Yes. Satellite TV can be interesting. If you like to feel the challenge to use parabolic dish to receive foreign channels from other satellites, then this is something you can "play" and learn to try it out. Because compared to Astro and IPTV, it is just.... TV channels from the provider.

Don't get me wrong. I am not encouraging people to cancel Astro and watch foreign TV channels from other satellites. Also another thing to remind that, it is somehow not legal under Malaysian law, especially West Malaysia unless you got the permission from government such as TV station company like RTM, Media Prima and Astro. If you stay at rural areas, people usually don't bother because not all of them can afford to subscribe Astro also, so there are minorities of people uses parabolic dish to receive foreign channels such as channels from China. For urban city areas, you can do it also, but you need to pandai pandai la, hide the parabolic dish from obvious view and make sure your neighbours won't get jealous that you can watch TV channels for free, and end up file a complaint to MCMC (Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission) or the police.

Yes. Definitely not from Astro.

He is referring to Videocon d2h, one of India's pay TV.

That depends on your neighbours in your neighbourhood, because not every neighbours are so busy body like this.
Because, you using a parabolic dish is none of their business, unless your neighbours are jealous.

If can, hide it from obvious view such as at the back of the house, balcony, rooftop or something. As long is not easily spotted at the main road of your residential area, then it should be fine.

Yeah.

So, better stick with Astro, ya? Or if Astro would use C band DTH using 90cm offset dish with CSR, the dish will look like this:



This above picture is what Transvision uses C band for DTH on 90cm offset dish with CSR (the blue circular ring thing on the LNB).

FYI, parabolic dish is used to receive C band signals because the satellite power output for C band is not as strong as Ku band signals. One of the main reason is C band coverage can cover as big as 1/3 Earth surface! So you need bigger parabolic dishes to get more signals for C band. But as newer satellites features better and more advanced technology, using smaller size dish can be made possible, just like what Transvision C band DTH does on Telkom 1, one of Indonesian satellite.

Generally, if the C band coverage beam is small, the output power can be stronger. Telkom 1 satellite has C band beam that covers only South East Asia, that could explains why C band signals can be receive by using 90cm dish with CSR. Meanwhile, upcoming Measat 2a's C band coverage beam is South East Asia where they choose not to cover large area due to orbit position that is near to the pacific ocean, 148 E.



Source: Measat (http://www.measat.com/satellite_148e_measat2a.html)

This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 30 2016, 12:49 PM

Indonesia and Thailand no problem because parabolic dishes are legal in their country and the people there has the freedom to install satellite dish and watch whatever channels they like. And many of their people depends on parabolic satellite dish as their primary method to watch TV, especially in areas where terrestrial TV service is not available.

Malaysia different because of money and politics involved, parabolic dishes are not legal, so Malaysians got to subscribe to Astro instead, or depend on Internet to watch TV content.

Petrol station one is different. And it is not for TV ya...

Most of petrol stations uses C band for data related services (or satellite broadband), such as credit card payments and so on. They use satellite broadband so that they don't have to depend on Internet connection like ADSL or Fibre, and plus they don't need high speed internet for that. As long it is fast enough to transfer data, then it's good enough already, and satellite broadband can do the job. If they use the usual Internet like TM streamyx or Unifi, and if ISP network is down, it will be a trouble. Satellite broadband are less likely to have service disruption unlike what you experience on Streamyx or Unifi. And yes, even heavy rains, it still can be used because it's C band....

I think the dish size used at petrol station is 120cm. If use 90cm, signal will be weak or no signal because Measat 3 and 3a output power is just "strong enough".

Let's hope that upcoming Measat 2a satellite can be even stronger than Measat 3 and 3a transmission output power for C band.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 30 2016, 02:08 PM

Measat expects that it will launch in Q4 2018, but it is subject to change. It all depends on Measat.

PVR decoder has a built-in 500GB hard disk, allowing you to record up to 100 hours of HD programmes or 290 hours of SD programmes.

It depends. Some content (including movies, variety programmes, etc.) are free, some need to pay. If the content need to pay, you will see "$" sign. Usually you got to purchase the movies individually. Sometimes Astro will provide "combo deals" where you can have 2-3 movies at one price, especially on Astro Best.

Whatever content you select to watch/buy will be downloaded to your hard disk.

Nope. You got to subscribe the channel for RM6.35/month and also HD service (RM26.50/month).

Thanks for the pictures. Really appreciate it.

Can you provide some screenshots for Go Shop channel 110 as well? Thanks

Mmmm... It features Singapore "lion city" during ads eh...

On Astro, it shows certain parts of Kuala Lumpur metropolitan city during Go Shop ad.

Thanks for the pictures, really appreciate it.

This is not surprising and not something new.

Indeed Astro are already under transitioning to B.yond platform since years ago as B.yond STBs support newer and modern features, unlike the legacy STB. Astro already discontinued support and stop production of the legacy STBs, so if customer's legacy STB is having problems or faulty, the STB will be replaced with B.yond STB straight away, not repair or whatsoever. Sooner or later, Astro will phase out and discontinue use the legacy STBs and all customers have to use B.yond box to continue watching Astro.

Of course, Astro loves to "kill 2 birds with 1 stone". Astro will take this opportunity to encourage customers to take HD service, since the customers is already upgrading from legacy STBs. So Astro can gain additional profit from HD service fee for RM26.50/month or Basic HD (also known as Family HD) for RM18.02/month. Plus, now HD service (RM26.50/month) are now bundled with PVR recording service (known as HD-PVR service). And don't forget, 12 months contract for B.yond HD STB, 24 months contract for B.yond PVR STB.

If I'm not mistaken, installation fee is lower (or even free) if customer choose to take HD compared to the ones that just upgrade decoder without taking HD.

2 years contract is for customers using PVR STB, or using Astro IPTV service.

If you use B.yond HD STB, it is 1 year contract.

I got the info about this.



Source: https://www.digitalnewsasia.com/media/astro...dicators?page=1

Do note that the article above is published on 2014. If you would say 2016, I would assume that more than 90% subscribers are already using B.yond STB.

Not enough satellite bandwidth capacity? Measat 3b has as much as 48 Ku band transponders. It is a bogus if you say Astro do not have enough satellite capacity.

It is obvious to say that Astro is "use less while customer pay more". They can choose to offer a lot of HD channels, but they take their sweet time, slowly release HD channels. Why? Monopoly. There's no reason for them to quickly pushing more HD channels because there's no other pay TV competitors that could provide "good and well known channels among pay channels industry" as Astro.

I would say, Measat and Astro is a crony.

Previously when Measat 3b haven't launch on Sept 2014, indeed the satellite bandwidth capacity is full on Measat 3 and Measat 3a. But now Measat 3b is already operational and Astro is using it, but Astro did not quickly roll out more HD channels as you expected. They take their sweet time to release HD channels, and even introduces some stupid a la carte channels instead of included in existing packages like Boo HD for RM6.35/month so that they can earn profit.

Currently only Astro and Transvision, one of Indonesian pay TV is utilising Measat 3b. So far no any pay TV or TV stations interested to rent on Measat 3b Ku band satellite transponders, so the rest of transponders is inactive for now.

Measat 3b launch isn't necessary means it is for Astro entirely, you know?

Measat launch the satellite is to do satellite service business. Whichever TV station or pay TV wants to distribute their channel/services via satellite, Measat 3b will be an option for it. Of course, there are many other competitors in the market, such as Asiasat, ABS, Chinasat, Thaicom, etc. Different satellite company with different satellites among others brings choice to the TV station. (Damn this is going off topic, again)

Whether Astro want to use the transponders to provide the channels there, is all up to them. Like I told you, they can "pay/use less" for themselves but we customers are the one that paying money to them, so they can gain profit. See, monopoly business is very unhealthy to the market. If the company plays monopoly, for sure the customers will suffer with "pay more but get less" issue.

Measat 3c is meant to replace the existing Measat 3 satellite that will be retiring on 2020.

Yes. PVR decoder will display the channel to you only if you connect 2 cables on both Tuners, using the normal Universal LNB.

There's a solution by using 1 cable, and that is using SatCR LNB. Signal strength and quality remains the same, picture quality is unaffected, so don't worry about it. You got to tell Astro if you want this LNB, and it cost RM53 (incl. GST) for that.