If want to watch channels like TV3 HD, box should support 1080i and Dolby Digital Plus. If want access interactive (red button) features, box need to support HbbTV and be connected to Internet. For differences between cheap and expensive box, I will let other members with more experience with various different TV box to comment on this.

Red button is there all these while on TV1, TV2, TV3, TV3 HD and RTM HD. Uses HbbTV and requires Internet connection, works on MYTV Advance STB and Sony Android TVs. Can access Video-on-demand (VOD), weather info, RTM Superteks, news, EPG, etc.

A hybrid of broadcast and broadband is the latest technology used by HbbTV[via DVB] (Malaysia, Singapore, UK) and ATSC 2.0/3.0 (South Korea, US). This enables more advanced interactive content such as Video-on-demand, online shopping, surveys, voting, contests etc. which requires the two-way communication provided by a broadband connection and is otherwise not possible with one-way broadcast alone.

Mediacorp (Singapore) and BBC (UK) have already implemented HbbTV as well:
Toggle brings interactivity and on-demand content to free-to-air TV with Toggle Red Button service
The BBC Launches the First HbbTV Service in the UK

This post has been edited by AV_2018: Aug 6 2018, 03:07 PM

Well Channel W is not that new. It just start broadcasting on MYTV recently but the channel itself is not new.

It is available.

Gunung Serapi Transmitter

649.999MHz
601 MBSD TEST
602 MBHD TEST

681.999MHz
101 TV1
102 TV2
103 TV3 HD
107 NTV7
108 8TV
109 TV9
110 TV Okey
111 rtm HD SPORTS
114 TVAH
121 BNC
122 Channel W
123 BES
701 NAS FM
702 Traxx FM
703 Minnal FM
704 Ai FM
705 KLASIKfm
706 ASYIKfm

Red Button services are available on all RTM channels and TV3 since months ago. A HbbTV capable TV/STB connected to the Internet is required. Even has Video on Demand (VOD) services on TV3.

Gunung Serapi Transmitter (Kuching) updated:

649.999MHz (UHF43)
101 TV1 [HD+RedButton]
102 TV2 [HD+RedButton]
110 TV Okey [HD+RedButton]
111 rtm HD SPORTS [HD+RedButton]
123 BES [HD+RedButton]
701 NAS FM [Radio]
702 Traxx FM [Radio]
703 Minnal FM [Radio]
704 Ai FM [Radio]
705 KLASIKfm [Radio]
706 ASYIKfm [Radio]

681.999MHz (UHF47)
103 TV3 HD [HD+RedButton]
107 NTV7 [SD]
108 8TV [SD]
109 TV9 [SD]
114 TVAH [HD]
121 BNC [SD]

I want to know too. None of my TV and STB shows bitrates.

Red button is HbbTV feature where you can press red button on remote control to access interactive features.
Example of Red Button feature on TV1 HD and TV3 HD:


Don't think they want to utilize extra bandwidth for FTA channels.

Yes, all rtm channels are now HD.

This post has been edited by AV_2018: Apr 1 2019, 02:12 PM

Both Kuching transmitters are about the same power. I do notice though that some frequencies are affected by interference from HDMI cables that are transmitting 1080p signals. This causes signal quality to drop although signal strength remains. To reduce interference, use high quality RG6 cable and keep the RG6 and HDMI cables far from each other and avoid positioning them in parallel.

MYTV Advance (old version) STB doesn't require PIN to access tuning menu and seems to update channel list when left in standby mode for certain period but don't know if it'll auto pick up a new MUX like my TV or not.

This post has been edited by AV_2018: Apr 3 2019, 08:06 PM

over here both MUX shows modulation as 256QAM on my TV and signal strength only difference of 1-2%. No idea about bitrate since my TV doesn't show bitrates.

Malaysia Open Badminton showing live on rtm HD Sports

Not experiencing this at all. Only seen it happen with Ku band satellite broadcasts.

Edit: Just checked since it is heavy rain here now... MUX2 is stable with 100% quality and strength only few percent lower than usual but MUX1 is very low strength and unstable for some reason. This doesn't usually happen the last time I checked. Anyway, rain is not supposed to affect UHF. If it does then something's probably not installed properly either at receiving or transmitting end.

This post has been edited by AV_2018: Apr 12 2019, 03:26 PM

Rain stopped so I checked again. MUX2 back to usual but MUX1 still lower than usual although much better than during rain just now. No idea why. If it's the rain it should've affected both?

Rain again so I did more tests. Using outdoor antenna, MUX2 stable, MUX1 strength dropped and fluctuate significantly. Quality on both still 100% so channels are watchable. When no rain, both strength are over 90%. Using another setup with indoor antenna, MUX1 stable but MUX2 is unwatchable. When no rain, both are about same strength and quality. Moving the indoor antenna does help so maybe need find an antenna placement that obtains good signals for both MUX during both rain or shine.

Since both setups can receive different MUX properly during rain, it's not the rain itself that blocks the signals. Probably it's due to wet surfaces blocking/reflecting signals differently.

PS. There might be birds resting on outdoor antenna during rain which might affect signal.

This post has been edited by AV_2018: Apr 13 2019, 10:39 AM

I built a folded dipole centered around 680MHz too but I cannot place it at window facing transmitter. It works better than an antenna I bought from supermarket and costs less.

Oh different from mine. Mine is just a simple folded-dipole with a 300ohm to 75ohm balun.

I have now found an antenna position that gives 100% signal quality and good stable signal strength on both MUX during no rain and heavy rain.

Sony TVs have DVB-T2 since around 2015.

TV2 subtitles work when manually enabled some days ago. Didn't watch today.

UPDATE: Just tested now... Malay subtitles on TV2 are working on my Sony Android TV after being enabled.

This post has been edited by AV_2018: Jul 4 2019, 10:07 PM

FYI switchable subtitles and HbbTV (Red Button, Teletext, Video on Demand) are working on my Sony TV. So check the receiving TV / decoder if these are missing.