Hardly I see Astro to do U turn like this. Almost never lol.

Existing PVR users will still continue to use their box.
But we can assume that Astro is planning to phase out their PVR boxes, which eventually replaced with Astro's 4K UHD box, which comes with cloud recording.

All current B.yond boxes, including PVR DMT5 v2 does not support 4K UHD. Maximum Full HD.
Even the UHD channels on CH844 and CH845 are on the channel list, but it'll just show as "This channel is not included in your subscription", so can't watch it.

In my very opinion, a set-top-box (STB) that Astro will introduce to customers that supports 4K UHD quality channels AND recording (cloud recording, to be exact), shall be the one and only 4K UHD box model.
I think they plan to have no more having separate HD box or PVR box like now. They find that having one STB model that can support 4K UHD and recording is better (somehow save cost for them too).
But the recording part, they'll sacrifice the included hard disk in Astro PVR box, hence phasing it out as time goes by, and gradually replace to cloud recording on their 4K UHD box, since many viewers nowadays spend more time on their devices on the go, rather than TV.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Aug 11 2019, 01:43 AM

If that's the case, there is a possibility that in the near future:
If you're new Astro customer, or your Astro box is faulty and requested Astro to replace new one for you, they might give you the Astro 4K UHD box by default, and no longer getting the same HD zapper box or PVR box model.

By that time, if you are PVR box user and your STB becomes faulty, then you shall be replaced to 4K UHD box and connecting it to the internet is the only way to do programme recording.

But, how much trust can you put in, when you playback your cloud recorded programmes to your 4K UHD box? What if your Wi-Fi or Internet connection has issues (e.g. poor signal, slow network, unstable speed)..., or Astro's server is experiencing congestion (e.g. too many users watching cloud recorded shows, server maintenance or breakdown)? It can be a lose-lose to both parties.

I think a better option for Astro is to allow external hard disk based recording to all 4K UHD box users, instead of forcing all 4K UHD box users to use only cloud recording.
They can allow the 4K UHD box user to connect their own external hard disk via USB 3.0 port to allow them to do recording that saves directly to their hard disk, as well as timeshift feature (Review Buffer Depth) to allow user to have PVR functions (rewind, fast forward, pause) without having any internet connection just like the current PVR box users. The external hard disk got to be formatted before use of course.
However, the performance, storage, reliability, etc. will be the user's own responsibility. If the hard disk is faulty, the recordings will be gone for good. Or, Astro can allow its users to do own backup or migration to another external hard disk.
All recordings are encrypted of course, and it can't be played on computer or any devices that is not from 4K UHD box.

This will be very similar as the discontinued Plug 'N Play and PVR Easi, which was introduced many years ago by Astro, but eventually discontinued.




If Astro forces users to use only specific external hard disk model like the discontinued Plug n Play or PVR Easi, Astro will bear another responsibility and costs, which I think they better don't handle it themselves cuz they are known to have bad customer service support, and generally they don't handle these kind of technical things well.
Just let the user to use their own external hard disk, to somehow "lighten Astro's burden". The recordings are encrypted anyway, so Astro no need to bother so much about copyright, or users would illegally copy the content to watch it somewhere else, or other illegal activities.
Plus, is there still A LOT of PVR users today still do programme recordings anyway? Or they would catch up and watch their shows On Demand or Astro Go instead?

Perhaps, they could implement Simultaneous Recording, where both cloud recording and hard disk recording are done at the same time on the programmes.
Or, the user can record to hard disk first, then upload to cloud storage later, so that the recorded content can be conveniently viewed on Astro Go.
Or download the recording from cloud storage recording to hard disk, so that viewers can watch it on their STB without internet connection.

Astro can consider that, as the users can rely partially or fully on hard disk instead of relying 100% cloud, and it can reduce "strain" on their data load and congestion on their servers too.

*all pictures above are taken from external sources.


This post has been edited by joshhd: Aug 11 2019, 02:23 AM

Of course there is still users who do recordings on PVR, especially to those who don't have or lack of high speed Internet access with unlimited quota at home.

But I don't think more than half of all PVR users today really do programme recordings. Either they watch it On Demand (VOD) or they don't even use PVR functions at all, or they don't even aware of PVR functions. I don't have the statistics, so it's just my hypothesis based on people's habit of watching TV and on their devices in general.

NAS? You mean Astro Go users can stream their recorded shows directly from the NAS connected to their 4K UHD box to their devices. Woah that's a good idea too. It rely on user's Internet connection more. Even lesser strain to Astro servers. But I don't think many users would do that, but still a good idea. And with RAID, users won't have to worry on losing their recordings anymore, and the hard disks involved will be the expense of user's liability. But does that means their 4K UHD box will have to support RAID configuration and build up? Sounds like it's complicated...
Alternatively, they could allow user to transfer or migrate from Hard Disk A to Hard Disk B (another hard disk) in case if hard disk A is going to be faulty, hence recordings won't be lost. Not as good as RAID, but it's simpler and consumer friendly though.

It might be end of this year... Not sure...
But since they launched beta v1.2, it shouldn't be long from now.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Aug 11 2019, 11:11 AM

Referring to the Astro Beta Programme website (https://www.astro.com.my/beta-program/home)

I hope there is such thing as Astro Beta testers community discussion, where beta testers constantly sharing feedback, suggestions and opinion on the beta software, as well as able to communicate/get feedback directly by the beta software engineering team that is working hard to improve the beta software, without any intervention or "received orders to advise testers" via call or email by the useless and incapable technical customer service support team that are not even tech savvy enough to advise tech savvy testers.

I've sent many feedback and suggestions to the website, and it seems that they don't bother to even read my posted feedbacks at all. Why I say so? Because I've received the 11 July update, and I'm so disappointed that I do not see any obvious improvement despite that I've highlighted the feedback to the site mentioned. It is either the same damn thing, or even new issues appears.

Sending feedbacks to the website feels like wasting my time. I've put so much hope to their software team to really take it seriously to fix some issues and implement something new on the software, as I hope for the best for them. Turns out either the site is just for show and make us feel like they are so open hearted to accept feedbacks. Turns out I'm just fantasising too much.

I doubt that the beta software team are even reading those feedbacks and suggestions that are posted directly by beta testers. It seems to me that only those filtered, summarised feedbacks by some customer support team would be forwarded and referred to the software team, which I see this as a very ineffective and inefficient way.

Can't fix certain issues? Why? Please explain and communicate with interested beta testers on what are the difficulties that the software team are facing, instead of telling "we are working very hard to improve the software". Duh, I don't know you guys work very hard meh?

If there is such thing as Astro beta testers community discussion, I would love to join. Any new stuff, new hardware equipment, I would love to test it out and share my feedback, as long they don't ignore and sweep my feedback under the carpet because their customer service team already done this to me for many years already. I have tons of suggestions for them, till the point that sending email or call customer service support can become annoyed of me.

If you are really one of the beta software team that are reading this, and want to contact me, feel free to private message me anytime, and a contact number if possible (definitely not 03-95433838 or wecare@astro.com.my because I give up on them already).
I'm using Astro PVR DMT5 v2 box.

Must be some internal miscommunication somewhere...
Typical Astro

I did that, but after I enter my IC number on the form, it prompts me to login to my Astro ID. Haiz.

I got the info from Astro customer service team that registration for Astro beta v1.2 4K UHD box will start tomorrow (17 Aug) at 10am.
Yes, information on 4K UHD box and cloud recording on the v1.2 beta is up on the website, but users could not sign up for swapping to 4K UHD box due to "technical error".
Upon filling up the form, Astro's relevant team will contact you, and the installation can be arranged within 7 days (including weekends).

And filling up the form at Astro Beta Programme is the only way to register as beta tester. Only that website and no other methods allowed. No calls, no emails, nope.

So you guys try submitting the form again tomorrow morning then...

Same... It directs me to the feedback page.
Haiz...

Meanwhile Unifi TV customers is gonna cry again.
I just got the confirmation from TM Unifi TV.
By the way, Red by HBO channel is available to watch on HBO Go (Malaysia).

I post it here, to see if there is any relation to Astro:
As Red by HBO is going away from Unifi TV, and the channel is now available on HBO Go where HBO Go is exclusive to Astro movies pack customers only.

Must be some business agreement going on here.... Would Astro offer Red by HBO channel to its TV platform in the future, or make it as exclusive channel on Astro Go only? Time will tell lo...

That one I don't know....

Oh yeah... I managed to sign up for the beta v1.2 earlier on this site instead...
At first when Astro Beta Programme site keep having problems and seems not allowing me to sign up v1.2, it direct me to this website below instead:
https://stg-acm.pink.cat/beta-program/sign-up-versionv2

Then as I enter my NRIC, my smart card number really appears this time. Then can proceed dy...
But I still got to make sure that I am not logged in, or else can't submit the form

Better than not providing any new temporary channel in conjunction to National Day.

Although the movies has been aired somewhere else.

If it's curbing content piracy, then it is a right thing to do, although it does restrict the people's freedom to access to pirated content online, but it protects the content creator's intellectual property rights and copyrights.

Yes, Astro would benefit from government's initiatives and MCMC to curb online content piracy in various of ways, but it doesn't change the fact that many people would choose not to subscribe to Astro if its overall services remain as what it is now. If many Malaysians doesn't like Astro, they'll resort to alternatives such as subscribing to OTT services like Netflix, iflix and others, or choose not to subscribe to any OTT services as they might be enjoy entertainment somewhere else, such as Facebook, YouTube, and others. This is about consumer behaviour already.

Eventually, many Malaysians would find that not having an Astro subscription is not a necessity also.
Because Astro has been monopolised the pay TV market for decades, for sure they'll "dictate" as much as they can.

Government and MCMC should also focus on not just ways to curb piracy, but also ways to curb any form of content monopolisation on pay TV providers, particularly Astro, such as not allowing Astro to be a exclusive and sole operator in certain major sports event and content, as well as certain premium pay TV channels.

Android box itself is not "illegal", but if the Android box is used to access to piracy content, that particular Android box could be deemed as illegal.
If MCMC would block access on those, they shall block on illegal IPTV streaming services instead of banning Android boxes altogether, and that is if they are serious in curbing content piracy instead of wanting Astro to gain more profit.

But at the end of the day, consumer is the boss and the one to decide.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Aug 22 2019, 04:06 PM

Astro's general explanation to customers is, the Astro PVR allows user to record 2 channels/programmes simultaneously, which explains the need of Dual LNB, where 2 cables (RG-6 coaxial cable) is required to connect to the satellite dish.

But this Astro Ultra Box (brand name for the Astro 4K UHD box), it no longer has built in hard disk in it, and cloud recording appears to be something that they plan to supersede Astro PVR's hard-disk-based recording. Because it is cloud recording, users can record unlimited channels/programmes simultaneously (technically, because it is being recorded within Astro's own servers), hence no longer having the restriction of able to record maximum 2 channels like Astro PVR now.

Since Internet connection is a must to record channels and access to recorded programmes through cloud recording feature on Astro Ultra Box, and it is not recorded internally on the STB itself like Astro PVR now as there is no built in hard disk, so they don't see the need to require customers to connect 2 cables to satellite dish. 1 cable is enough for user to watch the current channel/programme. To access to the recordings, it will depend on your Internet connection, so the cloud recording is like making your own Video On Demand library.

In a nutshell from a B.yond HD and PVR box's perspective, if the Astro Ultra Box that is:
Connected to Internet: Astro STB with PVR functions. Just like the Astro HD box now.
Not connected to Internet: Astro STB, without PVR functions (incl. record) and access to On Demand library.

Existing users that is using LNB with dual outputs, the other port can be connected to other STBs within the premise, such as Multiroom or Njoi.

MCMC is pretty quiet on data breaches. Perhaps they don't wanna face the public backlash too much.
Hmm, MCMC is afraid of PR (public relation) problem?

Anyhow, if you worried whether your data is being breach or not, do contact Astro for more info, and complain to MCMC if you're not satisfied with it.

Not eligible for now, due to technical reasons that many would not understand. You sure want to know what technical reason? Tap the spoiler to know more.


Landed houses can support 4K UHD channels because its not using centralised dish systems. Cuz some centralised dish systems can't support it. If you're staying in high rise buildings and you're using your own installed dish (not centralised ones), Astro would allow you to sign up. You can try submit the form to them, or contact their customer service to know more.

I've received the new 30th July update. But I feel like the software bugs and glitches are still present.
Like as if no difference compared to previous versions.

Send feedback to Astro Beta Programme to highlight the issue to them is like a waste of time. It's like, a feedback that is once sent, nothing happens.
yet I am the one that experience the software bugs and glitches, in exchange with whatever free channel previews (like Super Pack Plus 4 back in around June).

As an Astro beta tester myself, I feel like my feedback to them aren't being appreciated and being heard by the beta software team. So disappointed.

What LNB did they change into? Got photo of how's the LNB look like? And, did they take back the old LNB, or they let you keep it?