Crash!

<p>We have been greatly dissatisfied with the service from Multichoice (DStv) and in particular with their Explora more recently and we are interested in finding out about other people’s experiences with this company and again in particular with the Explora.</p> <p> </p> <p><br />From our experience we find the Explora to be the most unreliable and unstable recording device that we have ever used. Before the days of DStv, we had a Sony Betamax Recording machine. This was followed by a VHS machine. In both these cases, the reels on which the programmes were recorded were separate from the machine itself. Thus if the machine broke down one did not lose all the recordings. One bought a new machine and continued. Then we graduated to DVR which we had for some 5 or more years with never any trouble. This had a Hard Drive on which recording were made and it also had a DVD section and we could record on these as an alternative. We never, in all the 5 years had any trouble with this machine.</p> <p> </p> <p><br />However, when we decided to sign up for DStv with Multichoice, we found that in order to watch what we wanted at a time of our convenience, we should invest in the Explora.</p> <p> </p> <p><br />For about 2 years all went reasonably well with the machine itself, although we were never really happy that the DStv “team” were very helpful with aspects of service. Then the Explora crashed one day and we had a message saying that the Hard Drive was *******ed and that, in order to use it again, we had to format it and we would lose all the recording that were there. We had gone to a lot of trouble to record lots of good programmes, series, movies, etc. And to lose them all when we were part way through some series which have long stories etc. was just so so annoying!! We were paying loads of hard earned cash for the privilege of being able to watch and to record and watch at our leisure and suddenly, what we had paid for was just going to disappear in a flash! It felt as though we were victims of a ******* which in fact was the case.</p> <p> </p> <p><br />Before formatting the disk, I telephoned the Multichoice call centre and I was told that if I brought the machine to them they would be able to save my recordings. I heaved a sigh of relief, unplugged the Explora (took me as an untrained person about 20 minutes) loaded it into my car and went off to Multichoice (about a 20 minute drive), sat in the queue there for about 20 minutes and then saw a “consultant” who on hearing the details of the problem, proceeded immediately to tell me that there was nothing she could do to save the rerecorded programmes and that the only thing she could do was to format the Disc, I would lose all the recording and then I would be able to use the machine again.</p> <p>Now, why on earth would the person I spoke to on the phone tell me that they would be able to save the recordings when that was obviously nonsense? I had wasted an hour and a half of my time, as well as petrol to get there and back, when if I had been told the truth, I should have been able to format the disc myself and saved the trip and time.</p> <p> </p> <p><br />Approximately 4 months later it crashed again!! Once again, we had been ******! This time I did not phone, but when I tried to format the disc, (a message appeared as it had done the first time, giving me ac choice to format or not to format). I chose to format and it said words to the effect that I should wait while the formatting took place – but it never did and the same message came up and did this over and over again. Surely, if it gives me a choice to format one would think the job would be done! So once again, off I went to Multichoice and they formatted it for me. However, this time, I reckoned that this was quite likely to happen again and I started to investigate Netflix. Needless to say, the Explora crashed again 3 weeks after it had been formatted and we have signed up for the Netflix trial which is going pretty well so far. We don’t have a “smart” TV and are currently watching on our computer monitor until we decide finally on our future path.</p> <p> </p> <p><br />At no stage did ant of the consultants suggest that I buy a new machine. But I will always have the fear that it will crash at some point as well.</p> <p> </p> <p><br />In conclusion:-</p> <p>I am very interested to know if other people have had the same or similar experiences with the Explora and with DStv’s uncaring service.</p> <p>I am also interested to have any advice as to what, if anything, one can do to get some live sport – particularly tennis (Grand Slams and other major tournaments) from some other source than DStv.</p> <p>I don’t have a smart TV and I have been told of several ways of connecting our non-smart TV to the Internet, such as the Roku stick. If there is anyone out there reading this who has had some experience in this regard, I would appreciate some feedback.</p> <p>And I am also interested to have any advice as to experiences of people with Netflix and / or Showmax as far as their service and content are concerned.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>