That "WhatsApp Astro", the answers you can type during a bot chat conversation, are predefined.
Like the one you typed "Astro IPTV" is actually wrong... For that question, the chat bot won't accept answers other than numbers shown.
For example "Type 5 for Ultra Box", then you should only enter "5" then hit Send.
If you answer something that is not in the option, you'll get error message...

There's an option for you to have a live chat. You'll have to hunt for that option, and be patient to wait for a live agent to attend to you, and even mentally prepared of no agent being attend to you after a long wait.

Yes, Astro has many ways to get contacted, such as from call (03-9543 3838, or 03-9543 1543 for Astro IPTV & Astro Broadband), email (wecare@astro.com.my), submit feedback form & self-troubleshooting (http://support.astro.com.my/), social media (Facebook and Twitter).... So what? Even with all this:

- call customer service: you got to wait for long time for an agent to talk to you
- self-troubleshooting: provides very basic and surface level diagnosis, and will eventually direct you to submit a feedback form if issue doesn't solve, which all goes back to square one
- email, submitting feedback form, contact via social media: they have the rights to ghost you (after auto-send an auto generated message, you won't receive the reply as you would have expected and most probably just "we've sent your feedback to the person in charge" then case closed

It's pretty f**k up actually.
Honestly, if you face any issues with Astro services that requires their attention, and yet you (the user) aren't tech savvy to solve the issue, be prepared to have your own solution to deal with it.
Yea, it could be Astro's "lack of manpower", too busy or whatsoever. If people aren't that knowledgeable to fix technical stuff, these things will go on, and sometimes, till the extent that money can't necessarily solve the issue.

That is the only last resort. I'm not saying that we can solve everything by ourselves. Things that are account related (e.g. Account reactivation, billing,...) and certain technical assistance (e.g. needs to replace STB), those have no choice but to contact Astro. If they don't feel like layan you, or doesn't give you a good after sales support, then too bad for you then.

See whether you dare to try or not.

With that, you could try to replace to hard disks up to 2TB in theory, cuz according to the user's comment, Astro PVR box uses FAT32 file system on its hard disk, so the max capacity size is 2TB.

As long you make sure to put back the original hard disk to PVR box if Astro technician would come for whatever reasons.

I think you can do yourself. Actually if your HDD is bad, you can buy from Astro. The price is even cheaper than buying outside last time when my brother had faulty HDD.

My bad. The story was not like that.

Last time there was Astro box that can use external HDD to record program. My brother wanted to buy the HDD and ask Astro. Since Astro is using own format for the recording, it cannot be played using PC. So, end up never purchase

Looks like my brain creating story    

See whether you dare to try or not.

With that, you could try to replace to hard disks up to 2TB in theory, cuz according to the user's comment, Astro PVR box uses FAT32 file system on its hard disk, so the max capacity size is 2TB.

As long you make sure to put back the original hard disk to PVR box if Astro technician would come for whatever reasons.

I see no point to change to SSD since normal HDD is adequate to play video. Nothing to do with GUI 

I think the video format is encrypted and not able to play with any apps since it is proprietary format.

Apparently, last night BeIn Sports (ch818) was suppose to air UEFA Europa League Arsenal vs Olympiacos football match, yet it shows A-League: Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC match?


Big mistake indeed 
Despite lots of customers complained and posted similar screenshots on their Facebook page, apologising to customers is the most they can do.

    

    



I wonder what went wrong  Anyhow, Arsenal lost that match though...

So jialat. The old PVR can keep technically forever unless the channel u recorded is no longer live.

My PVR box I had used for 5 years++. Sometimes there is some glitch here and there during recorder. (Likely to be due to probably bad sectors on the Hard disk but overall still very ok.

It is super super unlikely they will allow users to do so.

Last time I heard that the PVR supports a specific model of WD Hard disk for external storage but eventually it is no also.

wah now can also bring PVR box also as I guess the most common setup nowadays is still Universal LNB, especially the NJOI satellite dish  just need a splitter and it's going to work just fine
I think the PVR box needs to have 2 tuners on universal for it to work properly? Last time when my house Astro IPTV( IP mode only) down, they said to connect to satellite dish ( universal LNB- set up for HD box) via sat in 1 but some channel cannot watch like ch394

It's great to see that a live chat agent would attend to you.   
At Astro, waiting for an CS agent to attend to you is something rare, and you should be grateful for that. Not even to mention, requesting a callback.

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If that's the case, try live chat again, tell them your case number, then update them accordingly on any inaccurate information you see on Astro Self Service online portal.
If you have any doubt, do ask them "You know what's public IP, right?".
From there, you can make sure that the CS agent is not acting professional by "pretending to know what you're talking about". 

As for the emoji part, I also dunno why their system isn't support emoji.
Instead, you may use text-based emoticons, such as  :-) instead of 😁
I believe their "whatever system" are able to display that without issues.

Yes unlike last time you cannot just bring your smart card and plug in on any other box. It will not work

But however, if you enable WiFi connection on your PVR box and Ultra box, then there is a possibility that Astro are able to check, such as your IP address and estimated location (WiFi location tracking) but it won't be as accurate as GPS. But I'm not sure if Astro practices this or not, cuz in my opinion, even if they have the information, what you expect them to do anyway?

When activated, they just need to register the box MAC address and the smart card number. This will prevent the card being used on other box. This was not how the legacy box worked. That is why you can bring the card  anywhere and whichever box you plugged the card in will be able to receive all the channel that particular card was subscribed to.

Yes, satellite is one way communication for Astro box. It will only receive. Thus, no way Astro can trace your location through satellite, but it is possible if you are connected to Internet. Your IP address will let them trace to exact house address with help from Internet service provider, but I doubt Astro will do that since you still pay the service. Why bother as long the money is in 

Even when they offered additional box and same available channel at 50% less additional fee, they know that some customers will put the other box at kampung or somewhere else and share the monthly fee, they are not into catching those practice. More subscriptions, business expands and share holders are happy 

Their main problem is now people buying the Android box with ability to view all the channels including AOD. Last time there was like RM30 per month, but now they sell the box like RM300 and you can watch all channel and no monthly fee 

Unlike 1st practice, the box belongs to Astro. The customer is link to the card. If box faulty, then Astro need to change everything not just change the box S/N.

If customer canceled an account. The customer data would be still in database. This is normal ISO requirement for reference in future. Therefore, if the box is issued to new customer (I believe Astro will recycle), then card or box S/N will conflict in database.

These probably the reason I think.

Now all equipment belongs to Astro. They don't want people modified the box again like last time and use for free. Of course the contract will ensure they get the money back for equipment. The good thing is, if anything is faulty the replacement is free including remote if not mistaken.

I think warranty is for parts only and for as long as you subscribed to Astro. Labor is different thing.

I remembered was told like that.

Never had problem but that was what I was told when they installed the PVR for me last time. Just call and ask customer service if you manage to get hold on someone