DSTV HD Single View Decoder Review

I missed out on the DSTV free replacement of old decoders.  My 4 year old DSD1131 single view decoder was not old enough to be replaced but was showing signs of wear;  it would not go off and the remote was faulty.

My interest was therefore piqued when I saw an advert for a single view DSTV HD decoder for KES 4,800. Not a free replacement but a better decoder at a lower price than the regular one.

I purchased the DSTV HD decoder the following day and set it up myself; plugged in the antenna coaxial, power and HDMI cables. The input jacks at the back of the decoder and cables are very well color coded.

I put on the decoder and TV and completed the over the air (OTA) software upgrade. Then to my angst realized I could not proceed further because I had forgotten the remote control at MultiChoice. Yes you read that right the remote is not an optional accessory.

After picking up the remote the following day,  I completed the setup and begun figuring out the new layout of the menu.  The HD channels showed momentarily then after an error message and a further OTA software upgrade, were not available in the menu.

I contacted MultiChoice through their Twitter account @DStv_Kenya and they enabled 4 HD channels, MNET Movies Premier HD, SS3HD, SS5HD and SS6HD

The quality of HD picture exceeded my expectation. It is the best picture quality I have seen on a TV. Even the other channels are much clearer, I presume because of the HDMI cable connecting the decoder and TV.

Get it while the offer lasts, I understand the price will go up to at least KES 7,500.