NEW DELHI: Airtel's standalone DTH service sheet lists set-top box replacement charges from Rs 300 to Rs 2,850, including taxes, depending on the box and the reason for replacement. The key distinction is the fault repair or swapping column versus the damage, missing, burnt or theft column. A television going blank does not by itself establish which charge applies.
| Set-top box category | Fault repair or swapping | Damage, missing, burnt or theft |
|---|---|---|
| SD | Rs 300 | Rs 500 |
| HD | Rs 700 | Rs 1,000 |
| DVR | Rs 700 | Rs 1,000 |
| HD-DVR | Rs 700 | Rs 1,000 |
| Xstream | Rs 700 | Rs 2,850 |
The same box can fall under different charges
The Xstream row is particularly relevant because the service sheet treats a fault swap and a damaged or missing unit differently. Before approving work, ask for the diagnosis and the category in writing. A quotation that simply says replacement does not explain which column the technician has used.
These are service charges for an existing connection. They do not describe a new-connection package, a channel subscription or an upgrade offer. Keep the service work order alongside the account details so that a later query can be traced to the exact equipment and complaint.
Identify the equipment before discussing a replacement
Airtel's terms define its digital TV HD equipment by HD reception, a DVR by recording functionality, and the Xstream Box as a hybrid device that also accesses internet content. Those distinctions explain why the sheet has several equipment categories. A customer should use the model on the existing device or account record, rather than describing every black television box as an Xstream unit.
The same terms separately identify the viewing card, remote, cables and outdoor equipment as parts of the installation. If a diagnosis points to an accessory, ask whether that component can be addressed on its own. A complete-box quote and a quote for a faulty cable describe different work.
For readers weighing a television-device change for other reasons, our Airtel Xstream Fiber price list: Rs 499 to Rs 3,999 deals with upgrade pricing. It should be read as a separate purchase decision, rather than a benchmark that automatically applies to an Airtel service visit.
Check the symptom first
Airtel's troubleshooting guide distinguishes a dead front panel from a box that is on standby or a television using the wrong input. It also identifies weather, dish alignment and cable issues as possible causes of a no-signal screen. Record the exact message and whether the box's indicator lights are showing before raising the complaint.
The guide treats a low account balance as a service suspension issue and a channel outside the subscription as a pack issue. Neither description is proof of a failed set-top box. Checking whether other subscribed channels work can make the complaint more precise and help prevent an unnecessary hardware discussion.
Visit fees and replacement cover
The standalone sheet lists service visits at Rs 0 for up to 12 months from activation and Rs 150 after that. It also gives replaced STB and viewing-card equipment a 365-day warranty, with exclusions including damage, theft, burn, unauthorised repairs and a tampered or missing warranty sticker. Ask how those terms apply to the particular service order.
Do not assume that the equipment line alone settles the final bill. Ask the service team to identify the visit charge and any additional part before the job starts. Retain the replacement acknowledgement, since its date and equipment details are the useful reference points if the same issue returns.
Who it is for
This list is for existing standalone Airtel DTH customers checking a service quotation. Airtel's Consumer Corner publishes separate links for Airtel Black and other customers, so a bundled Black account should be checked against its own schedule. The distinction matters more than whether the household also happens to use Airtel internet.
Our Tata Play Binge+ vs HD upgrade price: HD starts lower at Rs 1,299 covers broadband rental, while the JioFiber prepaid OTT guide: Netflix begins at Rs 1,499 explains another home entertainment bundle. Neither replaces the standalone DTH service schedule when checking an existing box repair.
Price as of 30 October 2026, 00:48 IST.
Official sources: standalone DTH service charges, Consumer Corner, troubleshooting guide, DTH terms.
