How to Record Live TV Without Cable in 3 Most Reliable Ways

How to record live TV without cable? There are 3 reliable and actionable ways that can help. Check them out below.

Way 1: Use an Over-the-Air (OTA) Antenna + DVR

This way is ideal for how to record broadcast TV without cable while maintaining high video quality.

Quick guide:

Step 1. Get an OTA antenna. It lets you watch free local channels like ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and PBS.

Step 2. Plug the antenna into a DVR device (Tablo, HDHomeRun, or Amazon Fire TV Recast) and the DVR into your router. 

Step 3. Use the DVR's app to scan for channels and schedule recordings

Step 4. Access live TV and recordings on your smart TV, phone, or tablet within your home network.

Way 2: Streaming Services With Cloud DVR

Part of streaming platforms like YouTube TV, Hulu+ Live TV, and Sling TV enables you to record live channels directly to the cloud.

Quick guide:

Step 1. Sign up for a streaming service, e.g., YouTube TV, and download its app to your smart TV or phone.

Step 2. Access the shows you want in the guide and select “add to library”; otherwise, click the record icon to capture it. It will be auto-saved to the cloud.

Way 3. PC or Media Server DVR Solutions

Except for streaming on TV or phones, you can stream live TV on computers and screen record live TV without cable using free recording software like iTop Screen Recorder.

Free Screen Recorder for PC

Record screen, webcam, audio and gameplay with ease. Create high-quality screen recordings with no lags and fps drops.

Free Download For Windows 7 and later

Quick Guide:

Step 1. Download iTop Screen Recorder to your Windows PC 7/8/10/11.

Step 2. Open the recorder and set recording preferences like audio, recording area, and storage.  Stream the live TV channels on the computer, and click “Rec” to start.

Step 3. Tap the stop icon on the floating bar and go to the files > video and find the recordings.

Those are all effective ways to solve the problem of how I can record live TV without cable. The best choice depends on your budget, technical comfort, and whether you want free broadcast channels or premium live TV streaming. 

Obviously, iTop Screen Recorder is the most economic method for how to record live TV without cable.