Home theatre systems nowadays (I mean the newer ones) do have HDMI input, so in this case, user can connect HDMI cable to home theatre's HDMI Input to get Dolby surround sound directly, and then HDMI Output from home theatre system to your TV.

Older ones that do not have HDMI input (meaning either Digital Optical or Coaxial input are available), you can use HDMI to Optical audio converter like these:
https://www.lazada.com.my/hdmi-arc-adapter-....312acc6aP6DJmq
https://www.lazada.com.my/hdmi-to-hdmi-opti....312acc6aP6DJmq

Or, Astro will advise you to upgrade to Astro PVR box, so you'll get both Digital Optical and Coaxial audio output.

From what I see, the reason is got to be only minority customers out there using Digital Optical/Coaxial output to enjoy surround sound, probably their home theatre system do have HDMI input, or they don't even have home theatre system at home, or they don't even know Digital Optical/Coaxial port even exists or what is it for. Not everyone is interested to enjoy surround sound. Majority of customers prefer HD than surround sound.

And since TVs nowadays do have HDMI port, they remove RCA port from Astro box. I'm not sure if they include HDMI to RCA from the box, but I think they do include that.

So they rather save cost by removing ports which is not so often used, leaving only ports that is generally used by majority of customers.

Did you connect the satellite port to Tuner 1 on your PVR box? If yes, try the steps that you've quoted.

Connect the satellite cable from SAT port to Tuner 1 only, and try if you are able to watch Astro channels (try from SD channels first).

If you don't have splitter, then leave Tuner 2 unconnected.

The Satellite Settings (home>Settings>Installation Settings (default PIN is 0000)>Satellite Settings) on your Astro box, make sure the Input Type is "LNB", and the LNB Type is "Universal". Low and High band LO Frequency remain unchanged. Press OK to go next page. Entry point choose the first one "01 M3 VL - 10982", then press OK again. Once signal is detected (you'll see green signal bar), press OK again.

If you see "Service currently not available", you open your TV Guide and try record any other channels (that you've subscribed, try SD one first). Once the channel is recording, tune to the channel, then you should able to watch as per normal already.

For example now you're on AXN (ch701) and you see "Service currently not available", try record DIVA (ch702), once start recording, tune to DIVA ch702, and you should be able to watch Astro already. And yes, you can stop recording DIVA and delete it. So this is what you got to do whenever you experience such issue.

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You can consider get a splitter (costs around RM20), which it splits from 1 cable (from your SAT wall port) into 2 output cables for your PVR box. Once you connect 2 cables to PVR box, change the Input Type from "LNB" to "DCSS", then keep pressing OK to finish the setup.


*Note: The satellite cable is the coaxial cable RG6, this cable type is also commonly used for satellite TVs (Astro) and CCTV cameras. As long the coaxial cable is RG6 type, it will work.

Welcome.

I mean tune to channel, means use your Astro remote control and press the channel number to watch the channel.

First, try reboot your Astro box. If nothing happens, try connect other HDMI ports on your TV.

From 1 August 2016, HD and PVR service fee will be combined into a single RM26.50/month including GST. No more separate RM20 HD service fee (after that increased to RM26.50/month incl. GST) and RM10 PVR service fees like what you used to know since 2010.
So which means, you pay RM26.50/month and then you get both HD and PVR service. So once you have HD service, you'll get to enjoy HD channels corresponding to your package subscription, including Mini packages. Example if you subscribe to Learning pack, you get to watch HD channels from Learning pack as well.

This seems to be the latest offer by Astro, to encourage more customers to use PVR box.
Their main intention is they want us to use their On Demand feature, where you connect your PVR to home internet (wifi or LAN cable), and then you can download and watch shows from there.
They just want to make sure to keep their brand to be relevant to us, with that On Demand feature.

You can subscribe to HD-PVR service by adding RM26.50/month on top of your subscription fees. Your mini packages has nothing gonna do with HD-PVR service, cuz both are two different things.
Once you subscribe to HD-PVR service, you are eligible to upgrade a new Astro PVR box to enjoy PVR functions and On Demand service (video-on-demand feature). And do ask Astro if there's any installation fee and contract extension, cuz usually, they'll issue you 24 months contract once you successfully upgraded to PVR box.

Even if you subscribed to HD-PVR service but you don't want to upgrade to PVR box due to whatever reasons (which means you want to continue using your existing HD box), you will still have to pay RM26.50/month for HD-PVR service as usual, even if you're not using PVR box and its features.

HD box that you're using now (I assume), does not have any built-in hard disk, so you can't record any programmes.

Can. But you still got to pay RM26.50/month even you just want HD but without PVR. PVR recording fee are no longer being charged RM10.60/month separately, as it has been "merged" into HD-PVR service which includes both HD and PVR service at one price.

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Before August 2016

HD service = RM26.50/month
PVR service = RM10.60/month

NOW: After August 2016

HD-PVR service = RM26.50/month

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There's no more just "HD service" like what you used to know anymore. Since August 2016, Astro has combined both HD and PVR service fees into one single price of RM26.50/month, which is now known as "HD-PVR service". So like I said before, you can subscribe to HD-PVR service without getting PVR box (meaning you just only want HD, but don't want PVR).

You will still need to pay additional RM26.50/month for HD-PVR service even if you just want HD only, and you don't upgrade PVR box.
You will still need to pay additional RM26.50/month for HD-PVR service if you upgrade PVR box, and you can enjoy HD at the same time with PVR functions from your PVR box.

So on your Astro bill, it will stated there "HD-PVR service" of RM26.50/month, even if you use/don't use PVR box.

--

Therefore, regardless you subscribe to Mini package or not, you can still subscribe to HD-PVR service, because it is a 2 different things. Hope my explanation helps.

No. Astro only offers 500GB hard disk space for any PVR boxes, which equals to 100 hours of HD content, or 290 hours of SD content.

I've perform a blind scan, and I realised that Astro has rearrange/shuffle most of the SD channels into different transponders (TP). Some SD channels have moved from Measat 3 to 3b, some HD channels moved from 3a to 3b, some SD channels in Measat 3 just swapped to another TP in Measat 3. But rest assured, we as the viewers, are not affected about it at all.

From what I see, Astro is slowly getting ready to migrate its channels to Measat 3b.

However, the good news is, Astro Mustika HD and Astro SuperSport 3 HD has moved from Measat 3a to 3b. For those who connected to centralised dish on their high rise building (where HD are not fully supported), are now able to watch Mustika HD and ASSP 3 HD, where previously it is not possible.

If you're using own satellite dish or your centralised dish system are able to fully support HD, then basically you're not affected at all.

It is on Measat 3b.

Here you go.


Source: The Star ePaper

Normal la... Many other companies also like that...
Attract new customers with all sort of never hear before promotions and offers, but existing customers still continue paying as usual, as if there's no loyalty given to existing customers.

What are the channels? Can provide the link?

Oh.. Is it okay to share out what are the 8 channels from Fox Networks Group to us first? 😁

If the Strength reading is less than 60% on Astro box, very likely you'll start to see pixelation (the one that has many square boxes or even blackout due to poor or no signal).

Try perform Transponder Scan on your Astro box, to see if your satellite dish requires realignment. Press home >Settings>STB Diagnostics

Press right arrow Button to navigate to "Tuner" tab, then press Green button to start the Transponder Scan. Wait till it goes 100%, it shall takes about 2 mins. Do share us photos of your transponder scan results here.

If you see some frequencies (e.g. 10732MHz) all those, has a low Strength % reading (such as lower than 70%), then it is very likely your dish requires realignment, or there's something wrong with the cable.

The 10 new channels from Fox Networks Group are all included only in Jumbo Pack (RM60/month):
Fox Movies, Fox Action Movies, Fox Family Movies, FOX, FX, Fox Life, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Baby TV and Sky News.

According to that SMS message screenshot by smileguy, it seems that Unifi TV will be providing 2 months free preview... So good lah... Astro won't do that, even the launch of tvN Movies didn't give any free previews also.

Also, watch the promo video about this 10 new channels by Unifi TV here: https://www.facebook.com/unifiTV/videos/1773350309353695/

This post has been edited by joshhd: Feb 1 2018, 07:14 PM

These 10 channels are all from Fox Networks Group. That's why they launch all 10 at once without breaking much sweat.