Wow, I thought I have cleared the explanation on HBO years ago in an another one of ASTRO's thread.

Same movies playing all over again? Blame HBO not ASTRO. ASTRO is just only paying for their rights to broadcast it all over Malaysia. They don't have any control on which and what movies to be played and whatnot. Same goes to ESPN, Star Movies, Cinemax and others.

We/you can only blame ASTRO for its poor customer service and bad receptions whenever it pours. Well, maybe some of us need to read that with KU-band, we are prone to be having interrupted signals and whatnot. KU-band is more suitable to be broadcasted over countries which aren't having heavy rains. Try to google around.

I've been working for ASTRO in the past and now working for company which mingle around with satellite and receptions has helped me in understanding the nature of this type of technology.

just realized that dish size increase is not to tackle rain-fade, but to allow for drifting error in one of the satellite position, measat 3a seems to be drifting from 91.5° east, also the dish must now pointed at centre position between these 2 satellites to receive optimum signal.
[attachmentid=1367471]
astro currently uses these ku-band transponders on measat 3 for SDTV broadcast, each transponder carried about 14 SDTV channels:
10982, 11062, 11102, 11182, 11482, 11522, 11562, 11602, 11642, 11682 (in MHz)
for these downlink frequencies, 9750MHz lo (local oscillating) frequncy is used, no need to use 22KHz to switch to 10600MHz, that is why we can share sigle LNB dish to multiple decoders.

if astro is to use higher downlink frequency to broadcast HD channel, thus must use 22KHZ switch to select 10600MHz lo frequency, then dish can no be shared
wow lots of money to spend for HD broadcasting!
[attachmentid=1367563]

For an older installation of SD only decoders you can use splitters because all the decoders only need to see Measat 3 (on the low frequency range). However, every splitter will reduce the signal by 50%, this is simply laws of physics. In technical terms splitters create a parallel path for the signal, this doubles the capacitance of the cable therefore reducing the signal strength. It is always best to have one decoder to one dish.

The "device" that your installer is trying to sell you is most probably a inline amplifier. These only make the signal stronger they do not clean it up, this means that not only does the signal get stronger but any noise or interference (caused by rain) will also get strengthened. The only time you should need one is if your cable has to run for more than 20m to the decoder.

There is an alternative of using dual, quad or octo LNBs on the dish, these give 2,4 or 8 independent full signal strength outputs from the LNB, that means you can connect up to 8 decoders to one dish each with its own cable run from the dish direct to the decoder. However, I have never seen these in Malaysia and they are very expensive. For now, one dish should be connected to one decoder.

Pls note the issue here is 2 channels showing same movies not about Astro ! Batman on 411 and 431 at the same time ! 

I really don't understand what you are saying here?

Measat 3a is only available to Astro B.yond decoders that have had the correct installation done so they can tune to the high frequency range transmitted by Measat 3a. Measat 3a is not available to the older SD decoders as they cannot tune the high frequency range and they can only receive DVB-S not DVB-S2.

The HD channels on Measat 3a (from my testing using a PC card) are at 8Mbits/s using DVB-S2 modulation in MPEG4, for modern encoders, which I assume Astro has, give a really good HD picture.

Your statement of "sholud align back their M3A to reduce Video Gain for SD material" does not make sense to me, can you explain further?

(Just to save further comment, my PC card can only look at the signal and it's parts, I cant see any video or hear any audio as it is encrypted. I use the PC card as an analyzer professionally to check the make up of a satellite transmission.)

Yes, if there was such a thing as 1080p broadcast, then it would need about 1 transponder per channel, this would multiply transmission costs by a factor of 5 and limit the channel offering. M3a has 12 Ku band transponders, a (theoretical) 1080p offering would be 12 channels, with 1080i this would be 60 channels! What would you rather have!

The increase in costs would be passed directly back to us, HD would certainly be more than 20 bucks a month and the proposed 5 launch channels would mean we would be half way to all the bandwidth gone!

Ah... not forgetting the fact that there is no 1080p standard and wont be for another 2 years, this gives Astro 2 choices...

Wait for 2 years, launch a maximum of 12 channels that are expensive to consumers in 1080p or launch now with a good value proposition and have 5 channels per transponder at a reasonable cost with 1080i... if it were my business I know which I would do!

haha... or even wait for 2160p, in DVB-S3 in MPEG10... I am happy to have it now!

Errr.. got, but like not so nice to give out here. Anyway, the installers are assigned by Astro. Even if you call, they can't do it without an order from Astro. He said the demand is pretty strong now, but they're working back to back to go through the queue.

Called the CS and inquired about my installation. She told me that there's a long queue due to large request. I told her back .. why got people registered later got theirs installed first? She said she will do something about it. I doubt it. Hehe.

i checked with my condo management and they told me in 2 years astro B.yond will have in my condo..WTF two years??? sigh

Salam n helo..just nak g tau..aku baru pi tgk demo b.yond semalam kat kedai elektrik biasa jer kat pekan Tapah Perak...satu kesilapan kita ialah kita pi register b.yond melalui CS, aku tanya kedai tu semalam kalau aku register kat kedai dia brapa lama leh pasang..dia kata paling lambat pun 3 hari pasal dia nak kena pi ambik set b.yond kat HQ astro di ipoh. Kedai tu kata stakat nie dia dah pasang 3 astro b.yond yang mana register melalui kedai dia. So aku dah register pada sabtu 12hb ri tu memalui CS so x leh wat per la..kena tunggu installer astro call la..hmmmmm....Pada sapa-sapa yang lum call CS tuk register b.yond baik jgn, pegi je kat kedai elekrik terdekat anda...

wtf... i jz called d cs,wait for a few minutes,n d gurl said,currently byond is out of stock...

installation...

u try la call cs,ask if is it true byond was out of stock

laku must be due to this thread

anyone have installer hp no or not???i stay at kepong area.. register on 12th t&c on 16th..until now no ppl call me...still waiting for installer...

Guys this is the reply from HBO about same movies on  channel 411 and 431 for info only.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 5:38 PM
From: "feedback" <feedback@hboasia.com>Add sender to ContactsTo: "'mgs'" <smileguy1649@yahoo.com>Dear Sir,

Thank you for your feedback.

HBO is the first regional movie channel to broadcast in high definition (HD) in Asia and HBO HD is available at no additional cost* to Astro subscribers with HBO.

We value your feedback and will take your suggestions into consideration.

Thank you for your support and don’t miss the premiere of The Dark Knight on Sunday, 27 December at 9pm on HBO and HBO HD!
Cheers!

HBO
*For subscribers who pay Astro the access fee of RM20.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: mgs [mailto:smileguy1649@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 6:24 PM
To: feedback
Subject: HBO and HBO HD



Dear Sir,


I am an Astro Movie subscriber. who watches HBO HD now.

I regret to note that both HBO and HBO HD show the same movies. HBO should look into this. This deprives us of all the fun. HBO HD should show exclusive and selected  HBO HD movies instead each month and the movies should not be the same as on HBO. Monthly selected movies should make its debut on HBO HD alone and at no point should both these channels screen same movies.

I hope HBO looks into the matter and implements some changes,thank you.

Welcome to a world without rules, a Gotham

then u stay at where?

I just call the CS and the answer has change from 10 days promise to 10~14 days waiting. I don't expect much from them anymore...