FYI, I have called Astro and explain I'm keeping both Max and B.Yond and they didn't want to swap my decoders to PVR at F.O.C. as my Max was disactivated during my last upgrade to B.Yond. last year.

They advice me to reconnect my Max and disconnect my B.Yond by paying penalty for my remaining contract period.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for contacting Astro Contact Centre. We have received your recent email and our Correspondence Unit will be responding to you within the next business day.

For immediate clarification on our products and services, you may also refer to our website at http://www.astro.com.my or alternatively contact our Customer Service at 1 300 82 3838.

Please note our working hours are from Mondays to Fridays between 9am to 9pm and Saturday, Sunday 9am to 1pm.

Regards,
Correspondence & Operations, Astro

Published: Tuesday June 1, 2010 MYT 5:31:00 PM

Astro launches B.yond PVR
BY SHAUN HO


KUALA LUMPUR: Astro has launched its B.yond PVR (Personal Video Recorder), which allows subscribers to record, pause, rewind and play television programmes broadcast by Astro.

"This service is available immediately and we expected 100,000 out of our targeted 500,00 HD (high-definition) subscribers to upgrade their service," said Astro CEO Datuk Rohana Rozhan at the launch here Tuesday.

Current Astro customers will need to pay an installation fee of RM300 for the new unit and return their old sets. New customers will have to pay RM400.

Customers who choose to upgrade to the service have two options - buy an external hard-disk drive to plug into their standard B.yond HD decoder or upgrade to B.yond PVR.

They will need to pay RM5 for the first option, and RM10 for the second option, monthly, for the recording service.

The product will replace Astro’s previous foray into personal video recording, Astro Max, which was launched to limited customers in 2006.

"There are about 26,000 Astro Max subscribers, and we are offering to swap their units with the PVR for free.

"We will also give them a one-year subscription for free," Rohana added.

Astro chief operating officer Henry Tan said currently, only one model of external hard disk was compatible with the standard B.yond box, the Western Digital My Passport AV 320GB.

He said a list of retailers selling the item can be found on Astro’s website.

Astro also launched three new HD channels, which will be available from June 16, bringing the total number its HD channels to eight.

Video recording comes to Astro B.yond

By TAN KIT HOONG

Astro Malaysia launched the B.yond Personal Video Recorder (PVR), a set-top box with a built-in hard disk that allows you to record up to two channels at the same time.

Similar to the original Astro MAX set-top box, the B.yond PVR also allows the user to pause and rewind live TV, as it uses a buffer system which saves 30 minutes (and can be set up to a maximum of 90 minutes) of the currently watched programme by default.

Also, the B.yond PVR comes with a dual tuner, which allows users to record two channels simultaneously, or alternatively, to watch a previously recorded programme while recording two other channels.

However, if the user is currently watching a live TV channel, only one other channel can be recorded during this period.

The built-in hard disk on the B.yond PVR is 500GB in size, which allows for up to 290 hours of standard definition recording or up to 100 hours of high-definition content.

However, due to the dual-tuner function, there will be extra wiring work involved as the PVR requires a special outdoor unit and dual cables to be installed together with the set-top box.

A one-time installation fee of RM400 will be charged for new subscribers, while existing subscribers need only pay RM300 for installation and have to return their current decoder.

Henry Tan, chief operating officer for Strategy, Content & Marketing for Astro, and Datuk Rohana Rozhan, Astro chief executive officer, launching the B.yond PVR

The good news is that subscribers who bought the original Astro MAX recorder will be able to swap to the B.yond PVR for free.

Additionally, there will be an RM10 monthly charge for the recording service.

Not willing to pay the installation fee and the additional RM10 monthly fee for the PVR but still want the recording feature?

You're in luck as the current B.yond set-top box can also be turned into a video recorder by simply plugging a Western Digital My Passport AV external hard disk into the B.yond box's USB port.

Users will also need to call Astro to activate the service and there will be an additional RM5 charge per month.

According to Shahrul Imran, vice-president of Technology and New Media at Astro, only the Western Digital MY Passport AV hard disk drive is currently certified to work the with the B.yond box, although the company is working to certify other brands and models.

The Western Digital external hard disk is not provided by Astro, and can be bought from any third party vendor.

However, the main difference between the B.yond PVR and the external hard disk option is that the PVR has a dual tuner while the regular B.yond box only has one, which means you cannot watch one channel while recording another.

Also, Astro announced that three new HD channels will go live on June 16 - AXN HD, Astro Zhi Zun HD and FX HD.

For more information, call 1-300-82-3838 or visit astro.com.my/byond.

This post has been edited by dannychen: Jun 1 2010, 09:13 PM

Hi Justin, may I know what model is the PVR? Still Pace?

We are on the same boat.

Try this:
http://aduan.skmm.gov.my
http://complaint.cfm.org.my

Hey Guys, not sure whether you all realise or not. The FAQ of Astro B.Yond changed in the website. Version 1 with more details such as upgrade options and prices and in version 2 they have removed some of the details. Refer to attachments for more information.


Attached File(s)
 pvr_faq1.pdf ( 190.56k ) Number of downloads: 98
 pvr_faq2.pdf ( 128.25k ) Number of downloads: 77

Sound fishy right? It seems like they are trying to hide something.

What is your offer now? They collect your b.yond and you have to pay RM 300? since you have surrendered your Astro Max earlier.

---

Added on June 5, 2010, 11:30 amWhat is your offer now? They collect your b.yond and you have to pay RM 300? If Im not mistaken you have surrendered your Astro Max earlier right?

This post has been edited by dannychen: Jun 5 2010, 11:30 AM

wait for another 10 minutes.

The problem now is we still have to pay RM 3oo even though we still keeping the Astro Max after changed to B.Yond earlier.

How you applied for it? and when is the installation date?

Thanks for the info smileguy. I will try it.

Hey guys, Astro changed their FAQs again. The main changes are actually the Astro Max to Astro B.Yond PVR offer.


Attached File(s)
 FAQ_Version_1.pdf ( 190.56k ) Number of downloads: 54
 FAQ_Version_2.pdf ( 128.25k ) Number of downloads: 25
 FAQ_Version_3.pdf ( 131.6k ) Number of downloads: 66

may be your ten days start from today.

Nope! You can only use Western Digital Essential AV 320GB external HDD.

Finally got it installed today. But sad to say the PVR only having the zoom mode and pillar box mode. No stretch and fit to screen options.

Yes! No fit to screen option nor stretch option. This is a major issue now.

Astro didn't sms me the Installer phone number but the Installer called me for an appointment before he came.

Can you check your software version? Mine is E.1.6.002 Mar 30 2010.

Updated it to version 1.0.0.001 May 21 2010 and the fit to screen mode are back. I'm not sure whether this is the latest software. Decoder shows 290 remaining hours left for recording.

Yes! The current B.Yond and PVR are having the "fit to screen" option.