out this link to see what local channels Sling offers in your area.
Additionally, if you go with the orange service, you only get one stream. If you go with blue, you get 3 streams. If you get both orange and blue, you get 4 simultaneous streams.
YouTube TV
The new player on the market is YouTube TV, which gives you 40+ channels for $35 a month. Google is king of the cloud and their big selling point is their awesome DVR service. They also include all the local channels (ABS, CBS, NBC, Fox) in the service, which is a great.
You’ll first need to check whether or not the service is available in your area. Just start signing up for a free trial and it’ll ask for your zip code or auto-determine your location. It’ll then tell you whether or not you can sign up.
Also, you can create up to six different accounts per household and everyone will have their personalized settings and separate DVR. There are no limits to how many programs you can record. Google will keep each recording for up to 9 months. You can only stream within the United States, though, currently.
You can have up to three simultaneous streams at once per membership. So, three out of the six accounts can stream at the same time. Lastly, YouTube Red is not included in the YouTube TV membership, but you can watch YouTube Red Originals. YouTube TV does also include on-demand programs, depending on the channel.
DirecTV Now
Next up is DirecTV Now, which ranges from $35 to $70 a month, is a bit more expensive, but gives you access to up to 120 channels. You also have access to 25,000+ on-demand titles.
The big downside with DirecTV Now is that it currently doesn’t have any DVR functionality, which is kind of a big deal! Apparently, this will be coming soon, but as of the writing of this post, there is no DVR.
The other downside is that you can only have 2 simultaneous streams per account. You can add HBO for $5 a month whereas it costs a whopping $15 a month on Sling. If you are an AT&T wireless customer and you have DirecTV at home, then you get free access to HBO anyway.
The big plus for DirecTVNow is that you are getting a lot more channels than the competition. Once they add DVR, it’ll be a close call between the different options.
PlayStation Vue
Another option is PlayStation Vue, which is actually quite a good service. Vue tries to be a more all-encompassing service, kind of like DirecTV Now. The price starts at $40 a month for about 38 channels and goes all the way up to $75 a month with over 90 channels, the latter of which includes HBO and Showtime.
You get all the local channels, as long as they are available in your area. You can also watch all the local channels on your mobile device as long as you are within the city. They have a decent Cloud DVR feature and allow up to 5 simultaneous streams.
The service you end up going with will depend on what kind of TV you like to watch and what your needs are. If you need international channels, then Sling TV is the best option. If you mostly care about local channels, you can just get a Tivo and an HD antenna. If you have a lot of people who will be streaming at the same time, then PlayStation Vue or Sling with both color services is a good option. There are lots of options out there, so take your time when choosing.
The other great thing about pretty much all of these services is that you can cancel at any time. Also, most of them have free trials, so give them a shot for a week and see which one you like the best. Enjoy!
