Can definitely use SD TV, the box has component / composite connections as well as HDMI.

Only 2 channels are HD, but I could only find 1 (luxe) the other day when I was checking it out.

An HDTV would be a waste, the quality of the video codec is really really bad. Everything looks out of focus and interlace flickering gave me a headache very fast.

The IPTV quality is really disappointing.


If you compared a normal download of an SD episode of CSI in Xvid mp4 codec and compared it to the VOD IPTV HD quality, you would definitely conclude that the download has better quality.

An HD download absolutely destroys IPTV HD in terms of quality.



Video Quality

Unifi SD < VCD < Unifi HD < Astro SD < Xvid SD download < DVD < Astro HD < Xvid HD download < Blu-Ray

This post has been edited by Arlington: Mar 29 2010, 01:30 PM

How does the IPTV box hook up to the network anyway? To the dlink router via cat5 cable?

really interested to subscribe...but im in kajang...no coverage

How come they are offering HD channel who is likely not most of people care to watch? i bet out of 1000 customer only 5 will be watching.

I hope they add some good channel worth of out money, i was actually hoping if they could deliver local tv station in HD
that would be cool.

But then the download would be an illegal one and it's against Intellectual property rights, unless you purchased the original DVD.

Ahh, so you have too much money to spend Good for you. Then the caps won't matter to you as well, cause you can just go over the caps and get them to charge you per gigabyte, and you can just say "ahh, doesn't matter, small money I can pay for it" right?

I was happy when TM announced the caps.

At least they were trying to be transparent for once.

I'd prefer straight up caps than getting the mystery throttling we're getting now.


Throttling youtube to below speeds where customers can't stream anymore is absolutely unacceptable for a broadband connection and is a clear sign that TM needs to buy more international bandwidth.

I bet he will say that too.. but when reached the cap when only can get 10% of 20mbps.. he start to get a business package..

This post has been edited by endymeon: Mar 29 2010, 01:58 PM

..and started to google map for mamak stalls..

That's true, I just wish that if TM is going to offer HD IPTV I wish they were serious about video quality.

I don't know why the quality is so bad.

8Mbps should be enough bandwidth to stream high quality HD video at 720p.

8Mbps = 1MB / s = 60MB / min = 3.6 GB / hour or 7.2GB / 2 hours

a 2 hour 720p movie is the same size.

So why is unifi HD so bad?


I think it's because they are sending out a 1080px size signal and as a result they have to over compress the file.

I would much rather have a high quality 720px resolution than an over-compressed 1080px resolution.


If they want to send out 1080px signals their bandwidth should be about 12Mbps not 8 Mbps.


I'm sure domestically they can handle the demands on speed, so why did they decide to underpower the IPTV?

nope.. google map are free.. only 'cheapskate' use that.. he probably will use something that charge him for a bit of extra benefit..

oops.. sorry i'm going too sarcastic... sorry...

I think the way you calculate is not so appropriate
the 7.3GB for 2hours 720p HD movie usually has multichannel audio(5.1) which consume some amount of bandwidth

usually TV HD broadcast does not have sound surround.

what tm is trying to offer the HD channel should similar to what youtube is doing

I could not agree more. They should start with 720p first and only increase 1080p when they are able to provide more bandwidth of minimum 15MB.

They can actually provide either 720p or 1080i for their HD services witht he current 8mbps. Or they can increase the bandwidth to around 15-20mbps if they serious in 1080p format.

The problem is they do not have much content to show on their IPTV. Those channels just crap!

Actually i was wondering

with this new broadband, is it safe from lightning? I mean for me, typically when i'm not home or not using it, I would unplug my phoneline with the rest of my wall plugs

how much low do you want? RM1 per month with 1Gig speed?

hope they will bring more quality content... they probably run out of high quality content..

Astro B.yond has surround sound...


5.1 audio is typically encoded at around 800kbps
and stereo audio is encoded at around 224kbps

so this would save only about 0.6Mbs


so if you subtract -0.6Mbps from 12Mbps you will still need a bandwidth of above 11Mbps

based on what the technician told me during the installation, the fiber is safer than the copper line...im not sure how safe it is but i dont 100% trust that tm guy...must be expensive to replace the fiber n router n cordless phone...

While the discussion is mostly about Unifi packages, there is also an underlying issue of having more affordable broadband to the general public. If Unifi prices were lower, Streamyx prices should be lower too. These lower packages would enable those who have not been able to afford broadband to subscribe to it.

Raven-X, you do not have to be rude or condecending to others to put forth your point. If you can afford it, and are happy getting what you are paying for, then go ahead. You do not have to insult others who may be less fortunate than you or have less money than you. What goes around comes around...