Should I get DSTV Premium + Explora?

[Foxhound5366]

I've taken a nice long break from DSTV and I'm now considering dipping my toe back into their new Explora ecosystem (which requires Premium for most of the Catch Up functionality right?).

Soooo ... do you go the whole DSTV Premium + Explora route, and are you happy with it?

I've got a DSTV HD PVR already, so another alternative is for me to get Premium with it ... but I think the Explora is a whole lot faster, with better functionality, right? At any rate the Explora has that WiFi connector which looks important.

Please help me decide

 

[Hemps]

Over Easter weekend I had access to the full package on the farm, I honestly could not find anything to watch besides the IPL.

 

[Baxteen]

the only point to DSTV is if you have a big love for sports.

I would say, no, dont get it. you have been free for long enough, so clearly you know how to make due without it. no point in going back.

DSTV is the abusive partner in a relationship, and you wanting to go back makes it clear you were abused, but felt loved.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Over Easter weekend I had access to the full package on the farm, I honestly could not find anything to watch besides the IPL.

Yeah I've had DSTV Premium a few times before so I know how hit and miss the catalogue is, that's where a PVR can help to smooth things over because at least you can download the few things you do like and then over time get a library of stuff to watch that you do actually like.

Call me a sucker but sometimes just a nice documentary is handy, even if it is technically just filler content on DSTV.

 

[Foxhound5366]

the only point to DSTV is if you have a big love for sports.

I would say, no, dont get it. you have been free for long enough, so clearly you know how to make due without it. no point in going back.

DSTV is the abusive partner in a relationship, and you wanting to go back makes it clear you were abused, but felt loved.

Lol, the one thing with DSTV is that it just works, right? It's the same reason that Toyotas are so popular in South Africa. Sure they aren't always the best looking, good value for money or even that exciting or modern inside, but they have a reputation for reliability.

A life away from DSTV is a constant struggle fighting with quality, bandwidth and availability. The big name stuff is generally available but you don't get the same "just sit back and channel surf" experience you do with DSTV, because everything has to be so sourced and/or planned in advance. Know what I mean?

 

[Baxteen]

Lol, the one thing with DSTV is that it just works, right? It's the same reason that Toyotas are so popular in South Africa. Sure they aren't always the best looking, good value for money or even that exciting or modern inside, but they have a reputation for reliability.

A life away from DSTV is a constant struggle fighting with quality, bandwidth and availability. The big name stuff is generally available but you don't get the same "just sit back and channel surf" experience you do with DSTV, because everything has to be so sourced and/or planned in advance. Know what I mean?

honestly no idea what you mean.

I have not lived in a house wiht DSTV since 2007.
I use Kodi wiht Exodusto watch whatever I want.

when I am not sure what to watch, I do the eqivalent of "channel surfing" by going into exodus and seeing what people are watching.

when I feel like watching a documentary, I browse by documentry, and boom there it is.

and the "it just works" argument is like apple fans claiming that is why they use iPhones.
it may be true to the non tech savy people, but people who know better will not even bother with that argument.

face it, you are an abused client, and you are justifying going back for more abuse to yourself.

there is no need for DSTV in 2017 at all anymore.

 

[SeRpEnT]

We currently have DSTV compact with the Explora. Our Explora (original) recordings is at 41%. So many hours of content recorded over the last few months which we can watch whenever we feel like it.
Heck, I even have some Arrow episodes that I recorded back then when we had the Premium bouquet.

I don't miss the movies or tv shows from DSTV Premium at all. I sail the high seas for that. I do however miss watching the odd rugby game or two. But yah, the saving on the Compact option is well worth it for me.

 

[SeRpEnT]

honestly no idea what you mean.

I have not lived in a house wiht DSTV since 2007.
I use Kodi wiht Exodusto watch whatever I want.

when I am not sure what to watch, I do the eqivalent of "channel surfing" by going into exodus and seeing what people are watching.

when I feel like watching a documentary, I browse by documentry, and boom there it is.

and the "it just works" argument is like apple fans claiming that is why they use iPhones.
it may be true to the non tech savy people, but people who know better will not even bother with that argument.

face it, you are an abused client, and you are justifying going back for more abuse to yourself.

there is no need for DSTV in 2017 at all anymore.

If only it was that easy.... then there wouldn't be long threads discussing Kodi problems, Android boxes, Chromecast etc...

 

[Foxhound5366]

If only it was that easy.... then there wouldn't be long threads discussing Kodi problems, Android boxes, Chromecast etc...

Also there is the small ethical problem of piracy, let's not forget that. The older I get, the more ethical I try to be. It's not always possible, but it's at least an effort.

 

[Foxhound5366]

We currently have DSTV compact with the Explora. Our Explora (original) recordings is at 41%. So many hours of content recorded over the last few months which we can watch whenever we feel like it.
Heck, I even have some Arrow episodes that I recorded back then when we had the Premium bouquet.

I don't miss the movies or tv shows from DSTV Premium at all. I sail the high seas for that. I do however miss watching the odd rugby game or two. But yah, the saving on the Compact option is well worth it for me.

So can you record DSTV Compact on your Exploration?

Also, now that you're not on Premium, do you no longer have access to Catch Up?

 

[Baxteen]

If only it was that easy.... then there wouldn't be long threads discussing Kodi problems, Android boxes, Chromecast etc...

I have a miniPC, Kodi running fine, only issue I have ever had was when I needed to upgrade.

people approach it wrong IMHO.
android box spending half what you get out of an explorer? you are going to get half the product, twice the problem.

if you onsider spending what you would spend on DSTV in a year on getting your set up 100% sorted (because you are going to pay for internet over and above that anyway....)

then you will get yourself a buletproof set up that works 100% better than DSTV.
why do I say it works 100% better?

I can hop onto youtube if I want.
I can open netflix and watch there
I can open showmax.
I can open Kodi and watch there.
I can even log into DSTV now (if I have a username and pasword from a friend) and get everything they are getting.
I can go to crictfree.tv and stream sport that is not on DSTV.

sure, I am not using Kodi to replace dstv 100%. I am using my MiniPC to replace DSTV 100%
and the best part of it all is? I dont see a DSTV add every 10 min while watching anything.

dont you think it is silly?
we are sitting here willing to pay a premium price for subscriptions so we dont have to see ads. on websites, on apps. everywhere.
but then DSTV comes in and charges you a subscription fee, AND shows you ads, to a point where I think the ad to content ratio is about 30% ads vs 70% content...

 

[Zarnicate]

Dumped DSTV. Couldnt be happier. The wife moaned a bit in the beginning about Binnelanders and TLC. She found alternatives on Netflix. Thus after she got used to the content on Netflix no more moaning.

Used my old SD PVR for target practice. Whoaa was that a great feeling seeing the pieces fly.

Long story short. DO NOT GET DSTV. If you do go buy a tub of vasaline.

 

[SeRpEnT]

So can you record DSTV Compact on your Exploration?

Also, now that you're not on Premium, do you no longer have access to Catch Up?

Exploration?


DSTV Compact supports both recordings on the Explora as well as Catchup. The amount of movies/shows/documentaries/etc available on Compact Catchup however pales in comparison to the Prime option.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Not really what I'm asking here Bax, that's a whole separate thread. I'm asking current subscribers to just give their 2c.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Exploration?


DSTV Compact supports both recordings on the Explora as well as Catchup. The amount of movies/shows/documentaries/etc available on Compact Catchup however pales in comparison to the Prime option.

Autocorrect from my phone lol. And that's good to know. See, I'm contemplating pulling the trigger on buying an Explora 2 on Game's birthday special now. Its around R1400 with a free WiFi adapter and fully-installed... seems like a good deal.

 

[Drifter]

Trust me, lots of better ways to spend nearly R1K a month than on DSTV Premium.

 

[SeRpEnT]

I have a miniPC, Kodi running fine, only issue I have ever had was when I needed to upgrade.

people approach it wrong IMHO.
android box spending half what you get out of an explorer? you are going to get half the product, twice the problem.

if you onsider spending what you would spend on DSTV in a year on getting your set up 100% sorted (because you are going to pay for internet over and above that anyway....)

then you will get yourself a buletproof set up that works 100% better than DSTV.
why do I say it works 100% better?

I can hop onto youtube if I want.
I can open netflix and watch there
I can open showmax.
I can open Kodi and watch there.
I can even log into DSTV now (if I have a username and pasword from a friend) and get everything they are getting.
I can go to crictfree.tv and stream sport that is not on DSTV.

sure, I am not using Kodi to replace dstv 100%. I am using my MiniPC to replace DSTV 100%
and the best part of it all is? I dont see a DSTV add every 10 min while watching anything.

dont you think it is silly?
we are sitting here willing to pay a premium price for subscriptions so we dont have to see ads. on websites, on apps. everywhere.
but then DSTV comes in and charges you a subscription fee, AND shows you ads, to a point where I think the ad to content ratio is about 30% ads vs 70% content...

You lost me at mini pc. That setup no doubt work for the ...let me use the standard MyBroadband term..."IT proffesionals" that hang out on this here forum. But for Joe public ...the guy with a wife and three children a mini pc or Android box or other nerdy type setup is nowhere as easy to use as a DSTV Explora. And don't get me started on the older generation....the oupas and oumas that hardly knows what a pc is....

But yes, I see what you are saying. If you are even slightly tech savvy then I'm sure a mini pc would work. How much watt PSU would such a pc have? I would be worried about power consumption all the time, haha.

 

[Zarnicate]

Trust me, lots of better ways to spend nearly R1K a month than on DSTV Premium.

When I dumped it roughly R850 pm for Premium....Netflix roughly R150pm (got the 4 tv package) I had Showmax as well which was R99pm (dumped that as well). Anyhow getting both streaming services cost R250 pm vs R850 pm. Add KODI or PLEX to your setup and there is actually no need for DSTV. (The only thing DSTV has that is difficult to get elsewhere is Live Sport - depending on what sport you watch)

 

[shinji]

For some of us DSTV is somewhat of a necessary evil - not just the sport junkies, but those of us wanting to watch programming in Afrikaans. Proper Afrikaans not the SABC's attempt.

DSTV Compact covers KykNet and BBC Brit so I'm happy.
Watch movies on BluRay - streaming and/or downloads not to my liking (quality wise).
I stream the F1 Qualifying Practice and the Races - only sport I watch.
Scary thought - I do not watch series. Youtube makes up for the rest.
Have two old people / parental units that watch the weird stuff on the 'crime', cooking or travel channels.

And yes, I pay for the DSTV and the LTE at home...

 

[Zarnicate]

For some of us DSTV is somewhat of a necessary evil - not just the sport junkies, but those of us wanting to watch programming in Afrikaans. Proper Afrikaans not the SABC's attempt.

DSTV Compact covers KykNet and BBC Brit so I'm happy.
Watch movies on BluRay - streaming and/or downloads not to my liking (quality wise).
I stream the F1 Qualifying Practice and the Races - only sport I watch.
Scary thought - I do not watch series. Youtube makes up for the rest.
Have two old people / parental units that watch the weird stuff on the 'crime', cooking or travel channels.

And yes, I pay for the DSTV and the LTE at home...

That is why I had the Showmax subscription. It had Afrikaans on it locally it is a bit outdated however if you get the international Showmax....(VPN) then you up to date.