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 

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.