1 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
Channel Master DVR+
It's a familiar story. Cord-cutters give up their cable subscription to shed the ever-increasing monthly fee, only to find that the best solutions to record free, over-the-air TV, such as the TiVo Roamio and Aereo, require -- you guessed it -- another monthly fee.
The new Channel Master DVR+ ($250) is looking to become the over-the-air recording solution for subscription-phobic cord-cutters.
2 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
Thin design
The design is unlike any other DVR I've seen. It looks like a thicker, more rigid version of the Mohu Leaf flat antenna, but it's just a DVR -- you'll need to connect a separate (not supplied) antenna to receive over-the-air broadcasts.
3 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
Relatively deep
There's not much else to the slim, gray box, although it's pretty deep (10.5 inches), so you'll need considerable room on your TV stand.
4 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
Ports on the back
The DVR+ has an HDMI output on the back, so it doesn't require a separate box, which competitors like Aereo and Simple.TV require. There's also an Ethernet port on the back, but if you want to connect wirelessly, you'll need to spring for the $40 Wi-Fi USB dongle.
5 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
USB drive nearly required
Inside, there's 16GB of built-in flash memory, which can record 2 hours of HD content, but it's really designed to be used with an external hard drive (not supplied), which can be connected via a USB port on the back.
6 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
Remote
The included remote has a simple, sensible design and can be programmed to control a TV as well.
7 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
Program guide
Most DVRs charge a monthly fee for electronic program guide (EPG) data, but the DVR+ provides that info, supplied by Rovi, for free.
8 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
Dual tuner
Unlike the original Simple.TV, the DVR+ has dual-tuner capabilities, so you can watch one program while recording another, or record two programs at once.
9 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
Records programs by name
The DVR+ also records programs by name, rather than just VCR-style commands such as "record channel 4 at 7 p.m. for an hour." That means if your favorite show moves its time slot, the DVR+ will also be able to find it, as long as the title stays the same.
10 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
Vudu included too
Connecting the DVR+ online also allows you to stream content from Vudu, which shows up right in the program guide.
11 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
USB Wi-Fi dongle
The biggest hurdle for the DVR+ may be the upfront cost. $250 isn't cheap, especially when you have to bring your own hard drive and antenna, plus pay an extra $40 for the Wi-Fi dongle accessory.
12 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
13 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
IR extender
The DVR+ does include an IR extender, so you can hide it in a cabinet and still control the DVR+ with the included remote.
14 of 14Matthew Moskovciak/CNET
Side view
The DVR+ will start shipping around CES 2014 and will be available for purchase via Channel Master's online store and Amazon. Channel Master also says it intends to add bundled packages that include a hard drive and antenna in the future, although no specific bundles are available yet.
For more information, see CNET's full story on the Channel Master DVR+.
