Climb up to almost any dish above Simon's Town harbour and you will find a small grey box gone chalky, with rust round the screw. That is the LNB, and in our salty False Bay air it often gives up years before the dish does. This guide sets out the DStv LNB price by type, what fitting adds, and how to tell if yours is on its way out.
Quick answer
At the time of writing, the DStv LNB price for a Smart LNB is roughly R399 to R499 in retail. Basic single and twin LNBs usually cost less. Fitting is extra and depends on how high and steep your roof is. In Simon's Town, salt corrosion is the main reason LNBs fail early.
We are the DStv installation team in Simon's Town, and we swap LNBs on everything from Victorian cottages near St George's Street to newer homes up in Castle Hill and Da Gama Park. We will keep this honest: some readers can fix this cheaply, and some need more than an LNB.
What a DStv LNB actually does
The dish is a mirror. It bounces the satellite signal into one small point, and the DStv LNB sits right there to catch it. It boosts that weak signal, converts it and sends it down the cable to your decoder.
If the LNB is damaged, wet inside or corroded at the connector, the decoder gets a poor signal or nothing at all. You may see the E48-32 no signal message, or a picture that freezes in wind and rain.
DStv LNB price by type in Simon's Town
There is no single DStv LNB price, because there is no single LNB. The right one depends on your decoder and how many TVs you run. Here is how the main types compare.
| LNB type | Works with | Guide price at the time of writing |
|---|---|---|
| Single LNB | One HD Single View decoder | Usually below the Smart LNB price, varies by store |
| Twin LNB | Two outputs, older dual setups | Usually below the Smart LNB price, varies by store |
| Smart LNB | Explora, Explora Ultra, XtraView | Roughly R399 to R499 |
| Communal or multiswitch LNB | Blocks of flats and complexes | Quoted per building |
Prices move between stores and weeks, so treat the table as a guide and compare on the day. The DStv LNB price on a shelf also excludes labour, cable and connectors.
Good to know
Shared dishes in complexes are a different story. A Smart LNB is not generally suitable for communal systems, so speak to the body corporate before buying anything for a flat.
Smart LNB price and the Explora Ultra
If you own an Explora or Explora Ultra, you need a Smart LNB. These decoders have several tuners, which let you record one show while you watch another. A Smart LNB feeds all of those tuners down a single cable.
At the time of writing, the Smart LNB price sits at roughly R399 to R499. That is a little more than a basic unit, but there is no shortcut. An older single LNB on an Explora causes recording clashes and missing channels.
- Moving from an HD decoder to an Explora? Budget for a Smart LNB.
- Adding XtraView for a second room? The Smart LNB usually stays, with a splitter and a new cable run.
- Already have an Explora that worked fine? The Smart LNB may only need cleaning and a new connector.
The Smart LNB price is only part of an upgrade. Our DStv installation service covers fitting the LNB, running the cable and setting up the decoder in one visit.
Salt air and the DStv LNB near False Bay
Inland, an LNB can last a long time. On the False Bay side, the strong summer south-easter carries fine salt spray up the mountain. It settles on the dish, creeps into the LNB connector and turns the copper green.
Signs your LNB in Simon's Town is corroding
- White powder or green crust on the cable connector
- A cracked or missing plastic cap on the front of the LNB
- Rust on the clamp or the screws that hold it to the dish arm
- Picture breaking up in light rain that never troubled it before
- Signal quality on the decoder lower than it used to be
Homes in Boulders, Froggy Farm and along the coast road near Miller's Point catch the most spray. If your house faces the bay, have the LNB and connectors checked every couple of years.
Technician tip
Most LNB failures we see near the sea start at the connector, not inside the LNB. A properly fitted connector, sealed with weatherproof tape and a boot, can add years to the unit.
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.
LNB replacement: what fitting adds to the DStv LNB price
The DStv LNB price is the part. The fitting is about access, time and what else needs doing while we are up there. In Simon's Town, access is often the bigger factor.
A dish on a low garden wall in Welcome Glen is a quick LNB replacement. A dish on a third-storey gable above a sloping street needs more setup and more care.
What a proper LNB replacement includes
- Check the signal on the decoder before anything is touched.
- Remove the old LNB and inspect the cable end for salt damage.
- Fit the new LNB with the correct skew so it sits square in the holder.
- Fit fresh, sealed connectors at both ends where needed.
- Fine-tune the dish on a signal meter for the best quality reading.
- Test every tuner and recording on the decoder with you watching.
We give you a quote before we drive out, based on your decoder, dish height and a photo if you can send one. If the dish has moved during the swap, our dish realignment service puts it back on target with a meter, not a guess.
Safety first
Changing an LNB means working at the far end of the dish arm, often at full stretch. On steep Simon's Town roofs in a south-easter, that is a real fall risk. Never work alone on a roof, and switch the decoder off at the plug before you disconnect the cable.
DStv LNB price vs a new dish: making the call
Sometimes the DStv LNB price is not the real question. If the dish is rusted through, bent or loose on its bracket, a new LNB on it will struggle. Here is how we decide.
- Replace only the LNB when the dish is solid, round and firmly mounted.
- Replace the dish and LNB when rust has eaten the dish face or bracket.
- Move the dish when trees or a new building now block the view to the north-east.
Before we price new parts, we check the decoder too. A failing decoder can look like a bad LNB. If your problem is that the box ignores you, read our help on a DStv remote not working, since the fault may be indoors.
DStv LNB price questions from Simon's Town homes
A few related questions come up on almost every LNB visit. Here are short, straight answers.
Can an OpenView dish share the same LNB price range?
OpenView uses the same satellite position as DStv, so a basic LNB does the same job. If your OpenView picture is dropping, our guide to OpenView signal problems and fixes walks through the checks.
Do I need an LNB for DStv Stream?
No. DStv Stream works over the internet, so no dish or LNB is involved. If you are thinking of dropping the dish entirely, see our steps on how to link DStv Stream to your TV.
For official decoder and equipment details, see the DStv website. Hardware prices change, so check before you buy.
Budgeting the DStv LNB price for guesthouses and holiday flats
Simon's Town has plenty of guesthouses, B&Bs and holiday flats, many sitting empty for weeks out of season. A dead LNB usually shows up on the day new guests arrive. Planning for it ahead of the busy months is cheaper than a rushed call-out.
- Note the decoder type in each room, so you know which LNB you need.
- Count the TVs fed from one dish. More rooms usually means a Smart LNB or a multiswitch.
- Photograph the LNB and connector each spring and compare the photos.
- Keep the DStv LNB price for a spare in your maintenance budget if the dish faces the bay.
If several units share one dish, the right answer may be a proper distribution system rather than a single LNB. We can look at the whole building and quote for the setup that suits your rooms.
Book an LNB check before winter in Simon's Town
The winter north-westers bring rain fade and cold fronts, which test a tired LNB hard. Getting it checked in autumn costs far less than an emergency visit in July.
Send us a photo of your dish and LNB through our Simon's Town booking page. We will tell you honestly whether you need a new part, a clean connector or nothing at all, often for the same or next day, depending on the schedule.
DStv LNB price in Simon's Town: FAQs
What is the DStv LNB price in South Africa?
The DStv LNB price depends on the type. At the time of writing, a Smart LNB costs roughly R399 to R499 in retail. Single and twin LNBs usually cost less. Fitting is extra and depends on access. Prices change between stores, so compare on the day and check the box matches your decoder.
Is the DStv LNB price at Pep or Game cheaper?
Sometimes, depending on the week. Big stores run their own specials, so the DStv LNB price can differ between Pep, Game, Checkers and other shops. Do not treat one advert as the going rate. Make sure you are buying the right type, because a single LNB will not run an Explora properly.
How do I know if my LNB is faulty in Simon's Town?
Look for green or white crust on the connector, a cracked front cap, rust on the clamp, or a picture that breaks up in light rain. In Simon's Town, salt air from False Bay speeds this up. Your decoder's signal quality reading dropping over time is another clue. A meter test confirms it.
What does the DStv LNB price include when fitted in Simon's Town?
A fitted price normally covers the LNB, labour, any new connectors and alignment on a signal meter. On steep Simon's Town roofs, access can add time. We quote first, based on your decoder type, dish height and a photo, so you know the total before we drive out.
Which LNB do I need for an Explora Ultra?
An Explora Ultra needs a Smart LNB. It feeds the decoder's multiple tuners through one cable, so you can watch one channel while recording another. A single LNB from an older setup causes recording clashes and missing channels. The same Smart LNB also supports XtraView with a second decoder.
Why does the DStv LNB price vary so much?
The DStv LNB price varies because there are several types, from basic single units to Smart LNBs and communal models for blocks of flats. Store specials, brands and stock also change the shelf price. Fitting adds labour, which depends on how high and hard to reach your dish is.