New DSTV entertainment beast

Cool Duck admits that he didnt buy one of those new fangled DSTV decoders with the PVR option. He still has the huge ass brick, which is adequately hidden behind his flat seen LED. Cool Duck is a practical Duck like that. And he is already tired of writing as himself in the third person.

So whats this new decoder about?

 The DSTV Explora, 'Pebble' is to be released in August and endored by fresh celebrities...uhm..Dj Fresh,

The device boasts a  2TB hard drive (roughly 220 hours of TV can be recorded on the hard drive). So I can now record all of the reruns that I've come to expect from DSTV and play it back just for kicks.

The DStv Explora will make it easier for Multichoice to push through new subsciption services to you with emphasis of improving the offerings from the popular DStv Catch Up and DStv BoxOffice services.

Updated user interface

The remote has been redesigned and includes hotlink buttons and a much more visual, streamlined, image rich interface as well as improved all-round functionality and better search options.

I was disappointed to hear that MultiChoice will not release the device with internet connectivity .

The DStv Explora saves two hours of television in the buffer of the live TV channel the decoder is tuned to, but now "remembers" and retains it for that same period even if a DStv subscriber switches channels.

Other much-improved functionality includes the HD on-screen display. It's highly visual and mimicks Netflix and Hulu styled"shelf grid" display populated by constantly updated content.

The DStv Explora is ExtraView capable and has a new blue "DStv" blue hotlink button on the remote control which takes the user straight to "DStv Central" from where the subscriber can navigate and scroll through sections and options.



Its probably wise to wait it out, until DSTV introduces broadband connectivity to the model. They have allowed for the integration of broadband into the model as the country's broadband capabilities start to expand.

Getting started

You can install the decoder on your own, even if you have webbed limbs. It is just a matter of removing your own cords and inserting it into the new decoder.  Multichoice will need to be contacted to reactivate Xtraview, if applicable, during installation.

The Bottom Line: This new high definition personal video recorder (HD PVR) device will become available from August 15, costing you R2 499. Cool Duck will probably not make that sort of investment in this decoder, but he will be looking out for massive price slashes on the older HD PVR's in the upcoming months. And yes he did refer to himself again in the third person (and again....)...

#DuckOff