A low OpenView decoder price in a weekend advert is tempting, and we understand why. But in Noordhoek, with its long driveways, tall gum trees and mountain slopes, we often get called out to sort out setups that looked like a bargain and turned into a headache.
Quick answer
A cheap OpenView decoder price only saves money if the rest of the setup works. At the time of writing, the box is R799 online, with specials from around R599, and a decoder with dish and installation voucher is about R1,699. Check what's included, the dish size and your view of the sky before you buy.
Why a cheap OpenView decoder price can still cost more
The decoder is only a receiver. Without a dish that's the right size, fitted firmly and pointed at the satellite, it shows nothing at all. A deal that skips any of those steps simply moves the cost to later.
Below are the mistakes we see most often around the valley, and how to dodge each one. If you'd rather start with the numbers, our OpenView installation price guide covers the fitting side.
Mistake 1: Comparing the OpenView decoder price and forgetting the kit
Two adverts can look alike and contain very different things. One is a decoder alone. Another might add a dish but no cable, bracket or fitting.
When you compare, line up the full OpenView price, not just the sticker on the box. Use this table as a guide:
| Deal on offer | What's often missing | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Decoder-only special | Dish, LNB, cable and fitting | Do I already have a dish that works? |
| Decoder plus dish in a carton | Bracket, enough cable, labour | Who fits it and aligns it? |
| Decoder with installation voucher, around R1,699 | Long cable runs, extra rooms | What does the voucher cover on my property? |
| Second-hand decoder | Warranty, remote, receipt | Can I return it if it won't work? |
Before you trust any advertised OpenView decoder with installation price, ask what happens if your dish needs a pole or a longer cable. Every quote for our OpenView HD installation lists each item, so you can set it side by side with a shop deal.
Mistake 2: Going too small, or too tired, on the dish
The recommended dish for OpenView is about 80 to 85cm. A smaller dish, or a battered second-hand one taken off a farm shed, leaves less margin when a wet winter front rolls over the valley.
An old DStv dish can often be reused, because OpenView comes from the same satellite position. Just have the LNB and cable checked first. Coax that's been on a roof for years can let in moisture, as we explain in our post on water in coaxial cable.
Mistake 3: Ignoring the trees and the mountain
Dishes in the Western Cape point roughly north-east and fairly high. On some Noordhoek plots, a gum or pine on the boundary, or the slopes towards Chapman's Peak, sit right in that line.
Homes in Crofters Valley and Sun Valley sometimes have a perfect spot on one side of the roof and a dead spot on the other. A phone app gets you close, but only a signal meter shows whether there's enough quality to ride out heavy rain.
If your picture already cuts out when a front comes through, start with our OpenView no signal checks, or book dish realignment to fix the angle properly.
Need DStv help in Noordhoek?
Tell us what you need or what your screen shows. We price the job before we drive out.
Mistake 4: Doing it yourself on thatch or a steep roof
Lots of cheap deals assume you'll fit the dish yourself. On a thatched or heritage home, that can mean damaged thatch and a dish that won't stay put in the wind.
We usually mount on a wall, a pole or an outbuilding rather than the thatch. Our page on dish mounting on thatched homes shows the options.
Safety first
Please don't go up a ladder or onto a roof to fit or adjust a dish. Thatch, wet tiles and valley mist make footing unsafe, and a fall costs far more than any saving on the box. Leave roof work to a technician.
Mistake 5: Forgetting the cable run to the cottage
Smallholdings and horse properties often want TV in a cottage, a stable flat or a second house down the driveway. Each extra TV needs its own decoder plus a cable fed from the dish.
A cheap box doesn't budget for any of this. For a TV in an outbuilding, plan for:
- A dish LNB with enough outputs for every decoder
- A long run of good quality coax, buried or clipped neatly
- Sealed joins and entry points that keep water out
- A second decoder for the second TV
Ask for all of that in the quote up front, along with any professional TV wall mounting you want in the same visit.
Mistake 6: Skipping the estate rules
Security estates such as Lake Michelle and Noordhaven may have rules about where dishes can go, or a shared system already in place. Fit a kit in the wrong spot, and you may have to move it.
The same goes for Chapman's Bay Estate and parts of Belvedere, where trustees often want dishes out of sight from the road. A quick question to the office now saves paying twice for fitting.
Check with the estate office first, then read our notes on communal dishes in estates to see which route suits your unit.
How to judge an OpenView decoder price deal
Run through this list before you hand over your card:
- Is it the current WiFi-enabled model?
- Does the price include a dish, LNB and cable, or only the box?
- Is the dish around 80 to 85cm?
- Who aligns it, and do they use a signal meter?
- Is there a receipt and a way to return a faulty box?
- Have you checked your roof's view to the north-east?
Technician tip
Before buying anything, stand in the garden and look north-east, fairly high above the horizon. If tall trees or the mountain fill that part of the sky, tell us before you buy, so we can find a spot that works.
Once it's up, activation is free, either online, via WhatsApp or in the OpenView app. No monthly fee follows.
Get it right the first time in Noordhoek
We quote before we drive out, fit the dish on a solid mount and test the signal with you before we leave. Book through our contact page or WhatsApp 079 754 5527.
Our team handles DStv installation in Noordhoek and the rest of the valley too, from Capri and Sunnydale to Fish Hoek, often the same or next day depending on the schedule.
OpenView decoder price: FAQs
What is the cheapest OpenView decoder price?
At the time of writing, retail specials start from around R599, while the decoder is R799 on openview.co.za. The cheapest box is only a good deal if you already have a working, aligned dish. Ask our team for a current quote on the full setup.
Is a second-hand OpenView decoder worth buying?
It can be, but there's more risk. You usually lose the warranty, and the remote or power supply may be missing. Make sure the seller lets you test it on a working dish before you pay, and keep proof of purchase.
Why is my cheap OpenView decoder not showing channels?
Most often the dish isn't pointed accurately, the cable or LNB has a fault, or the decoder hasn't been activated yet. Try a channel rescan from the menu and check the cable is pushed in firmly. If that does not fix it, call a technician.
Is the OpenView decoder price cheaper with installation in Noordhoek?
Not on the day, but it often works out cheaper overall. A decoder with dish and installation voucher is around R1,699 at the time of writing. On a Noordhoek plot with trees, thatch or a long driveway, a proper fitting saves repeat call-outs.
Is OpenView worth it?
If you mainly watch local channels, movies and kids' TV, it's good value because there is no monthly fee. You get 20+ TV channels plus radio. If you want live international sport, DStv is the better fit.