Glossary
DStv and Satellite TV Glossary: Plain-English Definitions
By the Remtech Installers team · Updated October 2026 · 4 min read
The short answer
This glossary explains the words installers use, from LNB and UniCable to skew, rain fade and CGNAT, in plain English. Each term has a short definition, and many link to a full guide.
Dish and signal terms
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|
| Dish | The curved reflector that collects the satellite signal and focuses it on the LNB. |
| LNB | Low-noise block converter. The device on the dish arm that receives the signal, amplifies it and sends it down the cable. See what a Smart LNB is. |
| Smart LNB | DStv’s UniCable LNB that lets several decoders share one dish through a single cable. DStv says it is not suitable for complexes and apartments. |
| 36° east | The position of the satellite DStv’s dishes point to. Your installer aims the dish at it. |
| Alignment | Pointing the dish precisely at the satellite, using a signal meter. |
| Skew | Rotating the LNB so it lines up with the satellite’s signal polarisation. It is set during alignment. |
| Azimuth and elevation | The compass direction and the angle above the horizon a dish points at. |
| Line of sight | A clear path from the dish to the satellite, with no trees, walls or buildings in the way. |
| Rain fade | A short drop in signal caused by heavy rain or thick cloud. It normally passes when the weather clears. |
| Signal strength and quality | Strength is how much signal reaches the decoder. Quality is how clean it is. Both matter. |
Cabling terms
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|
| Coax (RG6) | The type of cable normally used to carry the satellite signal from the LNB to the decoder. |
| F-connector | The screw-on connector at the ends of satellite coax cable. |
| Compression connector | A connector fitted with a tool that squeezes it onto the cable. It makes a firmer, more weatherproof join than a twist-on connector. |
| Copper-clad aluminium (CCA) | Cable with a copper coating over an aluminium core. It can corrode and perform worse than solid copper cable. |
| UniCable | A single-cable system where several decoders each use their own slice of the signal on one cable. |
| User band | The slice of a UniCable signal assigned to one decoder tuner. |
| Multiswitch | A device that splits the satellite signal to several decoders. |
| Diplexer | A device that combines or separates two signals on one cable. It is used in some older Extra View setups. |
| Heartbeat cable | A cable used in some older Extra View setups to link decoders. |
Not sure what a term means for your home?
Send us a photo of your dish and decoder. We will explain what you have in plain English.
Decoder and account terms
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|
| Decoder | The box that decodes the satellite signal into channels on your TV. |
| Explora | DStv’s recording decoder. See Explora vs Explora Ultra. |
| PVR | Personal video recorder. A decoder that can record programmes. |
| Smartcard | The card in the decoder that links it to your subscription. See DStv error codes. |
| Extra View | Running more than one decoder on one DStv account. See Extra View installations. |
| Primary and secondary decoder | In Extra View, the main decoder and the additional ones that link to it. |
| Error code | A message such as E16 or E48-32 that shows what kind of fault the decoder has found. |
Weather and power terms
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|
| Surge protector | A device that reduces damage from voltage spikes. See how to protect your equipment. |
| UPS | Uninterruptible power supply. A battery that keeps equipment running briefly when the power fails. |
| Load shedding | Planned power cuts used to manage demand on the grid. |
| Earthing | A safe path for electrical faults and surges to flow to the ground. A qualified electrician should check it. |
CCTV and network terms
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|
| DVR and NVR | The recorder that stores camera footage. A DVR works with analogue cameras. An NVR works with network (IP) cameras. |
| IP camera | A camera that sends video over a network cable or Wi-Fi. |
| PoE | Power over Ethernet. One network cable carries both data and power to a camera. |
| CGNAT | A way some internet providers share one public address between customers. It can stop remote CCTV viewing that depends on port forwarding. See viewing CCTV on your phone. |
| Port forwarding | A router setting that lets an outside connection reach a device in your home, such as a recorder. |
| Sub-stream | A lower-resolution video stream used for remote viewing. |
Smart home terms
| Term | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|
| Zigbee, Z-Wave and Thread | Low-power wireless standards that smart devices use to talk to a hub, mostly without the internet. |
| Matter | A newer standard that aims to let smart devices from different brands work together. |
| Hub | A device that connects and controls smart devices. Some run automations locally. |
| HDMI-CEC | A feature that lets devices connected by HDMI control each other. See Apple TV black screen fixes. |
| HDMI ARC | A feature that sends sound from the TV to a soundbar over an HDMI cable. |
Frequently asked questions
The device on the dish arm that receives and amplifies the satellite signal. See what a Smart LNB is.
Rotating the LNB so it lines up with the satellite’s signal polarisation. It is set during alignment.
A short drop in signal during heavy rain or thick cloud.
A single-cable system where several decoders share one cable.
Written by the Remtech Installers team.
We are accredited DStv installers serving Gauteng, with over 10 years of experience. Prices and details here are indicative as of October 2026, so ask us for a quote that fits your home. About us
REM TECHNICIAN (PTY) LTD, company registration no. 2024/633074/07
We are accredited DStv installers serving Gauteng, with over 10 years of experience. Prices and details here are indicative as of October 2026, so ask us for a quote that fits your home. About us
REM TECHNICIAN (PTY) LTD, company registration no. 2024/633074/07
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