Mohu Channels Is A Roku Alternative For Cord Cutters

While on-demand video fans eagerly await Amazon's rumored set-top box and a new generation Apple TV, antenna-maker Mohu has developed its own solution, targeted squarely at cord cutters, that brings OTA broadcast channels, streaming apps, and web content to your TV. Dubbed Mohu Channels, the simplest way to describe the company's offering is as a Roku box with an antenna port. But it also has some pretty compelling tricks of its own up its sleeve. In a recent visit from Mohu executives, I got to see a pre-production Mohu Channels unit in action on my own TV. Here's why my Roku box is getting more than a little jealous.

For set-top box users who complement streaming video with free OTA (over-the-air) channels, a long-standing hassle is having to switch TV inputs when going from your TV's antenna input to your streaming box. Further complicating matters is that browsing through content options is an either/or affair. You can flip through broadcast channels or scroll through your collection of streaming services like Netflix or Hulu Plus, but you can't do both at the same time.

In a bid to provide a more seamless viewing experience, Mohu Channels offers an integrated channel guide that includes your OTA broadcast stations, streaming apps and even websites. All of your content options, or "channels", appear in a single interface. You move among them from the same screen using the included remote, (more about that in a moment) eliminating the need to visit your TV's input menu. You can add, delete, and re-order any of the channel options at will.

The Mohu set-top box offers a unique combination of features. Designed to be hidden out of the way, this rather plain, oblong-shaped device supports 1080p60 video and connects to your TV's HDMI port (an HDMI cable is included). Inside its curved plastic shell, Mohu Channels houses a TV tuner, Wi-Fi module, and a processor running Android 4.2. A coaxial cable port connects Mohu Channels to your digital antenna (Mohu is bundling the device with one of their own antennas, but any digital antenna will work). This connection bypasses your TV's built-in tuner, which is how Mohu is able to switch seamlessly between your TV and on-demand content. To access streaming options, Mohu Channels connects to your home network via Wi-Fi or the device's Ethernet port. Once connected, this Android-powered device lets you download apps like Netflix and Hulu Plus directly from the Google Play store. Any app that you can download to your Android phone or tablet will work here as well. In addition, you can use Mohu's custom browser to visit, and add any website, like Facebook or Instagram, to your channels list.

I know, you probably didn't wake up this morning wishing you could surf the web on your TV. But this is where the Mohu remote comes into play. Using an app like Netflix on your Roku or Apple TV has always presented navigation challenges because their interfaces have neither touch capability or mouse control. The biggest pain point, though, comes when you're forced to use the remote's 4-way controller to type a search query. It's a ridiculous waste of time. And then of course, you still need to keep your TV remote handy for power and volume controls. The Mohu Channels remote is a small, backlit QWERTY keyboard, sized for thumb typing. It uses an RF signal to communicate with the set-top box and, like a Wii controller, you can move the cursor around the screen simply by tilting the remote. You can easily train the remote to control your TV functions as well. Volume and channel up/down controls are conveniently placed along the sides of the remote where they naturally fall under your tumbs.

With the ability to use a functional keyboard, you may find that you actually prefer the web versions of your streaming services rather than their mobile apps. With Mohu Channels, you can add a service like Netflix to your channels lineup as either an Android app or as a website bookmark. The choice is yours. In the time spent demoing Mohu Channels, I was able to access all the content I currently watch through my Roku box, move seamlessly between my streaming apps and the broadcast feed from my antenna, and even check in on social media sites, all without touching my TV's remote.

Mohu is funding the final stage of tooling and production through a Kickstarter campaign. Mohu executives tell me that while the hardware specs are finalized, they are seeking feedback from the Kickstarter community for software and interface refinements that they can incorporate into the final product they plan to start shipping in June. Backers can receive introductory pricing on Mohu Channels bundled with or without an antenna. Mohu's campaign has attracted more than 300 backers and has already surpassed its funding goal. I'll follow-up with a detailed review once production samples are available.