DStv Decoder Lifecycle

**Subject to change without notice**

MultiChoice’s aim is to give our customers an evolving (and better) viewing experience. To this end, we regularly launch new channels and services, but these can be quite demanding on your hardware.

Your decoder will go through various life cycles, starting with when it’s new and fully capable, to when it’s nearing time for replacement. Some of our older model decoders have been classified as “end of support” since November 2014.

See below the various categories to learn more about decoder lifecycle.

Category 1: New Decoders

The first category is made up of our new decoders: the DStv Explora and the DStv HD Decoder, which is a Single View decoder. These decoders are manufactured in South Africa.

All our new decoders come with a 12-month warranty from date of purchase. We do, however, recommend that you get insurance for your decoder to cover it for mechanical or electrical fault and loss or damage caused by theft, fire, lightning or explosion. The insurance will also cover your decoder when it is no longer supported.

  • DStv Explora Ultra
  • DStv Explora (Model 3B)
  • DStv Single View HD Decoder

Category 2: Old but Repairable Decoders

This category is made up of older decoders that we still have parts for, and that we can repair (even though we’ve stopped manufacturing them). These decoders don’t get new features but are still functional and you can get all our channels.

The standard repair fee is R700 for an HDPVR / Explora and R320 for a Single View decoder. If you have decoder insurance, you will not be required to pay the repair fee as this is included in your cover.

When you bring your decoder in, you will be given a refurbished model as a replacement. The decoder you brought in will be sent to our Johannesburg centre for repairs. This saves you time because you don’t have to wait for the broken decoder to be repaired or come back to collect it. We offer a six-month repair guarantee on refurbished decoders. This is different from the new product guarantee of 12 months which we offer on new decoders like the DStv Explora and DStv HD Decoder.

We do, however, recommend that you get insurance for your decoder to cover it for mechanical or electrical fault and loss or damage caused by theft, fire, lightning or explosion. The insurance will also cover your decoder when it is no longer supported.

  • DStv Explora (Model 2A)
  • DStv Explora 1
  • DStv HD Decoder (Model 4U & 4S)
  • DStv HD Decoder (Model 5U & 5S)
  • DStv HD Decoder (model 6S)

Category 3: Old and Irrepairable Decoders - "End of Support"

These decoders are classified as “end of support”. They don’t have the processing power and memory to deal with our new services. This means your viewing will be impacted as you won’t be able to get some of our channels or you will experience freeze-ups.

We are not able to service these decoders as parts are no longer.

If you are still using one of these decoders and do NOT have decoder insurance, we have trade-in options to help you move to the latest decoder models.

If you have decoder insurance, you will get a replacement as per the decoder insurance terms and conditions.


HD PVR 4 Tuner (UEC)

You’ll continue to have access to DStv as long as your decoder is working. You can, however, trade-in your active HD PVR 4 Tuner (UEC) at any of our service centres or agencies for a DStv Explora for only R999. This excludes installation, so please chat to your local DStv Accredited Installer about any potential installation changes required.


SD PVR

You can still access DStv for as long as your decoder is working but won’t be able to receive selected services on our latest satellite. This satellite gives us the capacity to enhance our DStv services by allowing us to add more content and channels.

We have the following trade-in options available for your active SD PVR:

  • Trade-in option 1 : Get a DStv Explora at R599 (normally R999). This excludes installation so please chat to your local DStv Accredited Installer about any potential installation changes required. Bring your active SD PVR with smartcard to any DStv Service Centre / Agency to get this deal.
  • Trade-in option 2 : Get a DStv Explora PLUS installation (with 80cm dish and DStv Smart LNB) for R799 (normally R1699). This option is only suitable if you are able to make use of your own satellite dish (ie. don’t share a dish or live in a complex which doesn’t allow individual dishes). Bring your active SD PVR with smartcard to any DStv Service Centre / Agency to get this deal.
  • Trade-in option 3 : Get a DStv Explora PLUS HD Single View Decoder PLUS installation (with 80cm dish and DStv Smart LNB) for R1599. This option is only suitable if you are able to make use of your own satellite dish (ie. don’t share a dish or live in a complex which doesn’t allow individual dishes). Bring your active SD PVR with smartcard to any DStv Service Centre / Agency to get this deal.
  • Trade-in option 4 : Get a DStv Explora PLUS a HD Single View Decoder PLUS installation (with 80cm dish and DStv Smart LNB) PLUS free delivery for R79pm over 24 months. This option is only suitable if you are able to make use of your own satellite dish (ie. don’t share a dish or live in a complex which doesn’t allow individual dishes). This option requires a credit check and is only payable via debit order. SMS the word YES to 42596 and our team will call you back.
  • Trade-in option 5 : Get 2 DStv Explora’s PLUS installation (with 80cm dish and DStv Smart LNB) PLUS free delivery for R129pm over 24 months. This option is only suitable if you are able to make use of your own satellite dish (ie. don’t share a dish or live in a complex which doesn’t allow individual dishes). This option requires a credit check and is only payable via debit order. SMS the word YES to 42506 and our team will call you back.


Dual View

You will keep accessing DStv for as long as your Dual View decoder is still working.

We have the following trade-in options available at our service centres or agencies (just bring in your active Dual View decoder with the smartcard) :

  • Trade-in option 1 : Get 2 single view HD decoders at R799. This excludes installation so please chat to your local DStv Accredited Installer about any potential installation changes required.
  • Trade-in option 2 : Get a DStv Explora for R799 (normally R999). This excludes installation so please chat to your local DStv Accredited Installer about any potential installation changes required. Please note, taking this option will not give allow you to access two channels at the same time. You would need to add a second decoder to your Explora for this functionality. This option is only suitable if you are able to make use of your own satellite dish (ie. don’t share a dish or live in a complex which doesn’t allow individual dishes).

Why we no longer have Dual View decoders

We introduced a more affordable solution called XtraView – which allows our customers to add decoders to the ones they already have.

Customers can link two decoders under one subscription (with a monthly Access Fee required), or they can link three decoders (this requires payment of two Access Fees each month).

For more information on XtraView or to find out what decoders can be linked together, please chat to your local DStv Accredited Installer.


Single View decoder models: 660, 720, 720i, 910, 933, 990, 1131, 1132

You will keep accessing DStv for as long as your older Single View decoder is still working. You can, however, trade-in your active Single View decoder at any of our service centres or agencies for a brand new DStv HD Decoder for only R449. This excludes installation, so please chat to your local DStv Accredited Installer about any potential installation changes required.


About our trade-in offers

  • Trade-in options are subject to change without notice.
  • Trade-in options are only available on active decoders (which need to be returned together with their smartcards)
  • If you take a trade-in option that includes a DStv Explora, please note that this decoder is not a dual view decoder but can be linked to two more XtraView capable decoders
  • Full use of the DStv Explora, including connection to one decoder in XtraView, requires payment of a monthly Access Fee (R110)
  • If you take a trade-in option that excludes installation, please note that your new decoder may not be compatible with your existing installation and changes may be required.
  • If you take a trade-in option that includes installation, installation can only be done by participating DStv Accredited Installers.
  • If you take a trade-in option with ONE decoder that includes installation, your installation covers 25km travel, 80cm satellite dish, DStv Smart LNB, up to 25m cable, connection of the decoder to one TV and activation of your services
  • If you take a trade-in option with TWO decoders that includes installation, your installation covers 25km travel, 80cm satellite dish, DStv Smart LNB, up to 50m cable, connection of the decoder to one TV and activation of your services