iView: Cutting the Cord with Amazon Recast
For years, I paid embarrassingly high DirecTV satellite fees to watch shows like 60 Minutes on CBS, even though I spent most of my screen time using streaming services like Netflix. I recently discovered the Amazon Fire TV Recast, a device that lets me watch network television—both live and recorded—on my TV, iPhone, and iPad for free. Thanks to the Recast, I've been able to cancel my satellite subscription and avoid purchasing all of the big network and cable companies' streaming services.
The Amazon Recast Bundle
The Recast is an over-the-air Digital Video Recorder (DVR). Normally sold separately, Amazon recently bundled the
Recast with a Fire TV Stick and an HD antenna, all for $250. The 500 GB two-tuner model can store 75 hours of recorded content and record two shows at once. The 1 TB four-tuner model lets you record four shows.
The Fire TV Recast is a small black plastic box with an antenna connector, pairing button, USB port, Ethernet port, and plug.
Setup was easy, thanks to the iPhone Fire TV app, which walked me through the steps to plug in the device, connect to the Wi-Fi network, and scan for over-the-air TV stations. From my rural home in Iowa, I was able to scan in 12 channels. By selecting Favorites, I was able to eliminate unwanted stations and duplicate networks. Half of the channels I'd never even heard of, like Grit, a station that plays old Westerns, and Comet, a sci-fi channel with everything from cult classics to new releases. If you live in a big city, you may be able to scan in over a hundred stations. As a bonus, Closed Captions work well, both on DVR recordings and on the iPhone app.
Getting Started
I use the Fire TV app to stream live TV and play recordings on my iPhone and iPad from anywhere. I also watch shows on my Fire TV-connected television by selecting the DVR tab. I can use a free channel guide on the TV but not the iPhone. From the guide, I record individual shows or series. I can schedule recordings up to 14 days before they air and can record a whole series or new episodes only. Some events, like sports or political debates, go longer than the expected run time. In these instances, you can extend your recording time to create a buffer so you don't miss anything. You can only record live TV, not on-demand streaming programs. Even so, recording live TV expands your video library by a wide margin.
I can't use my phone to schedule Recast recordings, but I can with the Alexa-enabled remote for the Fire TV Stick.
The Downside
The system isn't perfect; several times the Recast recorded all the aired episodes, even though I set it to record only new episodes. Live TV and recordings are not supported on a Mac or PC. Occasionally, when I try to watch a live show or a recording on my iPhone, the program starts to load but then gives me an error message. I find force-closing the app eliminates the problem. The Fire TV Recast also only displays in 720p resolution.
Should You Buy It?
While a bit buggy, the Recast is cheaper than the TiVo DVR, both in terms of out-of-pocket costs and monthly fees. With the Recast, once the equipment is paid for, the service is free. If you're looking for a low-cost way to watch and record free broadcast TV, the Amazon Recast is a nice alternative.