First, who is writing. Vivimate is a general IPTV subscription for homes in the US and Canada. It doesn't carry DStv or SuperSport, and we have never set up an Explora Ultra. Everything below about the decoder comes from DStv's own help pages and news articles, read on November 10, 2026and linked where they're used. This page reports no measurements of our own.
What DStv says the Explora Ultra is
DStv's FAQ "What is the DStv Explora Ultra?" describes a box that "brings the best of two worlds together": the satellite recorder DStv customers already know, plus streaming apps and built-in WiFi. The PVR habits stay, from recording and Catch Up to BoxOffice rentals and pausing live TV. DStv's list of what's different puts the apps first, then better recommendations and search across services, 4K and HDR, Dolby Atmos where available, the WiFi and a new remote.
DStv's "Who should buy" FAQ aims it at families who want recording plus outside streaming services, existing PVR owners (it can join their current Explora in XtraView), and homes that want apps without giving up regular TV. It still works without a connection, but DStv calls it best suited to homes with internet.
Ultra against the Explora 2A and 3A
DStv publishes a side-by-side comparison with the previous Exploras. The recording space, the dish and the core offline features are the same; the connection, picture, sound and remote are what changed. One detail surprises people who go looking for a card: the Ultra has no smartcard at all.
DStv adds that recording space varies with the mix of HD and SD shows. Remotes are interchangeable: its remote FAQ says every remote shipped with an Explora works on the Ultra, though it recommends the A9 that comes in the box. DStv's trade-in FAQ lists no swap scheme for older Exploras, only a note that promotions may happen from time to time.
The apps, and the rules that come with them
The Explora Ultra apps FAQ lists the DStv app, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, SuperSport, News24 and People's Weather. Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video need their own subscriptions; DStv says Netflix and Disney+ can be added to a DStv account so you pay one amount a month. That FAQ isn't dated, while DStv's package article dated September 8, 2026 says Disney+ is no longer available on the Streama and Explora boxes, so we go by the newer page.
Four rules from DStv's FAQs shape how the apps behave:
- No app store. Apps are added automatically through DStv's agreements and appear once the box is online; you can't add others.
- Sign in once per app. DStv says you sign in the first time you open each one; how often after that is up to each service.
- Streaming only. Content from the outside apps can't be downloaded to watch offline on the decoder.
- DStv must stay active. Full use, online features included, needs an active DStv subscription and the monthly Access Fee. Cancel DStv and the apps go with it.
Where 4K actually applies
"4K decoder" is true in a narrow sense. DStv's 4K streaming FAQ says yes, the Ultra supports it, but you need a 4K-capable TV (or AV receiver or soundbar), 4K content, the subscriptions and high-speed uncapped internet, and only selected third-party apps provide it. The same page says "MultiChoice does not yet offer 4K streaming", and a second FAQ confirms there is no 4K yet on Catch Up, BoxOffice or the live satellite channels.
Setting it up
DStv's installation FAQ for the Ultra asks for the same thing as every Explora: an 80cm satellite dish with a DStv Smart LNB. It recommends a DStv Accredited Installer for all installations, and especially in a complex, with XtraView or with several TVs. If you already have an Explora, DStv says you can swap the boxes without changing the installation, using the HDMI cable and power supply packed with the Ultra.
The Ultra joins your network through its built-in WiFi or an Ethernet cable. We found no step-by-step WiFi guide for the Ultra on DStv's site; its connection guide dated July 7, 2021 was written for the earlier Explora, and its two checks are worth knowing:
- Press the Help button on the remote, choose Tools, then Connectivity Checker, and press OK. Green check marks should show next to the router and internet connections.
- Press the blue DStv button, go to Settings, then User Preferences, then Connected Services, and switch on the services you want. DStv says they are off by default.
On a newer box the menus may be labelled differently. For speed, DStv's Ultra internet FAQ recommends an uncapped line and at least 2 Mbps for SD downloads, 4 Mbps for SD streaming and 10 Mbps for HD streaming; for 4K it sends you to each app's own requirement. Data charges apply whenever the decoder is online.
Recordings, Catch Up and what stays on the box
Offline, DStv says the Ultra performs like its other Exploras. Catch Up arrives by satellite onto the hard drive: DStv's Catch Up decoder FAQ gives an Explora more than 175 hours of it, and a connected Explora can download up to 25 Catch Up shows at once. Our DStv app and Catch Up guide covers how long shows stay and how the app version differs.
What you record stays where you recorded it. DStv's FAQs say you can't copy content to a USB drive, can't play content from one, and can't move recordings from an old Explora to the Ultra; it puts the USB limits down to licence agreements with content suppliers. An Explora can also join one or two other decoders in XtraView, with a second monthly Access Fee once three are linked.
Packages, prices and the 2026 change
The decoder doesn't change what you subscribe to. DStv's September 2026 article answers "Do I need a new decoder?" for the packages that began on September 17, 2026 with a no. The package names and rand prices are on our DStv packages and prices page, and which channels sit in each package on the DStv channels list. We quote no price for the Ultra itself: the figures on DStv's FAQs carry no date and its store page didn't load for us, so check DStv's store before buying. If an on-screen code appears, our DStv error codes page gives DStv's meaning for each.
For readers in the US and Canada
The Ultra is a decoder for DStv's African satellite service, sold to DStv customers there. DStv's app FAQ says that outside African countries with DStv there is no content available, because its content rights don't allow it. We don't suggest any way around that. If you're buying one for family in South Africa, everything above applies to their home, not yours; our DStv overview explains where DStv plays.
Where Vivimate fits
Vivimate is not DStv, doesn't sell Explora decoders and isn't a way to watch DStv or SuperSport. It's a separate IPTV subscription in US dollars, and we don't promise any particular channel, league or show: the 24-hour free trial needs no card, so you can search the guide yourself first. Plans are prepaid with no auto-renewal: $19.99 for 1 month ($31.98 with two devices); $29.99 for 3 months ($47.98 with two devices); $39.99 for 6 months ($63.98 with two devices) and $69.99 for 12 months plus 2 free ($111.98 with two devices). A first purchase comes with a 7-day refund window when a service problem you report can't be fixed, as set out in our refund policy. IPTV is a legal technology and the seller's rights are what count, as our page on whether IPTV is legal explains. We don't publish the rights agreements behind our channels.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DStv Explora Ultra a 4K decoder?
Only partly. DStv says it supports 4K streaming in selected third-party apps, with a 4K TV, the right subscriptions and fast uncapped internet. MultiChoice does not yet offer 4K streaming, and there is no 4K yet on Catch Up, BoxOffice or the satellite channels.
Does the Explora Ultra work without the internet?
Yes. DStv calls it a satellite decoder with additional online capabilities, and says that without a connection it performs like its other Explora models. The streaming apps and anything else online need a connection.
Can I install my own apps on the Explora Ultra?
No. DStv says apps are added automatically through its agreements with each provider and appear once the decoder is online. There is no app store, and you can't add other apps. Netflix, Prime Video and similar apps need their own subscriptions.
Can I move my old Explora recordings to an Explora Ultra?
No. DStv's FAQ answers that question with a plain no. Recordings also can't be copied to a USB drive, and the decoder won't play files from one; DStv cites its licence agreements with content suppliers.
Will an Explora Ultra work in the USA or Canada?
DStv sells it as a decoder for its African satellite service, and its app FAQ says there is no content outside African countries with DStv because of content rights. We don't suggest any way around that, and Vivimate doesn't carry DStv.
Sources
All read November 10, 2026.
- DStv help, Explora Ultra: what it is, what's different, comparison with the 2A/3A, who should buy, compatible remotes and trade-in
- DStv help, Explora Ultra apps: apps list, no app store, signing in, offline viewing and active subscription
- DStv help, Explora Ultra 4K and internet: 4K streaming, 4K via satellite, internet connection and working without internet
- DStv help, Explora Ultra storage and setup: USB playback, USB copying, old recordings and installation
- DStv help: Explora and XtraView, decoders with Catch Up, Catch Up downloads to an Explora and What is the DStv Stream App?
- DStv news: How to connect your DStv Explora to the internet, dated July 7, 2021, and New DStv Packages, dated September 8, 2026
Couldn't read: DStv's online store (only its title loaded), a dated Explora Ultra price, and a WiFi setup guide written for the Ultra itself.
New to the service? Start with the full Vivimate IPTV guide — what it includes, what it costs and how to set it up.