Should I get DSTV Premium + Explora?

[Foxhound5366]

The irony of this is that I'm not even that big into sports, apart from the occasional Springbok rugby game or a bit of F1.

I'm also not Afrikaans, so that removes another of DSTV's draw cards for me.

I guess I've just been curious about how useful Catch Up's series stacking is in reality ... it appears that if you connect your Explora online you can then view ALL episodes on-demand just by downloading them? If that's comprehensive that could be kinda handy: too often older stuff online doesn't have enough seeds or is of variable quality, so having a single source with good quality content might be a big USP. Unfortunately DSTV doesn't know how to market themselves properly so it doesn't actually give you a chance to poke around under the hood to experience what that'd be like.

 

[satanboy]

Get it. Explora is a huge improvement on the old decover (I have both).

 

[Baxteen]

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.

I spent quite a bit on mine.
its the ACER Revo one.
we are on prepaid electricity, so we did a lot of testing.
and from testing out various things to see what we can leave on and what we need to turn off during the day at home.

turning off the geyser, having only the fridge and one cellphone charger on (missed it the morning) we used 0.4 units.
next day we unplugged the charger, and we used 0.3 units.
next day I forgot the mini PC on the morning. so fridge and miniPC we used 0.3 units.
this was an anomaly, so we did this for a week. constantly 0.3

the next week we left a charger plugged in, to confirm the test. 0.4 every day for 5 days.

conclusion, the miniPC uses less power in standby mode than a cellphone charger plugged in, but not charging a phone all day.

btw, lately we have only the fridge running during the day, that is all.

 

[satanboy]

I spent quite a bit on mine.
its the ACER Revo one.
we are on prepaid electricity, so we did a lot of testing.
and from testing out various things to see what we can leave on and what we need to turn off during the day at home.

turning off the geyser, having only the fridge and one cellphone charger on (missed it the morning) we used 0.4 units.
next day we unplugged the charger, and we used 0.3 units.
next day I forgot the mini PC on the morning. so fridge and miniPC we used 0.3 units.
this was an anomaly, so we did this for a week. constantly 0.3

the next week we left a charger plugged in, to confirm the test. 0.4 every day for 5 days.

conclusion, the miniPC uses less power in standby mode than a cellphone charger plugged in, but not charging a phone all day.

btw, lately we have only the fridge running during the day, that is all.

wtf has this to do with DStv?

edit:
scratch that....read the other comment

 

[dugbo1]

A subscription to Netflix/Amazon/HBO combined will still be cheaper and you'll have more to watch than humanly possible

 

[Foxhound5366]

Get it. Explora is a huge improvement on the old decover (I have both).

Do you mind sharing a few details on what way? From what I've seen in stores just briefly it looks like it's got a better user interface, but what else is better?

 

[Refraction]

No!

 

[Foxhound5366]

No!

Full points for engaging with the topic and giving a considered response.

 

[hj2k_x]

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.

I'm with this guy. I have it because I need it for the football. Otherwise I wouldn't have it I don't think.

Explora works ok. Faster than the PVR we had. Sometimes has issues and hangs. Then you just have to restart it. Made to the same exacting standards as all DSTV equipment

 

[HunterGR]

Gave DSTV the boot over 2 years ago, was tired of repeats etc.

Yes i like my sports, I have Kodi for that with a paid add-on, All the sport i need, be it rugby, cricket, fishing, athletics, snooker, etc etc ($10 monthly)
Yes i like my series and Movies, I have Netflix and Kodi for that.($10 monthly)

IMHO DSTV is a rip-off, plain and simple.

 

[Foxhound5366]

I've done the Netflix and Hulu thing, and I wasn't that wowed. The content selection is certainly wide but it was also very easy to scroll for pages without seeing anything worth clicking on. Maybe the libraries are better now, but I find DSTV has a pretty unique content mix (documentaries, news, movies and series) that you can't duplicate easily with the streaming services. Maybe I'm just not that picky lol but I still come from a childhood where 'TV' was SABC 1, 2 and 3 ... and eventually eTV (what an exciting day that was - rescanning the TV to find the new channel!).

 

[satanboy]

Do you mind sharing a few details on what way? From what I've seen in stores just briefly it looks like it's got a better user interface, but what else is better?

Menu's work and look better
functions are faster
less re-setting of decoder (there still is)

 

[Foxhound5366]

Menu's work and look better
functions are faster
less re-setting of decoder (there still is)

Aargh, so much of tempted right now. I especially avoided jumping on the Samsung S8 bandwagon so I'd have some discretionary spending for this sorta thing, but still.

 

[Zarkon]

R900 a month to watch tv

 

[Foxhound5366]

R900 a month to watch tv

Actually R789 for Premium and R365 for Compact.

What do you spend your money on to entertain yourself? A mild cocaine habit will easily cost a lot more

 

[Baxteen]

Actually R789 for Premium and R365 for Compact.

What do you spend your money on to entertain yourself? A mild cocaine habit will easily cost a lot more

a mild coke habbit will easily cost you that for a night never mind a month.

but honestly, getting an S8+ would be a better use of that amount of money

 

[Arthur]

XtraView with 2 x Exploras.

Keeps wife happy.
Happy wife, happy life.

 

[satanboy]

Oh I forgot about the pause, rewind and fast forward live tv.

 

[Sparhawk]

XtraView with 2 x Exploras.

Keeps wife happy.
Happy wife, happy life.

That statement right there is why I have DSTV and I am happily married for 20 years. It became too much of a hassle for me as everytime I had to search for them and help my kids and wife make a decision. Now they have DSTV and I have Netflix and Kodi in my man cave for me. Keeping the peace has never been easier

 

[Foxhound5366]

Keeps wife happy.
Happy wife, happy life.

This. I decided to compromise by just upgrading the bouquet on my HD PVR to DSTV Extra. I'll give it a month or two to see how I like the content before taking the plunge for an Explora.

I must say though, seeing my wife dancing to the music on VH1 Classics has already made the entire thing worth it I'm happy to get CNN, Sky News and BBC World ... news ftw. I was going crazy with only ANN7 and SABC News lol.