Ok. Sorry then.

What about S band tho, which in my understanding is used by Indonesia's IndoVision satellite provider? Some members mentioned that they have witnessed the system work in the midst of a tropical storm. Furthermore, the provider has channels that I want badly.

I really cannot comprehend this. We are supposed to be more advanced than Indonesia. Yet our system fails when a tropical storm hits (don't even need tropical storm. Heavy rain is enough to KO Astro) and they even have better channels than us.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Feb 13 2010, 09:31 PM

For me, PQ is not really a concern. What I want is my shows. Besides, Astro has like 3-4 dozen AOD channels. Do we really need that many AOD channels? Is it even correct to call it on-demand, since it's not really on-demand in the first place? In the US, on-demand means something that works like a combination of Netflix and Youtube that streams the video to a decoder. Not looping a same episode of a specific show for days on end.

Ask those people who install such illegal dish...

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Feb 14 2010, 12:33 PM

Agreed. It's already been said and confirmed by Astro- due to copy protection, component is locked to downscaled 576i. Only HDMI will output 1080i on the byond. Sure, you can also apply copy protection to Analog component using Macrovision, but most likely they're not going to do so due to extra cost.

Wasted money getting a stupid VGA box just because anticipating Astro to offer 1080i over component, since the prototype they presented last year supposedly can do that

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Feb 27 2010, 11:56 PM

As I said earlier, they claim that the component locking is due to copy protection. Which is easily shot down because you can indeed do copy protection through analog component using Macrovision. Most likely is that they dun want to pay for two different copy protection technologies.

But I do agree with you. Many early HD-Ready TVs have no HDMI port. And so do many current cheap China-brand "HD-Ready" TVs.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Feb 28 2010, 02:21 PM

What about SD channels that use widescreen (Enhanced Definition) i.e. CNN, BBC News Or Australia Network? I notice sometimes on Australia Network programming the logo will cut out of the screen partially? Will they finally be transmitted without cropping?

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 2 2010, 05:58 PM

Ah, okay. I thought it was cropped by Astro because once or twice I notice the Australia network bug get cut off partially from the edge of my TV screen, and I heard from someone else here saying that BBC was cropped. My mistake.

Edit:
Any set date for the update release? I just left my decoder on for 10 minutes and it didn't pick up any updates. I usually unplug my decoder when not using, become extra paranoid after my router kena sembar kilat.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 3 2010, 12:00 AM

DETV: http://www.detv.com.my/

Providing IPTV long before TM is providing IPTV.
Although, their programming all China/Taiwan channel. Most likely their target customer is Chinese expats and those who live in China for long time and then come back to Malaysia.

Also, makes me wonder why their IPTV can work through any and all ISPs while TM's can only work with HSBB and not Stimix.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 3 2010, 02:49 PM

Only one on the tip of my mind: FineTV. But all they serve are in-house crap. No surprise they die. Asian channels still got considerable demand. In-house crap on the other hand...

And to make things worse, their charges were exorbitant.

As for others, mobileTV (the need EDGE/3G type as used by Digi/Maxis/Celcom, not the new DMB-TH/DVB-H (used by U-Mobile)/DVB-SH type) is also a form of IPTV, and they're still alive. Although I dropped my Digi TV sub after they stopped offering Digi Toons.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 3 2010, 04:50 PM

Maybe they're preparing for the FIFA matches. They did announce that they'll have bunches of dedicated channels for it :/

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 4 2010, 01:45 PM

That issue, you should blame local electronics industry for not wanting to introduce digital receiver with their TV yet. England already have successor to Sharp 19A35: 19D1E. Malaysia still selling 19A35. Heck, even Singapore already introduced TV sets with digital tuner. And the wallbanger is that these sets will work fine in Malaysia.

I think Digital TV standard already ratified to be DVB-T and now their argument is whether digital radio should be DAB+ or DMB-T (as a bonus, DMB-T can also do TV. Maybe that's why their DMB-T transmission only has RTM1 and 2, but all national radio channels and buttloads of state-specific channels like Sabah FM and Sarawak FM. Likewise their DVB-T transmission has new TV channels but only the national radio channels.)

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 5 2010, 02:30 PM

Well, existing TV they could just come out with DVB-T set top box (kinda like Astro box, but can operate without SIM/CAM card). Unfortunately, those boxes are still not sold locally either.

Also, DVB-T USB receivers are already very common. Search LowYat and you'll see shops carrying them.

You didn't catch their trial during the olympics, didn't you?

Exactly my same argument, sir. Is it even right to call it on-demand? The correct definition for "on-demand" is what it says on the tin- you only transmit it when asked for, to the requester and no one else. Like Netflix meets Youtube. Not show one episode of a show over and over and over. The technology means that you can do it with only one channel, no need 25.

I thought Arena will be RTM's? They do have an Arena channel on the digital transmission.

Forget about it, Astro is seriously lacking in lots of channels that Singapore already has and apparently isn't really arsed about bringing them in. They just confirmed with me that the 9 test channels is for FIFA world cup when I called them this evening to make the exact complain regarding the channels Singapore and Indonesia has and we don't have.

I think it was pushed back to 2012?
That's nice, enjoy RTM Digital a few days then Boom! end of the world.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 6 2010, 03:30 AM

Indian fare is worse? Big TV has the channels I want, and is owned by Astro also. But only serve India. WTF?

I dun subscribe to AOD. No shows I like are on the channels.

And what do you mean TM-IPTV tak jadi? Those lucky basterds in TTDI, Damansara, Subang and Shah Alam already get to enjoy the CBeebies I want so badly


This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 6 2010, 10:11 AM

I'm not sure if new FW out yet...

Edit: Tried a forced update, got the error 1-92-1. Huh?

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 6 2010, 02:14 PM

Makes me wonder if Bernie Stolar migrated to Malaysia and working for Astro. Why coming in all only events and channels that is of interests to kaki bola?

Yeah, can use that, but 1. Not cheap, and 2. Hard to get.

One website I've seen in the US wants US$199 for one, and that's before shipping. Maybe now have cheaper one, don't know. Hard to find online, or maybe I'm just ditzy and used the wrong search terms on google.

Not interested in world cup (cannot watch anyway, no sports package). I'm a kaki bangku and ulat buku anyway. No interest in sports, more interest in kids and learning channels.

The thing is, I disconnect my decoder from power and LNB when I'm not watching, out of fear of lightning strike. Especially after I lost a router in one such event (and it wasn't even my fault, my sister was supposed to disconnect it when she was done using but she thought she could get away with it). But ok, I'll straight away plug the decoder in and leave it on standby and only disconnect when leaving the house or going to bed from next time onwards.

When I upgraded to b.yond, they installed a head on the LNB cable and the extension cable then join using a screw-in adapter of some kind. Cost me RM8 extra for the joins, but cable is free because I kept the old cable and the extension came from the new roll of cable they're supposed to install.

Before that the extension was like yours, ownself do (the provided roll is not long enough to pull into my room). Installer laughed when he saw how feeble the job was.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 7 2010, 12:40 PM

If the TV support 720p and 1080i, 1080i is recommended. Since Astro's native signal is in that resolution.

If you were using a different resolution before, I think yes.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 7 2010, 07:00 PM

Upscale SD to HD is pretty much moot. Won't bring back details lost when dropping resolution to SD...

As for the Kampus Astro box... Has the Max logo there Maybe they are thinking of relaunching Max?

Also, today I received the DETV decoder I subscribed for my mother. PQ better than Astro SD although definitely tak setanding HD. I initially had issues with connectivity but the connection problem went away when I changed my AP to CH11 from CH8 (which for some reason quite a few APs also share that channel in my area). Mom very happy that she get her china channels again.

But the biggest thing is they're doing it through a 1MBPS stimix line. Something TM keeps telling me is impossible to do through stimix with their IPTV box and insisting that it needs their HSBB to work due to "technical limitations" and then refusing to let me sign up because my area has no HSBB. Excuse me, the letters "IPTV" makes me believe that their decoder connects to the router by ethernet (which is validated with the fact that the TM fiber system is a data-only system with IP Telephony and IPTV running as part of the Triple-Play system. Logic will tell you that to use IP, it needs to jack into the router). If DETV's IPTV system can deliver decent quality streaming video over stimix 1M, why can't the TM-IPTV system?

Yes, all these quest for TM-IPTV is because Astro don't want to give me BBC Channels.

And on that, a suggestion to Astro: DETV's on-demand system uses Ethernet to stream programs to the user. The server will only stream the program to the user and that user alone only when requested. This is the real definition for on-demand. Try to migrate your AOD system over to that, it'll save you satellite bandwidth that you can use to carry more channels. After all, all the latest decoders already have Ethernet port. And while at it, migrate SD to DVB-S2 so PQ can improve. You've pulled off mass decoder change before, do it again.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 10 2010, 12:50 AM

Prepare to be disappointed by how upscaled SD doesn't bring back lost details.

Maybe it'll go the other way, RTM will transmit Astro Arena to public for free? Given that Astro is transmitting RTM Musik Aktif which is a free channe; for DVB-T decoder/tuner card owners.

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Mar 10 2010, 12:54 AM