I wanna update some info on my previous post on 4 Dec.
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=94767024

I just got to know that Astro has released their Q3 FY20 report on 5 Dec, which you can find it here
https://www.astro.com.my/mediaroom/articled...-11-to-rm171mn-

According to the financial report:
So now we know that there are 5.7 million Astro customers nationwide (presumably including Njoi users), and also including over 10k Astro customers using Ultra Box...
There are those who happy with the Ultra Box, but to those who is not happy with Ultra Box is not less either.

The main highlight:
100 HD channels? By 31 Dec 2019? Ok. Let's see.
There are total of 90 HD channels on Astro now, as of 7 Dec 2019. Click/tap the spoiler below to reveal the complete list of HD channels.

And also, 4 new HD channels is scheduled to launch on 12 Dec 2019, which are Phoenix Chinese Channel, TVB Xing He, Star Chinese Channel and CNBC.
But don't forget, both DIVA and E! channels is going to be ceased on 31 Dec.

Therefore by 1 Jan 2020, Astro have total remaining of 8 new HD channels to be introduced, minus the 2 HD channels (DIVA and E!), to reach the 100 HD channel mark.
What would it be then? If they would just simulcast/upgrade existing SD channels into HD, here's what I think the possibilities (especially highlighted as bold):

SD quality on Astro that is originally in HD elsewhere, but might have chance to be available in HD on Astro?
Sun Music
Jaya TV
CTI TV Asia
Phoenix InfoNews Channel
Asian Action Channel
TVB Classic Movies
CCTV4
NHK World Premium
CGTN
Bloomberg TV
Baby TV
MTV
Animax

In-house Astro channels that has chance to become a HD simulcast channel, considering the high viewership/popularity of the channels?
Astro Vaanavil
Astro Vellithirai
Astro Awani

Astro Go Exclusive HD channels, that they can decide to become part of TV channel lineup:
Comedy Central
K+
Aniplus
DW English
France 24 English

...or would they introduce brand new HD channels, such as Blue Ant Entertainment and Blue Ant Extreme?

What you guys think? Which are the pay TV channels you wish to see it available in HD?

Reminder again: Whether local DTT channels (e.g. TV1, TV3, 8TV....) would be available in HD on Astro, it depends on that broadcaster company themselves, not decided by Astro.
From what I see, it is still unlikely for now. So don't put much hope on that, if that's you're thinking.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Dec 7 2019, 02:03 PM

You have the freedom to upgrade whichever Astro box you want in your home to Ultra Box, as long the Ultra Box can be connected to a UHD TV to watch UHD channels, and >10Mbps internet connection to access all internet-required features of the Ultra Box.

So if you want only one of them to be upgraded to Ultra Box, sure why not? You want to upgrade both also can, it's up to you.

Regardless, the installer will come and change to dCSS LNB at your satellite dish there, and will change the "Input Type" at Satellite Settings on the second PVR box into "DCSS" option. If you're using SatCR LNB, then the installer will use back that SatCR LNB.
If you're connected to centralise dish system of your building (e.g. apartment, condo), do make sure your building's centralised antenna system (or known as SMATV) supports the newer dCSS system. Or else, you will see "Services currently not available" (means no signal) when you tune to any UHD channels on the Ultra Box.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Dec 7 2019, 10:57 AM

How does adding more bitrate will become "fake HD' and customer won't realise much?
Can elaborate further? 😂

I'm unable to know whether CCM is originally available in HD elsewhere or not, because according to Lyngsat, CCM is not available in HD from Measat 3a C band.
So it's likely that foreign pay TVs offers CCM in SD quality only, and the original feed could be just 16:9 SD, and Astro make it fit to screen.

And yes, I didn't forget that the channel CCM did stated on their EDM (electronic direct mail) earlier October.

But still, there's no exact date stated in their rate card. Maybe it might launch on the same 12 Dec 2019 as other 4 channels, total make it into 5 HD channels, or maybe not.
Or maybe, the CCM channel provider might last minute upgrade the channel to HD, and Astro just HD simulcast it right away?
We'll know the answer this coming 12 Dec or in the next coming weeks anyway...

Wait another few more days and see how la...

But I have a feeling that Astro is going to simulcast some existing not-nice-to-watch, low viewership Mandarin channels in HD.
I mean, they even plan to simulcast Phoenix Chinese Channel. My goodness, how many people are actually watching that?
I believe the viewership for channels like Phoenix Chinese Channel are way lower than Astro Xiao Tai Yang
Hmm, they say want to focus on "vernacular content", eh?
Touch wood la... If they really go and make channels similar like CCTV 4, in HD quality, wahh then I really wanna pengsan liao...

Dear Astro, please don't give big surprise to your customers any further by simulcast Baby TV in HD quality also.

Referring to the already closed topic, Astro Ultra Box:
I just found out that Astro is currently transmitting its UHD channels in the video bitrate of 15Mbps for each UHD channel, not 25Mbps as what I mentioned earlier.
Yes, the video bitrate for CH780, CH498 and CH499 is 15Mbps respectively.

When Astro doing their UHD trials last year, they really use up to 25Mbps per UHD channel.
Hah, when they officially launch the Ultra Box, turns out they decided to transmit all their UHD channels in 15Mbps instead.

So if you find that UHD picture quality on Astro UHD channels is not as good as Netflix's Ultra HD streaming, don't be surprised...
Yes, Astro does uses HEVC for UHD channel, but don't forget they use 50fps...

If you're an expert in bitrate stuff or work in production field, try to figure out what does the picture quality of a UHD resolution video in 15Mbps @ 50fps look like to you?
Will it still look excellent, good, average, below-average, poor quality to you? I believe you have the answer yourself.

Once you switch to Ultra Box, then the picture quality on all HD channels (and SD channels too?) appears blurry, unlike the PVR box you used previously?

Are you certain that before you change to Ultra Box, all HD channels appears good as what it is all this while?

If you're not very very interested in experiencing new stuff such as the Ultra Box, UHD channels, cloud recording, then I suggest you and you guys to stick to PVR box for the time being.

Until they solve all the issues, then you may consider upgrade to Ultra Box if you want.

Not sure.
But yes, they show black screen instead of turn off the video output entirely like previous Astro boxes.

As usual, highlighted to them long time ago, until now still the same.

Got screenshot?

I see no difference even if changing the output resolution from 2160p to 1080p. Both also looks the same bad.

Yes you're right. You can watch it as long you're using Ultra Box, has subscribed HD-PVR service, and use UHD TV that supports HDCP 2.2.
For now, package subscription doesn't matter for Astro UHD channel. So whatever is being shown on CH780, you will be able to watch it, including sport matches, movies, documentaries, etc.

There is no settings to enable/disable HDR on Ultra Box, so it's likely that it is automatic?

Current software version is Oct 24 2019.

Try talk to Astro, you insist that you want PVR box, not the Ultra Box.
Who knows maybe they actually still have stocks for new PVR boxes, but for some reasons, they just keep/reserve some of it, and when customer ask, then they say "no stock".

...or 24 months contract will restart.

Launch more UHD channels, to repeat the same content over and over again? Nah no thanks.

It seems that why we see mostly are football and F1 only, is because the live sports content in UHD are still limited, or those sports events are so far the only ones that Astro has the UHD broadcast rights.

I do wonder when would Astro simulcast selected local vernacular content to HD and UHD quality though...

They'll likely to advise you to Restore Factory Settings.
If still persists, then you got no choice but to try format your hard disk, so you'll lose all your recordings.

If still cannot, then get mentally prepared to replace new set top box. Either they'll give u the PVR or Ultra Box, that depends lo...
Can.... That depends if they want to spend that money on buying more UHD content lo... But for now, they rather see customer spend more in pay to view to channels like Astro Best in UHD on ch498 and ch499. That could be their way of getting "fast money" 😂

As whether they'll reduce the bitrate or not, we customers can track one... Now we know the video bitrate is 15Mbps HEVC per UHD channel on Astro, then we shall see whether they would reduce it further once they launch more UHD channels in the future. But from what I see now, I don't think so la...

If they wanna reduce the bitrate, then they shall consider transmit the channel in 25fps instead of 50fps, so that customer won't notice the picture quality drop. But it won't be suitable for high frame content like sports content... Movies, certain series and documentary films should be fine if the content itself is in 25fps. Or, they can just transmit 24fps whole day for that particular UHD channel in the future. That's better than using 50fps all the time but the content is in 25fps, which is kinda wasting bandwidth for nothing...

This post has been edited by joshhd: Dec 10 2019, 02:46 PM

The video bitrate are very low in this channels, that's why picture quality on this 2 channels are terrible.

Woah, that's good to know...
I thought they have HDR on their CH 780 now... (Last time they test broadcast their UHD channel in HDR.)
Btw could you share on what tools you use to check these?

Just simply Facebook search, "Astro installer" then you'll see many results dy... Or "Pemasangan Astro" in Malay.