By the way, now I also realise that, if you want your Astro to be relocated from your old to new home, you got to fork out RM65 as well..... Previously, relocation are free of charge...

Well, money is more important than anything else.
It mentioned "Astro Byond relocation", does it means if you're still using the legacy Astro boxes (old ones) you will get free relocation fees whenever you happen to move home? Perhaps.
But actually leh, you can relocate it yourself, by bringing your Astro box and satellite dish to your new home (unless your new home already got the dish installed beforehand), and then install and set-it-up yourself. It's quite easy if you know how. If you know how to DIY, you can save RM65.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Feb 1 2018, 08:04 PM

Because Astro strongly wants its users to use their On Demand feature, that's why.
The OD trailer is simply like a test for them to somewhat confirm that your PVR box are able to get content from their On Demand library through your home internet, nothing special.

How did you ask them?

Generally, it is true that the overall picture/audio of a HD channel really depends on the channel provider, which is why you see the original source channel (commonly from satellite), the video bitrate are higher.

But still, it is still up to the pay TV provider (Astro) to decide what is the average video bitrate to use for its HD channels.

Dolby 5.1 on Astro is only available on selected HD channels only. SD channels are only Stereo/Mono.
The surround sound are great, especially from movies channels like HBO and Fox Movies. Remember to change Digital Audio Settings from your Astro box from Stereo to Dolby Digital 5.1, but do note that this will result your RCA output from Astro box or TV (that do not support Dolby audio passthrough) to have no sound when the channel is Dolby 5.1 (e.g. HD channels). If this happens, you got to switch back to Stereo, and you shall switch to Dolby 5.1 only whenever you want to enjoy surround sound.

------

5.1 audio for TV3 is not yet available on Astro, now it is only available on digital TV platform.
TV3 (HD) now uses HE-AAC codec for 5.1 audio, no longer Dolby audio codec. If the audio is 5.1 but it's not AC3 or E-AC3 or DTS, using Optical audio (TOSLINK) will not output as 5.1 surround audio, even if your setting has been set as "Bitstream". The best option is use HDMI (ARC) method to output 5.1 audio instead of using optical cable. For nowadays, optical cable is used only if your home theatre system (especially older ones) do not have HDMI input, to enjoy surround sound. You can Google more about this, if you're interested.

Hypp TV is now known as "unifi TV"... It seems that TM wants to use the "unifi" branding across their services, including broadband, mobile (Unifi Mobile) and TV (Unifi TV)...

But then, do many Singaporean watch Indonesian programmes anyway? It seems that they're targeting Indonesian viewers (e.g. workers) in Singapore.

Wah no la... It's just one of the examples only.... I believe Singapore sure also got permanent residents from Indonesia wan mah... 😏

Btw... Do you have any idea why those Asia feed for those English language pay TV channels (e.g. Fox, A&E Networks, HBO, Viacom, Time Warner...) do not provide English subtitles? Instead, only non-English subtitles are available. I believe there is viewers that prefer to watch shows in English subtitles even the programme is already in English.

Also, there are some pay TVs in other Asian countries where the subtitle language of their native mother tongue language is not available for those English pay channels. For example, HBO HD channel in Myanmar's DTH pay TV does not have Burmese subtitles at all (they use Asia feed, same as what you see on Singtel/Starhub TV but without Chinese subtitles of course). Yes, English movie with no subtitles at all.
So I do wonder how would the majority of the people there would be able understand the dialogues of the movie? Only the ones that is well educated in English will be able to understand the dialogues... In other example, some movies that airs on Fox Movies/Fox Action Movies has Burmese subtitles, some movie no subtitles at all.

Any idea about that? Or you got any friend that knows the reason of not having English subtitles, even the channel is in English?

Wow....
Thanks for these screenshots...

Which sports channels you want?
You might want to consider Njoi Prepaid channels...

http://www.astro.com.my/njoi/prabayar

It's okay, no worries. Thanks for your reply.

If the programme is in English, the scripts shall be also in English, isn't? So why can't they provide English subtitles too? Or, once they got the timecode of the subtitles after being translated into their native country language, they can just change the translated subtitle language's text into English by following the script, isn't?

Certain countries that has no native subtitle language, so let say some of the pay channels that Sri Lanka pay TV offers (AXN, Sony Channel, Warner TV, HBO,...) doesn't even have English subtitles, so what if majority of the viewers/subscribers can't understand English well/at all? They may struggle to understand what is the programme about, or not even want to watch it anymore, isn't? How oh liddat? Viewership will be greatly affected, isn't?

And so this is why most of the pay channel's Chinese subtitle are in Traditional Chinese instead of Simplified Chinese (e.g. National Geographic, Fox Movies, Fox Life, AXN, etc.)? Does it means, to have both Simplified and Traditional Chinese subtitles, subtitler company have to pay double? I thought it can be easily translated by just a click of a button? Sounds like doesn't make sense.... And also, the Chinese subtitle on "HBO Malaysia" on Astro is Traditional Chinese (I assume it is the same as Asia feed). So which country/pay TV that HBO wants to provide Simplified Chinese then?

As for Chinese subtitles for pay channels, is it true that the main reason why only Traditional Chinese subtitles are offered in almost all English pay channels is because Taiwan/Hong Kong sub-contracted those subtitler companies to produce the subtitles, so Malaysia and Singapore pay TV are just pinjam over their produced subtitles, and that ultimately save costs because it tends to divides the costs among countries that wants Chinese subtitles to be available on their pay TV platform? As far as I know, Blue Ant Ent, Blue Ant Extreme, Warner TV channels is in Simplified Chinese, does it means Taiwan and Hong Kong doesn't have these channels on their pay TV operators, which explains why it is only in Simplified Chinese because Malaysia (unifi TV) and Singapore pay TV do provide this channel?

Is that true that the channel provider must know what are the subtitle languages that a pay TV operator wants to provide to viewers? For example la, Singapore's Starhub TV also want add Malay subtitle option to all Fox Network Group channels, but the Malay subtitles already available out there and it is produced for Malaysia, so does it means Starhub got to pay for Malay subtitles as well, because Starhub is using the subtitle? OR, does it means that once a pay TV operator had an agreement with content provider to provide TV channel/content for customers/viewers, instantly they'll have access to ALL subtitles available from the channel provider, for example Malay, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Burmese, Korean, and so actually the pay TV operator can actually choose to provide ALL subtitle languages available to their viewers, even if the majority of the viewers wouldn't even understand the language (for example, Starhub to provide Thai subtitles to all Fox Network Group channels).

For India, do you mean that the sub-contracted companies staff would transcript those English programmes to have English subtitles by themselves? Wah, I can see their effort there....

Thanks.

It's okay... No hurry.

1) The UHD service is not even available yet, so nobody got idea about the pricing and what are the UHD channels will they offer.
2) Very likely it requires Internet connection for interactive voice control feature like Alexa to work. Astro keep on encouraging users to upgrade to PVR box and connect to their home Internet (WiFi), so that users can not only access to On Demand library now, but also able to access to any potential smart services (e.g. voice control) in the future.
3) Yes. For sure the user have to upgrade their Astro boxes that supports UHD resolution. Current Astro boxes supports maximum Full HD resolution (correct me if I'm wrong). Contract are very likely and expected that it will be renewed, and I don't think it will be more than 24 months, considering that it is very likely need to pay some additional installation fees, or monthly service fees for this...

Yes. As long Astro assign installer or technician to your premise, RM60 will be the service charge, regardless of big or small issue.

Oh there is such thing called "Express" service, eh?
But at the end of the day, the thing they care about is your money anyway.

It appears that you are unable to receive channels from the satellite transponder frequency of 12396MHz. The HD channels you mentioned are all from the same 12396MHz, which includes 709, 571, 722, 725, 637 and 830.

If Astro assign a technician to visit your premise to fix the technical problem after you tell them about this, the service fee will be RM65. Of course, you can adjust the satellite dish by yourself, provided if you are know how and confident enough.

To double confirm whether is it your satellite dish problem, you can check signal % reading by doing these steps (If you explain to Astro about the issue you encounter, they will advise you the same thing as below):
On your Astro remote control, press "home", and then "Settings" > "STB Diagnostics"
Press right arrow button to select "Tuner" tab, and then press the green button on your Astro remote to start Transponder Scan. Select "Yes, continue" to start the scan. Once it starts, it will show this:

You should get all 29 frequencies that stated as "Locked", and with the "Strength" reading of at least 70% and above, or recommended 80% and above (just like the screenshot above), except:

17. 10812MHz
19. 19111MHz
21. 19113MHz
28. 19120MHz

where these 4 transponders/frequencies at this numbering sequence aren't supposed to have signal (as of 15 April 2018), so it is normal that it is shown Unlocked and the Strength reading is 0%.
Other than these 4, you should able to get ALL frequencies. If any one of the frequency reading you get less than 70% or shown as "Unlocked", then satellite dish realignment is required, or check your cable condition. In your case, if 12396MHz is shown as Unlocked, and Strength reading is 0%, then..... you know the problem.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Apr 15 2018, 09:41 PM

You know how to align the dish? Do note that I will not hold responsible if any undesirable cases occur (e.g. you adjust till the point you lose signal, or signal becomes worse than it is, etc.)
But actually, Astro's satellite signal is very strong and it is considered very easy to adjust, so it shouldn't be a big issue.

But then, do check the condition of the cable and the connector port. If it seems okay, then proceed to align the dish.

1) I recommend you tune any of these channels before begin aligning your dish, which are 411, 391, 702, 701, 327, 413. It doesn't matter whether you subscribed to it or not.
2) Once you tuned to any of those channels, go home>Settings>STB Diagnostics, and then go "Tuner" tab.

3) Ask someone to monitor the Strength % reading on Tuner 1 for you while aligning the dish. (unless you can see the Strength reading on your TV screen while adjusting your dish by your ownself)

Before you begin, perhaps you can start it easy by turning the LNB skew. If turning the LNB skew doesn't increases the Strength % reading, then only you align the dish. Just loosen the nut a little bit, enough for the dish can be moved will do. Don't need to loosen it until entire nut comes out (unless you want to dismantle your dish, lol). And then, align the dish by moving it left/right/top/bottom position slowly, move bit by bit. Satellite signal are sensitive, as either you get signal easily, or lose signal easily. So don't need to move too much at once, but in case you really lose the signal entirely (Strength 0%) while aligning, you can adjust it back one, don't worry.

Do try your best to make Strength reading goes as high as possible while aligning. Let say you adjust until 80%, do continue align, and then it shows 85%, continue align again, suddenly it drops to 70%, so you align back to the position you get 85% earlier. (Just like doing manual focus on your DSLR camera). Once you get highest reading possible, make sure the Strength reading maintains and does not drop while you are screwing all the nuts tightly. Done, and congrats, you are now an Astro installer/technician. Haha

Remember, safety first (if your dish is installed at your home's rooftop).

Congrats... So what's the Strength reading you got now?
And, do you find it easy to adjust?

This post has been edited by joshhd: Apr 17 2018, 02:41 PM

All transponder frequencies you see on Transponder Scan (except the 4 frequencies I mentioned on previous post) should have at least 70% and above, or if possible, 80% and above. If any of the frequencies you see on Transponder Scan is lower than 70%, that means your dish is not properly aligned. As for your case, 66% on 10982MHz and 77% on 12276MHz means your dish is still not properly aligned. You will experience occasional signal dropouts, and your signal will lost sooner during heavy rains compared to those who got their signal 80% and above.

Actually you don't need to bother to change entry point settings. Remember to change back to original setting by selecting the 1st option at Satellite Settings, which is "M3B 10732MHz VL" one. Set it, then leave it. Don't need to change that setting. Don't get confused with the entry point settings with stronger signal reading you get on 12276MHz, and no need to go Satellite Settings there to change any settings.

Because the channel 511 (CNN) is on the satellite frequency of 11682MHz, so your Astro box somehow tunes to 11682Mhz to receive the channel. That's how satellite TV works, lel.



Loosen the screws, and then turn the entire LNB.
On your Astro dish; with the "astro" logo facing to your face, make sure it is facing between 3 o clock to 4 o clock.
Or, on the top view of your Astro dish, make sure it faces to the correction direction, just like the picture above.