DStv Walka — Plastic fantastic

It feels cheap, the sound quality is dire, and the signal is rarely clear. But hell, I love the DSTV Walka. It’s compact, low-res and filled with charm. But is it worth dropping R600 plus the R36 per month subscription?

Clear and present danger

The DStv Walka is a handheld TV with a dubious name, but oodles of personality. The screen is tiny — a mere 320p by 240p resolution which can by no means compete with the full HD capability of DStv’s PVR offering. It’s not meant to appeal to that crowd though.

The Walka is for the guy who wants to catch up on his cricket during a drive to work (despite a warning on the box saying “do not watch TV while driving!”). It is for the amateur chef who wants to watch the Discovery channel while skinning potatoes. It’s for the “oke” at the gym who wants to watch the Cartoon Network during a squat thrust. So it’s for everyone then? Not quite.

The Walka is not for the HD addict who demands crystal clear reception. The quality is, frankly, rubbish and no amount of fiddling with the aerial will deliver a clear signal. The Walka uses digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H) to deliver its grainy signal to the masses. It’s far from satellite quality. In fact, it’s a radio signal which picks up terrestrial broadcasts.

Plastic fantastic
On the right side of the Walka are the controls. Volume up and down are on the top right and bottom right respectively. A volume rocker or simple dial would have been easier than these monstrosities. Utterly terrible in every respect, the volume controls are possibly the worst aspects of the device.

Channel selection fares better, and comes in the form of a dial which rocks up or down, with a push to select channels. While watching a channel, rocking the channel selector displays preview text on the bottom of the show. The microUSB charging slot and LED charge indicator round off the right side of the device.

The top of the Walka holds the menu and power button. Pushing the menu button displays a list of options, such as channel scan, TV guide, settings and help. The firmware can be updated from this menu.

But the sound. Oh lord the sound is horrible. Attach tiny speakers or the headphones as soon as possible to avoid an auditory catastrophe. The speakers sound cheap, are tinny and ruin the overall package.

Money or the box
Inside the DStv Walka box is everything you need to watch TV on the move, or at home lazing on bed. The Walka, a USB charger, earphones, a TV stand which looks like a filled condom, and hand lanyard are included.

A long (and delicate) aerial provides signal for the Walka. It needs to be fully erect in order to receive the best signal. Even indoors, I was surprised with the quality of the Walka. I’ve gotten used to watching shows on my iPhone, so the low-res screen of the Walka barely fazed me. For everyone else, the screen is very small and will take some time, and squinting to get used to.

Needless things
It’s a love/hate relationship with the Walka then. I love the convenience of carrying TV in my pocket. The list of channels is small, but there is a decent enough mix of shows to entice the user into scanning through the stations.

Ultimately, I want to use the Walka as the great George Costanza would have, as a device to pull out from under your pillow during sex. Add in a sandwich, and you have the ultimate geek fantasy.

Who it’s for:

TV lovers always on the move.

What we liked:

The cheap price, the portability

What we didn’t like:

The very cheap and plastic feel, the tinny sound, the ridiculous hand lanyard.

Gear it or burn it:

Gear it!

Channels included with the Walka: M-Net Series, eNews, CNN, SuperSport Blitz, SuperSport1, SuperSport2, SuperSport3, SuperSport4, Cartoon Network, Discovery, SONY Max, E! Mobile, Africa Magic, Channel O, M-Net Mobile