if that is true, pliz dont go channel like VIDEO ON DEMAND.. really consume bandwidth...
like AOD, FIRST and BOX OFFICE... ahhhh, frustrated when its all repeat when normal channel already repeat itself..
right???

I am not surprised as I have already heard of rumours of new channels which may include 1 new in-house Malay HD channel coming soon. The point I am making is that... if I were to hear news in March that new channels to be launched on 1st April, then I will not believe it, hehe. Maybe I will believe if other launch dates or if Astro announces it, haha !

Hehe... I "suspect" this was why Astro announced that Beyond / Beyond HD will change name to BeTV / BeTV HD on 2nd April !!

I know, its the stupidest idea they could ever think... those are not even real on demand concept... i feel that for AOD, if they were able to bring both TVB Jade HK and TVB Jade HK HD into their platform, no one would ever bother about AOD anymore... be it 1 hour delay to filter HK ads, it will make customers like us very happy already =p... and with that 2 channels, I don't think we need 10+ channels for TVB series anymore, if you want to playback ure recordings, get a PVR and record!


James: not sure about that, but they are already setting up new transponders to gear up for euro2012, olympics and the new channels =D

My pleasure and you are welcome. You "subscribed for PVR right away" so you are a completely new subscriber or upgrade from Byond to Byond PVR ?

If you didn't know, I should inform you to be very very alert and careful when the installer come to your house !! I have personally experienced helping my friends to fix and correct the poor and bad installations done by many lazy, careless and lousy installers !

Here's what you should know about the installation for your PVR...

1) The PVR have 2 inputs which use 2 different cables connected directly to the LNB. So, the LNB must use at least Dual LNB for connecting 2 separate cables. I have 3 decoder boxes so I used a Quad LNB.

Refer to picture of my Quad LNB (inside spoiler)...

2) TWO separate cables must be connected to the 2 PVR inputs, not one.

3) Don't use splitter connectors to split one cable to 2 cables to connect to PVR.

4) Try to avoid and its always best NOT to use joints, splitters for cable connections. Its best to use continuous cable from LNB direct to Byond PVR with no cable joints or connectors.

I have an installer friend who have fixed and corrected many "bad installations" done by many other installers. On one occasion, he told me that one idiot only connected 1 cable to the PVR which caused complaint later that 2 channels cannot be recorded at the same time. Another occasion, he told me that there is an oversmart installer who used 1-to-2 splitter connector to split 1 single cable into 2 cables to connect to the 2 inputs of the PVR ! Both occasion were for upgrade from Byond to Byond PVR and both installers did change the dish and the Single LNB to Quad LNB but they were either lazy or idiots who used back the same previous single cable to connect to the LNB... maybe the installers want to finish work faster and no need to spend time to change all the cables completely to 2 cables. Both the subscribers who complained did not have in-wall cabling.

If you go back a few pages here, you will find that 1GTR1 posted a problem about his HD channels which flickers and later went blank ! Two times the installer came to his home (first time to install and second time to fix his problem). Still the same problem continue until he called someone to personally come and check. That person is his friend's friend who knows about such installations. Guess what ? That person found out that the LNB was loose and did not tighten the screws !!! After aligning the LNB again and tightening the screws, no more such problem ! It seems the 2 installers did NOT tighten the screws on the clamp holding the LNB.

Just ask 1GTR1 and he will gladly condemn the Astro installers and tell them to F off ! Refer one of his post at... "http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2114557/+1080#

So... keep an eye on the installer and make sure they actually did the right thing and make sure they tighten the clamp holding the LNB at the dish too.

If you are a new subscriber, you will find out later why there are many complains pointing at Astro. These are generally the repeats and repeats and repeats of programs.... too many lousy channels and not having enough good ones... rain interruptions. You have the right to decide... continue with Astro... OR cancel later and forget about Astro if you don't like it... OR move to others such as IPTV or Cable TV if you are lucky that its available in your location... OR forget about Satellite/Cable TV and go back to traditional TV aerial. Whether right or wrong decision, I will not comment and will respect whatever you choose because you have your personal opinions and reasons.

Fuuuuuu..to far away

Yea, I am also not sure about that too. I did not mention that new channels will 100% be coming soon. I only mentioned that I heard rumours. But I do have the same opinion as you... I also don't really believe the rumours and suspect any new channels may only come after the 2 big sports events in England.

Happy april fool's day james !!!That was something new and something nice for all,You may agree with me that Malaysia has lost so many things including AFD.........our children dont talk about it,blame it on our govt.policies.

if IPTV, UNIFI is second option.. ABN still silent after heard couple of rumors of IPTV that want to compete with astro..
or rather, u put kuali kat luar rumah, and buat2 mcm ada satelite tv baru.... hahahhaahahaha

thank you very much sir. i'm existing astro customer, just my decoder went kaput and just thinking to upgrade to BYOND since they are offering free installation. but for PVR, need to add extra RM150. so, about the repeating program, i don't have so much comment. dah biasa sgt. hehehe.

about the PVR set installation, basically there will be 2 cables connected from LNB to the PVR decoder. correct? i will keep an eye of them.

Given that there's still nothing about repealing the exclusive programming law and TM has SyFy HD...

If Astro got SyFy HD with subtitles, sure it's nice since the Unifi one have none...

Give feedback to SyFy and/or TM If enough people write in they'll add it to their to-do list. After all, UniFi IPTV STB has subtitle support...

This post has been edited by RAMChYLD: Apr 2 2012, 03:51 PM

i wan TVN HD on astro

Happy belated April Fool's Day (AFD) to you too!

It seems you don't have much love for our government. I do understand because I also feel the same way for many of our govt policies too!

Maybe its better that our younger generations are not aware of Apri Fool's Day. Making fools of anyone may not be good, can backfire if wrongly done and cause feelings to be hurt. Maybe I should not have posted about it here.

I can only say that Malaysia lost and gained many things since 1959, including good and bad. Anyway, in this case, I don't think you can blame our govt for people not knowing about AFD. Times changed and our society changes too, good and bad so I do believe its the everchangng social makeup that caused the lack of awareness of AFD.

Yes, I accidentally forgot to mention TM UniFi. You used the word "compete" so everyone already knew that the key factor is to have a fair and unobstructed competition in any products and services.

Astro started broadcasts in 1996. If I am not mistaken... I remember reading somewhere from the internet that Astro enjoys an exclusive 20 year licence for satellite DTH transmission in Malaysia and will expire in 2017. Anyone can correct me if I am wrong.

Presently there is no competition for Sat TV/Radio services because Astro is still protected by our govt until 2017 to have monopoly for the Satellite TV/Radio services for home consumers. Will our dear govt release the monopoly to allow competition after 2017 ? I really want to believe it but deep in my mind, I suspect that this may not happen and our govt may continue to give excuses that the multi billion ringgit cost of investment for the satellite infrastructure is still not yet recovered !!

IPTV is Cable TV/Radio because it also used fiber cables. Fiber cables have the added advantage for providing fast speed internet broadband services. TM Streamyx used FUP to throttle down the speed while TM UniFi / Byond IPTV at present do not. This is why everyone, including me, will definitely choose it ! Will TM UniFi / Byond IPTV also throttle down to tortoise speed in future? I don't know. In my personal opinion, I think it should not happen because I believe streaming TV (SD/HD) channels consumes heavy bandwidth from the same internet feed... so speed throttling will also affect the TV channels... only my personal view.

We really need more future IPTV/Cable TV competitors to come in and add to the present two (TM UniFi and Byond IPTV)... since Astro still held monopoly for over-the-air Satellite TV/Radio. Astro already knew about the cable TV market potential and became a cable TV competitor with Byond IPTV. Its good to have competition for the Cable TV/Radio market BUT this market is still localised to some big towns/cities only and we may never see this becoming nationwide for many many many years and it may never come for many small towns/kampungs too.

As far as Satellite TV/Radio channels is concerned, Astro is regretfully the "king" because of its nationwide monopoly ! The only way to break the Satellite TV/Radio monopoly is to allow other Satellite TV/Radio Providers to come in and compete. Another way to provide competition is from Cable TV/Radio using IPTV but this needed to be implemented in more and more locations as fast as possible in order to challenge Astro at the same level !

Satellite TV/Radio DTH delivery is still the best, easiest and THE fastest way for full nationwide coverage. This is why many countries still continue to use the Ku-band with small dish because of easy delivery and implementation to most homes. Can you imagine the problems Satellite TV Providers faced if they choose to use large dish as standard installation in every home ? Here are just two examples of sat TV providers using the same system : DirecTV (US) and SKY PerfecTV (Japan). But, depending on which location, they can choose to change to large dish at higher price. We in Malaysia cannot. Even in a very big country like US, its not possible to have fiber cables to all areas nationwide. This is why Satellite TV and mobile phones will continue to play such an important role as the best choice for nationwide coverage. Subscribers to these providers also have weather (rain and snow) interruptions too when small dish is used so Astro is not the only one.

If, and I say IF, TM UniFi is nationwide and have monopoly, I believe the same thing will happen causing many people to throw banana skins at UniFi for the many repeats and lousy channels !

Finally, its my opinion that I really hope more and more IPTV cable TV providers come in and setup fiber cables infrastructure for more areas and towns so that they can provide at least some competition to Astro. I do understand that the Satellite TV/Radio monopoly was intended to recover and protect the very costly investment in the entire Satellite infrastructure. Since 1996 and after more than 15 years... I personally think its more than enough time and stop the monopoly now and not wait till 2017 ! I know it cost billions of ringgit but don't tell me that MEASAT need 50 to 100 years !

Four words says it all... No Monopoly, More Competitors ! Then the consumers will get much more for each ringgit spent !

Anyone can correct any mistakes here, so no problem for me. Some of my comments here are not facts.

Please use "spoilers" to quote my post, thanks.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Apr 2 2012, 11:03 PM

If only the goverment would be nicer on 2017...

Yes, correct. 2 separate cables direct from LNB to PVR.

Mmm... guna dekoder 24 jam sampai bakar ? Ataupun tidak sengaja tuang air kopi keatas dekoder ? Hehe... gurau saja lah.

Make sure the installer test recording 2 channels at the same time and play it for you. I believe the recording service should already be activated and working. Testing this will make sure that recording is 100% working properly. You can delete the test recordings later.

BUT... after the tests... IF recording is found not activated, the installer may give excuse and tells you to wait a few hours to activate recording service. Then tell installer that you want to make sure your new PVR box recording is working properly now and don't want to waste time if got problems later. I think that all he needs to do is just make a simple phone call and recording service should be activated in a short time. The installer only wanted to leave early. If installer still insist not to fix the recording "problem", then tell him/her that you will call Astro to report unfinished job and let them know what he/she have said to you.

Also make sure the PVR software is version 3.0s. Sometimes auto-update failed as did happen to one of my friends. I went to his place after a month and found the version is still 1.0 !! I switched off power completely and switched on... then auto-update started !!

My installer friend told me that they earn fees from the number of installations completed so they will try to finish as fast as possible. Don't allow installer to leave your place until everything is okay like I described above.



This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Apr 3 2012, 01:03 PM

Hi,

Im using a PVR b.yond decoder. it is possible my decoder get easily damages if i let that thing being Switch On or Standby for 24/7.

My reason is, sometimes my recording schedule is at time im working or sleeping. So its hard to me to find a best time to switch off the decoder.


tqvm.

Sad thing, expanded to 2025 by the s#!* SKMM iirc

Astro..why u still no subtitle for HD channel????