What you'll notice
Every TV in a larger property shows some pixelation, worse on the outlets furthest from the head-end and worse on certain channels than others.
Why it happens
Distribution loss. Each split and each metre of cable costs signal, and a system that has grown by improvisation eventually has no margin left at its worst outlet.
This is a design problem, and it is almost always the result of a system that grew one outlet at a time rather than one that was ever planned.
The loss budget
Every component in the path costs signal: a two-way split, each metre of cable, every connector, every wall plate. Individually trivial, cumulatively decisive. Proper design starts from the worst outlet — the furthest room, through the most splits — and works backwards to establish what the head-end must deliver.
Why the improvised amplifier makes it worse
The instinctive fix is an amplifier turned up. But amplifiers raise noise along with signal, and too much gain overdrives decoder tuners, producing pixelation identical to too little signal. We are called out regularly to systems where an amplifier is fighting a distribution problem and losing. Correct practice is: measure the loss, apply matching gain, verify at the worst outlet with a meter.
When to redesign instead of patch
If the system has grown to the point where nobody knows what is connected to what, chasing individual faults through it costs more over two years than rebuilding the head-end once. Where that is the situation we will say so plainly and quote for the rebuild — and document what we install, so the next person who touches it can see the design.
How we fix it
We measure at the worst outlet, calculate the actual loss through the system, and correct it properly — right-sized amplification, heavier cable where runs demand it, or a redesigned head-end where the system has simply outgrown itself.
Still not working?
If the checks above haven't restored your signal distribution & amplifiers, this usually needs a technician. Our Commercial DStv Installation service covers exactly this fault — from R2 200, quoted upfront.