For the uninitiated, Mohu is a brand that is very familiar to cord cutters. Mohu pioneered the thin, flat and affordable antenna that has ushered in the modern antenna revolution. And now the Mohu AirWave (review below) takes their antenna technology to the next level.
Many who have opted to get rid of cable use these sleek, unobtrusive antennas to pull in local over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts, all in glorious high definition for the low, low price of nothing.
A quality antenna, like the ones offered by Mohu, combined with Internet streaming services, have enabled many people to say goodbye to pricey monthly cable bills.
While the arrival of high-quality antennas and streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime was a welcome one, there is one minor, but annoying, elephant in the room. The biggest downside to this entertainment set up is the fact that users have to manually switch inputs in order to access all of their content. This can really detract from the feeling of channel surfing that comes with a more traditional television set up. Unfortunately, this can prevent many people from cutting the cord.
However, Mohu hopes to change all that with their newest product: the Mohu AirWave.
Read on for our full Mohu AirWave review.
What is the Mohu AirWave?
Before we talk about how this antenna performs in our Mohu AirWave review, let’s go over the basics.
The Mohu AirWave was released in 2017 to the delight of many cord cutters. The device collects all of the available OTA broadcasts (channels like NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, PBS, etc.) and slots them into the streaming device you’re already using, whether that be a Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, or whatever else.
This works sending the OTA broadcasts to the Mohu TV app, where it lives alongside other streaming video apps like Netflix and Hulu. The ability to integrate OTA channels into your streaming device eliminates the need to switch inputs on your TV, creating a more streamlined viewing experience.
How Does the Mohu AirWave Work?
The Mohu AirWave is an antenna that can be placed anywhere in your home so long as it is in range of your Wi-Fi network. Alternatively, the Mohu AirWave has an Ethernet port so you can hard wire the antenna to your router if you like.
The AirWave then scans the airwaves for OTA broadcasts in your area. It then pipes the channels you’re able to pick up with this antenna to a companion app on your streaming device called the Mohu TV App.
The AirWave works with Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS and standard web browsers, tablets, and smart phones, so you shouldn’t have any difficulty watching OTA channels on your device of choice.
Advantages of the Mohu Airwave
As we mentioned earlier, the Mohu AirWave integrates OTA channels into your streaming device alongside the likes of Netflix and others. While this convenience alone is worth the price of admission, the AirWave has other additional benefits.
The Mohu AirWave app has a full-featured electronic programming guide (EPG) for all of the OTA channels it picks up. The EPG gives users information about the programming on each channel, including things like how long the episode is and brief plot synopsis. It’s a welcome feature that doesn’t cost the end user anything.
Furthermore, the Mohu AirWave compresses all of the OTA broadcasts itself before sending them to your streaming devices. This means that low-end devices shouldn’t have any trouble with playback. In addition, the AirWave also employs something Mohu has dubbed “ClearPix” technology. This improves the video quality by automatically adjusting the internal configuration of your antenna based on your location and the strength of the OTA signals in your area.
Finally, the AirWave is able to transmit the OTA broadcasts over Wi-Fi to multiple clients simultaneously. This means that multiple users can be tuned in to the same channel at the same time. No additional antennas or pesky splitters needed.
Drawbacks of the Mohu AirWave
While there is a lot to like about the Mohu AirWave, there is room for growth. Unfortunately, at this point in time, the Mohu AirWave does not yet include a DVR function. It is possible that the AirWave might have the ability to record shows in the future, however the absence of USB ports suggests that recordings would have to be stored in the cloud as opposed to a user supplied hard drive.
2nd Generation AirWave
Earlier this year Mohu unveiled an updated version of the AirWave. The big draw of the AirWave is the fact that it can transmit OTA broadcasts to different devices over Wi-Fi.
The updated version still boasts the same functionality but instead of being a standalone antenna, this time around the Wi-Fi transmission system is its own dedicated box.
The advantage of this is that you can now use any Mohu antenna in conjunction with the 2nd gen AirWave to stream OTA broadcasts.
How Much Does the Mohu AirWave Cost?
With a starting price of $179.99, the Mohu AirWave is more expensive than the company’s other basic antennas, like the popular Mohu Leaf, but that’s for good reason. This wireless antenna has features regular antennas don’t have, most notably the ability to stream your local channels to your streaming devices for an improved viewing experience.
Where Can You Buy the Mohu AirWave?
The AirWave is available at Best Buy, Fry’s, and other retail stores, but your best bet is to buy directly through the Mohu website so you can get guaranteed product availability, the best price, and the best support directly from the company throughout the process.
Mohu Review Conclusion
In short, the Mohu AirWave is a unique antenna that is ideal for those who want to be able to watch their local channels directly on their device of choice, without having to switch inputs on the TV back and forth. It’s a groundbreaking product in the antenna space for sure, but if you’re just looking for a basic antenna at a low price without the bells and whistles, the Mohu Leaf might be a better value.
