{"id":295036,"date":"2019-02-07T19:01:10","date_gmt":"2019-02-07T17:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=295036"},"modified":"2019-02-07T19:01:38","modified_gmt":"2019-02-07T17:01:38","slug":"dstv-explora-3-vs-explora-2-decoder-comparison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/broadcasting\/295036-dstv-explora-3-vs-explora-2-decoder-comparison.html","title":{"rendered":"DStv Explora 3 vs Explora 2 – Decoder comparison"},"content":{"rendered":"

MultiChoice recently launched a new version of its Explora decoder, the DStv Explora 3A, to replace the Explora 2A.<\/p>\n

The Explora 3<\/strong><\/a> went on sale in November 2018 without fanfare at a recommended retail price of R999 – the same price as the Explora 2.<\/p>\n

While DStv\u2019s new decoder retained most of the features of its predecessor, there are several key differences.<\/p>\n

Similarities include that the Explora 2 and Explora 3 each sport three tuners – one for viewing, one for recording, and one for receiving Catch Up and BoxOffice content.<\/p>\n

Both decoders also have 1TB hard drives, and offer up to 110 hours of recording space.<\/p>\n

One of the big differences is that the Explora 3A has a smaller form factor and lacks a front-panel display. Instead, it has an LED to indicate whether it is powered on.<\/p>\n

\n

Supported LNBs<\/h3>\n

Another major difference is that the Explora 3 lacks some of the connectors included on older models, most notably the RF IN and RF OUT ports on the back.<\/p>\n

Its Unicable port also has a lower current rating, supporting a maximum of 500 milliamps (mA), where the Explora 2 was rated for 750mA. This has an impact on the type of equipment the Explora 3 can be connected to.<\/p>\n

MultiChoice said that the Explora 3 supports its DStv Smart LNB range on the market, noting that it no longer manufactures the older LMX 500 Smart LNB.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recommend using the latest standard DStv Smart LNB LMX 502 for new DStv Explora installations,\u201d MultiChoice told MyBroadband.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor our customers with more viewing environments we recommend the LMX 501 which allows up to three viewing environments linked up in XtraView.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

DStv Explora 2<\/h3>\n

\"DStv<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

DStv Explora 3<\/h3>\n

\"DStv<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Passive cooling and USB ports<\/h3>\n

The Explora 3 also only has one USB port, while its predecessor had two. The USB ports of Explora decoders may currently be used to attach a DStv Wi-Fi Connector.<\/p>\n

This allows the decoder to access the Internet using Wi-Fi, enabling features such as Catch Up Plus and setting remote recordings.<\/p>\n

The Explora 3 has also done away with the fan the Explora 2 needed to cool its components.<\/p>\n

Assuaging fears that the decoder will overheat, MultiChoice explained that the Explora 3 has a heatsink and was tested in a thermal oven.<\/p>\n

However, the company still recommended that decoders not be placed in enclosed spaces.<\/p>\n

A final difference to note between the Explora 3 and its predecessor is that it uses a smaller smart card – which looks similar to a large cellphone SIM card.<\/p>\n

The table below summarises key differences between the Explora 3 and the Explora 2.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Features<\/th>\nDStv Explora 3<\/th>\nDStv Explora 2<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Viewing<\/strong> environments<\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recording<\/strong> environments<\/strong><\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
On-demand\u00a0<\/strong>environments<\/b><\/td>\n1<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hard drive\/Recording space<\/strong><\/td>\n1TB\/110 hours<\/td>\n1TB\/110 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Front panel display<\/strong><\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Remote<\/strong> control<\/strong><\/td>\nA7, compatible with A5 and A6<\/td>\nA7, compatible with A5 and A6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connections<\/strong><\/td>\nHDMI<\/td>\nHDMI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ethernet<\/td>\nEthernet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Optical<\/td>\nOptical<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
USB<\/td>\nUSB x2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Unicable IN<\/td>\nUnicable IN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
–<\/td>\nRF IN\/RF OUT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Power<\/strong><\/td>\n12V DC, 2.5A (max)<\/td>\n12V DC, 3.33A (max)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Unicable IN power rating<\/strong><\/td>\n19V, 500mA<\/td>\n19V, 750mA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dimensions<\/strong><\/td>\n225 x 158 x 50 (mm)<\/td>\n310 x 160 x 47 (mm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Packaging<\/strong> dimensions<\/strong><\/td>\n370 x 205 x 57 (mm)<\/td>\n378 x 278 x 85 (mm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gross package weight<\/strong><\/td>\n1.784kg<\/td>\n1.784kg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Now read:\u00a0Why the new DStv Explora has a smaller hard drive<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MultiChoice recently launched a new version of its Explora decoder, the DStv Explora 3A.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":294696,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[85,39092,57146,35,475],"class_list":["post-295036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-broadcasting","tag-dstv","tag-dstv-explora-2","tag-dstv-explora-3","tag-headline","tag-multichoice"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295036"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=295036"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":295100,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295036\/revisions\/295100"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294696"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=295036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=295036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=295036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}