DStv Explora measured up against DStv HD PVR

[The_Ogre]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I only see a single connection for a LNB on the back.

The 3 there are RF IN, RF OUT and the LNB connection.

Is this a SATCR only decoder then?

No, it uses a "UniCable" which connects to a switch box which in turn all your cables from the dish/multiswitch feeds into

 

[Smurfatefrog]

I read somewhere that MC discontinued the dual view decoders because too many clients shared the second environment with the neighbors for a fee. That is why you have a heartbeat cable with a maximum lenght (+-30m, iirc) running between xtraview decoders as well: to make sure one decoder doesn't find it's way to Frikkie down the street.

DSTV have tested the cable up to 100m themselves, so that won't stop it

 

[MisterFiftySomething]

DSTV have tested the cable up to 100m themselves, so that won't stop it

That seems to defeat the purpose of the whole thing.
Do you (or anybody else for that matter) know if you can hook up the two decoders that are in xtra-view to different dishes with the heartbeat cable connecting them?

 

[Smurfatefrog]

That seems to defeat the purpose of the whole thing.
Do you (or anybody else for that matter) know if you can hook up the two decoders that are in xtra-view to different dishes with the heartbeat cable connecting them?

Yup, that's not an issue. Some people do this anyway, a dish on each side of the house

 

[ToxicBunny]

That seems to defeat the purpose of the whole thing.
Do you (or anybody else for that matter) know if you can hook up the two decoders that are in xtra-view to different dishes with the heartbeat cable connecting them?

Can definitely do this.. I had it running this way until I consolidated onto one dish.. made the cabling more rational etc etc...

 

[Jan]

@ Jan, why is the SD recording for this shown as "N/A"?

For "Not available". I've changed it to "Unknown" to try and be as unambiguous as possible.

@Jan, A correction for your table, the Pace HD-PVR 4P has:

• 2 x USB ports (one front, one rear)
• 1 x SATA port
• 100 x software bugs

Won't lie... I chuckled

There's numerous pics of the new Explora out, it has 3 usb ports at the back and 1 in front.

Sorry for the late response on this. The number of unused ports seem to differ between UEC and Pace models (and I completely miscounted the number on the Explora), so to avoid this I've changed the table to simply indicate whether the decoder has unused ports or not. This is what's important right now, after all.

 

[greg_SA]

I think its for the boxoffice system whereby you rent over ADSL instead of satellite. Thinking it might be cheaper(for them, cater to 1 instead of broadcast) with wider selection that way(there is only so much capacity via satellite feed).

I doubt it - I think they'll still use satellite broadcast for the content (because it is a large amount of data) and most subscribers won't have a suitable broadband connection. I think they'll use the internet connection for bi-directional communications to Multichoice, so that you can "buy" your movie without having to sms, etc.

 

[james_turton]

Does anyone know what the power consumption on this box is? The PACE 2 tuner seems to need 28w all the time and is hot to the touch (underneath, in the middle) even when it is on "standby". This is a bit off of the current pace - I have an Android tv box that draws 4w when busy playing back 1080p and less than that when it's not doing any actual work.

 

[CamiKaze]

Is the explora the only decoder that does at least 1080i?

 

[LCBXX]

Is the explora the only decoder that does at least 1080i?

I don't see what that is important. LCD/Plasma telly's can only display progressive signals so if the decoder outputs 1080i, the TV has to scale it to 720p and if it does so poorly, you get jaggy images.

 

[Quantum Theory]

Is the explora the only decoder that does at least 1080i?

No.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Is the explora the only decoder that does at least 1080i?

Not by a long shot, the HDPVRs can do 1080i as well.

 

[CamiKaze]

I don't see what that is important. LCD/Plasma telly's can only display progressive signals so if the decoder outputs 1080i, the TV has to scale it to 720p and if it does so poorly, you get jaggy images.

ok i found an article that says that it is 1080p, but what definition does the older decoder have?

 

[ToxicBunny]

ok i found an article that says that it is 1080p, but what definition does the older decoder have?

Also 1080p..

But the broadcast signal is not 1080p afaik.

 

[CamiKaze]

Also 1080p..

But the broadcast signal is not 1080p afaik.

ok thats cool...so i dont need to blow R2500 for this explora...

 

[LCBXX]

ok thats cool...so i dont need to blow R2500 for this explora...

Nope. My 4-tuner UEC can output 1080p if I set the resolution to "Original". But the broadcast is in 720p at best so that doesn't matter.

 

[CamiKaze]

Nope. My 4-tuner UEC can output 1080p if I set the resolution to "Original". But the broadcast is in 720p at best so that doesn't matter.

Ok so i bought an HD PVR 2P and it says: SmartCard message E107-4 service is scrambled...

What now?

 

[chrisc]

I think it is step in the wrong direction. You can still get 4 tuner PVRs if you go to MC and ask for one. I got one in August for a relation and had to pay R 2999 for it

The Explora is incompatible with a few SatCr LNBs. It will not recognise them and won't finish the installation. Using the adaptor supplied for a twin LNB makes the depth required unduly large, so fitting in a cabinet is awkward

The only plus, apart from the larger HDD is that it does not get so warm. I have had my 4 tuner Pace sitting on a laptop cooler for many years and this keeps it cool.

 

[CamiKaze]

I think it is step in the wrong direction. You can still get 4 tuner PVRs if you go to MC and ask for one. I got one in August for a relation and had to pay R 2999 for it

The Explora is incompatible with a few SatCr LNBs. It will not recognise them and won't finish the installation. Using the adaptor supplied for a twin LNB makes the depth required unduly large, so fitting in a cabinet is awkward

The only plus, apart from the larger HDD is that it does not get so warm. I have had my 4 tuner Pace sitting on a laptop cooler for many years and this keeps it cool.

ok im confused, is the one that i have not this 4 tuner that everyone is talking about? what is the model number of the one that you are talking about?

 

[chrisc]

The very first PVRs that came out in 2008 were 4 tuner models. Pace made them and then UEC. Both worked the same - watch one channel and record another 2. But either it was getting out of date or MC were not making enough money from it, so they introduced the 2 tuner PVR

As I said, MC do have them. They deny it but you need to speak to the right person at your local MC office and they can get one. The fellow who supplied me said they had "a whole pile" but did not know the quantity

But be sure to check it out then and there on the counter. About 3 out of every 10 has not been repaired properly - remotes not working, freezing up almost straight away, I had one with small cockroaches inside, luckily one came up for air while I was looking at it, much to the horror of the black lady behind the counter