DSTV: Explora or HD PVR

Captain Beer said:
Spend a bit more and get the Explora. Also ignore the anti-DStv brigade, if you want something hassle free that works, then get the Explora.
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+2

I hate paying the amount per month for DTSV, but the ease of use make it worth it! The PVR functions like series recording works with one selection, no setting of times. If you missed a episode, it will locate one airing on another time, and will just record it!
If your recording clashes with some other recording, it will resolve that, by recording one of the programs on different time.

If you use the Tablet app to browse the DSTV guide, you will soon be able to schedule recordings from your tablet.
[Browsing the online mag/aah that look nice/select/carry on] next time you have recorded catchup and movies to watch.

I can go on, but it really impressed me, I know they can still do "so much more" but it's a step in the right direction!
 
surface said:
Thanks guys, will be getting Explora. I was also enquiring about cost of installation and one installer tentatively said 1300 but he can confirm only after looking at the existing setup. Previous owners have left their dstv satellite dish and cabling as is (dual-LNB) but he said we may not be able to use this as explora needs a bigger dish and cabling etc. If someone can post their installation costs, it will be great. Thanks.
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Do the installation without someone to start off!
If you have a Dual View LNB, then there should be no need for someone to charge you money.

When you buy the new PVR, you get a Switch, few cables and the actual explora, just plug the 2 cabled from LNB in on the switch, then one (provided) cable to the Explora, and power up and it should work!

you can check signal strength, and then you can just call multichoice to activate this smartcard, and deactivate your previous one.

very easy, whole process cant take more than 6minutes, unless you want to cabletie and tide up,

If it is in a complex and you have a shared dish, and the signal is to weak, then you can put inline amplifiers in, but I don't think you would need anything, as your setup sounds simple.
 
gfmalan said:
Do the installation without someone to start off!
If you have a Dual View LNB, then there should be no need for someone to charge you money.

When you buy the new PVR, you get a Switch, few cables and the actual explora, just plug the 2 cabled from LNB in on the switch, then one (provided) cable to the Explora, and power up and it should work!

you can check signal strength, and then you can just call multichoice to activate this smartcard, and deactivate your previous one.

very easy, whole process cant take more than 6minutes, unless you want to cabletie and tide up,

If it is in a complex and you have a shared dish, and the signal is to weak, then you can put inline amplifiers in, but I don't think you would need anything, as your setup sounds simple.
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Super, thank you very much for the instructions, will definitely try this on my own first - hopefully by tomorrow.
 
The explora is a very decent device and you always have content to watch, i have netflix and hulu+. DSTV definitely rivals these two although alot more pricier, but only if you don't take adsl/telkom prices into account.
 
Explora.
Reason:
Faster machine, the older HD PVRs are a throwback to the Victorian era in terms of menu browsing, etc
 
ISP cash cow said:
As long as the dish has not been moved you should be able to connect it up and be ready to go.
Hope it helps
Click to expand...

gfmalan said:
Do the installation without someone to start off!
If you have a Dual View LNB, then there should be no need for someone to charge you money.

When you buy the new PVR, you get a Switch, few cables and the actual explora, just plug the 2 cabled from LNB in on the switch, then one (provided) cable to the Explora, and power up and it should work!
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for suggesting this guys. It was easiest thing to do and we were up and running in under 40 minutes (took about 20 minutes to download software and then another 20 minutes to register new account with DSTV call centre - extremely helpful call agent)
 
What are people's current views on this issue? Worth the extra to buy an explora if you already have a normal pvr?

What are the additional 20 series on catch up? Any good?

How is the interface? I've been finding very mixed reviews and a not a lot of conclusive info either way.

Just the DSTV site, which says it is amazing and I definitely absolutely should get one
 
Our old pvr packed in December last year, bought an explora and was pleasantly surprised it's like night and day, only thing I miss is dual recording. Other then that the groupings of recordings is brilliant, the catch up is also good.
 
Lupus said:
Our old pvr packed in December last year, bought an explora and was pleasantly surprised it's like night and day, only thing I miss is dual recording. Other then that the groupings of recordings is brilliant, the catch up is also good.
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Dual recordings as in recording two things simultaneously?
 
hj2k_x said:
Dual recordings as in recording two things simultaneously?
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The first HD pvr could do that and I've had one of those since it came out, so was really used to it recording two things at once as often shows are on at the same time.
 
Lupus said:
The first HD pvr could do that and I've had one of those since it came out, so was really used to it recording two things at once as often shows are on at the same time.
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Ah I see. From what I've read, where there's a conflict, the explora at least automatically records one of the shows the next time it is on, rather than our pvr which usually records only one, or neither...
 
hj2k_x said:
Ah I see. From what I've read, where there's a conflict, the explora at least automatically records one of the shows the next time it is on, rather than our pvr which usually records only one, or neither...
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Yup that is an improvement
 
Also Catch Up Plus on the Explorq is nice. It streams loads of stuff from the cloud.
 
Madaboutbullterriers said:
Explora it is def worth getting if you want DSTV :D
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▲▲
This.

The menus are super fast on the Explora compared to the 2P HD decoder.

Edit:
The one complaint I have is when they advertise the Explora and say you can download from the internet, they never seem to mention that you need a DStv Wi-Fi Connector (R400) or a long ethernet cable (the latter is relatively easy). In this day and age it should be built in.
 
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