My Astro MAX Decoder always hang. Please help me to solve the problem.

- FYI. I have used it for more than 2 year and NOT PLAN TO UPGRADE to Byond or Byond PVR due to NO LCD, PLASMA or LED TV yet.

- Currently I am using old tube TV but MY ASTRO MAX is suck always hang and sometimes SLOW start up.

- Astro has recommend me to change for FREE the decoder and replace with the NEW ASTRO Byond PVR. But I need to pay EXTRA for HD services (RM20.00 monthly) which I do not have any HD TV and PVR services (RM10.00 monthly).

So to all readers kindly advise me How do I repair or solve my problem. Current ASTRO MAX service do not CHARGE ME at ANY COST.

This post has been edited by mbj78: Jun 17 2010, 02:04 PM

you may try to let your local authorised astro service centre to have a look at it, service charge quite expensive

upgrade to the byond PVR for free, there is no need to subscribe to byond HD channels

better software, more hard disk space etc etc also you will get better support from Astro since the Max is an abandoned child

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Jun 17 2010, 01:59 PM

Neb, TQ for respomse. that the reason i ask here.. I knew them (ASTRO service) and charge quite EXPENSIVE.

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Added on June 17, 2010, 2:02 pmTQ for advice, i met the ASTRO CS already. and they mentioned it free for ONLY 1 year service. After that I have to pay extra cost which is RM20.00 Byond HD + RM10.00 PVR.

This post has been edited by mbj78: Jun 17 2010, 02:02 PM

I let them service my max once, no power, may be lightning strike, power board changed, RM100

I am a former Max owner,pls friend my advice pls change to Beyond PVR,I said please ! Max has many problems it wld hang and recordings wld go missing most of the time and I reget buying it for rm900,Thank god they changed it free ,pls grab the offer,MOVE IT BUDDY !!

Hi mbj78,
I was also using Astro Max, then a few weeks ago, my recording function kept failing. I called Astro for service repair but no one attend. Then the PVR offer came out. Now I have changed to PVR, much better, remote control is faster, can record 2 channels at a time, recording capacity of 290 hours. Of course the HD channels are glorious!

As far as I know, you can tell Astro you don't want the HD subscription (told to me by the Astro customer service when I called for trade in), then no need to pay RM 20 extra per month. Also, when trade in Max, no installation fees to pay and free recording fee for 1 year. After the 1 year, additional RM 10 per month. I really don't miss the Max as the PVR is working so well in these 2 days that I got it. Just note, they will take away the Max and its remote control, change the dish and give you a new SIM card when install.
Time for change!

This post has been edited by sulimc: Jun 17 2010, 02:25 PM

what I meant by free is only changing your Max to the byond PVR box, as advertised.

For the monthly charges, if you don't subscribe to byond they should not charge the rm20 per month. the CS person I spoke to said we had a choice to subscribe to byond or not.

there is still of course the rm10 PVR service charge attached to the new PVR service and box

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Jun 17 2010, 03:02 PM

But Byond PVR we must pay additional RM10.00 right.. my MAX is free for recording service. Anyway TQ for the feedback

pvr fee will be free for one year for existing max owner, after that you pay RM10/month for pvr function

Hi Sulimc,
TQ for the info. That mean I only pay additional RM10.00/monthly and no need to subscribe for byond HD (RM20.00)... right..

If you repair now, maybe it will cost RM100 + fuel RM20.
With this amount you'll spend, you can get new PVR for 2 years.

This post has been edited by eMKs: Jun 17 2010, 04:30 PM

I recall the Max agreement the recording services was FREE at that time or rather until further notice, so pls reconsider to keep max or not. once recording fees starts Max too is involved.

4. I am an existing Astro MAX customer. Will you exchange my existing active Astro MAX decoder
with the Astro B.yond PVR?
For an existing active Astro MAX customers, we currently offer the following:
- Free upgrade to Astro B.yond PVR & Accessories (Astro B.yond dish, HDMI cable, smart card,
remote control)
- Free standard installation and one time set-up charges waived
To be eligible for this offer, customers must surrender their existing Astro MAX decoder, smartcard
and ODU and agree to the RM10 monthly recording service. The good news is that for all our loyal
Astro MAX customers, we will waive the RM10 monthly recording service for the first 12 months
upon installation of the PVR. Please look out for this special offer in your mail box soon!

Right bro. But for Max trade in, they waive the RM 10/monthly for 12 months. So you only start paying the RM10/mth after the free 12 month period. I think it's cheaper than repairing the Max, but then stuck with the RM10/month after the free period is over. However, Astro Customer Service told me that the PVR is guaranteed by them, so if breakdown, even the remote got problem, they will repair / replace. I suppose it's a trade off, that we pay monthly and they provide the guarantee.

Your choice bro, but it will feel like heaven after you try the PVR, especially the remote control response and stability. Also, don't forget, an insane 290 hours of recording! Maybe you can try at the Astro shop to see if you like the interface, etc. Then only you decide. Hard to get the real feeling from our forum posting.

Good Luck!

Cheers!

theres a reason they killed of astro max...cos it sux big time...huge software problems...

its the your best bet to get rid of it for b.yond pvr...or if u adamant in saving cash then need to live with wht max offers...

Hi sulimc
Thank you for the suggestion. really appreciate. i will soon go to Astro shop for trial this byond PVR.

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Added on June 18, 2010, 8:40 amTQ bro...

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Added on June 18, 2010, 8:42 amHi smileyguy, For that reason I must review my agreement back.. If that happen I will consider moving to Byond PVR..

This post has been edited by mbj78: Jun 18 2010, 08:42 AM

Just called Astro CS and was told that I must subscribe to byond if I want to upgrade my AstroMAX to Byond PVR for free. I was also required to have LCD TV first . I told him twice that I don't want to subscribe to byond and I don't want HD channels, and I just need the PVR function for SD channels, but he refused to accept and kept insisting that I must pay the RM20 monthly fees for the byond PVR So no go for me..

this is from astro's earlier PVR FAQ
may be now they have changed their pvr subscription condition

just confirm my upgrade Thursday from Max to B.yond PVR, they offer me HD for RM20 but I don't take it. No issue.

Yup.. me too.. I told CS don't want HD. But when they swap to Byond PVR got HD channel. Call CS then they cancel the HD channel for me...

the RM10 monthly charges after one year will be charged if you dont subcribe RM20 monthly hd..

if u take hd channel, then RM10 monthly charges is waived.

This is what the Astroman told me..

But as i know... Astro Max service will terminate on 10/10/2010... now they give 2 years free for PVR

Is this true the Astro Max service will terminate ??

I m still on Astro Max (slight issues but can live with it) cos stay i condo, building mgt dun allow to pull cable or install dish on the balcony...

All using centralized Master Antenna/Dish..

I find paying RM10/month is a fair price cos last time I paid RM500 for the Astro Max , that is 50 months (almost 4 years) if only pay RM10/month..

I think lots of ppl did not take up the Astro Max last time cos of the RM500 initial cost..

I don't think astro max can be "terminated", the most they can do is stop issuing firmware update

This post has been edited by neb: Oct 6 2010, 03:57 PM

I'm okay with that. They always upgrade the firmware but it still always have small issues and sometimes hang when the disk is about full and I seldom use the Programming Guide too... I just do manual recording...

so ? change to pvr or stay with huge max ?

switch to pvr

I am still using the dreaded AstroMax

Yours is RM500 mine was RM900 !! It got into my nerves got rid of it and took Beyond FOC with 1yr recording free .Max wl be phased out I know, Lose now or later lost is lost !

I got max decoder for just RM50...

my max cost me RM0.00

Free upgrade for "loyal" customer, isn't it?

Last FRIDAY ASTRO inactive my account. The reason given is, I am using old ASTRO Max decoder. They want me to change to new Astro Byond PVR. FYI, since last year, Astro has sent 2 letter over to me regarding their Astro Byond PVR Offers. 1st letter they request me to change my decoder for free (include installation) + 1 year free PVR services (save RM10X12 month). I did not do anything because doesn’t plan to use neither plasma, lcd nor LED Tv yet.. After few month, another letter came and the offer is better. They plan to give me 2 years of free PVR service if I am willing to change my Astro Max decoder. On top of that they mentioned that my Astro max will soon inactive and I will face the problem if anything happened in near future. What the F@#K….? MORE STORY CONTINUES HERE

Man, mine' the same, but I have to give in cos in the end, got kids and wife at home. Damn, should have stayed, but since they have not installed my PVR, think I'll find a way to get them put back to normal...... dam dam....