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Short answer: the best tuner for TiviMate is an HDHomeRun, because it shares free over-the-air channels on your home network as a ready-made M3U playlist that TiviMate loads directly. For most US homes the HDHomeRun Flex 4K (about $200, four tuners, two of them ATSC 3.0) is the one to buy, and the Flex Duo is the budget pick. Tablo is a good DVR in its own right but doesn't give TiviMate a playlist. Add a decent antenna and you have legal local channels in TiviMate with no monthly bill.
At a glance
Tuners for TiviMate
| Best overall | HDHomeRun Flex 4K, about $200 |
| Budget | HDHomeRun Flex Duo |
| How it connects | Built-in M3U playlist on your network |
| Guide data | Easiest via Channels DVR |
| Skip for TiviMate | Tablo 4th Gen (no M3U) |
How a tuner feeds TiviMate
TiviMate is a player. It doesn't include channels, and it has no tuner of its own. A network tuner fills that gap with something entirely legal: the free broadcast channels your antenna already receives.
An HDHomeRun connects to your antenna on one side and your router on the other. It then publishes its channel list on your home network as an M3U playlist. In TiviMate you add a new playlist, choose the M3U link option, and enter the tuner's address followed by /lineup.m3u. Your local ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and subchannels appear in the channel list like any other playlist.
Each tuner inside the box handles one channel at a time. Two tuners means two channels watched or recorded at once, across the whole house. That number is the main thing you're paying for.
Wire the tuner to the router with Ethernet. Every HDHomeRun requires it, and it's the reason these boxes are so reliable. Your TiviMate devices can be on Wi-Fi, though a wired box is still better for recording.
The tuners, ranked
Prices are approximate US prices as of October 2026. SiliconDust's own store, Amazon and Best Buy move around, and refurbished units from SiliconDust are often cheaper.
| Tuner | Price | Tuners | ATSC 3.0 | Works in TiviMate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDHomeRun Flex 4K | About $200 | 4 (2 are ATSC 3.0) | Yes | Yes, built-in M3U |
| HDHomeRun Flex Quatro | About $150 | 4 | No | Yes, built-in M3U |
| HDHomeRun Flex Duo | About $120 | 2 | No | Yes, built-in M3U |
| HDHomeRun Connect Quatro (older) | Used or refurbished only | 4 | No | Yes, built-in M3U |
| Tablo 4th Gen, 2-tuner | About $100 | 2 | No | No playlist output |
| Tablo 4th Gen, 4-tuner | About $140–$160 | 4 | No | No playlist output |
HDHomeRun Flex 4K. The one we'd buy. Four tuners suits a family with a couple of TVs plus recordings, and ATSC 3.0 support gives you a path to the newer broadcast standard as stations roll it out. It replaced the Connect Quatro in SiliconDust's lineup, and has a USB port for SiliconDust's own DVR features if you use them.
HDHomeRun Flex Duo. The budget pick for one or two TVs. Two tuners is enough for a couple who watch live and occasionally record. If you later need more, a second HDHomeRun adds tuners to the same network.
HDHomeRun Flex Quatro. Four tuners without ATSC 3.0. Worth it only if it's clearly cheaper than the Flex 4K where you shop, and you're sure your area won't matter for ATSC 3.0.
Connect Quatro. If you find one used at a good price, it still serves a perfectly good M3U to TiviMate. Don't pay near-new money for it.
ATSC 3.0: the catch nobody mentions
ATSC 3.0, marketed as NextGen TV, is the newer US broadcast standard. The Flex 4K can receive it. But many ATSC 3.0 stations now encrypt their signals, and encrypted channels generally won't play in third-party apps like TiviMate. Some ATSC 3.0 broadcasts also use an audio format that many Android TV devices can't decode.
In practice, most US markets still broadcast the same networks in the older ATSC 1.0 format, and those play in TiviMate without trouble. Treat ATSC 3.0 as future-proofing rather than a reason to buy today. If your local stations have moved key channels to 3.0 only, check SiliconDust's current guidance for your market before buying.
Tablo and Channels DVR as sources
Tablo. The 4th Gen Tablo is a good, subscription-free antenna DVR with its own apps for Fire TV, Google TV, Roku and Apple devices. It doesn't publish an M3U playlist, and community attempts to get one from the 4th Gen haven't produced a dependable method. If you want your antenna channels inside TiviMate, Tablo is the wrong box. If you're happy to use Tablo's own app, it's a strong product.
Channels DVR. This is the upgrade path for serious recorders. Channels DVR is server software you run on a computer, NAS or Shield TV, listed at $8 a month or $80 a year as of October 2026. It uses HDHomeRun tuners as its source, records to your own storage, and can publish M3U playlists and XMLTV guide data that TiviMate can load. You get Channels' excellent guide data inside TiviMate, plus a whole-home DVR.
A quick decision rule: HDHomeRun alone if you just want live locals in TiviMate. HDHomeRun plus Channels DVR if you want a complete guide and recordings shared across every TV.
Getting a proper guide
An HDHomeRun's M3U gives TiviMate channel names and numbers, but not a full program guide. You have three options.
- Channels DVR provides a guide link alongside its playlist. It's the easiest route and the most complete data.
- SiliconDust's own DVR service gives you guide data in the HDHomeRun app, though not in TiviMate.
- Another XMLTV source you're permitted to use can be added in TiviMate's guide settings and matched to your local channels.
Without a guide, TiviMate still plays everything. You just lose the grid and recording from it, which are the reasons most people buy Premium.
TiviMate's free version handles a single playlist. If your antenna channels sit alongside a playlist from a licensed paid service, or you want to record from the guide, you'll need TiviMate Premium, about $10 a year or $30 to $35 lifetime in the US as of October 2026, bought through the official Companion app.
Pairing the right antenna
The tuner can only pass on what the antenna receives, and the antenna is where most setups succeed or fail.
| Distance to towers | Antenna type | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Under about 20 miles | Flat indoor, high on a window | $20–$40 |
| 20 to 40 miles | Attic or compact outdoor | $50–$100 |
| 40 miles and beyond | Outdoor directional on the roof | $80–$150 plus mounting |
Before buying, look up your address on the FCC's DTV reception maps to see which stations reach you, from which direction, and whether they're VHF or UHF. Many cheap flat antennas are weak on VHF, which some stations still use.
The big advantage of a network tuner is placement. The HDHomeRun doesn't have to sit next to a TV, so put the antenna wherever reception is best (the attic, an upstairs window) and run the cable to the tuner there. Only add an amplifier if you have a long cable run or split the signal; near towers, an amplifier can make reception worse.
Buy this if, skip it if
HDHomeRun Flex 4K: buy it if you have two or more TVs, want to record, or want ATSC 3.0 hardware for later. Skip it if one TV and live viewing is all you need.
HDHomeRun Flex Duo: buy it if you want local channels in TiviMate for the least money. Skip it if your household often watches more than two channels at once.
Channels DVR: buy it if you want a real guide and whole-home recording, and have a computer, NAS or Shield to run it on. Skip it if you only want live TV.
Tablo 4th Gen: buy it if you'll use Tablo's own apps. Skip it if TiviMate is where you want to watch.
Our pick
Buy the HDHomeRun Flex 4K, pair it with an antenna sized for your distance to the towers, and add its lineup.m3u address to TiviMate. If you want the full guide and recordings, add Channels DVR on a machine that's always on. On a tighter budget, the Flex Duo does the same job with two tuners. It's the most reliable, fully legal way to get live local TV in TiviMate.
Quick answers
What is the best tuner for TiviMate? An HDHomeRun, because it publishes an M3U playlist TiviMate reads directly. The Flex 4K is the best all-round model; the Flex Duo is the budget option.
How do I add an HDHomeRun to TiviMate? Add a playlist using the M3U link option and enter the tuner's local address followed by /lineup.m3u.
Does Tablo work with TiviMate? Not well. The 4th Gen Tablo doesn't output an M3U playlist, so use Tablo's own app instead.
Do ATSC 3.0 channels work in TiviMate? Often not. Many ATSC 3.0 stations are encrypted, and encrypted channels generally don't play in third-party apps. ATSC 1.0 channels play fine.
How do I get a TV guide for antenna channels in TiviMate? The easiest way is Channels DVR, which provides a guide link alongside its playlist. Another XMLTV source you're allowed to use also works.
Do I need TiviMate Premium for antenna TV? Not to watch. You need Premium to record from the guide or to run your antenna channels alongside a second playlist.
Is watching antenna TV in TiviMate legal? Yes. Over-the-air broadcasts are free to receive, and an HDHomeRun simply shares them on your home network.
Tuner, antenna and service prices are approximate US figures as of October 2026 and change often; HDHomeRun list prices and the Channels DVR price were not all confirmed at checkout. ATSC 3.0 encryption and app support vary by market and change over time. Checked October 2026.