Info about DSTV adding another satellite

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macnab69

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Either can't word the question correctly, or Google doesn't have the answer. Does DSTV have a new satellite?

Our complex has SMATV. Ancient installation. Equipment in a bad way. Signal strengths very low.

We keep losing channels. The explanation we are given is that DSTV has added another satellite and every now and then a channel moves to the new satellite, and we lose it.

Adding a new satellite doesn't make sense to me when DSTV is scared it is losing all their Premium customers and is thinking of switching to streaming. (Satellites are horrendously expensive.)

One solution proposed is to install a dish per block, so less cable losses, but we will still slowly lose a lot of channels. The other proposed solution is a fibre-optic feed.

Does anybody know the truth about the matter?
 
macnab69 said:
Either can't word the question correctly, or Google doesn't have the answer. Does DSTV have a new satellite?

Our complex has SMATV. Ancient installation. Equipment in a bad way. Signal strengths very low.

We keep losing channels. The explanation we are given is that DSTV has added another satellite and every now and then a channel moves to the new satellite, and we lose it.

Adding a new satellite doesn't make sense to me when DSTV is scared it is losing all their Premium customers and is thinking of switching to streaming. (Satellites are horrendously expensive.)

One solution proposed is to install a dish per block, so less cable losses, but we will still slowly lose a lot of channels. The other proposed solution is a fibre-optic feed.

Does anybody know the truth about the matter?
Click to expand...

Intelsat 36 was launched in Aug 2016 and DStv took additional capacity on this in the higher frequency band. Additional services and channels are being migrated. Satellites still have their place in the broadcast world and streaming to that scale will also be very expensive.

In terms of your issue. A proper install is advised. The Fibre feed is a good option but may need the replacement of certain decoder models. The quicker fix will be for the per block idea.
 
Thanks, that answers the question.

Just as a follow-up, is the planned migration info available anywhere?
 
macnab69 said:
Thanks, that answers the question.

Just as a follow-up, is the planned migration info available anywhere?
Click to expand...

There is no migration, this is additional capacity on the hi-band. So as channels grow or upgrade to HD additional capacity will come from the I36. It should be seamless on a good install.
 
macnab69 said:
Either can't word the question correctly, or Google doesn't have the answer. Does DSTV have a new satellite?

Our complex has SMATV. Ancient installation. Equipment in a bad way. Signal strengths very low.

We keep losing channels. The explanation we are given is that DSTV has added another satellite and every now and then a channel moves to the new satellite, and we lose it.

Adding a new satellite doesn't make sense to me when DSTV is scared it is losing all their Premium customers and is thinking of switching to streaming. (Satellites are horrendously expensive.)

One solution proposed is to install a dish per block, so less cable losses, but we will still slowly lose a lot of channels. The other proposed solution is a fibre-optic feed.

Does anybody know the truth about the matter?
Click to expand...

What decoder do you have currently?

If you have the HD Decoder, even the earlier generation, or from the HD PVR upwards, you shouldn't have to worry about channel losses, as those decoders have the newer DVB-S2 technology, whereas the older SD decoders, (silvery ones) only have DVB-S.

and as far as "new satellite goes" even if Multichoice does use an additional satellite for SA customers, it will still be in the same geostationary orbit position - 68.5e as the older satellite, and therefore it won't be an issue if channels move to an additional satellite. Foxtel in Australia already makes use of this, as they have channels on two satellites, however because it's in the same position, it won't be an issue. The only other Multichoice satellite that isn't in the same position is the Eustelsat 36b, which is for Multichoice Africa customers, which is a totally different service. I think the issue lies more with the SMATV setup in your complex. Is there any way, that you can take the decoder to a friends place, or even to Multichoice, to see if it will rescan, and regain the missing channels?
 
This sounds like a shoddy install rather then DSTV moving to a new satellite, as per previous poster this was done almost two years ago anyway and it would be seamless if the install was fine.
 
Is there any way, that you can take the decoder to a friends place, or even to Multichoice, to see if it will rescan, and regain the missing channels?
Click to expand...
A good suggestion.

Both decoders are less than 2 years old, so no problem there.
 
Please remember to say thanks to those of us who left DSTV so you bittereinders can get showered with innovations that DSTV refused to execute while it was still a heavy monopoly..
 
Im not sure if this helps, but I recently connected by DSTV after years to watch the SWC. Same equipment and satellite in a townhouse.

I couldn't get the signal to work... so after some troubleshooting with DSTV techies on the phone, somehow the twin LNB's were switched. After I switched the cables, it worked...
 
Sat there at the TV noting the signal strength of the channels. It averages about 50% across the board, until you start reaching the higher frequencies. 11554 is down to 23%, 11634 3%, 11728 upwards is 1%. That is where the channels start "disappearing." Maybe something can be done about tweaking the channel amplifiers.

But at least I have some figures so I can talk to the caretaker.
 
Do you have a balcony with view to satellite . Maybe buy a dish lnb + cable and do a temporary setup.
 
The body corporate will throw their toys out of the cot. :( On the 1st floor, so thought of having the dish out of view on the floor, but it will be difficult to stop it being "nudged" without bolting it to the floor.
 
macnab69 said:
The body corporate will throw their toys out of the cot. :( On the 1st floor, so thought of having the dish out of view on the floor, but it will be difficult to stop it being "nudged" without bolting it to the floor.
Click to expand...

Once again the body corporate is all the owners of the units, you are all the body corporate. If enough of you band together you can change the rules, as it was a bunch of you that put the rules in place in the first place.
 
We have very few resident owners. And the non-resident ones can't be bothered to vote on anything, give proxies, attend meetings. Getting anything agreed in this place is like getting blood from a stone.

I personally would not like to see dishes all over the place.

We are probably going to have a fibre-optic system put in, it will just take a bit of time because of the price.
 
no need for fibre optic the solution is to get a qualified installer and put up 80cm dishes per block each dish should show 100% signal.
 
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