This is the latest PVR box, also known as "Astro PVR DMT5 v2" and the manufacturer is Samsung, model number is GX-AS731SK.
The biggest difference is, this PVR DMT5 v2 is smaller than DMT5, and it does not have e-SATA port (which is not even used by any purposes to consumer at all).

Lol 😂😂😂😂
So ur dad plan to watch TV shows using Netflix, iflix all those?

Internet streaming? Is there a channel logo on that live football match channel?

Astro be like:

"Since Apple iPhone can remove 3.5mm headphone jack on their iPhone 7 onwards, why not remove RCA outputs on our newer Astro HD boxes?

After all, there's something called HDMI to RCA converters/adapters. "

Eh... I want to know also
PM me...

They have to scare the public once in a while... If not "have to" scare the public, then it's a "must" to scare the public once in a while.
They cannot go quiet about that for a long time, cuz the public may think it is totally okay to install/possess other satellite dishes as time goes by.

Let's go deep about law.

Indeed, MCMC and Astro is very smart in this. Using "unregulated equipment" law to scare the public, indeed is a smart move. Cuz MCMC or SIRIM does not approve/regulate any other consumer-level satellite receiving equipment, except the ones you get from Astro.

In other words, it is legal to use Astro dish, but let say if you adjust Astro dish to aim at other satellites instead of Measat 3/3a/3b (the satellites that Astro uses), it is still somewhat consider as "legal" as there's no law says that they will catch you because your satellite dish is not facing west or look different, as if you're not pointing to Astro's satellite. Cuz after you successfully adjust it, the outlook of the dish will look different than your neighbour's Astro dishes, especially the elevation (up/down) and azimuth (left/right) of the dish.

Or how about if you use big parabolic C band dishes? That one lagi no need to say. Most parabolic dishes (that you might accidentally spot anywhere around Malaysia) including the LNBs are mostly made in China and some might be poorly manufactured ones and might get rusty if not taken good care of. Some dishes don't even have a brand on it!

Okay, now, how to watch those channels from the satellite you've aimed at? Astro set-top-boxes can only watch channels from Astro service. So how?
You use an universal satellite receiver, perform auto/manual scan, then you can watch the channels already. The thing is, MCMC or SIRIM don't (if not "don't", then it's "never") approve/regulated the use of any consumer-level universal satellite receivers, parabolic dishes and C band LNBs to the public. And this is where the "unregulated equipment" law comes in to make it illegal.

If not regulated, then why not MCMC or SIRIM make it regulated? If they regulate it and approve the use of it, it is the same thing as allowing Malaysians to use parabolic dishes, consumer cancels Astro and watch channels from other satellites to save money, Astro and government (those cronies) will lose money, local broadcasting industry will lose money, basically everything about money. So yeah, our government purposely don't want to approve and regulate the use of those equipment so that to make it illegal to install and possess other satellite dishes.

So, because of that "unregulated equipment" law, basically you can't argue much on that. It is true that generally, unregulated equipment may be dangerous and might (not necessary "will") disrupt other nearby telecommunications services. So in other words, you better be tech savvy to know what kind of equipment you use, especially on what frequencies it uses to operate basically, and use unregulated equipment at your own risk.

What could be the common unregulated equipment that we have/use everyday? The best example is power bank. Even if your power bank has a brand, how much you trust that your power bank is safe to use and it is original? If it is a knock-offs, then it is considered as an unregulated equipment. Why did you read news saying that power bank tends to explode, causing injuries to the user? Cuz most of the time, that happens because the user uses knock-offs, non-original/genuine power banks, so this kind of hazard can happen. If the product is regulated (by SIRIM and MCMC for example), this kind of explosion won't occur unless the user use it in an improper way, or isolated cases such as manufacturing issues.

But commonly, unregulated (in Malaysia context) universal satellite receivers that available out there usually don't cause any problems or hazards to users. You need to know, universal satellite receivers also sell in other countries such as US and European countries, and they have no such issues using it also. So don't need to worry much about the hazard part. MCMC is just emphasising and using the unregulated equipment law to declare that using parabolic dishes to watch channels from other satellites are illegal. Astro is already rich, but they just want to richer somemore. No need to be surprised about it.


Note: "Unregulated equipment" law refers to the "Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000 and under Section 239 of the Communications and Multimedia Act."

This post has been edited by joshhd: Oct 29 2017, 01:52 PM

No lah...
Astro delay the feed so that they can slot in ads, especially those paid by advertisers.
Delaying feed is not entirely for the sake of censorship, you know? Cronies like Astro just want to earn more money, yet we customers pay so much for sports pack and we get to watch ads.

Because so happen Measat 3a satellite has empty slot to accommodate HD channels...

Lol. Just saying.

You're right. But the thing I can relate is, Astro can decide which channels they want the viewers to watch; viewers who uses Astro satellite service in buildings who still uses older, legacy centralised dish systems that only support VL frequencies, which is 10700MHz to 11700MHz (all SD and selected HD channels), but VH frequency range will not able to detect any signal, which is 11700MHz to 12700MHz (the rest of HD channels). This is due to the technical limitations of the old, legacy centralised dish system used in high rise buildings such as condominium.
So next time, if you see on Lyngsat that the channel is on frequency 11700MHz onwards, that means those old centralised dish systems will not able to receive the signal.

So let say, if they want to make sure every Astro customers are able to tune to Astro Maya HD channel due to whatever reasons (maybe because to benefit them such as viewership), regardless of those staying in landed property or high rise, so they put the channel in VL frequency (either Measat 3 or 3b) instead of VH frequency (Measat 3a) to allow viewers who uses the building's old centralised dish systems to be able to watch Astro Maya HD.

VL= Vertical Low (Measat 3 and 3b only)
VH = Vertical High (Measat 3a)

And yes, Astro do standby on Measat 3b once Measat 3 has reached its end of life, then the rest of the channels will move from Measat 3 to 3b.

----------

The technical limitations involved in something called 22KHz, where the old systems cannot support, which explains why many high rise buildings can't watch all HD channels that is on VH frequency (Measat 3a satellite). You can Google about it, if you're interested to know the deep, deep technical stuff.

"Vertical" refers to the polarity of the signal being transmitted from satellite to your dish. This one too technical la. All you need to know is, Astro is currently uses Vertical polarisation signals only to provide its services to customers.

Centralised dish systems is a very complicated thing, and not every building management wants the building to have many Astro dishes installed at the balcony, which will affect the building's outlook. So when centralised antenna systems is involved, this will result in high costs and lots of technical complexities.

-----
Currently (as of October 2017), satellite frequencies used by Astro are:
Measat 3 = 10982 MHz till 11182 MHz, and then 11482MHz till 11682MHz
Measat 3a = 12276 MHz till 12476 MHz
Measat 3b = 10732 MHz till 10932 MHz

When you subscribe to HD+PVR service (worth RM26.50/month), you're entitled to get PVR box. In generally, it requires 2 cables to work, and for your case, using 1 cable can work, but conflict will occur when you do recording while tune to other channels, or vice versa.

If you can use stacker destacker thing, contact Astro and let the installer or technical department team to explain more to you about it.

TP = Transponder

If Astro use Horizontal, this will cause signal conflict on centralise dish systems that only supports Vertical. And, almost every single high rise buildings in Malaysia that uses centralise dish systems will have to upgrade those wiring from the centralised dish, as well as almost equipments, sort of "signal splitters" that wires to every units of the condo (for example), and etc, where that make it super duper complicated, and that will be a disaster. Once again, this is all for the sake of centralise dish system. To prevent this, Astro use Vertical only, simple. This is also why you see other pay TVs that uses Measat satellite at 91.5 E, all of them uses either High Vertical or High Horizontal frequencies, where those frequencies Astro don't keen to use because to prevent more channels not able to be received by old centralised dish systems as well as not making things complicated for installers, building management, and the customers themselves.

But for those who use own individual Astro dish, especially in landed property, they have no such signal issues like those Vertical lah, Horizontal lah, Low or High all that. No need to headache all those crap like centralise dish systems. All can receive, no problem (as long the LNB is compatible, which all LNBs that Astro uses are compatible).

And if you think Astro's HD channel quality is bad, think again. Why you see other pay TV has more than 6-8 HD channels in one TP (with the symbol rate of 30000, also known as 36MHz TP)? Because their video bitrate for HD channels is lower, to accommodate more HD channels in one TP. Since Astro has 6 HD for each TP in Measat 3a, and 8 HD for each TP on Measat 3 and 3b, the bitrate is about 5-6Mbps per HD channel. But for other pay TVs that has about 10 HD channels in one transponder, the average bitrate will be about 3Mbps or 3.5Mbps, which is lower than Astro HD channels quality.

Astro is quite generous enough to provide about 5-6Mbps per HD channel cuz not every other countries pay TV around the world can afford to do that. Leasing satellite transponder is not cheap... Just ONE transponder like 10982 MHz Vertical with symbol rate 30000, just that one alone can costs millions of ringgit per year. Currently Astro has 18 transponders for Measat 3, 3a and 3b, you sendiri tahu la, how much they pay for transponder leasing fees per year to Measat. But Astro and Measat are not just a "normal customer" and they're like abang adik one... So, you know la...... That's why other country's pay TV don't own as much transponders as Astro, cuz that will cost them a bomb. But for those other countries pay TV companies that are very rich, they can own almost as much transponders as Astro to provide more channels. Money only mah.

Then what do you think is the reason? Try guess.

P.S.: I'm not sure also.

I agree with this point. Since many Malaysians are internet savvy users, this might be their reason why they made this channel exclusively to Astro Go.

Terbalik already..
C band transponder fees is higher than Ku band's.
CORRECTION: The hardware equipment to operate C band is more expensive but leasing transponder bandwidth capacity is cheaper, meanwhile for Ku band, hardware equipment to operate Ku band is cheaper than C band but leasing transponder bandwidth capacity is more expensive.

Because the reliability, coverage and other technical advantages, plus the scarcity of frequency range of C band, this makes C band more expensive. And yeah, this is also one of the reason why you don't see majority of pay TVs around the world use Ku band instead of C band.

Overall operating costs for Ku band is lower than C band, plus with other technical advantages, that's why Ku band fees is lower.

Because Singapore don't have DTH pay TV... Singtel TV uses IPTV (fibre broadband), while Starhub uses either cable or IPTV (fibre broadband). So they can provide such Video On Demand services to customers without worry much.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 2 2017, 01:06 AM

So fast ZooMoo cease already? LOL.
TV channels for toddlers and young children don't seems effective anymore, eh? Assuming that all watch video content from Internet...
Meanwhile here on Astro, we still having this channel under Kids pack.

As for DMAX... Hmm...
Does many Singaporeans a fan of sports car, large vehicles that looks dope, and those DIY stuff?

Channels that target on niche audiences is a hard to sustain business.
Maybe this is the reason why Starhub ceases it, right after the agreement ends...

Opps... Looks that I've mistaken and confused between the operating costs and transponder costs between C band and Ku band...


Source: http://www.level421.com/index.php?id=1721

The hardware equipment to operate C band is more expensive but leasing transponder bandwidth capacity is cheaper, meanwhile for Ku band, hardware equipment to operate Ku band is cheaper than C band but leasing transponder bandwidth capacity is more expensive.

Sorry for the confusion earlier...

Because Singtel TV is an IPTV operator.

Satellite TV are subject to expensive, limited transponder bandwidth capacity, so DTH pay TV operator have to carefully handpick channels that they want to offer it in HD.

IPTV however, are subject to network bandwidth capacity instead. As long you got a lot of bandwidth, you can offer as many HD channels as you like.
So this somewhat explains why the video bitrate for Hypp TV's HD channels are slightly higher than Astro's.

Talking about our previous discussion about Astro's HD channel quality, well of course, Astro can offer as better HD quality like Hypp TV by increasing video bitrate a little from 5Mbps to around 8Mbps, but that will result in lesser HD channels in each transponder.

So, if you would choose, you want a better HD quality channel than now but lesser HD channels in return, or you want more HD channels, or you want something in between?
Sorry to say la, majority of the consumers are somewhat materialistic where they want more more more channels, and that will attract customers to subscribe it, and Astro can earn more. Only the minority of viewers like us, would bother the slightly lower video bitrate and complain that Astro HD channels doesn't look like "true HD".

Really, try to think, customers request more HD channels vs customers complain for poor HD quality, which complaint or feedback you heard often on anywhere?

I can see that, Astro can choose to be stingy by save more money in utilising lesser satellite transponders while offer even more HD channels, and customers pay more for those HD channels in return. But Astro themselves, they also need to jaga their reputation of the quality of service also, cuz that will result in poorer HD quality especially in fast moving scenes. So it is good to see that Astro balances between the two by maximising the amount of HD channels possible in each transponder while providing good HD quality channels. Not to say excellent quality, but "overall good enough/above average" quality.

So what happen when we customers want more HD channels? Still remember back in 2014 when Astro one shot introduced 8 new HD channels?
http://www.malaysiandigest.com/technology/...d-channels.html
Well, that's involving the long-term costs in new Measat 3b transponders leased by Astro. At the same time of course, Astro want to earn profit also, where got 100% money for the RM5 increment of HD service for transponders one. You know la, Astro punya pattern.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 2 2017, 02:10 AM

If you cannot tahan the Astro's HD quality cuz you see lots of image artifacts, adjust your TV's sharpness setting all the way to 0. Because I did this, I am satisfied with Astro's HD quality. And same goes to some of you guys, I cannot tahan at Astro's HD quality provided if my TV's sharpness setting is set to 8/10 or any setting that my TV tend to sharpen the image from source. I mean by Sharpness setting of 0, it means no added sharpness by your TV. Some TVs suppose to set as 50/100 then only consider as "no added sharpness", if that kind of TV you set as 0/100, you will see "added artificial blurness" instead, so do take note.
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/turn-down-your-...rpness-control/
If you can't get used to it cuz picture doesn't look sharp, try look closer to the screen, you will realise that don't see much image artifacts anymore. By doing so, it also means you are somewhat watching original quality from source (Astro), and your TV don't sharpen the image to "enhance" the quality, but actually it's not. And another tip, if your TV has MPEG Noise Reduction or just Noise Reduction setting, set it to Low or Off. Set as High will make the picture look like water colour painting when you look closely to your TV screen.

I never actually try to hands-on Astro IPTV before, but what I know is, the SD and HD picture quality you see on Astro satellite and Astro IPTV is the same.
So basically, the channel offerings are pretty much the same, it's just content delivery method is different.

I won't say we should syukur to pay more lor... Don't forget that Astro monopolise the DTH market, where those premium branded content, all they kena sapu, left those not so premium ones, or "cheap content" in not nice words for TM Hypp TV. So eventually, Astro can charge mahal mahal to customers. But yes, we do pay more for the premium quality of service such as good picture quality, but some portion of money we pay, also includes the one that they just want to make themselves rich, and other unnecessary things. Hypp TV also got some nice premium channels also la, but only a few handful of them like RTL CBS Entertainment, Comedy Central, Star Chinese Movies, etc.

Astro goes 100% IPTV? I don't think that will happen. But if you say, both satellite and IPTV will co-exist, yes that is happening now. Because customers complain heavy rain cannot watch, customers in high rise buildings cannot enjoy all HD channels and PVR service, that's when Astro IPTV comes in.

Like I said before, satellite technology can provide 100% nationwide coverage, that means even if you're in deep jungle or in the middle of nowhere in Malaysia, you can still enjoy Astro as long your satellite dish can face correctly to the sky (line-of-sight). But IPTV is different. Fibre cables are not available everywhere in Malaysia, as it is very expensive to deploy. If fibre coverage is available everywhere, then you won't see people complain to TM that their area don't have Unifi, or some don't even have Streamyx. Imagine if there's only few people stay in the jungle, you're not gonna expect they will spend almost millions of ringgit to lay fibre cable to the jungle to provide you IPTV service, isn't? You would rather go for satellite, right? Just one satellite dish, kaotim. That is much more cost efficient. So both satellite and internet has its pros and cons, and can never totally replace either one of it.

Don't worry. When the agreement between ZooMoo channel and Astro ends, Astro will decide whether to continue extend the channel agreement, or cease the channel.
The time will come. So don't worry.

Well, the only kids channel in HD is Disney XD (ch637).
From my perspective, it's just that Astro don't prioritise much on providing many kids channels in HD. At least got 1 HD cartoon channel, so that at least customers who watch animation content won't bising "how come NO cartoon channel in HD at all..."