Common DStv Signal Problems in Centurion

Updated January 2026 by DSTV Installer Centurion

Living on the Highveld means dealing with some of the most dramatic weather in South Africa — intense summer thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail. All of these can affect your DStv signal. Here’s a practical guide to the most common signal problems we see in Centurion and what you can do about them.

Problem 1: Complete Signal Loss (E48-32 Error)

The E48-32 “No Signal” error is the most common DStv fault call we get. It means your decoder is not receiving any satellite signal. There are several possible causes:

Dish misalignment after wind: Centurion’s Highveld winds, particularly during October-February storm season, can physically shift your satellite dish. Even a movement of 2-3 degrees is enough to lose the satellite completely. If your signal was fine yesterday and gone today after a windy night, this is almost certainly the cause.

What you can do: Look at your dish. Is it visibly tilted or moved from its original position? If so, you’ll need a technician with a signal meter to realign it. Don’t try to adjust it yourself without a meter — you’ll be guessing and could make it worse.

LNB failure: If the dish hasn’t moved but you still have no signal (in clear weather), the LNB may have failed. LNBs degrade over time due to UV exposure and temperature cycling, and typically last 5-8 years. A failed LNB needs replacing.

Cable fault: Less common but possible. A rodent may have chewed through your coaxial cable, or an outdoor connector may have corroded and started letting in moisture. Check for visible cable damage if you can access the cable run.

Problem 2: Pixelation and Freezing

If your picture breaks into blocks (pixelates) or freezes intermittently, you have a marginal signal level. Your system is receiving enough signal to work most of the time, but not enough margin to handle any signal degradation. Causes include a slightly off-peak dish alignment, ageing LNB with reduced sensitivity, or signal loss in long cable runs or cheap splitters.

What you can do: Go to your decoder’s signal strength screen (Settings > Satellite Settings > Signal). A healthy installation should show signal quality of 80% or higher. If you’re seeing 60-75%, your installation needs optimisation. Below 60%, something is definitely wrong. Call us for a signal repair and we’ll find and fix the weak point.

Problem 3: Rain Fade

Satellite signals can be absorbed by heavy rain between your dish and the satellite. This is a physical limitation of the technology, not a fault in your installation. During severe Highveld thunderstorms, some signal loss is normal and expected.

However, if you lose signal during light rain or overcast conditions, your installation is not properly optimised. A well-aligned dish with a good LNB and quality cabling should maintain signal through anything except the heaviest downpours. We can significantly improve your rain fade performance by ensuring your dish is precisely aligned for maximum signal margin.

Problem 4: Some Channels Work, Others Don’t

If certain channels show “No Signal” while others work fine, this is typically an LNB issue. DStv uses multiple transponders (frequency bands) on the satellite, and a partially failed LNB may receive some transponders but not others. This requires LNB replacement.

When to Call a Professional

There are a few things you can check yourself — cable connections, decoder resets, and visual dish inspection — but most signal problems require a technician with proper equipment. Our signal meters can measure exact signal levels at every point in your installation, pinpointing the problem accurately.

Don’t let signal problems drag on. A marginal installation will only get worse as components age. Call us on 060 018 0602 for a same-day signal repair anywhere in Centurion.