Updated January 2026 by DSTV Installer Centurion

If you’ve never had a DStv system installed before — or it’s been years since your last installation — you might be wondering what the process actually involves. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough of what happens when our technician arrives at your Centurion home.

Before the Installation

When you call us, we’ll ask a few questions about your property and what you need. This helps us arrive prepared with the right equipment. We’ll give you a quote over the phone and schedule a convenient time. For same-day service, call before 2pm.

Tip: Before our technician arrives, decide where you want your TV positioned and have your decoder and smartcard ready (if you’ve purchased them separately). If you’re getting an Explora installed, know your WiFi password.

Site Assessment (10-15 minutes)

Our technician starts by assessing your property to determine the optimal satellite dish position. The dish needs a clear line of sight to the IS-20 satellite, which is roughly north from Centurion at an elevation of about 55 degrees. Your technician will consider roof type and structure (for mounting security), line of sight (no trees, buildings, or other obstructions), cable run distance (shorter is better for signal quality), and aesthetic impact (we try to position dishes discreetly).

We’ll show you where we plan to mount the dish and run the cable before we start drilling. If you have preferences about placement, this is the time to discuss them.

Dish Mounting (20-30 minutes)

We mount the dish bracket securely to your wall or roof using appropriate fixings for your wall type. The dish is then attached to the bracket and roughly aimed in the satellite’s direction. We use galvanised or stainless steel hardware that won’t rust over time — cheap zinc-plated bolts corrode within a year or two on the Highveld.

Cable Installation (20-40 minutes)

We run RG6 coaxial cable from the LNB on the dish to your decoder location. The cable route depends on your property — it might go through the roof space, along external walls in cable trunking, or through the wall directly. We use waterproof cable glands where the cable enters the building, and compression-type F-connectors at both ends for reliable, weatherproof connections.

Signal Alignment (10-15 minutes)

This is the critical step. Using a professional satellite signal meter (not the decoder’s built-in signal screen, which is too slow for accurate peaking), we fine-tune the dish position for maximum signal strength. We adjust azimuth (left-right), elevation (up-down), and skew (rotation) until we achieve peak signal on the key transponders. A properly peaked dish gives you the maximum signal margin, which means reliable reception even during bad weather.

Connection and Testing (15-20 minutes)

We connect the coaxial cable to your decoder, connect the decoder to your TV (via HDMI for HD quality), and power everything up. We verify signal quality, scan for all channels, and check that everything is working correctly. For Explora installations, we also connect to your WiFi and verify streaming app access.

Handover

Before we leave, we’ll walk you through your new setup — how to use the remote, how to navigate channels, and for Explora users, how to record and use the streaming features. We’ll also give you our direct number for any future support.

The whole process typically takes 1-2 hours for a standard installation. Extra View and multi-room setups take longer.

Updated January 2026 by DSTV Installer Centurion

DStv offers several subscription packages at different price points, each with a different channel lineup. Choosing the right one depends on what you watch, how many people in your household need entertainment, and your budget. Here’s a practical overview to help you decide.

DStv Package Overview

DStv Premium: The full package. Every channel DStv offers, including all SuperSport channels, all movie channels (M-Net, kykNET, etc.), international entertainment, documentaries, kids’ channels, and music. This is the package for households where sport is non-negotiable and multiple family members have different viewing preferences.

DStv Compact Plus: A solid mid-range option that includes most popular entertainment and movie channels, some SuperSport channels (but not all — notably missing some Premier League and rugby channels), and a good selection of local and international content.

DStv Compact: Good value for general entertainment. Includes popular channels like 1Magic, Mzansi Magic, Lifetime, Discovery, and some sport. Missing the premium movie and sport channels.

DStv Family: Budget-friendly package focused on local entertainment, kids’ programming, and basic international channels. Good for households that mainly watch local content and kids’ shows.

DStv Access: The entry-level package. Limited channel selection but very affordable. Includes SABC channels, e.tv, and a small selection of entertainment and kids’ channels.

Our Advice

The best package is the one that matches your actual viewing habits, not the one with the most channels. We see many households paying for Premium when Compact Plus would cover everything they actually watch. Start with a package you think suits your needs — you can always upgrade or downgrade month to month through the MyDStv app.

One important note: your DStv package choice is completely independent of your decoder type and installation. Whether you have a basic HD decoder or an Explora Ultra, any package works on any decoder. The decoder determines your features (recording, streaming, etc.) while the package determines your available channels.

If you need help with any DStv installation in Centurion, from new setups to upgrades and repairs, contact us on 060 018 0602.

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.