Don't know about AEM, haven't try it. Maybe you can try on your existing decoder by plugging out AEM connector from RF out at astro decoder, if you still can control, it should work. Also you might want to try component (add 2 more cable) instead of composite (if your 2nd tv have component in) as it provide better PQ.

"If" i use CRT TV on B.yond, it wouldn't be same? 

After you sync the remote, you need to Press “OK” and “vol +” until the remote blinks twice, then you can control your tv volume.

Better because you no loger seeing funny fat & stretch faces. The only problem since its zoom, you can't see the top left/right logo & also the far bottom info & the last para of the subtitle. So that's abit of irritating things!

Just like Yesterday RTM1 match between Lee Chon Wei & Kenny Chitago (hehe intended pun)...You can see part of the result but not the opponent result. On other channels, the top part of a facial head alway can't see hair wan!

I'll have option 3 anytime. Yea yea, fat people, distorted picture, yadda yadda. My money, my preference, my choice.

are those pillar - AND letter-boxed?

screen fit? no cropping this time I hope, why the name change, just called it what it is, STRETCH

edbravo, to answer your questions from my personal perspective and experience.

1. From the screen shots I have seen (I am out of the country at the moment) it looks like zoom was intended to make 4:3 letterbox broadcasts go full screen. This is a feature of some TVs (my Sony at home). You should not have to switch inputs between channels. When I am at home I watch TV in the correct way, 4:3 pillarbox, if a program is letterbox then I have to pick up my Sony remote control and zoom it. My problem is that when I zoom the TV I loose the subtitles, even when they are closed caption. If the b.yond box did the zoom then my picture would be bigger, fill the screen, not distort and I will see all the subtitles. In the rest of the world (except India), 4:3 letterbox with open captions is an all but dead format!

2. There is no "law" on stretching. But Astro will have to have their HDMI output approved by the standards body, the stretch is most certainly out of the standard guidelines. If Astro has the certification on HDMI (it may not) the stretching may make them loose it! That would be a tough call, annoy the stretchers again or comply with certified standards. Astro also license channels and programs from the big studios such as fox and disney, the stretching could easily breach their license and the channel could withdraw or force Astro to remove stretch, a tough decision should it happen!

3. I think the zoom was intended to make letterbox 4:3 go full screen, like my sony TV at home. Yes this is better (in my opinion) stretching almost makes me ill (as a professional).

4. You will never have the option for all channels in HD, look around the world. Sky in the UK, 400+ SD channels, 32 HD, they have had HD for 4 years! Direct TV in the USA has also 400+ channels and about 80 in HD. These HD channels cost the customer about RM60 a month! The decision for HD or SD depends on the number of subscribers for that channel, HD cost 4 times more to transmit and double to buy or produce the content, if the channel is a minority one then it stays in SD. If we start talking about 16:9 SD then this is possible as almost zero cost, often they just change settings in the studio or production!

5. Do you think I am happy having to view letterbox content as a postage stamp on the screen? This is a personal thing, I hate stretching and I can not see why someone who has paid a fortune for an LED TV would want distorted video? The CNET article here explains it very well, see the 16:9 (widescreen) page.

6. All other HD boxes that I have seen do not offer anything other than Pillarbox for the reasons detailed in answer 1. Astro is the only operator that allows stretch. Many BluRay and HDMI devices do breach the aspect ratio but their model is different to a broadcaster. A broadcaster continually updates the software in the box, requires ongoing certification and has to keep the program owners happy, like Disney. I actually applaud Astro for at least trying to do something other than forcing everyone to pillar box with no choice, but if they actually sorted themselves out and did 16:9SD then we would not have this problem in the first place!

The SD has not got worse (I actually look at their broadcast on a PC card analyser), your personal standards have got higher now you have HD, this happens in nearly every country that launches HD! Your mind and eyes change to the better quality, at some point you will see stretching as I do! ;-) All business  have to listen to customers but also move forward, did Apple or Sony listen to the "backwards compatibility" argument for Mac OS or PS3, no... sometimes the customer does not alway want what is right and sometimes they do. Sometimes businesses have to make tough decisions, stretch and continue bad viewing habits and put your license and approval at risk or zoom and force people to change an old habit. Its a tough call, I am please I only install them and do not have to make decisions like this!



BTW I am doing some massive installs in Japan for a Ultra HD demo, amazing. What makes me laugh is when I see a 100 inch Ultra HD TV and think of Astros 4:3 Letterbox with open captioning, it would just look terrible. Like playing a VHS in a cinema!

I don't expect astro for "convert" all their channel to HD...,
But if they willing to convert all channels to 16:9 will be enough...
come on, most television now are in 16:9...
if i'm not mistaken, in UK, BBC now only transmit in 16:9....

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Added on March 24, 2010, 8:04 am

wow! thanks for your explaination... 

The most "worse" is pillarbox in 16:9 tv....
it is because, many of us, are already used to lettterbox than pillarbox...
Until now, have you  heard of people in Malaysia complaint to RTM/Media Prima for the movie/drama with 2 black bar on the top and the bottom of the screen??

a few of reasons why not to,

It is ESPN's channel not Astro's, Therefore it is ESPN's call.
What is the point of up-scaling a 100% 4:3 channel? You will be not get a wide screen image and you won't be able to change the AR to fit to Screen
Waste of transponder space.
Probably the most important reason...You guys would complain about.

+100

I prefer Korean drama.