So you are a new subscriber and want to know whether Astro charge installation fee when the installer come to install ?

Or you are not an Astro subscriber and wanted to know before you sign in ?

I have a friend who is an installer. He has returned after a family trip to Vietnam so I asked him again to recheck this. So... the installation fee amount depends on which location you are staying. For me, its a flat RM 100 for any location within my town area. The fee is higher to install in a Jengka location in Pahang because of cost of travelling. So, the fees are different in big cities, condos and apartments, out-of-town areas, etc.

Also... the installation fee may be free depending on which Astro promos.

AFAIK, from previous post by a fellow forumer here, he subscribed to Byond PVR as a new subscriber at 50% discount on the Byond PVR box and free installation. Paid PVR box at RM 200 (half of 400).

The best way to find out the actual answer is to call Astro again and ask them about the fee for the type of decoder box that you want, that is, SD only or with HD, Byond box or Byond PVR box. Ask whether got promo with free installation fee.

If already subscribed and you are waiting for the installer to come, call Astro again to get confirmation on the installation fee amount and if got promo with free installation for your new subscription.

Short answer... if no promo... yes... got installation fees... maybe RM 100 but what amount depends on your install location.



ADDITION : Installation Fee for NJOI below (inside spolier)...


This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 27 2012, 09:00 PM

Yes, I totally agree with you. Not only it doesn't benefit people who wants to watch only the 2 sports events but Ass..teruk is trying to trick ignorant people into subscribing to Sports Pack early just because of the events.

You can call Astro and repeat my explanations to check what I have found out is correct or not... and I can be sure the poor guy/gal will not be able to disagree with you, hehe.

If ass..teruk is a bit sincere in benefitting non Sports Pack subscribers, why didn't they start the Unmissable promo in May, one month before the Euro Cup starts in June ? Something is very fishy and not right when they started the promo early in March 2012 ! Its just to trick non Sports Pack subscribers to pay extra for Apr and May Sports Pack.

Also, if ass..teruk is sincere, they do not need to "offer" special RM 50 charge to watch 1 of the 2 sports events. Without this special charge, if I want to watch Olympics only... I just subscribe to Sports Pack for one month only and pay about RM 27 (one month Sports Pack) + RM 10 (service charge for cancellation of Sports Pack) = RM 37. So when compared to the RM 50 special charge (without Sports Pack), I will save RM 13 and use the savings to belanja minum for my friend.

All this is because Ass..teruk wants to rob non Sports Pack subscribers who only want to watch the 2 sports events ! Its not about benefitting people like me.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 27 2012, 10:05 PM

Yes... Starhub put UEFA EURO 2012 under their single Pay-Per-View (PPV) pack. Similar to Astro First (2 days) and ABO Events (1 month).

I think Astro wanted to prevent people from subscribing to Sports Pack only for short period by adding RM 50 and then only refund if Sport Pack is cancelled in 2013. Also, non Sports Pack subscribers may think the Unmissable promo is a trick to get us subscribe to Sports Pack early before 1-Apr to avoid additional charge. No need for me to further repeat what I have explained in my previous posts.

Maybe its much more expensive to telecast the 2 events. I can understand that.

I don't know whether Starhub use similar tactics as Astro or not. I did search their website (www.starhub.com).

Why did Astro used complicated and confusing methods to prevent people subscribing to Sports Pack for short period just to watch the sports events ?

Astro should make it simple and don't use the Unmissable Promo.

May not be the best... so here's my rough suggestion to make it simpler...

1) Just put UEFA Euro Cup 2012 in Astro Box Office Sports Event 1 at RM 50... And London Olympics 2012 in Astro Box Office Sports Event 2 at RM 50. Then offer subscription to both Event 1 and 2 at probably RM 90.

2) Announce... "Because of the increased costs for broadcast rights to these sports events, starting from 01-June to 31-August, people who subscribed to Sports Pack during this period must continue till 31-Dec-2012. Additional RM 50 will be charged to the following month's bill if cancelled before 1-Jan-2013.

This means the RM 50 will not automatically appear when we begin subscription to Sports Pack during the period from April to August 2012. I am sure this will prevent many unnecessary phone calls from many new Sports Pack subscribers who will not see the RM 50 appear in their bill because many will actually continue for long-term periods.

Also, new long term Sports Pack subscribers will NOT like to first pay the additional RM 50, Astro keep the money and then get refund in 2013. Its just like a "refundable deposit" and these people will not be happy that it may be possible for Astro to use this money to earn interest. Such "deposit" can be a huge sum if many new Sports Pack subscribers during this period. New long term Sports Pack subscribers will not like to pay "deposit" because they feel its not their fault... its the fault of people who subscribe for short term to watch Euro Cup 2012.

Hehe... maybe my suggestion is also complicated but there are many intelligent brains at Astro so I believe they should be able to make it simpler. Forumers here may disagree with me but its my personal opinion that Astro is making the additional charge of RM 50 too complicated.

The one thing I am happy is that, for Euro Cup 2012, Astro charges RM 50 which is about 3 times cheaper that the "early bird" price of StarHub at S$ 58.85 (about RM 143). Refer to... http://www.starhub.com/tv/packagebuilder.html?product=addon

Anyway, similar to most companies, Astro is a business and not a charitable organisation so I do expect it to try to get more of my money.

Yea, I read about it but cannot recall whether it was the Euro 2008 or World Cup 2010. Anyway, you must be correct on the fight for Euro 2008 rights. If I am not mistaken, at that time many singaporeans complained why the rights was still not yet obtained while Astro got to be the Official Broadcaster so early... and the rights was finally bought at a date so near to the start of Euro !

I am malaysian so this fight for rights in Singapore don't affect me. Probably in Malaysia, Astro monopoly in Sat TV and the only big gun, was able to purchase the full coverage rights much easier at lower prices. Singapore competitors bidding against each other will definitely jack up the price which will inevitably increase the subscription amount.

The funny thing I found out was at the link ... "http://www.starhub.com/tv/packagebuilder.html?product=addon". When I mouse clicked on "UEFA EURO 2012 PPV-Early Bird+" link there, I got a "Page not found" error. Early Bird means subscribe early at reduced price and with price shown... Starhub should already have started accepting PPV subscription for Euro. Why show price and link in "Add-On" if not ready yet ? I don't understand.

Smileguy, my thanks for bringing this "fascinating" news here.

Here's a portion of what Ananda stated...
"Pay-TV companies are always at the mercy of content providers. So costs are rising faster than revenue," said an analyst with an investment bank in Kuala Lumpur. "On top of that there is more competition now with other providers and IPTV is increasingly becoming the norm around the world. Satellite TV is dying," he added.

Ananda mentioned that an analyst stated that Pay-TV costs are rising faster than revenue. Then Ananda added more... "on top of that (analyst statement)" ... that IPTV is increasingly becoming the norm and Satellite TV is dying. Only Ananda said that the "Satellite TV is dying" which the analyst did not mention.

I really wonder what tycoon Ananda is trying to say.

If I was the reporter who interviewed him for that story, I would have asked him many questions that would make him look stupid for such comments !

Below should be the type of questions and comments that I would express to him...

First and foremost... remember the old days when wooden telephone poles was used to hang phone cables so... does he know how long it took for Telekom to install this infrastructure to the whole nation ? How many years did many small towns in Malaysia have to wait just to have phone service ?

After many years, does Ananda know how long it took for towns nationwide to change phone poles to underground phone cables? Even today, some small towns still use phone poles. The phone infrastructure was progressively changed by Telekom from phone poles to underground phone cables which took many many years to complete nationwide.

Where did Ananda get the actual statistics to comment that "Satellite TV is dying" ?

He should be the first person to know that installing the full infrastructure to use underground fiber cables is much much more expensive because of costs of the fiber cables, ports and routers, distributors, etc. Note: I am referring to the underground fiber cables outside our homes, internal wiring in our homes don't use fiber cables.

Each fiber cable for IPTV is limited to a number of users it can support. So the IPTV providers have to estimate how many cables to lay underground that is enough for future demand. It cost money to dig again to add more cables.

Although the full infrastructure for Satellite TV/Radio cost billions of ringgit, its coverage is immediately available nationwide... and don't depend on the population size in any towns or location areas. IPTV or Cable TV companies will have to survey first and then decide whether its commercially possible to provide underground fiber cables for small towns with small population, such as 50,000 residents in a small town. I really think these companies will NEVER install the expensive fiber cables to small kampungs (with only a few hundred people in each kampung and these kampungs are spread in a large area) ! In the case of Satellite TV, there is no such "decision" to make because its completely not necessary. Just go to any kampung home, install the Sat decoder+dish and thats it !

Even in advanced countries such as USA, NOT ALL towns, townships, suburbs in their entire vast country have Cable TV or IPTV ! I know this as a fact. All of us do know just how BIG the USA is ! Yes, I agree that IPTV and Cable TV is readily available now in many cities in US but it will never be possible to cover the entire US nationwide. This is where Satellite TV plays such an important role because its readily available to a very large area that each satellite is located in the "sky above".

So I must really criticise Ananda because I truly wonder just where he got this nonsense and absolute crap that he stupidly believe that "Satellite TV is dying". There is a chance that I could be wrong BUT if Ananda is right in front of me now, I will still challenge him to prove to me with evidence and actual statistics that support his stupid opinion that Sat TV is dying !

Of course everyone wants IPTV or Cable TV. Who doesn't ? Of course I WANT IT !!! As I have mentioned many times before, will it be possible and how long do we have to wait for IPTV or Cable TV to be available nationwide? I know no one suggested it but it will be very stupid to suggest stopping Satellite TV right now, and put the people in the whole nation in limbo who then stupidly wait for many many unknown years for something that may never come for many rakyat in smaller towns !

If anyone here feels whatever I have mentioned here is not correct, I will not be offended and don't mind if anyone corrected me, hehe.

My apologies to smileguy... for my "heated" reply here. I mean no offense to you. I am NOT pointing my sarcasms and criticisms at you but directed at Ananda for his rather careless and stupid statement. OMG !

NEW ADDITION
The kind gentleman "anfieldude" later posted a reply about my error so I have posted my reply at Post 1127...
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?act=ST&f=198&t=2114557&st=1127#

I have replied with further explanations that its still ridiculous to claim that "Satellite TV is dying" so please read it. Part of my reply include... "Yes, I publicly convey my apology to Ananda only for the part of the statement that did not come from his mouth."

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 30 2012, 12:08 AM

Hehe... you are assuming that Ananda took example from Singapore. Its ok for expressing your thoughts.

Singapore is a small island country so definitely its so much easier to build the necessary infrastructure for Cable TV and IPTV. The situation is very different for countries with a much much larger area such as Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. As I have mentioned before, there are various difficulties and reasons why Cable TV and IPTV may not be possible for nationwide coverage.

If Ananda wish to use example, he can also choose Liechtenstein, which is one of the smallest country in the world with only 62 sq. miles of about 34,000 population which is located on the Rhine River between Switzerland and Austria in the Alps. It will be much much much more easier to start Cable TV and IPTV there, LOL !

It will also be ridiculous and very stupid IF Ananda compare Malaysia with Singapore. I will also mention the same reasons as I have stated in my earlier post !



This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 29 2012, 10:00 PM

Thanks for your input. I re-read the article carefully. All my reply here is only about the "Satellite TV is dying" statement.

Ananda started Usaha Tegas and practically owns and control this company. The unnamed source is an official from this company who declined to be named due to ongoing discussions. That official did NOT state it was a personal opinion. So, any comments from within Usaha Tegas who made such ridiculous comment on "Sat TV is dying" means that Usaha Tegas is partly or wholely responsible for its own official's statement.

Yes, I publicly convey my apology to Ananda only for the part of the statement that did not come from his mouth. However, Ananda is wholely responsible for any official or unofficial statements that came from within Usaha Tegas... although Ananda did not deny or confirm the "statement" by the unnamed Usaha Tegas official which was reported by Reuters and published by The Malaysian Insider.

However, the ongoing unconfirmed direction and discussions by Usaha Tegas towards IPO ...and... the unnamed official statement from Usaha Tegas, means that I can reasonably be led to believe that Ananda (who controls the company) have the same believe that the "Satellite TV is dying".

I did not clarify clearly and wrongly stated that the "Satellite TV is dying" came from Ananda himself.

Whether it came from an unnamed official, whoever, or whomsoever or Ananda himself and as long as its a frivolous and uncollaborated statement coming from within Usaha Tegas, ... the "Satellite TV is dying" statement is ridiculous when they fully knew that satellite TV plays a crucial role for nationwide coverage and therefore is NOT dying as allegedly claimed. Yes, I fully agree that Sat TV is affected by cable IPTV and the trend is moving towards IPTV but to claim that satellite TV is dying is an overstatement in itself.

Reference on Ananda ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ananda_Krishnan

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 29 2012, 11:41 PM

Hehe... normal behaviour for me but not everyone have the same opinion. If DirecTV is available and installed in your home, can I cum to your house ? Ooops... correction... can I come to your house ?

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 29 2012, 11:42 PM

Ronnie posted a reply later and pointed out my serious mistake so I edited and completely changed this entire post to reflect the correct reply below...

According to the info from... http://www.astro.com.my/byond/articles/art_6122.html... its the installation charges for Byond PVR.

Here's a portion taken from the link...
For further information on installation charges, please refer to below:
Astro B.yond HD Customer - Swap Box - RM300
Astro B.yond HD Customer - Retain Box - RM400
Astro SD Customer - RM400
New Customer - RM400

During PROMO, the installation for Byond PVR...
Upgrade from Byond HD box to Byond HD PVR box...
Swap Byond box to Byond PVR Box : RM150
Keep Byond box and get Byond PVR Box : RM200

Astro SD box upgrade to Byond PVR box : RM200
New Customer straight to Byond PVR box : RM200

He took upgrade from Byond box to Byond PVR so paid ... RM 300x50% = RM 150 for PVR installation

I have now corrected my mistake. My apologies to everyone for causing the confusion. I will try to double check again from my Astro installer friend. I may edit this post again if necessary.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 31 2012, 02:10 AM

Oops... I checked in detail again from the link I stated earlier at http://www.astro.com.my/byond/articles/art_6122.html... and I found that I made a serious mistake.

Yes, according to the info from the Astro link, its the installation charges for Byond PVR.

I have completely changed my earlier Post No.1146 so please refer there for the corrected reply.

Thanks for notifying me.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 31 2012, 02:07 AM

Remember that its your decision whether to choose Byond PVR or not, so anyone's suggestions in this forum may include opinions.

I agree with the suggestion made by the always cheerful Smileguy.

In my personal opinion, here are the reasons why I would choose Byond PVR...

1) Recording for Byond box use Western Digital My Passport AV 320 GB external USB harddisk. Byond PVR use internal 500 GB harddisk which can record more hours (about 290 hours).

2) Byond box with 1 tuner can only record from 1 channel. While watching one channel, cannot record another channel. Byond PVR box have 2 tuners which can record from 2 channels at the same time.

3) If you don't have the WD My Passport AV 320 GB, I think its very diificult for you to find shops that have stocks for it. You can try to find sellers from the sales thread in this forum but I think many of them don't have stocks... I did not enquire because I already have a few of this harddisk that were bought 2 years ago.

Jackdon (http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2114557/+1071#) was looking for this harddisk and asked where to buy it. I replied and he found out that all the shops don't have stocks for it.

I heard rumours from my dealer friend in Lowyat Plaza that WD have already stopped production for this harddisk model and replaced with 500GB ones.

4) Price of harddisks have increased a lot after the Thailand floods at end of 2011. Price still not yet drop. If WD My Passport AV 320 GB is available, it should be about RM 280. During the promo now, you pay RM 150 or RM 200 for the PVR with 500 GB internal harddisk. I have already explained on the charges for PVR in my previous post.

Copy files from PVR to WD AV 320 GB ??

a) Since the PVR have builtin internal harddisk, I think it will not recognise another external harddisk connected to its USB port.

b) The PVR software don't have the "copy files" selection in its menu. Hehe... obviously Astro don't allow anyone to copy the files out to any external harddisk. I don't suggest that you open the PVR box and remove its harddisk to copy using PC because you risk damaging the PVR and Astro penalty charges.

c) If you think of copying the PVR files out and then play using PC... forget it !! The recorded files are protected with encryption which have *.STR file extension name. The PVR used different encoder type for the recorded audio/video. Its not the usual ... AVI, MOV, WMV, MKV, MP4, etc... used in PCs. Here is some info I found at... http://boardreader.com/thread/WTA_ASTRO_BYOND_PVR_a8wugXvd7w.html.

I have read of reports that the recorded file is "locked" to the smartcard of the Byond/Byond PVR... so its not possible to play from Byond box using files copied from another Byond box. Oh... you cannot take the smartcard out and insert into another Byond/Byond PVR box because each smartcard is locked to its original box ! Therefore... also cannot play the "copied files" using the smartcard from Byond/Byond PVR box which contain the original recorded files. I rely my info from other sources so I didn't test it myself.

In my opinion... don't waste your time on copying the protected files.

I have given my opinion with info to make it easier for you to decide. Some parts of my info may not be fully correct so you should also search other places for more info.

Peace

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 31 2012, 01:19 PM

My Off-Topic Post

A celebration that falls on a special day,
This year which happens on a Sunday.

Depends on who got caught anyway.

Don't take it so seriously one might say,
Always think carefully before you play.

Laughter or hurt depends on what you play,
Especially when first of April is also a person's birthday.

Don't overdo it... is what one should daresay.

If hurting a friend's feelings is okay,
That special friendship may unfortunately decay.

For fun and laughter... simple tricks are okay,
So "life and death" tricks are not the correct way.

Just use simple fun tricks that everyone shouts hooray!
Because that special celebration is April Fool's Day !

I wrote the above short composition myself for April Fool's Day. Hope folks here like it. And I am sure many got "fooled". Its just for fun and laughter which we sometimes need in our everyday life. Just remember not to use nasty tricks that can possibly hurt your friend's feelings.

Luckily I escaped a few times today and did not become a fool. I will never so easily believe anyone on this day, hehe. I always pity my friend whose birthday is on 1st April so I will never play any trick on him.

If I posted here on 31-03-2012 that Astro will launch SyFy HD Channel 439 on 01-04-2012, will anyone believe me IF true ?

Hope folks here don't mind my off- topic post.

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 !!

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.

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 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

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

Actually was AXN Beyond HD channel 720 which changed name to BeTV on 2 April 2012. Old name or new name.... shows and programs 100% nothing changed.

B e T V means "Beyond Entertainment Television". This channel belongs to Sony so that's why you see the big "S" on the logo.

Was announced by Astro in March 2012.

No problem. Everyone makes mistakes. Me too, just read my earlier post (a few pages back) that I wrongly mentioned that RM xxx is for the Byond PVR decoder box, which is actually the installation fee. I always learn through mistakes so I always welcome anyone to correct me.