July, not June. And it's next week.

THX jamesleetech and others for the wonderful viable solution. Will find out more abt njoi. Update: Spoke to Astro promoter and he seems to be keen to sell me fibre optic solution. Said my condo is reputed to have unclear channels with satellite dish astro. Asked him about njoi and he said pretty similar - high installation cost with no guarantee I can receive channels and said it's meant for kampung use! I looked at the njoi website - it has high set up costs of about RM400, including satellite dish. I don't think I need the satellite dish. just the box and cable are required for my experiment. Will ask the astro webpage how much it costs just for the box, card and cable. ..I will keep you posted.

This post has been edited by atisha: Jul 14 2012, 02:05 PM

You are welcome.

NO such thing as "for kampung use" !!! The Byond decoder box used for NJOI is almost the same type as the one for the normal subscribers. I have not seen the NJOI box but I was told by my friend that its exactly the same type. The difference is the smartcard used for NJOI which only allow to watch 18 TV channels & 19 Radio channels.

Your initial question that you had earlier posted here was to use the satellite socket in your condo to watch "Free-To-Air" TV channels.

The solution "recommended" by that Astro promoter is the Astro Byond IPTV which include Internet high speed Broadband and Astro TV channels BUT this comes with MONTHLY subscription that you have to pay !! You need to compare with NJOI... total ONE TIME payment of RM 288 + RM 100 installation = RM 388 and FOREVER NO MONTHLY subscription payment.

Previously you already watch free TV channels by directly connecting your TV to your condo "TV socket" but since you say that its spoilt, you asked if you can use the other "Satellite socket". This means that most of us here will think that you want to continue watching free TV channels, no monthly fees or subscription.

Decide carefully if you want to continue watching TV channels for free OR whether you want to pay monthly subscription to enjoy much more Pay TV channels.

Ok, if a person decide to subscribe to Astro, and when Byond IPTV (using fibre optic) is available... then of course Byond IPTV is better because it include broadband internet. Please note that you have to pay extra for the broadband service depending on which speed chosen (3 Mb, 6Mb, 12 Mb, 24 Mb). For more info refer to "http://www.astro.com.my/iptv/". Not available for me in Pahang so I am not interested to know more details.

Unless you have now changed your original intention to watch "free" TV channels... then that Astro promoter is recommending something that you don't want. Probably I suspect that person wants to earn more commission from Astro, hehe... guessing only.

Compare this...

1) NJOI ... pay only once (RM 388). Forever no monthly subscription. Limited free TV and Radio channels. Heavy thunderstorms can disrupt reception.

2) Byond IPTV... pay one time payment for installation (if promo, maybe free installation, + other promos such as free 2 months broadband). Got monthly subscriptions. Got broadband and more choices of different Packages to add more TV channels so monthly subscription can vary. No disruption to reception due to weather.

I do NOT have the same opinion with what the Astro Promoter said ... "NJOI high installation cost with no guarantee I can receive channels". Maybe high cost but "sakit hanya satu kali saja" for the NJOI one-time payment because forever no monthly subscription fee lah !! Are you willing to pay for Astro Byond IPTV to watch channels which have many repeats repeats repeats, still got annoying advertisements, poor picture quality for the SD channels, etc ? No guarantee to receive channels for NJOI using your condo satellite connection ? Well... you have already accepted no guarantees when you previously watch the free TV channels using your condo "TV socket" but its now spoilt... so which do you want... (a) no guarantee but free 18 TV channels, no monthly fees or (b) got guarantee but spend money monthly !!

Hehe... just make sure on what you want, only after you have clearly understood the difference. Only you can decide for yourself.



This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 14 2012, 03:46 PM

Is it possible to subscribe to astro olympics channel just for one month for olympics ? How much is the rate ?

Guys, i have both byond pvr and byond stb and both connect to same tv. Is there anyway i can specify the remote to be unique for each one?

can, you need to pay service charge of rm50 for sports package, if you keep it until next year, they will refund. then you can decide to pay rm10 as a penalty and cancel sports package after olympic. the total cost is sports package 1month subsription fees+rm50+rm10.

To jalsrix...

The info from Astro may be confusing for "Non-Sports Pack" subscribers who want to watch the London Olympics. After subscribing to Sports Pack (or Superpack), the extra RM 50 payment will only be refunded when continue to subscribe to Sports Pack until 31-01-12 !

Don't subscribe to Sports Pack for 1 month, just subscribe to the Olympics Special Pack.

Why Is Subscribing To Sports Pack For Just 1 Month More Expensive ? Previously, I think many subscribers have been doing it just to watch a special sports event. I also did it before, for the World Cup 2006.

Prime Packages Category : Sport Pack, Dynasty Pack and Movies Pack.

If Basic Package (lowest subscription) to watch Astro = RM 37.95
When choose Sports Pack only, FORCED to also add 2 Mini Packs which give the total now = RM 82.95.
There is a "Service Charge" of RM 10 for Pack cancellation !
Now there is the additional RM 50 access fee added to prevent people from subscribing to Sports Pack for 1 month only.

For "Basic Pack" subscribers, this is the additional amount to pay to add Sports Pack for 1 month...

RM 82.95 - RM 37.95 = RM 45 (sports and 2 mini) + RM 10 (service charge) + RM 50 (access fee) = RM 105 additional payment !

Yes... For Non Sports Pack Subscribers... Olympics Special Pack : RM 50. As I have explained here, don't subscribe to Sports Pack for 1 month.

Have been mentioned in this thread previously before the Euro Cup started.

Up to you to decide if it is worth it to pay RM 50. In my personal opinion, I have decided NOT to pay extra to the blood-sucking dracula, As*teruk, to watch the London Olympics... its NOT worth it !

Astro Arena Ch 801 is "free" for all subscribers (except NJOI) so will also show selected live sports events. For the recently ended Euro Cup, many live matches (including Finals) were shown in Astro Arena eventhough not all. So why pay extra ? Not important for me to watch sports in HD. I can also watch some live events from RTM too.

Mmm... NO additional interactive channels for the London Olympics because Astro is not the Official Broadcaster ?? ESPN is the London Olympics 2012 Official Broadcaster.

NOTE : As I mentioned so many many many times here before, just a phone call (toll-free from land-lines) to Astro Customer Support will get a lot of questions answered OR search the Astro website. Anyway, I don't mind answering your question here, hehe.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 15 2012, 03:49 PM

Answer : NO ... when both Byond and Byond PVR boxes function with same remote IR frequencies, hehe.

I am not sure but I think other alternative remotes such as the Logitech Harmony will not work because both Byond boxes use same IR frequencies.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 15 2012, 02:37 PM

Thanks for the answer.

Astro Arena CH 801 is heavy on football, badminton etc which I am not interested in.

When is Astro toll free ? I thought all 1-300 phone call are chargeable from landline.

This is what I stated in my earlier reply... "just a phone call (toll-free from land-lines) to Astro Customer Support". I did not say anything about "free" or "chargeable" calls because I thought you understood. Mmm... I didn't say its free.

Toll-Free to 1-300 means "local call" charges which is much much cheaper. Call from Ipoh to Ipoh is charged "local call". Call from Ipoh to KL is outstation call.

Toll-Free to 1-800 XX-XXXX : Totally FREE call (pay by opposite party who received call)

Toll-Free to 1-300 XX-XXXX : Callers pay local call-rates

Refer here... "http://www.tm.com.my/sme/products/ComplementaryServices/Pages/TollFree.aspx"

For me, my TM a/c of RM 110 per month plus 1 Mb broadband include totally free calls to any malaysian land-lines (03, 09, 04, etc), upgraded during promotion from previous "internet RM 88 + rental RM 24, with normal call charges".

Note : Mobile phone call charges may be different.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 15 2012, 07:24 PM

if no subscribe to HD service, can we still have 1080i output from the Byond STB via HDMI? though no noticeable quality improvement can be seen, just wondering anyway

This post has been edited by PhakFuhZai: Jul 15 2012, 09:51 PM

Thanks for explaining 1-300 , I am in KL, so no difference.

Anyway, I don't call astro anymore as they take ages to reply, waste my call charges.

You are welcome. No problem.

Yea, I do understand about the difficulty to get anyone to answer from Astro. I usually call in the early morning at about 8 to 9 am because less people call at that time, hehe.

Totally no way?

Before I continue... the "Receiving Device (device)" I am now mentioning are the devices such as the Byond box, HDTV, DVD player, Bluray Player, Amplifiers and others.

Each device have a fixed set of IR frequency range that allows it to be controlled by its remote controller. For simplicity in explanation, I shall call it as IR frequency.

I will give you an actual true example. I have a Sony DVD player and a Sony Blu-ray player. Both these players have the same IR frequency. So what happened is that I can use the remote from Blu-ray player to control the DVD player and vice versa. Both the remote control transmit at the same IR frequency that both players will respond. So when I pressed the DVD remote "Eject/Open" button, both my players will eject the disc tray !!

What is needed is for the device to have internal settings that allow it to change the "fixed" IR frequency.

However, either one or both of the Byond boxes do not have settings to allow us to change its operating IR frequency.

Just for example only, if Byond 1 and Byond 2 are factory set at 8 to 9 KHz IR frequency range, 8.1 KHz for Volume+ so when I actually press the remote control Volume+ button, the 8.1 KHz IR frequency is sent out... and ... well... BOTH the Byond 1 and Byond 2 will increase the audio volume.

Let's say if I can change Byond 1 setting to use 10 to 11 IR frequency range and don't change anything to Byond 2. Now when I pressed the remote control, only Byond 2 will increase audio volume.

BUT both remotes are still transmitting at 8 to 9 KHz IR frequency range so I need another different remote which can transmit at 10 to 11 KHz range to control Byond 1 (with IR frequency settings changed).

Two things are needed here. One... the device must have the ability to allow IR freq setting change. Two... the 2 different remote must operate at 2 different IR frequency range or the same remote must have "switch" for different IR freq to be used.

Therefore, IF we can change Byond 1 IR setting, then I can use the Logitech Harmony remote to control it and use either 1 of the Byond remote to control Byond 2. A single Logitech Harmony remote can even control either Byond 1 or Byond 2 because this remote can set and assign different buttons change to which Byond to control. Not necessary to explain further on how to use the Logitech remote.

Once you understand what I have explained, you already knew that there is no IR (1, 2, 3) manual switch behind both Byond boxes... and the Byond software settings also don't have "IR Settings" to make any such changes.

So, for my Sony DVD and Blu-ray players, even if I use the original remotes or the Logitech Harmony remote commander, BOTH my players will still eject the disc tray when I pressed the "Eject/Open" button !! I must be allowed to change either one of my players or device IR settings BUT its not possible for both my Sony players. I had to move both players to further away from each other, hehehe.

Unfortunately, you cannot change the fixed IR setting for either one of your two Byond boxes.

My answer is still NO for your two Byond boxes. I hope you have understood my explanations clearly on the reason why.

NOTE: Probably Astro can set different IR frequency for Byond and Byond PVR, they did not... BUT I don't think anyone would have thought that people will put 2 Byond boxes near together at the SAME location... usually both in different rooms !! In most situations, Byond boxes are installed in different locations.

I admit that my knowledge in this area is not much and if any experts here find any mistakes or have any recommendations, please correct me or comment.. no problem, so that I will also learn too !



This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 16 2012, 01:07 AM

The answer is NO HDMI output.

I was using the old Astro DMT box until I upgraded to HD Service in 2010. The installer came and changed my set to Byond box and new slightly bigger grey colour dish. I was curious so I asked the installer (who happens to be my friend) if I can change my old box to the new Byond box without subscribing to HD Service and at that time he said no. I asked because he told me that only new subscribers later will immediately be given the Byond box and the old box was being phased out. Because he used HDMI to connect the Byond to my amplifier, I gave a comment about the new subscribers who were now given Byond boxes and did not subscribe to HD Service... "I think they will not get better picture quality by using HDMI to watch only SD channels" and he told me that the HDMI out is not activated (no signal out) for people who didn't subscribe to HD Service.

Honestly, I did not see it with my own eyes. This was what I understood from my conversation with my installer friend at that time so I explained to you from what I can remember.

To check... use remote... press [HOME], select "Settings", and select "System Versions".

When the Byond HDMI Out is switched on, you will see HDMI: On

If not subscribe to HD Service, when HDMI Out is not activated (switched off), you will see HDMI: Off

Since I have "HD Service", I also tested without HDMI connection. I pulled out and disconnected the HDMI cable connection, used the Component Video (red, green, blue) to connect and HDMI: On is still shown.

I have asked this question to so-called 'speaker salesmen' in shops and they don't know the answer.

Hopefully, someone smart can answer me here.

I want to connect my astro byond box to a pair of speaker.

But I don't want to buy an amplifier because I don't have much space.

Can anyone recommend a good clear pair of PORTABLE speaker mainly for clear voice.

It must have direct connection cable to astro byond.

HDMI port is ON when you pay extra rm 20. Even though you don't subscribe to HD channels it is still OFF.

Daylight robbery.

This post has been edited by jalsrix: Jul 16 2012, 08:30 AM

That one you have to survey yourself since you need those criteria. Why you need speakers that are portable? Don't see anyone walking around with speakers nowaday. Boombox ?

More like misinformation. HDMI is for HD service. You don't subscribe, you don't get it.

bro u just cannot do it u need to connect to a amplifier ,get a mini amplifier/speakers just the size of your beyond,

This post has been edited by smileguy: Jul 16 2012, 11:46 AM