Overview
Satellite TV installs are sold by the dish, and the alignment to the satellite is the line that decides whether it works
Satellite TV installation is the trade that fits dishes for DStv (South Africa), Sky (UK), Foxtel (Australia), Dish Network (US), or whichever direct-broadcast satellite service the customer subscribes to. The customer is choosing a dish, an LNB, a multi-room option, and (often) a wall mount or pole mount somewhere on the property that has clear line-of-sight to the satellite in question. The alignment is the trade: a dish off-axis by half a degree loses signal in bad weather, and a poorly aligned dish on day one is a no-signal call-out a month later. A flat 'satellite install, $280' quote that doesn't include the alignment, the cabling, and the multi-room split misses what the customer is paying for.
QuoteGenio gives satellite TV installers a quoting shape that fits the install. Site survey for line-of-sight as the first line, dish by size with the LNB type named, mount (wall, pole, roof tripod) appropriate to the property, cabling by metre with the spec, internal terminations and faceplate fitting, multi-room splitter if required, decoder or receiver pairing, and a signal-strength check on commissioning. Send via WhatsApp from the customer's drive with the survey photo, take card payment on completion, and the final invoice closes with a signal-strength reading attached so the customer has a baseline for the next call-out.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every type of satellite dish, decoder, and multi-view installation business.
The problem
The quoting headaches every satellite installer knows
Satellite jobs are priced per point, run through roof spaces, and quoted while the client is standing next to you. Your paperwork shouldn't slow you down.
Extra points take time to price
A standard install is quick, but every extra view, HDMI run, or multi-switch job needs a custom quote that takes the whole evening.
Scope arguments cost you money
If the quote just says 'install dish' the client expects four rooms connected. Every extra room then becomes a dispute about whether it was included.
Slow quotes lose same-day installs
Customers want their TV up before the weekend. The first installer who sends a written quote gets the call, even when the price is higher.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A faster, cleaner workflow built around how satellite installers actually work. On the roof, signal meter out, quoting per point and per decoder.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for satellite work
Line items for dishes, LNBs, decoders, multi-switches, cable, wall plates, and brackets. Everything a satellite quote needs, nothing it doesn't.
Works from your phone
Quote from the roof or the bakkie. No laptop, no office trip, no after-hours admin.
Quote in under 2 minutes
A structured workflow that gets you from site arrival to sent quote before the kettle boils.
Track payments easily
Know which invoices are outstanding and follow up with one tap. No spreadsheet required.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how satellite tv installers actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Satellite TV Installers choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Satellite TV Installers build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Satellite TV Installers job pricing
A rough guide to what satellite TV installers charge for common jobs. Pricing varies by dish size, cable length, decoder type, and roof access. Use these as a sanity check when building your own rates, not as fixed numbers.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Standard single-view install | R12,395 - R29,749 |
| Extra view install (per TV) | R7,437 - R19,832 |
| Multi-switch install (4 to 8 port) | R24,791 - R62,803 |
| Dish realignment and service | R5,784 - R14,048 |
| RG6 cable run (per metre) | R744 - R1,983 / m |
| Wall mount TV bracket install | R7,437 - R24,791 |
| Commercial satellite (per decoder point) | R10,743 - R29,749 |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
A call-out covers travel and a basic line-of-sight check from the roof. Most installers include this free when they do the install, or charge R3,305 to R7,437 if the client just wants an assessment or a no-signal diagnosis. Always list it as a separate line so the client sees what the trip is worth.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use fixed pricing for standard installs where the dish position, cable route, and decoder count are confirmed. Use hourly pricing (typically R5,784 to R9,090 per hour) for fault-finding, signal realignment, or complex multi-switch setups. Mix both on the same quote when the job has a standard install plus troubleshooting.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's what a clean, itemised quote for a typical multi-view install looks like. Notice how the multi-switch, extra views, and wall mount are all priced separately. Transparent quotes win satellite jobs because the client can see exactly what each room costs.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
DStv 3-view install with multi-switch and wall mount
Call-out, line of sight check, and survey
Dish install, LNB, up to 20m RG6 cable (primary view)
Multi-switch 4-port and extra decoder brackets
Extra view decoder install with cable run
Additional RG6 cable for second outbuilding run
Wall mount bracket for 55 inch TV (install)
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call-out, line of sight check, and survey | 1 | R0 | R0 |
| Dish install, LNB, up to 20m RG6 cable (primary view) | 1 | R23,964 | R23,964 |
| Multi-switch 4-port and extra decoder brackets | 1 | R36,359 | R36,359 |
| Extra view decoder install with cable run | 2 | R12,891 | R25,782 |
| Additional RG6 cable for second outbuilding run | 18 | R1,240 / m | R22,311 |
| Wall mount bracket for 55 inch TV (install) | 1 | R14,048 | R14,048 |
| Subtotal | R122,465 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R12,247 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R134,712 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Line-of-sight call-out, multi-switch, cable clips, wall plate faceplates, HDMI leads, decoder activation calls, and a revisit after tree trimming. Add these as standard lines on your template so you stop absorbing them out of your margin.
Peer snapshot
How Satellite TV Installers actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Satellite TV Installers on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
14
Quotes sent per month
54%
Average quote acceptance
2 min
Median time to send quote
R134,712
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Satellite TV Installer jobs like this, free
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Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of satellite TV installers. The same pricing and quoting mistakes come up again and again. Fixing these will protect your margin and keep accredited dealers sending you work.
Mistake: Quoting 'DStv install' without specifying view count
Better: Write '3-view install: lounge (primary Explora), bedroom decoder, patio decoder'. The spec stops arguments when the client expected four rooms live.
Mistake: Forgetting multi-switch costs on extra views
Better: Multi-switches are the only way to run multiple independent decoders from one dish. Price the switch as its own line so the client sees why three views costs more than three cables.
Mistake: Not pricing cable runs per metre
Better: Cable from roof to far outbuilding can run 40m. Price per metre above a standard 20m allowance so long runs don't eat your margin.
Mistake: Bundling wall mounts into the install rate
Better: TV wall mount brackets vary by size, tilt, and wall type. List them as separate lines so the client can add or remove them without you re-quoting the satellite install.
Mistake: No allowance for roof access difficulty
Better: Double-storey homes with thatched roofs need ladders and extra care. Add a clear access surcharge for anything above a single-storey tile roof.
Mistake: Verbal quotes for signal realignments
Better: Even a quick dish realignment after a storm needs a written quote. WhatsApp it from the bakkie before you unclip the ladder.
Mistake: No expiry on the quote
Better: Set a 14 to 21 day validity. Decoder prices and subscription promotions change, and you don't want to honour a two-month-old quote at a loss.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote satellite TV installation jobs
Climb up first and price second. Check line of sight to the satellite before you promise anything, because a tree or neighbouring roof can kill the whole install. Count the rooms the client wants live, confirm whether they need extra view from a single Explora or full multi-switch independence, and mark the proposed dish position against roof access: single-storey tile, double-storey thatch, and flat concrete roofs all carry different risk and price. Measure RG6 cable from dish to each decoder in metres, not rough estimates, and note whether any runs pass through a roof void you will have to fish cable through.
Itemise dish, decoders, multi-switch, and cable so the client sees every layer. Price the primary view as a dish, LNB, and up to 20m RG6 line, then list each extra view decoder with its cable run as its own line. The multi-switch deserves a dedicated line on anything above two views because it is the hardware that makes independent viewing possible, and clients should see why three views costs more than three cables. RG6 beyond the standard envelope belongs on a per-metre line, wall mount brackets belong separately with TV size specified, and HDMI leads over 5m should never be absorbed. Add a roof-access surcharge for anything above a single-storey tile roof.
Set a 14 to 21 day validity on every satellite quote. Decoder pricing and promotional vouchers shift monthly, and accredited dealer rebates change without warning, so a month-old quote can quickly turn into a zero-margin install. State the payment terms clearly: for commercial guest house and body corporate jobs over $ 5,000, ask 30 to 50 percent upfront to cover multi-switches, decoders, and bulk cable. Note that signal realignment after tree growth or storm damage is a separate callout, not free rework, and include a short line confirming that activation and subscription with the broadcaster is the client's responsibility.
Send the quote before you unclip the ladder. Satellite clients want their TV live before the weekend and the first installer with a written quote in WhatsApp almost always gets the booking, even at a higher price. Build the quote from the roof on your phone while the signal meter is still clipped to the LNB, share the link before you climb down, and follow up after one day because satellite decisions move fast. For dealer-dispatched jobs, send the branded PDF to the accredited dealer the same day so your install numbers stay visible in the weekly rotation.
FAQ
Common questions from satellite TV installers
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. QuoteGenio lets you add any line item: multi-switch, dish, decoders, cable, or VAT. Structure your quote exactly the way you invoice.
Yes. Once your quote is ready, share it as a link directly via WhatsApp. Your client gets a professional branded document instantly.
Each line item has its own description, quantity, and price. Add as many lines as the job needs and group them however makes sense for the client.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. Your client can open it on their phone and accept it online. No signup required.
Yes. Convert any accepted quote into an invoice with one click. All the line items carry over, so there's no double entry.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes, invoices, statements, and reports.
Most installers waive the call-out fee when the client accepts the install on the same day, and charge R3,305 to R7,437 for diagnosis only or quotes that don't result in a booking. Always list the call-out as a line item and zero-rate it on a confirmed install, so the client sees the value of the trip.
Extra view uses a single Explora as the primary and slave decoders for secondary TVs, which limits what each room can watch. Multi-switch lets every room watch different channels independently but costs more. Quote both as alternatives on the same document with a short note explaining the trade-off so the client can choose.
Yes. Clients regularly want longer HDMI runs, in-wall HDMI, or decoder-to-soundbar setups. List leads as separate lines with length and rating so you don't absorb them on every extra view.
14 to 21 days is standard. Decoder prices and promotional vouchers change monthly. QuoteGenio lets you set an expiry date that appears on the PDF so there's no dispute when a client takes six weeks to confirm.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
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Glazier · Auckland
Guides
Guides for Satellite TV Installers
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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