The DVR has always been a tool to record TV shows and play them back, to watch on television. Amazon changes that.

Its Fire TV Recast DVR, out Nov. 14, will re-imagine how you think of a DVR. Yes, it can record TV shows, but only if connected to an antenna. Reader alert: Cable and satellite customers will find useless recast. It's for cord-cutters only.

Once connected, the Recast acts as the TV hub that receives the signal and re-distributes it, along with the recorded shows, to multiple TV sets, your phone and tablet.

Starting at $ 229, the Recast is about the lowest-priced, full-service DVR that's been available to date, and highlighted by one magic consumer advantage – no monthly fee. DVRs to the tune of $ 30 or so, and rival TiVo has a host of DVRs available, with monthly fees of anywhere from $ 6.99 to $ 15.

So what is it?

The Recast works only with Amazon products. There's the Fire TV Edition of television sets, which start at around $ 229.Though, many retailers will discount them to just over $ 100 with Black Friday deals. You could also use an Amazon Fire TV Stick ($ 30- $ 50) streaming device in any TV with an HDMI port or the Echo Show, the $ 229 edition of the speaker talks to Alexa. Additionally, you'll need to add an antenna at a cost of $ 30 or more.

Beyond having a tool to record local news and sports shows (most of which are available by apps), the twist is that the Recast has Alexa built in, so you just say, "Alexa, record 'The Price is Right' , "gold" … Tune to NBC. "

Again, the Recast is not just a DVR, but a box that has taken over your TV set. What is it, what is it? (Second reader alert: During setup, you plug the antenna into the Recast and not a TV.)

If you use a Fire Stick in multiple TVs throughout your home, you can tap into shows recorded on the Recast, wherever it actually sits, and even watch live TV, via a DVR tab that shows up in the Amazon TV menu.

For cord cutters, other choices of devices and TV shows are slim. There's the new TiVo, the OTA Bolt, which sells for $ 249.99 plus $ 6.99 monthly, or the Tablo, which has several models available, selling for $ 139 to $ 199. But you'll need to spring, so add $ 75 to $ 100. Like the Recast, Tablo and the Bolt connect to antennas, not cable or satellite boxes.

So how is the Recast?

First, props to Amazon for re-imagining how we watch TV.

That said, can not take some time, and it's different experience that can take getting used to.

It's up and running, it records and finds shows, as well as the cable DVR, which to my eyes does a more pleasing job of zipping through commercials visually than the Recast. But then again, I'm paying over $ 400 a year for my cable company. I love paying ounce with no monthly fees.

One more caveat: When it's so much programming is available via streaming, in movies, original TV shows and the like, and when YouTube offers the best of TV broadcast (and so much more in clip form) it's questionable record anything.

But then, I'm not a fan of "The Bachelor," so what do I know?

Another note: Because Amazon and Google do not get along, the official YouTube app is not included in the Amazon offerings. Amazon has a workaround to pick up YouTube via a browser.

Pro: Low price, unique twist on TV viewing, no monthly fee. Starts at $ 229 with capacity to record up to four times at 500 GB hard drive, or $ 279 for 1 TB hard drive.

cuntAmazon: Amazon.com: Amazon: Amazon.com Amazon: Amazon.com You're also missing out on the alternative YouTube TV cable, which will not work with Recast. Fast forward not as visually appealing and precise as the DVR cable.

Readers: Would you say your cable DVR for an antenna? Let's talk about it on Twitter, where I'm @jeffersongraham.

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