Your decoder has lived on the TV cabinet so long it has a dust outline. It takes ages to boot after load shedding, the guide freezes, and the grandchildren laugh at the remote. In a lot of Simon's Town homes that is the moment a DStv decoder upgrade starts to make sense. Here is how to tell if yours is due, what it costs, and what changes on the roof.
Quick answer
A DStv decoder upgrade makes sense when your box is slow, keeps freezing, cannot record or lacks Catch Up. The usual move is to an Explora or Explora Ultra. Both need a Smart LNB on an 80cm dish, so the roof side often changes too. XtraView can be re-linked to the new box on the same visit.
Signs your old decoder in Simon's Town is due for a DStv decoder upgrade
Decoders do not last forever. Heat, power surges and years of daily use wear them down. In a seaside town, salty air in the lounge does not help the electronics either.
- The box takes several minutes to start, especially after a power cut.
- The TV guide or menus freeze, and only pulling the plug helps.
- Recordings fail, or the hard drive makes clicking sounds.
- You cannot get Catch Up or BoxOffice because the box has no internet option.
- Picture is standard definition only and looks soft on a new big-screen TV.
- The same smartcard or error message keeps coming back after a reset.
One or two of these on a cheap old decoder is usually enough to justify a DStv decoder upgrade. If the box is fairly new, a repair may be the smarter first step. Our decoder repair team can test it and tell you honestly if it is worth fixing.
DStv decoder upgrade options and prices
At the time of writing, DStv's own promotional prices for its decoders were as follows. These were set during the January to April 2026 specials, and prices have moved since, so treat them as a guide.
| Decoder | Recent DStv price | What it does | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD Single View | R499 (R799 with installation) | Live TV in HD, no recording | A spare room or a simple holiday flat |
| Explora (3B) | R1,499 | Records, pauses live TV, Catch Up online | Families who like to record |
| Explora Ultra | R2,999 | 4K and HDR, built-in WiFi, apps, about 110 hours of recording | Big new TVs and streaming fans |
Remember that a box price is just the box. The dish, Smart LNB, cable and fitting are separate. Retail chains run their own specials on decoders, so compare on the day rather than trusting last month's advert. Our guide to the decoder price at Game and other stores explains what is usually left out.
Should you upgrade to Explora Ultra?
This is the most common DStv decoder upgrade question we hear. If your TV is 4K and you already have fibre, the decision to upgrade to Explora Ultra is an easy one. You get sharper pictures, built-in WiFi and apps on one remote. If your TV is older or the internet is weak, a standard Explora gives you recording at half the price.
Does a DStv decoder upgrade mean a new LNB?
Very often, yes. An Explora has more than one tuner inside, so it needs a dish that can send several signals down the cable at once. That is the job of the Smart LNB.
If your dish still carries an old single or twin LNB, it must be swapped. DStv's own recommended Explora installation is a Smart LNB on an 80cm dish. A Smart LNB usually costs roughly R399 to R499 at retail, plus fitting. See our breakdown of the LNB price for Simon's Town homes for the detail.
- We check what LNB is on the dish now.
- If needed, we fit a Smart LNB and new weatherproof connectors.
- We re-point the dish on a signal meter for the best quality reading.
- We test every tuner on the new decoder before we pack up.
Safety first
Dishes on Simon's Town homes are often fixed high on gable ends or steep roofs above a drop to the street. Please do not climb up to swap an LNB yourself. A fall from a hillside roof can be life-changing, and the south-easter can shift a ladder in seconds.
Salt air, wind and your DStv decoder upgrade in Simon's Town
Upgrade day is also a good time to look at the outside hardware, because a DStv decoder upgrade only shines if the signal feeding it is clean. Simon's Town sits right on False Bay, and salt air eats cheap bolts, brackets and connectors. A rusted F-connector can make a brand-new decoder look faulty.
Homes high up in Castle Hill, Murdock Valley and Welcome Glen feel the full force of the summer south-easter. Late-afternoon mountain shadow does not affect the satellite signal, but tall trees and new extensions can. On these streets an upgrade in Simon's Town often includes a check of the dish mount and line of sight.
Technician tip
Ask your installer to show you the signal quality reading on the new decoder before and after alignment. Quality matters more than strength. A good margin keeps the picture steady through rain fade and wind.
Need DStv help in Simon's Town?
Tell us what you need or what your screen shows. We price the job before we drive out.
Keeping XtraView working after a decoder swap
Lots of hillside homes run XtraView, with one TV downstairs and another upstairs. A decoder swap does not have to break that, but the decoders must be linked again on the account.
- The new primary box is paired with the second decoder through DStv.
- Both decoders must be able to check in with each other over the cabling. If they lose contact, a linking error shows on screen.
- The Access Fee stays at R125 a month for XtraView with two decoders, at the time of writing. If one box is an Explora, you already pay that fee, so the second box adds nothing monthly.
- An HD decoder can often stay on as the second box, so you may only need one new decoder.
We re-link and test both rooms during the same visit. If the second room ever starts showing that linking message, our older post on XtraView heartbeat problems covers the usual causes.
What a DStv decoder upgrade costs in Simon's Town in total
Pulling it together, the bill for a DStv decoder upgrade has three parts: the decoder, any hardware on the roof, and labour. Our guidance for more complex work, such as an Explora with a Smart LNB, long cable runs or a tricky roof, is roughly R1,500 to R2,400 for the installation. The decoder is normally bought separately.
The 2026 package changes also matter. Monthly fees did not rise in April, and the September restructure moved customers to new packages without a higher bill. Our article on the DStv price increase in 2026 explains what you now pay.
- Box only: if your dish already has a Smart LNB and good cabling.
- Box plus LNB: the most common upgrade in Simon's Town homes.
- Box, LNB and new cable: needed in older buildings with tired, corroded cable.
We quote first, so there are no surprises when we arrive.
What to do with the old decoder after a Simon's Town upgrade
Do not just toss the old box in the wheelie bin. Decoders contain circuit boards and sometimes a hard drive, which belong in an e-waste recycling point.
- Remove the smartcard first if DStv has asked you to move it to the new box.
- If the old box still works and is a supported model, consider keeping it as an XtraView second decoder.
- If not, take it with the old remote and power supply to an e-waste drop-off.
Some people keep an old decoder as a spare, which is a sensible backup in a town where storms can knock out a box. That is fine, but remember it needs an active, linked smartcard to show anything beyond the basics.
Questions to ask before a DStv decoder upgrade
- Do I record shows often enough to need an Explora?
- Is my TV 4K, and do I have fibre to make the Ultra worthwhile?
- Does my dish already have a Smart LNB?
- Will my second TV stay on XtraView?
Getting the new box online is part of the job too. Our notes on how to connect an Explora to the internet cover cable and WiFi. If you also run OpenView in a cottage, the OpenView signal problems guide helps with that box.
Book your decoder upgrade in Simon's Town
Our Explora installation service covers the new box, the Smart LNB, alignment and XtraView linking in one trip. We work across Simon's Town, Boulders, Glencairn and Da Gama Park.
Speak to our DStv installers in Simon's Town about your DStv decoder upgrade, or request a quote for your upgrade and we will plan the visit. We quote first and test every room with you before we leave.
DStv decoder upgrade in Simon's Town: FAQs
How do I do a DStv decoder upgrade?
Buy the new decoder from DStv or a retailer, then have it installed and linked to your account. If you move to an Explora or Explora Ultra, the dish usually needs a Smart LNB. Your smartcard and subscription are moved across, and any XtraView decoders are re-linked. An installer can handle all of it in one visit.
Can I upgrade my DStv decoder myself?
You can plug in a new HD decoder yourself if the dish and cable already work. A DStv decoder upgrade to an Explora is different, because it often needs a Smart LNB fitted on the dish and the dish realigned. That means working at height, which is best left to a trained installer.
How much does a DStv decoder upgrade cost in Simon's Town?
It depends on the box and the roof. Recent DStv prices were R1,499 for an Explora and R2,999 for an Explora Ultra, though prices vary. For more complex installs with a Smart LNB in Simon's Town, budget roughly R1,500 to R2,400 for installation. We give a quote before we drive out.
Does a DStv decoder upgrade need a new dish in Simon's Town?
Usually not a whole new dish. Most Simon's Town upgrades only need a Smart LNB on the existing dish, as long as it is an 80cm dish in good condition. If salt air has rusted the bracket or the dish is damaged, replacing it at the same time saves a second visit.
Will my monthly DStv fee go up if I upgrade to Explora?
Your package price stays the same, but an Explora carries the Access Fee, which is R125 a month at the time of writing. If you already pay it because of XtraView, nothing extra is added. Check the exact amount for your account in the MyDStv app.