Yes.
I have a feeling that we might see the reverse trend soon.

Follow up on my previous post regarding this topic: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=99570883

Yes, another post by me, specially addressed to the broadcast transmission tech guys at Astro again.
After about 1 month I shared to you guys about the fake/redundant Dolby AC3 tracks that became "question mark" (?) on the TS file, it seems that Astro have been taken some "action" regarding this matter.....

See the comparison below (Left is Jan 2021, Right one is Feb 2021):

Total of 3 redundant Dolby AC3 tracks has been completely removed from transmission (Transport Stream) for 11482MHz transponder.
384kbps + 384kbps + 384kbps = At least 1.1Mbps saved
Wow, what an achievement (I mean, slow progress )

Since there's a news article from Kristal Astro (Brunei version of Astro) that says...
Source: https://borneobulletin.com.bn/revamped-hd-packages-on-offer/

In that case, then I look forward to see not just all fake/redundant AC3 tracks being removed, but also some "major changes" in the channel/PID updates thereafter.

https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=99794425

Does your Ultra Box connects to your own satellite dish installed outside your house, or is it connected to your building's centralised satellite dish (e.g. condo, apartment...)?

When you upgrade to Ultra Box, did the technician change your LNB on your satellite dish into this DCSS LNB?

*LNB (as shown on photo above) is an device that installs on the satellite dish, meant to receive satellite signal.

Cuz if your Ultra Box is connected to the legacy Universal LNB, and not to this DCSS LNB shown above (or SatCR LNB), then that's the reason you see Services Currently Not Available (SCNA) only when tuning to Astro UHD channels, while all SD and HD channels works fine.

Universal LNB is the most common, generic and normal type of LNB used for Astro HD box installations.

Try to recall, that time when you upgrade to Ultra Box:
- did the technician left this DCSS LNB at your house, perhaps tells you to keep this new LNB "as a spare" or something?
- the technician did try to change to DCSS LNB, but end up having no satellite signal, so he change back to your old existing LNB?

This post has been edited by joshhd: Feb 8 2021, 12:09 AM

No. Most important is the actual LNB equipment that is currently using on your Astro satellite dish.
If the LNB on your Astro dish is the normal Universal LNB type, then you won't be able to receive Astro UHD channels at all, even if your LNB Type settings is set to dCSS like this:

In that case, contact Astro customer service, tell them to send technician over, and check what is going on. They'll do whatever is necessary.

Because some (not all) of the installers out there (especially third party ones) might just want to save the trouble, especially if they see your TV is not 4K UHD TV type.
Bcuz they know that SD and HD channels will still work fine even with Universal LNB (just like what you experience now), so they might as well skip that step entirely by not replacing into DCSS LNB (climb up the roof is troublesome).
That is actually wrong lah. By right for any Ultra Box installations, Astro installers must change the customer's LNB into the DCSS LNB (as shown on photo earlier).

Just an extra info for you... Later when the technician come over, if your Ultra Box appears to having weak or no satellite signal at all after changing to DCSS LNB, then that's probably because the cable length from Ultra Box to the satellite dish is too long (more than 15 metres) especially if your dish is installed at the very very rooftop of your landed house. Or maybe the satellite cable is too old (>10 years) or not in good overall condition.

When that happens, you can tell the installer to try re-install your Astro dish to somewhere nearer to your Ultra Box (instead of too further away).

Tip: Do note that placing Astro satellite dish at the very very rooftop of your house doesn't mean you will get "super strong signals" or whatsoever.
The concept of satellite TV is, as long the satellite dish is properly adjusted to a clear line of sight towards the particular position of the sky, then you can get signal already.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Feb 8 2021, 01:26 AM

Just get a HDMI splitter that has 2 HDMI outputs. (Note: Not to be confused with HDMI switch)
For your big old CRT TV that only has RCA inputs, you can use HDMI to RCA adapter.

*illustrative purposes only. this photo is not mine.

https://shopee.com.my/2-4-Port-4K-3D-HDMI-S...2098.1572780081
https://shopee.com.my/HDMI-to-AV-(RCA)-Conv...8522.4949490303

I wasn't aware of that "secret code" of pressing "9-8-7" on the Startup Options can bring up much more never-seen-before options on Ultra Box. Thanks for sharing this info
Btw yeah, who knows Astro's software team are actually working on rolling out Android TV in near future, and we might be able to access to streaming apps like HBO Go, iQiyi, and more, right on Ultra Box itself.
And who knows more services to be added in the future, like Netflix, Disney+, and more?

Not until you show me this, I almost thought that the Ultraview software (Ultra Box software) actually runs on Android system. But turns out, it's actually still Linux

This post has been edited by joshhd: Feb 9 2021, 10:46 PM

Refer to this long posts:
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...&#entry97975683

https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...&#entry99570883

https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=99912070

Good news to you lo...
This time, they give shorter period of channel previews for movie channels also good.

In my opinion, it's not really a bad thing. Cuz the longer the channel preview period, the sooner the viewers realises that the movies are kept on repeating. 😂😂

You tried this on your Ultra Box?
It solves the HDCP 2.2 issue on Astro UHD channel?

Does the EDID function works well too?
On Ultra Box, set the resolution as 2160p, but in the hdmi splitter, set it into 1080p....

Connected HD box is now known as Ulti Box? 😂😂😂😂😂 What a cringy name.
I guess the "Ulti" stands for "Ultimate".
Astro Ultimate Box = Ulti Box? Hmmm ok make sense.

HD Zapper box, PVR box, Ulti Box, Ultra Box.
Hmmmm...
Not exactly. It's more like saving cost and practicality to some extent.
First of all, not everyone has 4K UHD TV at home, and not everyone cares about enjoying 4K UHD content or channel. I mean, not everyone can see the difference between Full HD 1080p and Ultra HD 2160p.
So from what I see, Astro sees that there is no need to throw in so much money in making everyone's STB at home to be 4K UHD compatible, when the user don't even utilise it. That will be waste of money (to Astro).

And this Ulti Box can act as a permanent replacement over HD box (HD zapper box). And I guess this Ulti Box is not mandatory to use DCSS LNB, since it won't be receiving UHD channels from 12xxxMHz frequencies, and those legacy centralised antenna systems used in buildings will be able to carry out Ulti Box installation as usual, just like the HD box.

Ulti Box and Ultra Box is pretty much the same. With Ulti Box, you get all the same cool features on Ultra Box, just except 4K UHD capabilities. It shouldn't bother the user too much if the user don't even plan to upgrade to 4K UHD TV in near future, but would like to access to Astro cloud services like streaming On Demand shows and cloud recording.

Qash-MAnd your favourite part, you can easily assume that this Ulti Box can support H.265 HEVC codec. So now Astro has 2 models of STB that are officially supports HEVC codec, including Ultra Box.

Anyhow, I'm still waiting for Astro to allow its user to connect to external hard disk onto the STB to carry out local recording as well as local timeshift feature, exactly like PVR box.

Duh, it is expected that all cloud features will be disabled/won't be available once the account is downgraded to Njoi.

https://www.lowyat.net/2021/232315/new-customers-granted-pre-access-to-astro-go-services-before-their-decoders-arrive/
What you guys think?

Not sure if this might solve your problem, but try Restore Factory Settings on your PVR box if you haven't try doing so...

Whatever you see on TVS channel on Astro, is exactly the same feed you'll see on MYTV digital TV platform.

This is also the first time that Malaysian terrestrial TV viewers or non-Astro viewers get to watch lots of ads that are meant to target Astro subscribers.
During commercial break, you tend to come across programme ads from various Astro channels like Fox Life, Fox Movies, HITS, Astro in-house channels and many more... so even when you watch TVS on MYTV digital TV, you will see the same exact ads too.
For those who never subscribes to Astro, some may find this "eye opening" because they tend to see programme ads that they never see before, although those ads are irrelevant to MYTV digital TV viewers

Imagine you don't have Astro at home, and you watch TVS channel on MYTV digital TV platform using your UHF rooftop antenna, and you see advertisements like:
- Astro Best movies "rent and stream On Demand, or go to channel 481"
- "Catch the best movies, only on Fox Movies CH413",
- Some new and popular shows from Astro Warna, Astro AOD,...
- Catch up On Demand, from your Connected PVR box, Ultra Box, and Astro Go app....

But you, as a viewer that doesn't have Astro at home, can only feel envy about it, because you know that MYTV digital TV viewers can't enjoy those, unless you subscribe to Astro.

Even if those rumours are true, wait till it happens first then we shall see how it goes la. After all, Njoi viewers don't pay monthly subscription also.

If you say, upsell from Njoi to Astro monthly subscription, then yes.
They do have upsell offers for Njoi users to upgrade to either Astro's Family Pack or Starter Pack, but at a greater value of monthly rebate for a limited period of time.
Around RM20++ or RM40++ per month, can enjoy Family pack or Starter Pack for the period of 24 months. Price will revert back to original price (RM39.95/month or RM61.32/month) from 25th month onwards.
If you wanna get further clarification and accurate info on this, this one you need to ask those sales agent already. They have more up-to-date info on this, since their promos keep changing regularly.

Since they introduced Ulti Box, it will be a matter of time that Astro will stop manufacture its HD Zapper boxes, and offers only refurbished boxes to users.
Or who knows, Astro already been stop manufacturing them quite a while ago, so they can put more focus on manufacturing new Ulti Box and Ultra Box only?
Sooner or later, their HD Zapper box and PVR box shall be known as their new legacy box models

Wah... That one I don't know
But I see some of existing sellers (especially those that still have stocks for HD Zapper on their hand), they'd still continue selling at around RM299-399 prices.

Hmm for those who want to get Njoi, might wanna consider get it fast before they officially increases the price soon?

Woahhh that's new to me
No matter how long it is, just let it update, even if you have to let it on overnight.

hazim96Once the software update is done, do show us a photo of your STB Diagnostics (home>Settings>STB Diagnostics)

Ugh, still the same Evo software I almost thought PVR box users get to auto upgrade to the newer Ultraview software, turns out I'm wrong

3 Dec 2020 Seems to me it's just bug fixes? Maybe try browse around On Demand library and stream some shows there, and see if there's any difference, although I don't think there will be any obvious changes la But try and observe first...

Anyway, thanks for sharing this info to us