DStv warns of possible signal loss

MultiChoice is warning DStv subscribers about possible signal loss and interference from Tuesday due to the switchover process to digital terrestrial television (DTT) in South Africa.

The advent of DTT â€" South Africa's TV industry switching from analogue to digital TV broadcasting â€" has the potential to impact DStv subscribers' picture quality because of interference from transmitters from the signal distributor Sentech switching on new transmitters around the country.

MultiChoice is now telling subscribers that picture quality could be impacted from Tuesday and that some DStv subscribers might need to have their decoder and television retuned. Possible picture interference could start in Cape Town from 15 May onwards.

Blue screens, snowy picture

DStv subscribers could experience any number of problems ranging from blue screens, snowy pictures, buzzing sounds or a flashing 4 or "E04" message.

DStv subscribers who experience any interference should contact the MultiChoice call centre in your area for help to restore picture quality.

DStv subscribers in Cape Town most likely to experience interference in picture quality would be subscribers who use the RF output on their decoder connected to their TV set and subscribers using an outdoor antenna connected to their decoder's RF in.

Subscribers who use the RCA cable will not be affected.

Customers who experience interference will have to have their decoder and television retuned from channel 50 to either channel 48 or channel 52.