The Fire TV Recast is Amazon’s latest products from its Fire TV Family. The Fire TV redefined online TV experience by allowing users stream media (music, movies, TV shows etc.) and even play games coupled with incorporation with Alexa voice support. With the Fire TV Recast, Amazon wants to step things up a notch by providing even more reliable video streaming service.
The Amazon Fire TV Recast is a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) that, in addition to watching live TV channels, allows you to pause, record, and save live TV shows for future viewing. A local example of the Fire TV Recast in Nigeria is the DSTV Explora Decoder PVR. The Fire TV Recast is way better though as it boasts of robust contents, integrated with Alexa for voice control, smooth integration with Fire TV, and remote streaming of recorded shows on any supported devices.
“Now with Fire TV Recast, we’ve made it simpler to find, watch, and record live over-the-air TV at home and on your mobile devices.”
Stream free TV channels from an HDTV antenna, record, save, watch over-the-air from anywhere on any supported device (mobile phone, tablets, etc) using cellular or WiFi network.
Smartly designed, the Fire TV Recast is a big black rectangular box with minimalistic appearance. The entire real estate of the front is perforated with ventilation dots. While the dot assists with heat dissipation, it likewise serves aesthetical purposes. The front is mundane; the rear is where much of the activities are.
About 70% of the rear panel is also laced with ventilation dots. The rest were utilized for the device’s ports. From left to right: a coaxial port for antenna, a USB 3.0 port, Ethernet port, and the power port. The USB port comes in handy should the antenna you choose to use with the device requires a power source. Otherwise, the Fire TV Recast’s USB port doesn’t exactly do anything. It doesn’t read any storage stick or device or anything. Amazon, however, says an update will allow users expand the device storage by plugging in an external hard drive to the port.
The Fire TV Recast is designed to be placed anywhere in the home, most preferably by the window side on a cabinet, a tablet, shelf or TV stand where the antenna best picks up network (reception).
Models / VariantsThere are two models of the Amazon Fire TV Recast both of which are differentiated based on storage configuration, number of ATSC receiver or tuners, as well as the number of programs that can be streamed and recorded simultaneously.
1. Fire TV Recast with two (2) Tuners
This is the base model and also, the cheaper variant. With 500GB of internal storage, users can record and save up to 75 hours of TV shows and programs. This model also has the ability to record only 2 programs at once.
2. Fire TV Recast with four (4) Tuners
This model comes with four ATSC turners, 1 Terabyte of built-in storage with the capability to record up to 150 hours of program. Also, with this model, you can record up to 4 programs simultaneously.
Both models, however, have a common feature. Or should I call it a downside? Irrespective of the model you opt for, you cannot watch more than 2 live or recorded programs concurrently. This means only two devices (TVs or phones) can stream from the Fire TV Recast at the same time. This , of course, would make users who have a large home or family reconsider buying the device.
However, according to TheVerge, an Amazon spokesperson gave the reason why supported simultaneous stream on the Fire TV Recast is capped at two. Here:
“We limit the number of streams on Fire TV Recast to two in order to guarantee the most reliable, high-quality HD streams on all your compatible devices,”
RequirementsTo use the Fire TV Recast, you will need:
An HD Antenna A Fire TV device (Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Stick), an Echo Show or a mobile device
It’s a bit disappointing that the device doesn’t come with an antenna out-of-the-box. This means you’d have to shell out an additional $20 to $25 to purchase an HD antenna. Also, albeit the device supports usage on mobile phones, the Fire TV Recast is best used with a Fire TV device. And if you don’t previously own one, that translate into another addition $25 to $40.
ConnectivityThe Fire TV Recast connects and streams live programs wirelessly to your TV through a Fire TV device. However, both devices need to be on the same network for such connection to happen.
PriceThe 500GB storage model of the Fire TV Recast with two turners sells for $189.99 while the 1 Terabyte model with 4 turners sell for $229.99.
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