Is it possible to view 3 independent DSTV channels for only one suscription fee?

Dstv some years back issued a press release informing his subscribers of the possibility of  getting three independent DStv viewing environments under one subscription.

According to them, the primary decoder has to be a DStv Explora, which can be combined with another Explora or a DStv HD decoder.  

MultiChoice has now made it possible for customers to watch different live TV shows in three separate rooms at the same time. DStv customers can now connect three decoders, using MultiChoice’s XtraView service.

The good news is you only pay one subscription fee plus the specific amount you normally pay for Xtraview. In Nigeria it is #2,160  Access Fee for each XtraView connection (so 2 x #2,160 for Nigerians). In other words, only the primary decoder has the subscription. The other two have an Xtraview access fee each. DStv customers must use a DStv Explora decoder as their primary decoder, and then link any combination of Exploras or DStv HD decoders in this three decoder arrangement mix.

“We want to equip our customers to have a great entertainment experience in their homes. The ability to connect three decoders under one subscription gives our customers more flexibility to create a set up that suits their family,”

Mark Rayner, CEO for MultiChoice South Africa remarked.

DStv Xtraview settings

• It is recommended to get the services of a DStv Accredited Installer for all XtraView installations.
• The recommended installation for XtraView set-ups is a DStv Smart LNB together with an 80cm or 90cm satellite dish.  

The settings and comments are culled from dstvforum and confirmed legit.
User band Settings:  

User band settings need to be changed at times on the Explora decoders.
The settings are to be found under the menu option, Settings, Satellite Settings, Home Network. [OK] accesses these settings.  

₹ Note that at the moment anyway, these settings cannot be changed on the legacy SatCR capable, HD PVRs ( 4 tuner, 2 tuner decoders). The SD PVR is NOT SatCR capable, so it can only be connected to the legacy ports on the SLNB and the NES. The sw on the PACE 4 tuner and 2 tuner decoders has been updated introducing a parameter called the “switching frequency”, but NO explanation of what this does or what the settings have to be has been made public by MC. Hence, at the moment, DIY’ers are still constrained by having to change the user band and frequency settings on an Explora when more than one decoder is connected to the Unicable ports on the SLNB.

Legacy SatCR HD PVRs must be set as follows:
₹ LNB Power: Controlled LNB Mode: SatCR (Universal is best, but standard also works.) LNB Lo- band Lo Frequency: Will default to 9750 MHz. LNB Hi-band Lo Frequency: Will default to 10700 MHz. Change this to 10600 MHz If you choose the SATCR Universal option.  
₹ Leave the “switching frequency” alone if that parameter is available.  

Comments:

The 2 tuners use User Bands 0 and 1; Frequencies 1210 and 1420 respectively. The 4 tuners use User bands 0,1,2,3; frequencies 1210, 1420, 1680, 2040 respectively. This means that more than one legacy HD PVR cannot be connected to the Unicable ports on a SLNB or NES, because there will be a clash. (It should not be like this IF the ports are truly independent but those that have tried, have found either one or the other decoder will work, not both.) IF you want to use the SLNB and the NES with 2 legacy decoders, one of them will have to be connected to the Legacy ports on the SLNB or NES. If a 4 tuner is connected to the legacy ports, a 2 x 4 MS will also be required. Any combination of an Explora and a legacy decoder both connected to the Unicable ports requires the Explora User Bands and Frequencies to be changed from the defaults to get both to work. The 4 U and 4S decoders can be connected to either a Unicable port or to the legacy ports. The other legacy decoders (SD PVR, 1110, 1131, 1132, etc) can only be connected to the legacy ports on the SLNB and NES.

₹ The Explora and presumably the 4U and 4S only allow for 0-7 user band settings so, there are limitations when combining these decoders at the moment. Some decoders must be set to “share” a user band, and it seems the best option is to Share tuner 3 user band as the settings are “never changed”. Sharing tuners 1 and 2 between Exploras or with the 4 U and 4S leads to conflicts.