Firstly, when I changed to any HD channel, the channel appear almost immediately (I think less than half second) on my HD TV screen. The HD channel do NOT "disappear" or "become black screen" on my HD TV. The HD channel do NOT "disappear" when I watched any HD channel continuously for many hours.

I assume you are using a LCD or LED HD TV to enjoy HD channels. I connect my Byond HDMI out to my Yamaha Amplifier. Then from amplifier HDMI out to my LCD TV.

When the technician came to check and have already corrected the LNB alignment at the dish, the signal strength should be ok so this should not be the cause.

But you can check again to see whether the technician have done it properly or not...


Sorry if I cannot understand properly your explanation. I can only guess what caused your problem. Also, you did not give enough details for anyone in this forum to try to guess the cause.

Is your problem always happen for any HD Channel or sometimes only ? When changed to any HD channel, how long you wait for the channel to appear... about 15 seconds ? I guess you called Astro, complained and technician came to align the LNB again so no problem when technician checked again ? Problem appear again after technician left ? I believe you have told the technician about your problem but how come technician did not check again after he/she finished alignment ?

What cables you used... Component video (Red, Green, Blue) or HDMI ? How did you connect Byond ? Byond HDMI out connect to Amplifier, then Amplifier HDMI out to HD TV ?

Or Byond HDMI out direct to HD TV ? If not direct connection, then try HDMI connection from Byond direct to TV to check if your "disappear" problem is solved or not.

If you already use HDMI, no need to use Component Video (Red, Green, Blue) or RCA Video (Yellow) connections to the same HDTV or amplifier.

Check if you got "loose" HDMI cable connection. If got spare HDMI cable, try changing it.

I am only guessing in all my above suggestions for simple checking only.

BUT the BEST solution is to call Astro Customer Support again. Phone No. : 1 300 82 3838 (8 am to midnight only). Explain your problem and tell them to open a "technical complaint case" and request them to send a technician to your place again. I think the support person will ask you to check "this and that" first and answer yes if you have already done everything earlier and still got same problem. Just in case, request the support person to inform technician to bring a replacement Byond unit because you suspect it may be spoilt. You can try but I know they will not immediately send a replacement Byond unit until the technician have checked it again. The Byond unit/box is under warranty until you cancel your Astro subscription (not fixed to 1 year only) because I did ask the installer. I think the normal Astro DMT (non HD) unit is different with only 1 year warranty.

ADDITION
Always test with only a simple direct HDMI cable connection from Byond unit to the HD TV to eliminate other possible causes.
Examples...
Byond HDMI out to HD TV "HDMI No. 1" and also connected Byond Component Video (Red, Green, Blue) out to the same HD TV Component Video No. 1 so remove the Comp. Video connection.
If Byond HDMI out to HD TV HDMI and also connected Byond Component Video (Red, Green, Blue) out to another TV Component Video so remove the Comp. Video connection to the other TV.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 18 2012, 12:45 AM

jamesleetech, thanks for helping out, i'll try to explain now. Actually in the beginning after the technician installed it, I tried viewing the HD channels on the spot and some HD channels were not broadcasting, no response at all, just blank screen, then the technician said just wait for a few hours and check again and he left.

After some hours, still blank screen from HD channels. I called, and few days later, a different technician came and adjusted the satellite dish and change from 1MEASAT 3A(VH) to 18MEASAT 3A(VH). [the first technician used 1MEASAT 3A(VH)] Then again check it on the spot and all HD channels are broadcasting and no problem anymore. But after he left, some HD channels take longer to appear, fastest is 4 seconds, slowest is 10 seconds. And like I said, some even disappear for a long time then came back on, just on and off for many times. The signal strength is 187.

Using LCD tv, no amplifier, it's B.yond HD direct to HD TV. I'll attach a picture for better explanation, because I don't know much about these stuffs...

Ok, I am back. Slept at about 5 am. As I have said in my short reply at about 4 am yesterday, I have now deleted all my previous temporary reply.

* Open spoiler to view image with X marks...


I hope you don't mind I say this... The first thing I noticed from your photo of the Byond connections are the "home-made" RCA connections which I usually see in a few of my friend's connections. I always start to shake my head when I see this. Mmm... you used coaxial cable (75 ohms) and manually join this to RCA cable using electrical sticky tape !! Its hard to join the single thick (centre) copper wire of the co-axial cable to the very many thin twisted copper strands from the RCA cable. Even when soldered, can get loose. I know many DIY people say no problem and can use lah. Of course can use but I don't advise using such tape join because after some time there may be some loose joint or some short-circuit AND may also cause signal interference. Short-circuit and interference CAN cause problems to your Byond box !

I would suggest you use "RCA Coaxial Adapter" which you can buy from electrical/TV shops. Maybe hard to find in small towns but can be found from Jalan Pasar, KL. Its better to directly join the co-axial cable to this RCA Coaxial Adapter. Different adapter types available that use twist lock, screw or solder.

There are many types so I post a sample picture of an RCA Coaxial Adapter below...


You connected another TV using RCA (Yellow, Red, White) to your Byond box ? I assume you disconnected this, tested and problem still exist. If not, try and unplug all the RCA connections and check again. Just to make sure no short-circuit or interference from the RCA connections because of the "ah-hem" hand-made joins. If problem still exist, then definitely not caused by this. BUT... my advise, use RCA Coaxial Adapter lah... cheap cheap price per piece.

I suspect may be one of 3 probable causes to your problem. Remember, I can be wrong in my suspicions.

Probable causes...
(1) (At dish) LNB faulty, bad connection cable connection to LNB or mis-alignment
(2) Byond box faulty, maybe HD decoder chip output to HDMI
(3) What about your HD TV ?

(1) LNB (Low Noise Block downconverter) at dish
Yesterday at about 3:30 am with clear sky, my LNB Signal level was 212 constant unchanged. Today afternoon with cloudy skies, my Signal Level changes slowly from lowest 197 to maximum 202. BUT Signal quality must always stay at 100.

View your Byond signal for a few minutes. Your signal level was 187 last night. Does the signal level go up and down a lot and very fast on a clear sunny day ? Example, from 140 to 190 level very rapidly even on clear skies. When signal drop too low, you will hear "beeping" sound from your TV. Many rapid beepings and yellow bar changes color means the signal is about to reach the lowest reception, SD channels may be okay but HD may be cut-off for short periods or completely. When loooong non-stop beep heard, all channels cut-off which is normal during heavy rain.

You say it usually took a long time for HD channel to appear and also went "black blank screen" after watching continously for some time... this make me suspect that the signal level is vey unstable so I gave instructions in my previous post (http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2114557/+980#) on how to check signal level so that you can check this.

This can be caused by any one of these...
* Loose co-axial cable connection to the LNB.
* Screws that fixed the LNB to the long arm at side of the dish may be loose so LNB may have shifted position slightly because of wind and rain causing mis-alignment again.
* LNB may be faulty.



I can see from your photo that the installer did not change the cables. Why ? You don't want to change because of in-wall cables or difficult to change, or other reasons? If you did NOT know because the installer did not tell you, then the installer is BAD BAD because he/she can secretly sell it later since the cables are already provided by Astro. So if you knew, you will want to change it, eh ?

Did the installer change your old parabola dish with a new slightly bigger grey dish which is more suitable for HD reception?

I don't think a technician came on the second time. I believe Astro usually only send installers who are usually private independent sub-contractors who may be from electrical/TV shops. They have limited training.

From your explanations, I can be sure of one thing... the 2 different installers who came two times to your home after you complained, are in my opinion one of the WORST installers... why RG6 cable not used and did he/she secretly kept it ? Why use 1MEASAT 3A(VH) on first install and then changed back to the correct 18MEASAT 3A(VH) on the second visit ? Not properly trained? Stupid or lazy? Tidak-apaaa attitude ?

I heard that some people have two dish at different locations. Example... Byond grey dish in KL and normal dish in Penang. And they said that they can bring the Byond box + smartcard from KL to Penang and used the Byond box with the old normal LNB+dish. Is it true ? I don't know. But I do know the Byond box uses two signal frequencies (Lowband 9.730 and Highband 10.600) so can the old normal LNB support it ?

(2) Byond box faulty, maybe HD decoder chip output to HDMI
If the installer come the third time and did everything necessary on cables, connections, alignment again, tighten screws, and still same problem... Then better tell installer to replace to a new Byond box. Who knows... maybe your Byond box have faulty HD decoder chip ?

(3) What about your HD TV ?
Was your HD TV bought recently or already more than 1 year old ?

Have you used HDMI to your HD TV before upgrading to Byond ? Before using Byond HD, have you used any HDMI connection to HD TV for blu-ray or HD videos ? Before Byond, do you have blu-ray player connected to HD TV to play HD video. If all answer NO, "maybe" your HD TV got some problem with its HDMI input or internal chip. I am guessing so maybe you can call your TV seller to check.

Not very likely for wrong Byond settings to cause HD channels to "black out" after watching some time. But its better to check to get the correct settings for HD that your TV support. You can use either 720p or 1080i settings but I prefer 1080i which, in my opinion only, has better picture quality. Ooh... seems Neb have answered your questions on Byond settings on later posts below so no need for me to continue on this.

Finally, I repeat my BEST suggestion... I know you will call Astro Customer Support again and open a support case. But make sure for the third and last time that the installer 100% fixed your problem.

Sorry for my terribly long post. Since you will be calling Astro Customer Support again, you don't need to answer this post, I understand.

End

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 18 2012, 06:08 PM

It's ok james, I can see you know what you're talking about I'll wait for your post tomorrow, and hopefully will solve my problem, because it's really annoying that upgrading to B.yond thinking can enjoy HD, but mana tau keep having this problem.

Your dish alignment has problem the installer did not do a good job I think ur dish has to be realigned and check u get all HD channels u subscribed before he leaves no such thing as takes time to appear!My relative got all HD except ESPN HD until the dish was moved and realigned again by the installer.

This post has been edited by smileguy: Mar 18 2012, 06:37 AM

do you have any error message on screen when your HD channel blanked out?

how about other SD channels? can you list out which channels are OK and which channels are experiencing problem

No error message, just blank like that. Other SD channels are fine, no problem. The affected HD channels are 431, 573, 575, 721, 726, 729 and 832. Now the F1 race is broadcasting on SD channel 813 and HD channel 832, so frustrating that it keeps going on and off on HD channel 832, so have to watch it on SD channel

One more thing, the images (people, cars, etc.) in HD channels seem to be vertically longer than SD channels, how to solve that?

it seems like you are not set to HD resolution

go here to set:
on remote control, press home/settings/installation settings/password 000/HD settings/set to 720p/ok/yes continue

for aspect ratio conversion setting:
for HD, TV settings/High Definition/16:9/pillar box/blue button/return
for SD: TV settings/santard definition/4:3/fit to screen/blue button/return

press return button a few more time to go back to channel display

also make sure that your HDTV is displaying HDMI source instead of composite video

since you have HDTV with HDMI port, you can disconnect composite video(yellow coloured plug) from byond to HDTV

This post has been edited by neb: Mar 18 2012, 04:33 PM

hi i wan to ask, what is the use of the usb port in front of our beyond decoder?

The front panel port for attaching using USB cable to a 2.5 inch external hard disk for Byond recording of programs from any channels. Then watch later or watch again at any time you wish.

People who upgrade from Byond to "Byond PVR" no need to use external hard disk. Byond PVR already got internal hard disk.

Byond with external hard disk... can set recording of only 1 channel. If watching, only record the same channel you are watching.
Byond PVR with internal hard disk... can record from 2 channels at the same time.

For Byond compatibility, Astro ONLY recommend to use WD My Passport AV (320 GB) hard disk for recording. Other brands and different types of hard disk may or may not work AND are NOT recommended by Astro.

For my Byond, I did not subscribe to the recording service (have to pay extra) because I don't need it.
Byond External Hard Drive PVR Service : RM 5 per month
Byond PVR, Personal Video Recorder Service : RM 10 per month
Superpack 3 subscribers and some other Superpack already included recording service so no need to pay extra.

I bought a few of the WD My Passport AV 320 GB hard disks (for other uses, not for Byond) so below is a box picture I have taken using my hand phone...


This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 19 2012, 11:32 AM

My previous post with questions... http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2114557/+980#

Hehe... sorry for my many questions. I have to mention again that I may be wrong as I am not a qualified technician so my answers are only my opinions.

(1) That means your problem not from the second TV connected to Byond.

(2) Mmm... your Byond setting "yellow indicator bar will disappear, then come back, quite often" tells me something may be wrong with your Byond box. I suspect may be your Byond box should be checked and may be should be replaced with a new one.

(3) The yellow plug is for video and red plug is for audio (right channel). That means the installer also use home-made "Do-It-Yourself" joint using sticky tape. Mmm... I have said enough in my earlier post so no more comment on this as I respect your choice. Because of in-wall cabling, too bad you cannot change to the recommended RG6 co-axial cable for connection to the LNB at the dish. Your existing RG5 co-axial cables can still be used for Byond.

(4) Good, its the correct dish.

(5) I don't think Astro will send their qualified technician to any subscribers home to solve problems ! Astro only send the "lizards", I mean the poorly qualified Astro installers who (as I said earlier) are independent sub-contractors. I don't know whether Astro knows it or not but these people are damaging Astro reputation because I have heard too many times from my friends and others that many of them did a sloppy job, lazy, ignorant, simply finish the job, careless, et-cetera.

Useless to hope for any Astro technician to visit you because they don't have to. If anything (such as Byond box, smartcard, LNB, etc) found to be spoilt, they only bring it back or send to Astro service centre for replacement.

(6) and (7) Yes, I believe your problem is NOT caused by your HD TV.

Finally, if you have called Astro Cust Supp, then wait for another "installer" to come. Tell the installer that you suspect your Byond box may be spoilt by showing that the Byond signal setting is... like what you answered me... "yellow indicator bar will disappear, then come back, quite often". If the installer still do "this and that" such as re-alignment on the LNB and dish, tighten screws, changed Byond settings, blah, blah, blah... AND if still got problem... tell installer not to waste time and request for replacement of your Byond box to a new one ! Mmm.. after all your explanations, I don't suspect your cables because your problem only for HD channels, no problem for all SD channels. If cable fault, all channels should have the same problem.

Peace

ADDITION
I use ALL my Byond connections and no problems for me ... when connections are used correctly.



This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 19 2012, 12:15 PM

Hi!
I'm wondering how yu ppl can get such HIGH Signal Strength (80+%) & Signal Levels (212?)....

Here my PVR can barely get Signal Strength of 60+% & Signal Level of 154!!
Not matter which Input Settings chosen eg 1 or 18 or any other...Measat 3/3A...most are lower tho!

However Signal Quality is 100%...

Does my Byond sat dish need re-alignment to improve reception?

This post has been edited by zeone: Mar 19 2012, 12:12 PM

-Cable Length
-Cable Connections
-Area

This post has been edited by Uncle 6: Mar 19 2012, 02:14 PM

-Cable length? Can shorten abt 2m mayb?
-Cable connections? At Decoder end, best that can be manually done!
-Area? A/Star, Kedah...how? Main cause?

Living in a condo with ASTRO installed using the centralized satellite channel. Almost everyday at night with gloomy sky then the image quality and live programs such as (AOD) will be interrupted.

Who should I attend to for such problem ?

UPDATE :
Hv managed to shorten cable length by abt only 1m w/o strain on connectors & w/o moving Decoder.
Signal Strength improved by 1 bar (exactly 60%) and Signal Level now 156-158 (154 previously), fluctuating.

Signal Quality remains 100%.

So probably such values are due2 my Area...??

Hi Bro...

Feel yr condo Residents Committee/ condo Management shld b approached to improve the situation.
Best wishes & Good Luck!!

Nothing to worry. I believe there was signal measurement scale between Byond PVR and Byond decoder. Yours one is Byond PVR which the min acceptable level should be 120. While for Byond decoder the scale is higher where the minimum acceptable level should be 180. I got this info from the technical helpdesk guy.

---

Added on March 19, 2012, 10:16 pmI think this problem most likely is caused by the RG6 cable. SD and HD channels are on different frequncy band. SD sits on VL frequency while HD sits on VH frequncy. Some older RG6 cable doesnt support VH frequency so that maybe explain why his SD channels are OK while HD got intermittent signal loss problem. Your signal reading at 180-187 for Byond (not Byond PVR) is also almost reach to a not acceptable level plus maybe there is signal fluctuation going on. My suggestion is try to use a different RG6 cable or get it from installer and connect directly from LNB to the box.

This post has been edited by chikana: Mar 19 2012, 10:16 PM

Yes, I do know that changing to RG6 cable is recommended because of the 2 signal frequencies required to be carried by the cable.

The problem here is that 1GTR1 have given the answer to my 3rd question... "Only the cable from the white colour is in-wall, the cable from yellow and red are given by installer" with a picture of the connections behind his Byond box.

If I am not mistaken, this means that the cable from the LNB is mostly "in-wall".

This makes it difficult to simply replace the cable to RG6. If 1GTR1 don't mind the new replacement cables to look "ugly" which can be seen on the surface of the ceiling and walls, then replacement to RG6 cable is recommended. I do also agree with you to suggest completely replacing the cables to RG6 but this is not my decision to make. There may be various personal reasons so its up to 1GTR1 to decide.

As you already knew, many people used in-wall cabling to hide such "ugly" cables at the ceiling or walls which is why this was done during building construction. Smashing part of the walls cement to put new in-wall cables is not possible because of the costs and ugly patches to cover the cables again.



This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Mar 20 2012, 12:38 AM

Here's what i'm observing on HD test channel (looking at the function) so far:

ch.999 : BM & English audio selectable, got BM, English & Chinese subs.
ch.984: BM audio, English subs
ch.981: Tamil audio, no subs.

P.S: just found out this tip myself.