Many Edenvale homes and townhouses had satellite TV fitted a long time ago, and the original cable and connectors are often still in place. That is where a lot of picture problems start. OnspotElec is an authorised DStv installer covering the whole of Gauteng, and we come out for DStv installation in Edenvale, for repairs on ageing systems, and for new setups in the complexes around Greenstone Hill.
Older installationsWhere Signal Problems on Established Properties Usually Begin
A dish that has hung on the same wall for years can look fine from the garden while the parts behind it are wearing out. The usual suspects are worth knowing, because they explain why a technician may recommend replacing a section of cable rather than just realigning the dish.
- Perished outer sheath. Sunlight slowly cracks the cable's outer layer. Once water gets in, the signal weakens and the fault often gets worse after rain.
- Corroded F-connectors. The screw-on connector at the LNB or the wall plate can rust or oxidise, especially where it was never weatherproofed.
- Twist-on or loose fittings. Cheap push-on connectors fitted during an earlier repair tend to work loose and give intermittent picture.
- Kinks and tight staples. Cable that was stapled hard against a fascia board or bent sharply round a corner can be damaged inside even when the outside looks intact.
- An ageing LNB. The unit on the dish arm is exposed to every season. If the cable tests fine and the dish is aligned, the LNB may be the weak link.
Our guide to spotting damaged DStv cables and connectors shows what to look for from ground level. For the repair itself, see cable and connector repairs or, where the dish or LNB has reached the end of its life, dish and LNB replacement.
DStv Services Available in Edenvale
| Service | When it is the right call |
|---|---|
| Repairs and troubleshooting | Pixelating picture, missing channels on one TV, or a fault you cannot pin down. |
| Cable and connector work | Old or water-damaged runs, loose wall plates, problems that get worse in wet weather. |
| Dish alignment and signal testing | Signal dropped after wind, roof work or painting, or the signal is weak on every TV. |
| Decoder installation and upgrades | Replacing an old decoder or moving from a single-view decoder to a newer model. |
| Complex and apartment installations | Units on a shared dish, new blocks, or body corporate projects. |
DStv in Greenstone Hill complexes and apartments
Greenstone Hill has many newer complexes and apartment buildings, and installations there work differently from a freestanding house. Owners and tenants normally cannot fix a dish wherever they like: the body corporate, trustees or managing agent usually decide where dishes may go, and in certain blocks a private dish is not permitted.
Where the building has a shared dish, units are typically fed through a multiswitch system. In that case a no-signal problem might be inside your unit, in the cabling to it, or in the shared equipment, and only the last of those needs the body corporate's involvement. DStv also notes that its Smart LNB is not generally suitable for complexes and apartments, so a technician will look at what the building already has before recommending anything.
Before you book, check the conduct rules and get written approval if a new dish or cable route is needed. Tenants should also get the landlord's go-ahead. Our complex and estate installation service covers individual units as well as building-wide systems, and our guide for apartment and complex residents walks through the approval side.
Arranging a Technician in Edenvale
If your DStv fails at an awkward hour, that is not a problem: OnspotElec is open day and night and offers emergency assistance. When you call 083 489 1322, tell us the type of property, roughly how old the installation is and what the TV is displaying. That helps us judge whether the fault is likely to be cabling, alignment or equipment.
Prices depend on the actual work and parts required. A cable re-termination is a much smaller job than replacing a full run through a ceiling, so we quote once we understand the setup. You can also send details through the online quote form. Visit timing depends on your location, the nature of the fault and technician availability.
If you are just across the boundary, we cover Bedfordview, Kempton Park and Germiston as well.
What Edenvale Customers Often Ask
Not necessarily. Often only the connectors or one damaged length of cable need attention. The technician tests the signal along the system and recommends replacing only what is actually causing the problem.
If every unit has lost signal at the same time, the shared dish or distribution equipment is the likely cause, so speak to the body corporate or managing agent. They can arrange for an installer such as OnspotElec to inspect the central system.
That depends on your complex rules and on whether the balcony faces the right part of the sky. Check with the trustees first, and we can then tell you whether the spot will get a usable signal.
