After waiting 29 days with a lot of problem with astro and installer, At last i got byond installed today.
Surprise.. i can view HBO HD although not subscribe it. Not sure how long it will available.

A compensation?

Hi all, just got my Astro Beyond fully installed at 6pm today. Guess I’m quite lucky as I just called for installation on Tue. All done within 4 days. Btw, I’m frm Penang.

Tue – call and subscribe to beyond
Wed – receive a call frm Astro Dealer (KL), told me long que, need to wait til early Feb.
Fri – Installer suddenly call me in afternoon told me ready to install. What a surprise.

Ok. Below is my review from my experience with beyond for 1.5 hr.

1.HD channel is really superb. Supersports is the best IMO.
2.The astro supersport HD sign on the channel is annoying. It appear near the centre of TV instead of top right corner. Other channel the HD sign is at the top left, so it’s good.
3.PQ for SD channel through HDMI really degrade compared to S-video connection. (I might try to buy a component cable and test it tonight)
4.Following bro lapaz advice, able to connect through coaxial frm amp to beyond. Sound is good frm my speaker. Not using the crap tv speaker.
5.Stupid Astro, if connect thru coaxial, cant control the volume up down with astro remote. (read frm this forum that it’s like that, crap)
6.Volume is different when switch frm HD to SD. (it’s a lot louder in HD)
7.Updated my software following the instruction from this forum. Firmware is 23 dec 2009.
8.Sync my remote with TV following manual. very easy.
9.Measat #1 give 214 signal strength, Measat #18 give 245. but I cant locked it, auto change back to Measat #1.
10.Some channel is missing. Installer told me to whack CS as it happens to a lot of ppl after convert to beyond. Anyone done within 10 min after I call CS and screw them. hehe

Now some questions, hope some sifus with astro beyond can comment.

1.Will SD channel PQ improve if I connect thru component compared to HDMI? (because I will go and purchase a component cable tonight if it is true)
2.For audio connection frm beyond to amp thru coaxial, how come volume not able to be controlled by astro remote. I read frm this forum that it is like that. But how come?
3.How to get true digital surround? We only have one HDMI in the astro beyond. That only one is used to connect to TV. We don’t have 2nd one to connect frm astro beyond to amp to get HD audio.
4.how to solve the volume different when switch from HD to SD? I read frm this thread firmware upgrade will help. But I already done mine still not able to solve
5.I can switch satellite to measat #18 but cant save it. When I press back it automatically switch to Measat #1. any solution to this?

Thanks so much guys.

Now hope for more channel especially ESPN to come and also the recording feature.

Not sure. Hihihi. If compensation i think is worth for waiting almost a month.
BTW anyone here get HBO HD although not subcribe it?

to change this settings u need to power off your decoder first and then try to change the setting again

This post has been edited by tHeRiDdLeR: Jan 15 2010, 08:23 PM

get an avr, newer models have 3/4 or more hdmi ports.

thank you bro. will off the decoder and try again now.

[edit] it works. good tips!!!!

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Added on January 15, 2010, 8:29 pmhi bro, i mean the astro decoder have only 1 HDMI port, one is used for TV connection, even AVR have HDMI port also no use because astro only come with HDMI port, maybe i miss out something as my knowledge in HT is very minimal. thanks.

This post has been edited by shakiraa: Jan 15 2010, 08:35 PM

HDMI can carry both video + audio, why do you need more HDMI port?

You connect astro to avr, avr out to tv.. not decoder to avr + another 1 for tv..

hi bro, one is for connection to LCD TV for video, for audio, i want to use my amp, so decoder to amp thru HDMI, is my understanding correct? thx

if your amp is modern AVR, connect HD decoder to AVR to TV via HDMI

if your amp is old, can use coaxial digital audio, or even RCA audio

hi bro neb and aneib,

thanks for ur patience. i fully understand now

4.how to solve the volume different when switch from HD to SD? I read frm this thread firmware upgrade will help. But I already done mine still not able to solve
5.I can switch satellite to measat #18 but cant save it. When I press back it automatically switch to Measat #1. any solution to this?

the same prob also,try to switch on n off the decoder...still cannot change to measat 18...
well anyone know how to solve problem # 4 & 5?

thx to theriddler, u need to off the decoder first for #5. solved

Guys, when you go to a radio channel, (Eg: Ch 865) Does the banner disappear? Or it stays on screen?

Any new updated while at Astro B.yond Bloggers Night?

well,as i said b4,i've done all of the step...change to #18>turn off>open>still no luck....

Luckily, my installer do this setting to me.

bros

just got my Beyond installed...yeah!

on the digital audio setting to my DD avr - can i still get DD 5.1 if i just set the decoder to analog + digital mode?? Or do i have to specifically select DD 5.1? Coz kinda cumbersome to switch this everytime...

coz i've selected both modes from Settings and my amp shows only Digital PCM and not DD 5.1

and does DD 5.12 only appear for film with DD 5.1 encoding or it applies to every channel that has HD from Astro?

thx!

Hi all..
I just want some help and a few tips..
I am expecting my Byond installer tomorrow..
I am not an expert in fixing these hi-tech stuff so really need ur help..

1. What should I do once the installer leaves? Should I update the firmware 1st? How do I do this?

2. How do I change the satellite #? People say #18 better than #1..
Can anyone tell me the steps?

3. How do I fix the SD and HD volume problem if it occurs? The steps if anyone can help out?

This 3 things are the most important things I would like to know..
I see a lot of people here who are helpful..
Hope you guys can help teach me..
Thank you