Field notes

DSTV insights from accredited installers.

Honest, Gauteng-specific advice from a team that's been on Highveld rooftops since 2018. Troubleshooting, pricing, buyer’s guides and the kind of how-to that actually gets the job done.

More from the field

19 posts

DSTV satellite dish wedged between townhouse walls — multi-room Triple View setup
Guides13 June 202614 min

Upgrade to DSTV Triple View (Three Rooms)

Adding a third room to an existing DSTV install is not a fresh install — most of your kit stays. Here is what to keep, what to add, and what it actually costs.

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DSTV Explora connected to a home-theatre TV system with Catch Up enabled
How-To12 June 202612 min

Setting Up DSTV Catch Up: Pro Tips

DSTV Catch Up is the most-underused feature on the Explora. Here is what we set up on every Pro install so the on-demand library actually works the way MultiChoice promises.

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Wall-recessed decoder shelf below a wall-mounted TV — hidden cable management
How-To11 June 202616 min

Hidden TV Cable Management for Wall Mounts

Wall-mounting a TV without hiding the cables is half a job. Here are the three cable-management routes professional installers use, depending on your wall type.

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Neatly run multiswitch cabling on a brick wall for a DSTV Extra View install
How-To11 June 202613 min

DStv Extra View Wiring Solutions: A Complete Technical Guide for Gauteng Homes

Extra View signal failures almost always trace to one place — the heartbeat cable between decoders. Here is the cable, the splitter, and the route that keep it stable.

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Close-up of Elsat DSTV satellite dish with Smart LNB on a green-stucco wall
Buyer's Guide8 June 202612 min

Choosing a Smart LNB for Your DSTV Explora

The Smart LNB is the brain of a modern DSTV install — it talks to Explora decoders over a single cable and survives Highveld lightning if it is the right one.

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Wall-mounted TV at correct seated-eye-level height in a Gauteng living room
How-To8 June 202612 min

Perfect TV Wall Mount Height (Lounge + Bedroom)

There is a wrong way to hang a TV — too high, too low, off-centre to the couch. Here is the seated-eye-level formula a professional installer uses for every screen size.

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MultiChoice-accredited technician peaking a DSTV dish to maximum Signal Quality
Troubleshooting8 June 202615 min

DStv Signal Strength Optimization: A Complete Technical Guide for 2026

Most Gauteng homes are running DSTV at 70-80% signal quality without realising it. Here is how a calibrated peaking job pushes you above 90% — and why it matters in storm season.

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DSTV Explora decoder paired with a wall-mounted TV in a Gauteng lounge — Extra View slave setup
Pricing5 June 202613 min

DStv Extra View Pricing and Installation: A Complete Guide for Gauteng Homes in 2026

DSTV Extra View pricing has three layers — hardware, MultiChoice subscription, and the install itself. Here is what every layer costs in Gauteng in 2026.

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DSTV Space Ultra HD dish fitted on a tiled roof for an Explora Ultra installation
Guides2 June 202614 min

DStv Explora Ultra Installation: The Complete Technical Guide for Gauteng Homes (2026)

The Explora Ultra is the only decoder built for 4K DSTV channels and streaming apps. Here is what changes about the install compared to an older Explora.

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Heavy-duty TV wall bracket displayed at a MultiChoice-accredited installer showroom
Buyer's Guide2 June 202616 min

Heavy Duty TV Wall Brackets: The Complete Technical Guide for South African Homes in 2026

A wall bracket rated for 50 kg is not the same as one rated for 50 kg on plaster-over-brick at full extension. Here is how we pick brackets for big TVs in Gauteng homes.

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Technician on a ladder realigning a DSTV satellite dish on an orange-painted wall after a Highveld storm
Troubleshooting2 June 202614 min

How to Align a DStv Satellite Dish After a Storm: A Complete Technical Guide

After every big Highveld storm we get the same calls — picture gone, weather over, dish looks fine from the ground. Here is what actually moves on the dish and how we set it back.

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Multiswitch wiring on a brick wall for a multi-room DSTV Extra View installation
How-To31 May 202612 min

DSTV Extra View 3 Rooms Setup: Gauteng Guide

Setting up DSTV Extra View across three rooms means more than buying a second decoder — you need the right multiswitch, the right cable run, and a heartbeat signal that survives walls.

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DSTV satellite dish on a Gauteng suburban home with a nearby palm tree — line-of-sight obstructions are a common cause of no signal
Troubleshooting30 May 202614 min

How to Fix DSTV No Signal: A Complete Troubleshooting Guide for Gauteng Subscribers

Most DSTV no-signal faults in Gauteng come down to four things: dish drift, LNB damage, cable problems, or rain fade. Here is what to check before you call, and what we fix on a same-day call-out.

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Neatly terminated DSTV multiswitch feeding multiple decoders on a face-brick exterior wall
How-To1 April 20268 min

DSTV Extra View Setup Guide for Multi-Storey Gauteng Homes

Running Extra View across a double or triple-storey home in Fourways or Bryanston is a different job to a single-floor install. Here is how to plan the cabling, pair the decoders, and avoid signal loss.

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DSTV technician on a ladder mounting a dish on a tiled Gauteng roof with tools on the ground
Pricing17 March 20268 min

DSTV Installation Cost in Gauteng — 2026 Pricing Guide

What should a DSTV installation actually cost in Gauteng in 2026? Here are the honest market ranges, what drives the quote up or down, and the questions to ask before booking.

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DSTV Explora decoder sitting beside a wall-mounted lounge TV ready for Connect pairing
Buyer's Guide5 March 20269 min

DSTV Explora vs Explora Ultra — A 2026 Buyer's Guide

Which Explora is right for your household in 2026? Here is a spec-for-spec breakdown of the Explora 3, Explora Ultra, and what MultiChoice currently charges for each.

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Home theatre cabinet with a large TV, DSTV decoder, amplifier and router stacked on shared power
Guides24 February 20268 min

Load-Shedding and Your DSTV Decoder — 5 Protective Measures That Actually Work

Stage 6 is brutal on electronics. Here is how load-shedding damages DSTV decoders, why the Explora is especially vulnerable, and the five protective steps every Gauteng home should take.

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Elsat satellite dish fitted through a mortar joint on a face-brick Pretoria East home
Guides14 February 20268 min

Pretoria East DSTV Installation Guide — Silver Lakes, Mooikloof, Faerie Glen

Face-brick walls, tiled roofs, and gated estates make Pretoria East a different install job to anywhere else in Gauteng. Here is what every homeowner should know before booking a DSTV technician.

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MultiChoice-accredited technician peaking a DSTV dish to Intelsat 20 after a storm-driven signal drop
Troubleshooting4 February 20267 min

Why Your DSTV Signal Drops During Joburg Storms (and How to Fix It)

Highveld storms are the number one cause of DSTV signal loss in Gauteng. Here is what is actually going wrong, what you can check yourself, and when to call in a dish alignment.

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