B.yond digital out is coaxial, but my receiver is optical...
Is there any "low cost" solution to utilize digital out from B.yond...?

Yup...! Maybe the campaign already started and I am one of the customers who benefits from it. Astro sent me a postcard asking me to call their number "urgently", and when I called, they said they want to change a new decoder for me free of charge and also no charge to my bill because the old decoder cannot support their new software (my mother also using old Nokia decoder like me mar...) I said ok since it is free... hehehe...!

When the installer come, I only realized they give me B.yond... but did not activate HD service because they never got my permission yet, this I can understand... but hey, who can stand with using B.yond box and still watching SD programmer? Hahaha....! Then I call them and request to activate the HD service... lol...!!

Sometimes thought whether this is their trick to lure customers to get into HD...? lol.....!

Hi all,

I have a few questions that I think many of the HD veteran here should be able to answer:

1) Does all B.yond box customers currently watching the movies (either SD or HD channels) that were encoded with MPEG-4 AVC...?

2) I can't find information about my satellite signal strength within B.yond Settings menu, do they even have the information exist...?

Thank you in advance...

OIC.... OIC.... wow.... many thanks for the information...

The reason I asked question (1) is because last time (old Nokia DMT) I saw a lot of bad or low bit-rate encoded scene in many of the movies.
I can clearly see a lot of compression artifacts like square blocks in fast moving or complex scene, for example: the moving water of swimming pool...
But I didn't notice it since switched to B.yond... maybe I haven't seen it happen yet......

For the satellite signal strength, I never thought I can still press [OK] from that screen... Thanks!

The setup was default to using "7 MEASAT 3(VL)" and I am too chicken to choose other number after it pop up a warning message....

But it is just hard for me to believe the reading....

Both Signal Strength and Signal Quality bar are full!
Signal Level: 255
BER: 0.0E-7 <---- I don't know what is this...
My previous Nokia DMT only got 72% signal strength, how can it be "full bar"now?
Maybe it only can display full bar?

Yes, I agreed...

I'm sorry, maybe I'm a little off-topic, but can you explain what is the different between "Subtitle" and "Closed caption"?
To my understand, "Closed caption" were designed for the deaf like displaying [the phone is ringing] or something like that?

Thanks pokemon, now I understand that...

What??
Didn't it already on CH393?
Are they the same? Or Astro is going to charge additional subscription fee?

My B.yond set failed...?

Although yesterday morning was raining here, but I can still watch it.
Later around noon, I tried to watch it again, but it stated "Service currently not available".
I can expect this since still raining outside...

Later when the rain totally stopped, my B.yond set still act like that, still "Service currently not available" and no clock display on the B.yond set.
Until around 4-5pm, it still the same, so I called Astro customer service.
The lady asked me to do this do that and I've done everything still can't help.
So she gave me a report number and ask a technician to come and look at it since she said probably my B.yond set or my dish problem.
Now still no one call me, but it is ok...

Why I post this here is because:

1) Does B.yond set so lame and could cause problem from time to time? Anyone had this problem before?

2) If they replace a new set for me, does that means I have to wait for the new activation again?
Some people here said need 10 days, but when the time I installed my B.yond, the activation only took few hours.

Thank you in advance!

Thanks dannychen and smileguy for your reply~

I think I found out the problem myself.
The LNB was having problem.

Earlier this evening I knock the LNB lightly while displaying a 0% satellite signal on TV screen,
then the signal strength suddenly jumps to around 67%.

Now I can watch the movies, but the picture shows a lot of block noise like scratched VCD for all SD channels,
and intermediate black out of 1~2 seconds for HD channels.

Then later at night, the movies seems playing smoothly.
A quick check at signal strength still shows only around 67% (was very high signal strength originally)

I think that was water gets into the LNB unit when we had heavy downpour on Saturday morning.
And after 1½ day, the moisture reduced slightly so I can watch the movies?

Astro said they will sent a technician but until now still no one called me.
How if the technician see the movie playing smoothly and don't want to replace a working LNB for me?
Am I have the rights to request for the replacement?

Thanks, the set is still under warranty, and some more, Astro customer service people remind me not to pay anything to the technician, and they will drive a van with Astro sticker etc...


Haha... the technician (installer) came and told me this LNB rarely broke in this short period of time, so he very carefully check this and check that and check this and check...........
At the end, he said that was my dish misaligned, but indeed, after his adjustment, I can watch it again, but I noticed the signal strength is not as high as last time (it's FULL last time).
But anyway, the signal quality is full, so I can't complain...

My current Signal Strength is 228 (4 more bars to reach full) and Signal Quality is full.

Many thanks to all you guys' helpful and sharing of useful information, knowledge...

On your remote control, press

Home -> Settings -> Installation Settings -> 0000 -> Satellite Settings -> OK -> OK

That's all you need to do...

I really have no idea how can we improve signal quality if it is low...
But I think further align of the "wok" would help?

Hi all,

I just spent some time browsing throughout Astro website to look for B.yond + External HDD recording solution.
I cannot find this information anymore (it was there last time), such as which is recommended external HDD model, monthly charges,
what they are currently talking about is the PVR solution.
Does Astro still offer this external HDD recording service? Can anyone share the link for more information?

Many thanks in advance...

EDIT: Ok, sorry, I found it finally...

I am seeing the different between PVR & HDD solutions here are monthly fee of RM10 vs. RM5.
I can forget about the one time installation cost of RM300 for existing B.yond customers compare to the cost of the HDD.
This will not save me a lot of money, what I want is trouble-free...

So, my questions are:

1) Can existing external HDD user share their experience, such as reliability and convenient compare to PVR?

2) Can existing PVR user share your experience if you are happy with this recording solution?

3) Since PVR box has dual tuner (and two LNB?), does that means they need to install another cable at my house?


I sincerely thank you in advance for anyone who could guide me on this!

This post has been edited by G K Lai: Apr 9 2011, 11:12 PM

Hi zebra1995, I found the link here: http://www.astro.com.my/byond/articles/art_3392.html

Thank you smileguy, I just called and ordered the PVR service after reading your comment.
Let's see how efficient they are within the promised 14 days...

Talking about manual, do you have a link to download a PDF copy of B.yond PVR's user manual?