I just read about the new astro byond pvr GUI which will be 'flash' to all of byond/byond pvr user regardless whatever kind of decoder generation that they used.

I'm currently using the first generation of astro byond pvr, which is made by Pace (Installed it since July 2010).

With the current GUI, sometime I experienced some kind of not so serious lag and slow responds but I can still bear with it. New interface which looked like pretty 'heavy' and more graphical intensive, I afraid that my decoder will be more slow to responds and yet, it may lag the hell out. Personally I feel kinda afraid to change to the new interface

According to astro FAQ, they stated that once your decoder has been flashed with the new firmware, you simply cannot turn back to the current (old) version. For Samsung pvr user, they may not encounter this kind of problem err maybe because their internal memory and processor far more superior than the old one. I have tested out the new samsung pvr decoder at my aunt house last month, and guess what the decoder responds to the user request at the same time without any lag at all!

At first I just want to try to change my decoder to the new Samsung one, but Astro said that I need to terminate my current account, and apply for another one. Pay RM200 for the installation and CONTRACT WILL BE EXTEND TO ANOTHER 2 YEARS! SOme more, I need to maintain my monthly subscription for at least RM75/month (I only paid RM52 for my current subscription which is basic family+recording fees)! Sorry.. I did not bother to extend my contract to another 2 years and pay RM200 just for the new decoder. I got myself this byond pvr FOC because they persuade (read as force) me to upgrade to byond pvr since they want to stop all of the services for the astro max decoder user...

This post has been edited by AjkR06: Feb 21 2014, 09:34 PM

Ohh.. nope. It's the same decoder from 2007 until astro 'upgraded' it to byond pvr in 2010. I don't think there are any updated astro max set available since their initial launch in 2006 until they discontinued it at the end of 2008. Byond PVR is the 'rebirth' version of Astro Max

This post has been edited by AjkR06: Feb 23 2014, 06:09 PM

According to reliable source (guy from another forum who claimed himself as an authorized astro installer), the first batch of subscriber who will receive the new GUI tonight will be for those who are receiving byond service via second batch of PVR receiver with build in wifi (Made by Samsung).

This post has been edited by AjkR06: Feb 23 2014, 10:17 PM

If I'm not mistaken as what I was told by the customer service people, it only applies for those who are still bound with the contract. Let's say, you're still bound with one year of contract when your decoder suddenly got a problem, then it will be extend to another 2 years starting from the date of activation of replacement decoder. Subscriber who already end their contract with astro will not be imposed another 2 years contract when they change the decoder due to faulty reason. BTW, you can see the sneak peak of new GUI here. Some 'lucky' user already received it since last year...

PVR - Personal Video Recorder (You can record the tv program, rewind the missed action on live tv program, watch one channel while recording other channel, pause live tv action etc etc) WIKIPEDIA

Byond pvr is the marketing term that astro adopted for their PVR service, while Samsung PVR and the older one, Pace PVR is the company who make the hardware unit to Astro.

Just woke up from sleep and as usual i turn on my astro as well. Then auto update suddenly began. So now i'm riding on the new interface. What can i say about the new interface is it really above my initial impression. This new interface seems to responds out as smooth as silk and there's are no lags noticed at all unlike old interface.

Changing the channel also became more smoother than before. It responds to the remote request in real time compared to the previous interface. Unfortunately, since i didn't subscribe for hd service, it means that my interface will not be as clear as those with hd services activated. Perhaps, i should consider to upgrade my subscription from basic family to family hd as well ...

Btw, im using the first gen pvr, made by pace. Staying somewhere in the northern region of perak.

I didn't encounter that kind of problem at all even though I'm also using first gen Pace PVR. Have you contact astro regarding that matter?

Fyi, there are still lots of subscriber who are using the old set top box (philips, nokia, thomson). Old set top box clearly didnt support 16:9 channels natively. That's maybe one of the reason that astro need to letterbox some of the native 16:9 channels on their side.

1. I don't think there are any option available to set your own reserved storage for recording via astro byond pvr. You can only determine your own channel buffer time (30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes). Regarding the reserved storage, only VOD service got it where Astro has automatically reserved some space on your internal HDD regardless you're using VOD or not. I'm not too sure how many GBs of your HDD space are reserved for VOD but I remember back then during the initial launch of byond pvr, Astro clearly said they will take out some of your recording space for VOD services.

2. For Pace PVR, you'll need to use the specific type of wifi dongle tailored made by and to get it you need to contact Astro by calling their customer service and they will courier it to your house or self collect it at any Astro customer service centre all around Malaysia. It's not free, they will charge RM25 on your bill statement for that wifi dongle (one-time). Build-in wifi only available for those who owned Samsung made PVR set top box.

This post has been edited by AjkR06: Mar 6 2014, 10:36 AM

500GB

Bro... I wonder how you can stand watching TV with that kind of damaged screen...
Do you have any old CRT TV lying around? If I was you, I'll straightly switch to my OLD CRT TV that lying inside my house guest room... Lebih baik tak dapat tengok HD daripada tenung screen macam tu...

This post has been edited by AjkR06: Mar 28 2014, 03:02 PM

You've made the right decision. It's simply not worth it. I think the old Pace decoder are far more better than the new Samsung one. No LED display at all in front of the decoder, it only got red and green LED. Some more, Astro has disabled the external hdd PVR function as well with the new decoder. You'll only got an option to change to the PVR decoder if you wish to use the PVR service. Change to the new PVR decoder, extra 10 bucks per month and 2 years commitment...

Yes... I also noticed that with the new firmware that HDMI port are now available for all byond/byond pvr user....
Now I can use HDMI connection which provide better picture quality compared to the component connection that I used before albeit I didn't subscribe for HD service...

Have your decoder been upgraded to the new EPG system?
If that so, yes, it's possible. Like my case, I also use Byond PVR, and didn't subscribe for HD service at all but after the new EPG system update, now my HDMI port are activated to watch SD channels.

I'm using the first generation PVR decoder, manufactured by PACE. For new generation pvr decoder, made by Samsung... hmmm not sure whether the same case will apply or not... Perhaps you can try yourself and provide the feedback here...

This post has been edited by AjkR06: Apr 10 2014, 08:08 AM

1st gen PVR



2nd gen PVR



Since it's already 2014 now, I think your decoder should be the 2nd generation made by Samsung with build in wifi receiver...

To receive the new epg update, just leave your decoder on standby mode when you're not watching tv. Upgrade process will be done phase by phase from end of February until end of this month. If you still not receive the update by 30 April, then you should immediately make a complaint to Astro.

This post has been edited by AjkR06: Apr 10 2014, 09:49 AM

Some of the user here claimed that apart from build in wifi, the 2nd gen pvr decoder has faster processor and more RAM as well as more responsive than the 1st generation, albeit astro actually didn't reveal at all both of decoder hardware specification to the public (except for 500GB internal HDD). Yes, I admit the first generation sometime are slow to respond to the user request but that kind of problem already solved now by the new epg update.

I wonder why astro did not provide the 2nd generation pvr for the IPTV user? Perhaps it is due to the internal wifi receiver that may cause a conflict with the IPTV network that resides on their specific VLAN tagging.

This post has been edited by AjkR06: Apr 10 2014, 10:26 PM

Only if your decoder already updated to the new firmware....
If youre still using the old firmware and you didnt take hd service, your hdmi port will be turn off by astro...

yes... it's okay...
What connection that you're using right now?

Unfortunately, there's no turn back once your set top box has been updated to the latest firmware...

Preparation for the world cup.. maybe??

Source: english.astroawani.com