Your DStv decoder will not start, keeps restarting, or runs the installation wizard and finds nothing. Maybe the scan stops halfway. Maybe it shows full signal strength but zero quality. Whatever you are seeing, the cause is almost always one of four things: power, cable, dish or settings.
This guide is arranged by what is happening on your screen. Find your symptom, start with the first fix, and work down. Most people sort it out without paying a technician.
On This Page
- First, which problem do you have?
- DStv decoder not powering on
- Decoder not booting up, stuck or restarting
- DStv not scanning or finding no channels
- The correct DStv scan settings for your country
- Signal strength 100 but quality 0
- How to factory reset a DStv decoder
- Scan worked but channels still will not play
- When it is time to call a technician
- Common questions
First, Which Problem Do You Have?
A decoder that will not boot and a decoder that will not scan are two different faults. A boot problem lives inside the decoder or its power. A scan problem almost always lives outside, in the cable, the LNB or the dish. Knowing which one you have saves hours.
Use this quick check:
- No lights at all: a power problem. Go to the next section.
- Lights come on, but the screen stays blank, frozen or keeps restarting: a boot problem.
- The decoder starts fine but the installation wizard finds no signal or no channels: a scanning problem.
- It scans fine but channels show an error: an account or signal error, covered near the end.
DStv Decoder Not Powering On
If the decoder shows no light at all, test the power before anything else. Plug a phone charger into the same socket to confirm it works, then check the decoder’s power cable or adapter. A failed power supply is the most common reason a DStv decoder will not switch on.
Power cuts, load shedding and generator switchovers all send surges through your sockets when the power comes back. Surges quietly kill decoder power supplies. When I first dealt with this exact problem, the decoder turned out to be fine. The power supply had failed.
Try these in order
- Switch off at the wall, unplug the decoder, and leave it for 10 minutes. This drains any stuck charge.
- Plug the decoder directly into the wall, not through an extension box or stabiliser, to rule those out.
- If your decoder uses a separate power adapter, check the small light on the adapter if it has one, and look for a bent pin or loose lead.
- Reconnect and switch on.
If there is still no light, the power supply or the decoder’s power board has failed. That is a repair job, not a settings fix. Use a surge protector afterwards so the replacement survives.
Decoder goes to standby as soon as you switch it on
This usually points to a weak power supply that cannot hold the decoder once it starts working, or a short in the satellite cable pulling too much power. Unscrew the satellite cable from the back of the decoder and switch on again. If it now stays on, the fault is in your cable or LNB, not the decoder.
DStv Decoder Not Booting Up, Stuck or Restarting
When the decoder powers on but freezes on a black screen, sticks on loading, or restarts in a loop, do a full power cycle first. Unplug it for 10 minutes, then start it with the satellite cable removed. If it boots without the cable, the cable or LNB is the problem.
This test is the single most useful thing in this guide. A damaged cable, a wet connector, or a faulty LNB can short the line that feeds power up to the dish. Some decoders hang during start up when that happens. Removing the cable takes the dish out of the picture in seconds.
If it boots without the cable
Check the cable from the decoder to the dish. Look for cuts, crushed sections where a door or window closes on it, and green or rusty connectors. Water inside the connector at the LNB end is very common after heavy rain. Cut off the damaged end and fit a new F connector, making sure no thin wire strand touches the centre pin.
If it still will not boot
Make sure the HDMI or AV cable is firmly in, and that your TV is on the right input. Many “decoder not booting” reports are actually a TV on the wrong source. If the decoder lights look normal, press the DStv button on the remote and see whether the menu appears.
If the decoder shows a red or orange light and will not go further, our guide to what the lights on a DStv decoder mean explains each colour.
Stuck after a software update
DStv sends software updates to decoders over the satellite. If the power goes off during an update, the decoder can get stuck. Leave it switched on with the satellite cable connected and a working signal for at least 30 minutes. It will often finish the update on its own and restart normally.
DStv Not Scanning or Finding No Channels
If the installation wizard finds no signal, stops partway, or scans zero channels, the decoder is not receiving a usable signal from the dish. The cause is almost always a loose cable, a faulty LNB, a dish knocked out of position, or the wrong settings in the wizard.
Check them in this order, because it runs from quickest to hardest.
1. Check the cable connections
Tighten the cable at the back of the decoder and at the LNB on the dish. A connector that has worked loose is the most common cause and the easiest fix. If you use a splitter or a wall plate, take it out and connect the cable straight to the decoder to test.
2. Look at the dish
Strong wind, heavy rain, a person leaning a ladder on it, or a new building nearby can all affect the dish. Check that it has not turned or tilted, that nothing now blocks its view of the sky, and that the arm holding the LNB is not bent. Even a small knock is enough to lose signal completely.
3. Suspect the LNB
The LNB is the small unit at the end of the dish arm. It fails with age, sun and water. If the cables are good and the dish has not moved, but the signal bars stay empty, a faulty LNB is the likely cause. Swapping it costs far less than a new decoder. Our guide on how to fix an LNB on a satellite dish walks through testing and replacing it.
4. Check the settings in the wizard
If the hardware is fine, the wrong satellite or LNB type in the installation wizard will stop the scan. The next section gives the correct settings.
Installation wizard stuck on a step
When the wizard stops at the signal or scanning step, often step 4, it is telling you it cannot see a signal. It is not a software fault. Fix the signal first, then run the wizard again. If you need the full wizard steps, our guide to running the DStv installation wizard yourself covers each screen.
The Correct DStv Scan Settings for Your Country
DStv uses different satellites for different parts of Africa, and choosing the wrong one in the installation wizard is a very common reason a scan fails. South Africa and some neighbouring countries use IS20. Most of the rest of Africa, including Nigeria, uses the 36 degrees East satellite, usually labelled E36B. Set the LNB type to Universal and scan.
Your dish is pointed at one satellite only. If the wizard is looking for the other one, it will find nothing, even when your dish, cable and LNB are perfect.
If you are not sure which applies to you, think back to when the decoder last worked. The satellite already selected in the wizard was probably the right one, so a reset that changed it is a likely cause. Your local DStv help page or an accredited installer can confirm it for your country.
To open the wizard on most HD and Explora decoders:
- Press the DStv button on the remote.
- Go to Settings, then Satellite Settings.
- Select Launch Installation Wizard and press OK.
- Choose your language.
- Select the satellite for your region: IS20 in South Africa, or usually E36B in Nigeria and most other countries.
- Choose Quick Setup for a smart LNB, or Manual Setup for a single standard LNB.
- Set the LNB type to Universal, unless you live in an estate with a shared dish system.
- Select Scan and wait. A full scan can take several minutes.
Menu names vary slightly between decoder models. If your decoder asks for LNB frequencies, the standard universal values are 9750 for low band and 10600 for high band.
Signal Strength 100 but Quality 0
Full signal strength with zero quality means the decoder is receiving something, but not DStv. The dish is usually pointed at the wrong satellite, or the wizard has the wrong satellite selected. Strength measures any signal. Quality measures the right one.
This confuses a lot of people, because the strength bar looks perfect. Think of it like hearing a radio station clearly, just not the one you tuned to.
First, recheck that the wizard has the correct satellite for your country. If it does, the dish has moved slightly onto a neighbouring satellite and needs realigning. Our guide on how to fix signal strength on DStv explains how to read both bars and adjust the dish safely.
How to Factory Reset a DStv Decoder
A factory reset clears the decoder’s settings and starts the installation wizard from the beginning. On most HD decoders, go to Settings, then Satellite Settings, then Reset to Factory Defaults. Only do this after the cable and dish checks, because a reset cannot fix a signal problem.
A reset helps when the settings have been changed wrongly, the menu behaves strangely, or the decoder still acts up after a power cycle. It does not touch your subscription.
Two warnings before you start. First, on an Explora, a reset can remove saved recordings, so treat them as lost. Second, after the reset, the decoder will ask you to run the installation wizard. If your signal problem is still there, you will be stuck on the wizard, which feels worse than where you started.
What about the old button reset codes?
Older DStv decoders had a hidden reset, started by holding a button such as P+ while plugging in the power, then entering a code. These sequences differ by model, and newer decoders do not use them. If your menu reset works, use that. If the decoder is too stuck to reach the menu, a DStv accredited installer can reset it safely.
Scan Worked but Channels Still Will Not Play
If the scan finds channels but they show an error, the signal is now fine and the problem is with the account. Leave the decoder on a DStv channel and send a reset from the DStv app, the DStv website, or your country’s DStv USSD code.
In Nigeria, the DStv USSD code is *288#. Other countries have their own codes and WhatsApp self service lines, listed on your local DStv website.
The most common errors after a scan are E16, meaning the service is not authorised yet, and E48-32, meaning there is still no signal on that channel. Our guides on clearing the DStv E48-32 error and fixing DStv channels not showing cover both in detail.
Keep the decoder switched on and tuned to a channel while the reset arrives. It usually clears within 15 minutes.
When It Is Time to Call a Technician
Some problems are not worth fighting yourself. Call an accredited DStv installer if:
- The decoder shows no lights even on a known good socket and power supply.
- It will not boot even with every cable removed.
- The dish needs realigning on a high roof. A fall is never worth the saving.
- You have replaced the LNB and cable and still get no quality.
Be honest with yourself about cost too. If an old decoder needs a new power board, a new decoder may cost little more and will last longer.
Common Questions
Why is my DStv decoder not scanning?
Usually a loose cable, a faulty LNB, a dish that has moved, or the wrong satellite in the installation wizard. South Africa uses IS20. Nigeria and most other African countries usually use E36B.
Why does my DStv stop working after load shedding or a power cut?
The surge when power returns can damage the power supply, or the decoder may have been cut off in the middle of a software update. Power cycle it for 10 minutes and leave it on with a signal for 30 minutes. Plug it into a surge protector from then on.
Why does my DStv decoder keep restarting?
Most often a failing power supply or a short in the satellite cable. Unplug the satellite cable and switch on. If it stops restarting, the fault is in the cable or LNB.
Why does my DStv say no signal when the weather is fine?
A connector has worked loose, water has entered the cable, the LNB has failed, or the dish has moved slightly. Heavy rain can also cut the signal briefly, but it returns when the rain stops.
Will a factory reset fix DStv not scanning?
Only if wrong settings caused it. A reset cannot fix a broken cable, a bad LNB or a misaligned dish. Do the cable and dish checks first.
Does resetting my decoder cancel my subscription?
No. A factory reset only clears the decoder’s settings. Your subscription stays on your account and returns once the decoder receives a signal again.
Can I fix a DStv decoder that does not power on?
Sometimes. Test the socket, the power cable and the adapter first. If the decoder still shows no light, the power supply or power board has failed and needs a repair.
The Short Version
Work out whether you have a power, boot or scanning problem, because each has a different fix. Power cycle for 10 minutes. Start the decoder without the satellite cable to find out whether the dish side is at fault. Check every connector, the LNB and the dish. In the wizard, choose the right satellite for your country. Reset only when the hardware checks out.
Once the scan works, any remaining errors are account issues that a self service reset clears. For error resets and account help in your country, start at the official DStv website and choose your country.
Frenzy valentine is a passionate blogger, developer, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and author of myfreshgists.com.
My explorer decoder go to standby if I switch it on
Thanks to you
It worked 😂