DStv Explora User manual

QUICK GUIDE
Explora

Please Note
• Use of PVR and/or XtraView functionality requires payment of an additional monthly fee.
• HD channels, BoxOffice, DStv Catch Up and Connected Services are available in selected countries on
selected packages.
• DStv Catch Up Plus and Remote Recordings are only available once the DStv Explora is connected to the
internet.
• Data charges apply when using Connected Services. Visit dstv.com/GetConnected for full Terms and
Conditions.
• There is no DStv Catch Up or BoxOffice content when the DStv Explora is first installed. This content will
start downloading as soon as installation is complete. Please be patient while we download the latest
movies, series and more to your DStv Explora.
DStv Explora – features at a glance
• HD capable (720p and 1080i)
• Dolby Digital 2.0 capable
• Can be connected to the internet
for Connected Services*
• BoxOffice
• DStv Catch Up
• DStv Catch Up Plus*
• View one channel, while recording
another
• Record up to 220 hours
• Remote Recordings*
• Series Recording
• Pause Live TV for up to 2 hours
• Fast Forward, Rewind, Instant
Replay and Slow Motion
• Easy ways to find content
(including 8 day TV Guide, multiple
search options, categories and
series stacking in your Playlist)
• Favourite Channels (5)
• Subtitles when watching live TV,
after pausing TV, and on user
recordings (where available)
• User friendly HD menu
• New remote control, with easy to
use PVR buttons
• Parental Control
• Widescreen capable
• XtraView capable
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Welcome to your new world of extraordinary entertainment!
Congratulations on the purchase of your new DStv Explora!
The moment you connect your DStv Explora, is the moment your TV viewing experience surpasses all
your expectations.
TV on your terms. Record up to 220 hours of the world’s top content. You’ll never need to watch the
clock again.
Quality viewing. Watch your favourite series, movies, sporting events and more in crystal clear HD.
With more clarity and detail than ever before.
Movie nights. Rent a blockbuster movie from BoxOffice. And remember, the first one’s on us! All you
need to do is make the popcorn.
Catch up or find something new. There’s no reason to miss out on a moment of entertainment.
With hundreds of the hottest series, shows, movies, box sets, sporting highlights and more on DStv
Catch Up and DStv Catch Up Plus, you’ll never be lost for something to watch.
Discover. Use one of the many search features to discover even more great entertainment.
Easy to use. A new remote with buttons for all the big features, plus HD menus, make it a pleasure to
use.
Double duty. Link your new DStv Explora to another XtraView capable decoder to get access to more
than one channel in your home at the same time.
Get started by using this Quick Guide to familiarise yourself with the functions and features your new
DStv Explora has to offer.
Finally, visit dstv.com and register for a Connect ID which will allow you to manage your account, set
recordings on your DStv Explora when you’re away from home, clear errors and more.
An extraordinary world of entertainment awaits …

1
DStv Explora Quick Guide
Contents
Getting Connected ...................................................................... 2
Getting Connected to the Internet ................................................. 4
Getting Started .......................................................................... 5
DStv Explora Map ...................................................................... 6
Personalising your DStv Explora ................................................... 8
BoxOffice .................................................................................. 9
DStv Catch Up ........................................................................... 10
DStv Catch Up Plus .................................................................... 11
The TV Guide ............................................................................. 12
Search ...................................................................................... 14
Watching TV .............................................................................. 16
Listening to Audio Channels ......................................................... 19
Trickmodes ................................................................................ 20
Recordings ................................................................................ 21
Remote Recordings .................................................................... 23
Series Recordings ....................................................................... 24
The Playlist ............................................................................... 26
Apps ......................................................................................... 27
Parental Control ......................................................................... 28
Favourite Channels ..................................................................... 29
All about Icons ........................................................................... 30

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
Getting Connected
Quick Notes
1. The DStv Explora comes packaged with a DStv Switch and basic cabling that allows connection
to most existing PVR installations. Please refer to the DStv Switch User Guide for more
information.
2. The DStv Explora is XtraView capable and can be linked with any other XtraView capable
decoder.
3. If you already have XtraView and are replacing one of the decoders with the DStv Explora, you
must FIRST contact MultiChoice to break the link between the existing XtraView decoders
BEFORE disconnecting the cable that links them.
4. The DStv Explora has an Installation Wizard to guide you through the first time set-up.
• We recommend the use of a DStv Accredited Installer for all installations.
• To find your local installer, visit dstv.com or SMS your suburb to 32445
(SMS costs R1).
• For additional installation information, please visit dstv.com

3
DStv Explora Quick Guide
Getting Connected
5. Remember, you will need to contact your nearest MultiChoice Call Centre to activate your new
DStv Explora.
6. There is no DStv Catch Up or BoxOffice content when the DStv Explora is first installed. This
content will start downloading as soon as installation is complete. Please be patient while we
download the latest movies, series and more to your Explora.
Please wait for all three tuners to show signal on this screen,
before pressing OK to continue.
Quick Tip
Read through our helpful Quick Guide for the remote (also packaged with the
DStv Explora) to quickly learn about the different buttons and what they do.

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
Getting Connected to the Internet
The DStv Explora can now be connected to the internet. This give you access to two new features
(we call these Connected Services) – DStv Catch Up Plus (see page 11) and Remote Recordings
(see page 23).
There are two ways to connect your DStv Explora to the internet.
Via Ethernet
If your DStv Explora is in the same room as your router, or if you want to connect it directly, you can
link them using an Ethernet cable (available from any electronic store).
Using our DStv WiFi Connector
If your DStv Explora isn’t in the same room as your router, or if you want to avoid running a cable
from your router to your DStv Explora, you can connect wirelessly using our DStv WiFi Connector.
Visit dstv.com/GetConnected for full instructions and step-by-step guidelines.
Quick Tips
• Connected Services are available in selected countries on selected packages
• DStv Catch Up Plus and Remote Recordings require payment of the monthly
access fee
• Data charges apply when using Connected Services. Visit dstv.com/
GetConnected for full Terms and Conditions.

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
This Quick Guide will help you find your way around the main features of your DStv Explora and get
you viewing in no time.
Five important things you need to know when using your new DStv Explora :
The DStv Explora has ONE central menu with all content and settings. Press the DStv
button to go straight to DStv Central. (See the DStv Explora Map for more info)
When looking for something to watch, use the hotlink buttons on your remote to go directly
to BoxOffice, DStv Catch Up, your Playlist, the TV Guide or Search.
With all the great content available, BoxOffice, DStv Catch Up, DStv Catch Up Plus and
your Playlist have folders allowing you to easily find what you’re looking for. The Planner
also has folders, so you can see all schedules or limit your view to just the reminders or
one of the other options. There’s also series stacking, which groups episodes in a season
together (available in both your Playlist and DStv Catch Up).
Press OK on any programme name to see the list of available actions. These range
from being able to schedule recordings, set reminders and even getting a list of when a
programme will be aired again over the next 8 days.
To change viewing options (like language and aspect ratio), press OPTIONS. Pressing this
same button when viewing a list, lets you change the sort order or how the information is
displayed.
Getting Started

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
DStv Explora Map
Just Added Watch Now
• Playlist
• BoxOffice
• DStv Catch Up
• Go to Live TV
• Audio Channels
Search
• Movies
• Series
• Sport
• Theme Search
• Word Search
• Advanced Search
Planner
• Schedules
• Season Manager
• Create Manual
Recording
• TV Guide
Central
Just Added
A quick snapshot of the latest DStv Catch Up
and BoxOffice titles on your DStv Explora.
Watch Now
Everything that you can watch – all in one place!
Catch up on your favourite series, rent a movie,
download a show, watch something you’ve
recorded, tune to live TV or listen to one of the
many audio channels on offer. Remember you
can also go directly to BoxOffice, DStv Catch
Up or your Playlist using the hotlink buttons on
your remote.
Search
Explore our world of entertainment using one
of the search options available. You can also go
directly to Search using the hotlink button on
your remote.
Planner
Everything you need to do your planning – all in
one place! Check your schedules, manage your
series recordings or look through the TV Guide.
Remember, you can also go directly to the TV
Guide using the hotlink button on your remote.
Press to access DStv Central at any time

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
Apps
• News24
• Weather24
• SuperSport
Active
Etc...
Settings
• User Preferences
• Parental Control
• System Settings
• Satellite Settings
Help
• Contact Us
• Mail Messages
• General
Information
• Tools
Apps
Your one stop access to all the interactive
services available on your DStv Explora.
Press OK while watching TV for quick access to
the list of available apps.
Settings
This section of the menu includes all settings
that you can personalise, together with Parental
Control, Satellite Settings and more. This is also
where you enable the Connected Services (DStv
Catch Up Plus and Remote Recordings).
Help
Here you can find our contact details, your mail
messages as well as Information Central (which
you need when contacting our call centre). You
can also test the internet connection on your
DStv Explora here.

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
Personalising your DStv Explora
We recommend that you personalise the settings on your new DStv Explora to have the best
possible viewing experience.
Press the DStv button and go to “User Preferences” in “Settings” to set your preferences for default
language, aspect ratio, recording defaults and more.
If you have connected your DStv Explora to the internet, use Connected Services on this menu to
enable the features.

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
BoxOffice
Rent blockbuster movies from the comfort of your home with BoxOffice, and keep them for 48
hours. With a selection of the hottest movies available to rent and watch instantly on your DStv
Explora, there’s never been a better time to plan a big night in.
Press the BOXOFFICE button to go directly to the selection of available movies.
Note: BoxOffice is only available in selected countries on selected packages.
Visit dstv.com/boxoffice for more information and for other great ways to enjoy the freshest
movies.
There are no BoxOffice movies listed when the DStv Explora is first installed. The
movies will start downloading as soon as installation is complete. Please be patient
while we download these to your DStv Explora.

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
DStv Catch Up
With DStv Catch Up, there’s never a reason to miss your favourite show.
Catch up on a selection of series, box sets, movies, kids’ entertainment, sports highlights, reality
shows and more. And for many series, we have series stacking (with multiple episodes available), so
that you can snuggle up on the couch for an afternoon of binge viewing.
We also have Express from the U.S. which brings you the hottest new series – ready for you to
watch within 24 hours of the U.S. broadcast. It’s TV on your terms. Press the CATCH UP
button for quick access to all the latest programming we’ve recorded for you.
Note: DStv Catch Up is only available in selected countries on selected packages.
Visit dstv.com/catchup for more information and for other great ways to enjoy the best of DStv
Catch Up.
There are no DStv Catch Up titles listed when the DStv Explora is first installed. These will start
downloading as soon as installation is complete. Please be patient while we download the latest movies,
series and more to your DStv Explora.

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
DStv Catch Up Plus
With DStv Catch Up Plus, you have access to hundreds more of the best and latest programmes -
including series, box sets (where available), movies, sports, kids’ shows and exclusive content!
When your DStv Explora is connected to the internet in your home, a catalogue (not the content,
just a menu) of additional DStv Catch Up content gets downloaded to it. You can then choose what
you want to watch and once selected, this gets downloaded via the internet, straight to your DStv
Explora.
Note: DStv Catch Up Plus is only available in selected countries on selected packages.
Visit dstv.com/GetConnected for more information, including full Terms and Conditions.

12
DStv Explora Quick Guide
The TV Guide
The TV Guide lists 8 full days of programming information, allowing you to easily plan your viewing.
Press the TV GUIDE button for quick access to our programme schedules.
Press OK on any programme to see the available actions. You can set reminders, schedule
recordings and find out when the programme will be aired again over the next 8 days.
Quick Tips
• Press OPTIONS to change the way the schedules are displayed.
• Press P+ / P- to jump 24 hours at a time.
• Enter a channel number to quickly jump to schedules for a specific channel.

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
A great feature of the DStv Explora is being able to find out when a programme is on again within
the next 8 days.
If you see a programme that you missed (or that clashes with something else you’re already
recording), press OK on the programme and select Other Airings to see when the programme is on
again in the next 8 days.
You can then schedule a recording on one of these alternatives to ensure that you don’t miss out on
your favourite programme.
The TV Guide

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
Search
Would you like to find a movie for the kids to watch, or find that new series you’ve heard so much
about? Our DStv Explora Search options will find these for you.
Press the SEARCH button to explore our content.
If you’re looking for a kids’
movie, select “Movies A-Z” and
scroll through the categories to
find something suitable.
Or use Advanced Search –
select Movies as your theme
and select a PG rating. We’ll
list all the movies that meet
your PG requirements. It’s that
easy!

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
If you’re looking for a programme you keep hearing about, use the Word Search. Enter the full or
partial title and we’ll find it for you. It’s that easy!
And if you want to find out when a new series is starting, or when one of your other favourites is on,
select the Series option.
You can also find specific sporting events. Want to know what time that big soccer match kicks off
later today? Select “Live Sports 24 Hours” and scroll left or right to Soccer to see the start time. It’s
that easy!
Search

16
DStv Explora Quick Guide
Watching TV
To see the title of the programme you’re watching, press i. For additional information about the
programme, press iagain.

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DStv Explora Quick Guide
Press OK on any programme to see the available actions.
You can also press the UP arrow when the i-Plate is displayed to see the content in the buffer (the
DStv Explora keeps the last 2 hours of viewing so that you can rewind at any time.)
Watching TV
Quick Tip
Arrow DOWN to see
programming info for
a full 24 hours on any
channel.