Just contact Astro again...
Or live chat with them at astro.com.my/contactus

Thank you once again... It's great to have info like this from neighbouring countries
Based on your screenshot, it seems that the Celestial Movies on Astro is still the local Malaysian feed...

Ehh, before you guys comment about this, don't blame Astro yet...
It appears that Disney Junior channel itself is not available in HD after all. It's only in SD including elsewhere.
https://www.lyngsat.com/tvchannels/us/Disne...unior-Asia.html

Anyone here that previously dismantle the Astro PVR box and take the built-in internal hard disk out from the Astro PVR box, and then connect to computer to use it like normal hard disk, or use it as external hard disk, especially those who terminated Astro service?

***Dismantling your PVR box will void your warranty for sure, and you're solely responsible for doing that.

I wonder, before you format that hard disk, it is believed that those files and folders on that hard disk can't be viewed on computer, but did you use some special hard disk partition software to check what file system it uses? Is it FAT32, exFAT, or the Linux standards like EXT2, EXT3 or EXT4, or what?

Finally, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network are now available in HD starting earlier at between 12.03am and 12.07am.

I wanna highlight for the Cartoon Network HD channel:

This screenshot above is Cartoon Network HD (ch636).


At first, Cartoon Network SD (ch616) is still on the SD feed. Later during Oggy and the Cockroaches show is showing, it somehow switches to the HD feed, making it simulcast with Cartoon Network HD (ch636) and not the separate SD and HD feed.

Also, when I press "304" on remote, Astro Xiao Tai Yang HD channel appears:


Same goes to Astro Ceria HD on ch631, it'll start airing programmes in HD on 22 Nov 2019, and highly presumed that both channels will become SD/HD simulcast as well.

Lucky especially for those <12 yrs old kids, where all English cartoon channels becomes available in HD overnight (except Disney Junior), and it's right before year end school holiday starts this Saturday at 23 Nov 2019.



This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 21 2019, 02:24 AM

Lol, of course there is users still using the legacy box. That's why now Astro tries to become more aggressive to advise all legacy box users to upgrade to the HD box as soon as possible.

And because legacy box can still be used, that's also why SD channels on Astro are still using MPEG2 video codec, so don't blame Astro why they're so outdated and don't want to upgrade to MPEG4 for its SD channels. Instead of some people would blame Astro for that, they should blame those users who is still reluctant to change from legacy box to the new HD box, despite that an option of no contract, remain same monthly fee and no installation fee are already available.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 21 2019, 09:48 PM

It is assumable that way less than 9% from the total 5mil++ Astro users are still on legacy box.
There is a saying that, last time gadget can last for many years and even decades also no problem. Nowadays things would last only for few years, then problem start to happen.
According to Astro, they expect that their current STBs can last for an average of up to 5 years.

They need to consider that there are customer who's already been using the HD box but did not subscribe to any HD service.
And if they remove the SD simulcast channel, making it the only option for viewer to continue watching the channel is to subscribe to HD service, many customers would make noise.

Still remember what happened to the channel Fox many years ago? They remove the SD version of Fox and made it become a HD-only channel (which is the CH724 that you see now), and many customers become damn angry with Astro, saying that they're forcing customers to take up HD service. And also, Lifetime channel (now ceased) forced upgrade from SD to HD completely instead of simulcast, customers that didn't subscribe HD service made noise about it, and there are some customers complains that FYI channel (now ceased) downgrades from HD to SD, but wasn't that major (because according to Astro Radar/Quake, the estimated viewership rating for FYI is one of the lowest among all English channels on Astro).

In a more recent one, how come the upgrade of Astro Box Office Thangathirai and Tayangan Hebat from SD to HD completely, Astro's Facebook page seems quiet as in customers are not complaining?
And SD version of Disney XD channel, there are some complaints on why customers without HD service are unable to watch it anymore, but it wasn't as disastrous as the SD version removal of Fox channel few years back.

I think they've done their homework and research, estimating how many customers will be affected if the SD simulcast channel is removed.
If they find that majority of the viewers already subscribed HD, then they know that the public's response won't be a disaster when they remove the SD version and making it a HD-only channel.

Exactly. People would think that Astro is being so extra, want customer to upgrade to HD box, and when it comes about money and contract, then they're not interested dy.
And that eventually slows down the migration process.
Anyhow, if she doesn't want to change, let it be first... Now I think again, I also curious to see what legacy box users will see when Astro stops transmitting SD channels in MPEG2 by force (when that day really comes), making it incompatible to play on legacy box, and see if there's any "shut down message" appears to advise users to change to HD box to continue watching, or something.

3 colour cable (yellow, red and white) is called RCA cable, or composite cable, or AV cable. There's many names for it, depends which one you like to be called.
Because RCA composite video input is an analogue video format, and is a many decades old technology, of course the quality will look sucks if compare with HDMI.
Regardless of what TV type, HDMI is the only commonly used port that offers best visual/audio quality from Astro boxes.

Someone informed me that he got an official info from Astro that they received a memo that, legacy Astro box are scheduled to be officially discontinue its use on 31 January 2020.
Meaning from 31 Jan/1 Feb 2020, legacy box users will no longer able to watch Astro channels and must upgrade to at least HD box to continue watching Astro channels.
This date is subject to change, meaning if still many legacy box users didn't change to the HD box by then, they might extend the date, so don't get excited too soon ya...
From what I see is, if they see that if left a very very few remaining legacy box users that doesn't want to swap to HD box, then they'll just initiate the "Legacy Box Switch-Off" or "MPEG2 Switch-off" by force (That's what I call it la).

They are providing several upgrade offers, like I said earlier, including remain the current monthly subscription rate as now, and no installation fee, no additional monthly fee, no contract, nothing.
Yet you get new Astro HD box, satellite dish, new cabling, remote control, smart card, basically everything new.
So basically, there's no reason for legacy box users to reject the upgrade offer cuz you're paying nothing to get new stuff.

When asked how come Astro didn't make any public announcement about this, they say because only minority of users are still using legacy box, so they rather target that information by informing them directly (by email, mail or SMS). They said if they would make a major public announcement about it, many people would become fed up. From what I see, they don't wanna face those public reaction saying that Astro is sucking people's money and causing inconvenience to users by forcing them to swap to HD box, even though free-of-charge option is available, many would be unconvinced and thinking that there must be lots of hidden T&Cs. So they wanna lay low and don't want too many people to know about this, cuz even if they know, it's irrelevant to many since almost all Astro users already on HD or PVR boxes.

If I would be a bad guy, I would advise her to continue using the legacy box, and tell her to take good care of the legacy box (make sure don't spoil it by any means), until the day when Astro officially discontinue the use of legacy box completely. Not because I want her to move backwards instead of moving forward, but because I'm kinda interested to see how's that "switch off" looks like, and would it be any "switch off info/message" similar like Malaysia's analogue TV broadcast switch off.
Hope someone would share some screenshots here when that day really comes, cuz existing HD and PVR box users are unlikely to have the chance to see that.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 21 2019, 11:10 PM

Measat 3d is schedule to launch on 2021, and Astro's agreement to use Measat 3 satellite expires on 22 Feb 2022.
Either way, Astro can still transmit channels in MPEG2 and in DVB-S even on the upcoming Measat 3d. This is proven possible in around 2017, where Astro used to transmit MPEG2 SD channels on a few Measat 3b transponders in DVB-S for few months, hence legacy box users can still watch their channels as usual. Not sure why they do that, maybe they just wanna do testing? Anyhow, now no more ady la... Measat 3b is transmitting almost all HD channels now, while some HD channels on Measat 3.

So it doesn't matter much which satellite they'd use. But I don't think they would delay that long if they want to offer more HD channels by using the least amount of transponders possible, cuz they would save up some satellite bandwidth by using MPEG4 and DVB-S2 for SD channels (squeeze more SD channels in one transponder). After all, Astro is trying to cut operating costs.

In my opinion, if they would start slow, they might change the SD channels that are not available in Njoi (including Prepaid ones) to MPEG4 and DVB-S2.
And then specially allocate one (1) DVB-S transponder to continue transmitting those few SD channels in MPEG2 so that those legacy Njoi box users will still be able to continue watching it, for a period of time.

But I find that this doesn't make much financial sense to Astro in the long run. So I think they might as well be more aggressive by discontinue MPEG2 and DVB-S completely which will affect all legacy box users under Astro and Njoi. So I find that forcing legacy box users to go for the HD box is still the best option, and technically less complicated since they can just use DVB-S2, MPEG4 and HE-AAC/AC3 Dolby audio for SD and HD channels. It really depends on how Astro would carry out that migration process and be confident and dare to pull the plug for legacy box users.

It's very likely that Astro would continue using Measat 3a to transmit all UHD channels, at least until their agreement to use expires at 20 July 2024.

*These are just my hypothesis.

Reference: https://www.thestar.com.my/business/busines...rs-for-rm1pt49b

Can you take photo of the cable splitter? The one they use to split the cable from the dCSS LNB to your 2 Ultra boxes?
Hope you can look around your home to see where the splitter is connected. Thanks

Did the installer explain why must revert back to the previous Astro box if VOD menus did not load smoothly as expected, instead of try to fix and troubleshoot the problem?

Seems to me that you're unable to receive signals from Measat 3a, which falls within the high frequency Ku band range.
Why they didn't change your LNB to the dCSS type, and continued to use your existing LNB (I assume)?
Also, do you use any cable splitter in between the connection from the Ultra Box to the satellite dish?

Not necessary only by using dCSS LNB can receive/watch UHD channels from Astro.
What type of existing LNB you previously tried to use, and you got the Service Currently Not Available message (means No signal)?
Can take pic of that LNB? Make sure it's sharp and clear.

I think the technician left it at your house, just in case when you need it in the future, you can simply change it yourself hahaha 🤣🤣🤣 It's not hard to replace also la. That Zinwell dCSS LNB, is the same as what other Ultra Box users getting too (and also buildings that upgrades to newer centralise antenna system).

When you say "even for normal HD channel?", they say "yes", that answer from Astro is actually wrong.
Now all customers are able to receive all signals from the HD channels, and that "some HD channels can't receive" problem is already the thing of the past.

Too technical to understand? Nvm, what's the solution, you ask?
Don't use the cable splitter. Connect the one and only cable you connected from your satellite dish directly to your Ultra Box, and see if you're able to receive CH780.

The Asian feed for Disney Junior channel itself is available only in SD quality for the time being. Because Disney themselves don't even provide that channel in HD, therefore the pay TV providers around Asian countries only offers Disney Junior up to SD quality. I'm not sure why cuz that's Disney's decision.

Okay. I have a correction would like to make here, as there's some mistakes/inaccurate info on some of my previous posts (as qouted). Sorry if there's confusion caused.
From the picture you attached, you are using the Universal LNB with quad (4) outputs. That translates to:
Before dCSS LNB and SatCR era, you can connect this for up to 2 PVR boxes or 4 HD boxes from the same LNB. Pretty much the "old school" way.

First and foremost, I wanna thanks to those who shares this info to this topic. I just tried it out on my Ultra Box, and here are my findings:

Because the Satellite Settings>Input Type options on Ultra Box only has both "dCSS" and "SAT CR" options, and no longer having the "Universal" option just like what HD and PVR boxes has all this while, you have no choice but to select dCSS as input type if you wish to use existing Universal LNB (regardless of single/dual/quad output type) to watch Astro channels.

Situation:
When you actually uses Universal LNB and you chose dCSS as Input Type in Satellite Settings, you'll be able to receive low Ku band frequencies (all SD and HD channels) without issues, so it's pretty much backward compatible.
But..... you won't be able to receive high Ku band frequencies, where all UHD channels from Astro is currently transmitting from the 2 Measat 3a frequencies, 12316 MHz and 12436 MHz.

From what I see,
When dCSS input type is selected, the satellite STB receiver (Astro Ultra Box) will use a 'special method designed for dCSS LNB' to allow users to watch/record 2 channels from both low & high Ku band frequencies simultaneously without causing signal conflict by using only 1 cable. That's when Astro allow users to record to external HDD in the future. Cloud recording like what we all have now, doesn't count since the recording is carried out using Astro's servers.



But because of the nature of Universal LNB, the way it receives high frequency Ku band (involving technical stuff like the 22KHz setting, LO Freq 10.6GHz, etc) are different compared to dCSS LNB does, hence signals can't be received when you tune to channels that transmits from high Ku band frequencies (which are currently those UHD channels on Astro).

Conclusion / TL;DR
It seems that there's no other ways but to use dCSS LNB or SatCR LNB (if you have one) to receive channels on high Ku band frequencies (Astro's UHD channels) on Ultra Box.
Buildings that uses centralise dish system must use or be upgraded to dCSS to receive UHD channels.

If you're using Universal LNB and whether you use cable splitter or not, it doesn't matter anymore as the end result is the same; unable to receive high Ku band frequencies regardless as long the Ultra Box's input type is "dCSS" or "Sat CR". If Astro would provide the "Universal" option on Ultra Box, that could allow it to receive high Ku band frequencies, but the same issue story starts from the beginning like what I explained from the beginning of this post. I think this is why Astro decided to use dCSS entirely, to solve tons of technical problems.

Hah, you're not alone. And nope, it's not your Internet speed problem.
I actually realised that some HD channels are not available in HD quality when you use "Play from Start" feature.
As what I know, the channels are:

- Astro AOD HD (350)
- Astro Box Office Tayangan Hebat (130)
- Astro Box Office Thangathirai (241)
- Astro Xiao Tai Yang HD (304)

Why is it not in HD and it's only in SD quality, you ask? Ask the person in charge in Astro lol.
I guess what they think is, because viewers can just catch up or watch all episodes/movie/content on VOD and Astro Go in HD quality, so they could save up some network streaming bandwidth by not offering some HD channels in SD quality on cloud PVR (Play from Start) as well as on Astro Go.

Yes. The HD channels I mentioned above, is shown in SD quality even when you watch the live TV channels on Astro Go.

If any of you guys suspect that there's other HD channel(s) shown in SD quality on the Play from Start and even on cloud recordings, do share with us the channel names too.
Anyway, if you contact Astro and tell them about it, they'll very likely to brush you off and say "Astro uses adaptive streaming, so if your Internet is fast enough, it'll automatically show HD quality." Yes, they will go and relate those irrelevant things. What to do? They're just advising you based on what they're being told by their leader or supervisors. Most of them are like that la, I think.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 24 2019, 12:37 AM

I saw this Facebook post by one of the Astro customer, and this is quite surprising tbh...
Source: https://www.facebook.com/Astro/posts/10157532368939627

I've being told that Astro is currently not having any stock for PVR boxes, and that is not really "a good sign nor good news" to those who wish to have PVR box.
Meaning, if your current PVR box becomes faulty or experiencing problems and expecting Astro to come one-to-one exchange to a new set with you, you can stop thinking about that.

Apparently, now they seems to offer older model of secondhand PVR boxes to customers that insists to have one? Wow.
Last time when Astro offers secondhand, or simply "refurbished" Astro boxes (in nicer words) for Njoi users at a lower installation fee, hmmm I've nothing much to comment.
But now PVR box offers secondhand sets, and this customer starts to experience some issues... Hmm, one of their ways to save costs, eh?

I mean, how does it make sense that they've been out of stock for such a long time, yet they keep encouraging customers to upgrade to PVR box to enjoy On Demand content?

And now they keep boasting that cloud recording is so much much much better than what PVR box does, which records to a hard disk.
It seems to me that Astro is seriously considering to discontinue producing new Astro PVR boxes for good, as the Ultra Box is here to supersede it.

But then, as long Astro still doesn't allow Ultra Box users to use an external hard disk to:
- Record programmes to ext HDD, so that viewers can watch recorded programmes offline just like what PVR box does now.
- Can pause & rewind live TV immediately until the point where you started to watch the particular channel (Timeshift/review buffer depth feature).
- Download shows from VOD library so that viewers can watch offline.

Cloud recording do brings several advantages, especially able to view recordings on Astro Go,
but for many other reasons/issues/situations, it simply can't be replaced by cloud recording feature.

UPDATE: The customer posted a comment:
Lol...
For Astro, things that is disadvantaged for customers is an advantage to Astro. How sad.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 24 2019, 01:04 AM

Erm, when you cloud record a HD channel, it will be in HD quality just except the very few HD channels I mentioned on my previous post, for now la. They might fix this issue in the future.

The remaining channels that can't be cloud recorded for now are iQiyi, NHK (398), HBO, Cinemax, CNBC, all UHD channels and Astro Best channels.
The one you see on Astro beta programme's FAQ section, is not updated. Like this: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=94609335

And yes, you would encounter new kinds of issues on Ultra Box that doesn't exist on PVR box. I'm not saying Ultra Box is bad. The product is simply not so, ready enough for now.
I can see that they did their homework, and they're well aware that majority of the customer's viewing habits are on-the-go type, that's why they're forced to be innovative by having this Astro Cloud and stuff.
Cuz if they don't roll out such features to customers, they would be technologically left out, and people around you saying they've cancelled or planning to cancel their Astro service are going to be more and more common. Because they know many customers spend more time on Internet, watch their shows using Internet,... so it shouldn't be a big deal if they rely some features using Internet too, right? So if customer complain why Astro got to depend on internet to access some features, well, they'll say they have to move on and implement current technologies.
"Don't have or having slow Internet at home? That's your problem. Majority of the users already have Internet at home, so majority wins." That's how the business works.

Nothing??? No drawbacks?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 What a white lie...
It's as if they worship the Astro Ultra Box until it "wow" them so much on all the new features.
Either they simply just want to earn your commission once you successfully upgrade it, or they're just aware of the issues that's highlighted by their leaders/supervisors, but they might not know every single things that is happening on Ultra Box. Sales agent mah... What you expect lol? They want your commission only. Of course have to convince you that the product is perfect. Those typical technical department agents are no much of a difference... All follow orders and instructions only.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 24 2019, 02:00 AM

It's not to say Ultra Box is bad. I'm an Ultra Box user also, so I know it well too...
Astro is trying their best to provide new features like this to customers.
But then, they just launch their service not long ago only, so can't expect their service to be absolute perfect upon initial launch.

But as for the issue of some channels can't get HD quality when cloud record or Play from Start, hmm well, this shows what...?
Come, let me tell you a bedtime story:

Once upon a time..... I mean, during PVR box era, once the channel has aired to viewers, either the PVR box will temporary record for timeshift feature (pause/rewind live TV)
or record directly to the hard disk inside PVR box, and Astro can't control/modify the "recordings files" that has been recorded to PVR box.

But now with cloud record/Play from Start, technically they have the 'power' to modify over the channel/content that has already been aired on live TV broadcasts of the particular channel, including downgrade from HD to SD quality, because the channel/content is still within their server mah, so they can potentially "modify" it by any means and then retransmit it back to you when you playback the cloud recordings or Play from Start.
Of course if you ask them, they'll say "No, we don't do that...."
But that doesn't means they can't do that, right?

Astro AOD 350 will only show in SD quality when you cloud record or Play from Start. It's Astro's, not you.
Actually you don't need to rely on the usual TV channels to watch your HK series on Astro AOD since your Ultra Box is already connected to Internet and you already have access to VOD library to watch your shows. You can use the "Search" feature to find your programme title...




*Screenshots above are from Astro Go.
Whatever you can watch on VOD, is also what you watch on Astro Go.
Once you're on this screen on your Ultra Box, keep scrolling to the right at the "Episodes" section, then select "Show More", then you can choose whatever episodes to watch, start from the latest to Episode 1.

As what I highlighted as bold above, you guys be the judge to evaluate on how good is Astro services, from sales agents all the way to installer's knowledge.
Their work culture is very passive, it's like
"Please don't blame me man... I'm just following instructions by leader/supervisor. If you have any questions, call customer service." kind of attitude.