What is the latest DSTV decoder? It’s a question that many people in South Africa and across the continent have been asking. Perhaps you are here because you have been using an old decoder all along, and you now wish to upgrade. Or maybe you are new to DSTV and you wish to get the latest hardware that the company has to offer. But which DSTV decoder should you buy? This guide will help you make the right choice.
DSTV Decoder buying guide
The latest DSTV decoders are the Explora Ultra and the HD Zapper decoders. The Explora Ultra, which was realeased in November 2020, is for those looking for a decoder that has PVR recording functions. Meanwhile, the HD Zapper (Model 7S), which came out in 2021, is a singleview HD decoder that does not have recording capabilities. The table below shows DSTV decoders, with the latest at the top;
| Decoder | Release date | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Explora Ultra | November 2020 | PVR, Integrated WiFi, 4K |
| HD Singleview Zapper (7S) | 2021 | 1080p |
| Explora 3B | 2020 | PVR, 1080p |
| Explora 3A | 2019 | PVR, 1080p |
Whats new with the latest DSTV decoders?
Those are the latest DSTV decoders. Any of the above decoders will do, though you should always buy the latest to get the most life out of it. In this case, if you are looking for a decoder that records, pauses and rewinds live television, then the Explora Ultra is what you should go for.
The Explora 3B and the Explora 3A are also still good, but they are not the latest and they lack some features that are on the Ultra. The main one of these is the fact that the Explora Ultra comes with integrated WiFi. That’s something that you will not be able to find on the Explora 3A and 3B.
With the earlier Exploras, you need to buy a DSTV WiFi connector. Alternatively, you can connect the device using the Ethernet port that’s on the back. So, it’s not such a big deal, but it’s good that there WiFi is build in on the Ultra.
Another difference is that the resolution on the Explora 3A and 3B is 1080p. That’s Full HD, which is very good. However, the Ultra takes it a step further by offering 4K resolutions. Note, however, that there are no channels on DSTV broadcasting in 4K at the moment, so what’s the point?
Well, remember the Explora is meant to have internet connectivity. There are some services that offer content on the internet in 4K, so that’s where the improved resolution comes into play. A good example is Netflix, which has some plans that offer 4K content.
Why look for the latest DSTV decoder?
In the above sections, we gave you the latest DSTV decoders. But why would this information be relevant to someone buying a decoder? It’s very important for you to research the latest DSTV decoders before buying.
If you buy without looking for this information, you will get a decoder that is not the best on the market. New decoders always come with additional features that are not found on previous versions.
One example is HD. This is something that’s available on newer decoders such as the Explora and on the HD Singleview decoder. If you buy one of the old DSTV decoders like the SD 1110, 1131 and 1132, you will not have HD.
That’s particularly important considering the fact that most people are now gettin HD TVs. In fact, 4K TVs have become rather affordable. If you have a 4K Smart TV, you want to also get the Explora Ultra decoder, which supports HD. If you get the Explora 3A or 3B, you will only be able to get 1080p.
While that’s still stunning in terms of viewing quality, you will not be getting the most from your hardware. So, those are some of the things that you need to keep in mind while shopping around for a DSTV decoder.
Moreover, a lot of old decoders are coming to the end of their lives. But you can still find them being sold out there. So, you want to get the absolute latest. Otherwise you are going to buy a decoder that is not useable of one that is only usable for a few months before becoming obsolete.
We talked about some of the differences between the various DSTV decoders in the above discussion. Some of the differences are rather superficial. But some are important, like having integrated WiFi. Again, you want to get a decoder that has all the features that you need.
Summary
In this article we answered the question what is the latest DSTV decoder. It was noted that there are two versions of the latest decoders from DSTV; one that has a PVR function and one that does not have this feature.
The Singleview HD decoder is for those looking for good quality TV without the recording function. It’s cheaper. Meanwhile, the Explora Ultra is for those looking to take TV to the next level.
With this decoder, you get the ability to pause, rewind and record live TV. If you have never used it before, you will find the Explora Ultra to be revelation. It also comes with integrated WiFi, and built in access to Netflix.
These are features that you can get on the DSTV Explora 3A and on the Explora 3B, but you will have to get additional hardware, such as the WiFi connector, for that to work. In all honesty, the Explora 3B is actually very good still. So, it’s something that you can feel free to buy without hesitation.
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