Astro says "Our opinion matters"
Meaning, their opinions is more important than your opinion (the customers).

When you switch from legacy pack to Primary Pack, is there any account transfer ownership process involved (e.g. transfer from your parent's name to your own name)?

I still have some old recordings from before. Before the switch, I was able to view all of them including recordings from those channels that had been discontinued. After the switch, I could no longer view my older recordings, even from the channels that are still in the current package.
You're saying that all recordings from 1/4/24 are still there, but when you try to play it, some error message appears? If yes, what does the message says? Can provide a picture here?
Or those recordings that you're referring to, were disappeared from your My Library?
Which one?

If file a complaint to Astro customer service isn't working, then try file complaint to MCMC instead.

Alternatively, try use the Search function on your box and type one of your recorded programmes titles, see if you can stream it On Demand instead.

Try clear NVRAM to see if issue resolves:
https://support.astro.com.my/question/refre...-ultra-ulti-box

If issue persists, then it's time to contact customer service and replace your Ulti Box to a new one.

BREAKING: Astro Premier (CH110) to cease on 20 Nov 2024; Astro Warna (CH107) to cease on 3 Dec 2024, without any channel replacement


Source: Astro Media Solutions email newsletter
TLDR:

• Astro Premier (CH110) to cease on 20 Nov 2024, to merge with Astro Citra (CH108)
• Astro Warna (CH107) to cease on 3 Dec 2024, to merge with Astro Prima (CH105)
• According to Astro Media Solutions, the reason behind such channel cessation & merger can consolidate higher viewership ratings to the 2 channels, hence make it more appealing for advertisers to advertise their products on the 2 Astro in-house channels.

UPDATE: Effective 15 Jan 2025, you can now link Max account with your Astro subscription.
The info below are now outdated and no longer applicable.

---

Added on
PSA: Link your HBO GO account with Astro subscription NOW so you can login to Max from 19 Nov 2024

If you want to be able to login to Max through Astro subscription as Max launches on 19 Nov 2024, please read this:

If any of you are able to watch HBO channels on Astro (e.g. Movies Pack customer), but haven't create and/or link the HBO GO account with your Astro subscription, please do it ASAP.
Even if it has been ages since you last login to HBO GO, it's time to login the account and double check.
This is to ensure that you can login to Max app from 19 Nov 2024.
You will be using the same email address and password of your HBO GO account, to login to Max.

I got a reliable insider info which is similar as what previously shared by doubleM2 where for those who did not link their HBO GO account with Astro subscription by 17 Nov 2024, will NOT be able to link their Max account with Astro subscription as it launches on 19 Nov 2024.
This applies regardless if you subscribe to Movies Pack (or any packs that has Movies) before or after 19 Nov 2024.

Tip: If you can watch HBO channels on Astro now (e.g. CH411, 412, 414, 415...), it means your Astro subscription has Movies, hence you are eligible for HBO GO access (soon will become Max).

It has been told that all these is due to technical readiness from Astro's end (means they are technically not ready, due to other priorities), so those "late comers to Max app" will have to wait until around Jan/Feb 2025 to be able to link Max account with Astro subscription. (Note: May subject to date extension).
As an alternative, Astro will advise those "late comers" that they can still stream selected Max content through On Demand or Astro GO instead.
All existing Movies customers will be getting Max Standard plan, but due to the technical readiness mentioned earlier, there will be no upgrade option to Max Premium just yet, AND no option to subscribe Max Standard or Max Premium plans as a standalone app addon, until around Jan/Feb 2025 (Note: May subject to date extension).

Even if you previously linked HBO GO account with your Astro subscription, I strongly suggest you guys to double check to see if the HBO GO account is still remained linked with your Astro subscription before 17 Nov 2024.
This is how it looks like when the HBO GO account is successfully linked with Astro subscription:

https://www.hbogoasia.my/myaccount/billing

Do note that this is only affecting Astro customers.
If you are an Unifi TV customer and subscribed to a pack that includes Max app (e.g. Ultimate Max Pack, Ultimate Plus Pack, etc.), or any other touchpoints, then the above information shouldn't concern you.
Please share this important info to your family and friends who is an Astro customer subscribed to Movies, and is anticipating for Max to launch in Southeast Asia on 19 Nov 2024.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Jan 21 2025, 11:02 PM

As far as I know, there isn't a specific period where an auto logout will happen.
But when that really happens, it's very likely because they undergo some maintenance or some backend patches, which resulted some or all linked accounts to become unlinked.

So if you linked the HBO GO account with Astro long time ago, and haven't log in ever since, it's better that you try log it in now, to ensure that it is linked.
If it's already linked, then it should be good to go.

Most transponders are on DVB-S2 @ 74Mbps.
Almost all of their transponders are DVB-S2 with the FEC of 5/6. Only a few handful ones are uses FEC 3/4.
And there's 1 transponder is in DVB-S with the FEC of 7/8, and all are SD channels and radio channels.

The bitrate for each channel ranges from as low as 2.XMbps for some channels (1080i H.264), average 3-6Mbps, and would max up at 8Mbps - which explains the very poor picture quality.
Looking at the video bitrate data for HD channels from Astro's transponders will not be accurate to be referred to, because they uses statmux method (variable bitrate), so the bitrate will always fluctuate according to the video scene.
The low bitrate number you see there, is likely because it is captured when the video scene of that HD channel doesn't have much motion, or a static image.
So if you compare this with MYTV's, definitely it is not accurate.

But the bitrate for Astro's UHD channel, yes, you can refer that. It is accurate because it is CBR.

but we don't know if Astro is going to cut UHD bitrates when they launch more UHD linear channels (unlikely at this point).
Shhhhh... There could be Astro staffs here who is spying this thread. Don't give them such ideas, or else they'll propose this to the management as a way to "save cost"...
Then I will blame you first if that happens

8TV/TV9 is currently transmitting at 1.0Mbps (+ 352*576i combo, which explains the very poor picture quality that people are complaining here!)
Can you elaborate what you meant by "+ 352*576i combo"? What is the video dimensions?

For channels still on DVB-S, the channels have audio quality of 128kbps MP2. Radio channels are on 160kbps MP2.
For MP2 audio codec, 192kbps is the bare minimum. Anything lower than that, equals to rubbish audio quality...
I wonder who gave them the idea to use bitrate lower than 192kbps for MP2 audio codec

Netflix Malaysia Bumps Pricing Across All Subscription Tiers
https://www.facebook.com/lowyatdotnet/posts...4Mppit1fccy32Zl

https://www.lowyat.net/2024/337344/netflix-...icing-nov-2024/
https://soyacincau.com/2024/11/14/netflix-m...rice-hike-2024/
The price hike are starting effective today for new or rejoiners. Existing users will pay the new price on the next billing cycle.

Netflix Premium Upgrade definitely need to pay extra one. There's no free Premium plan from Astro.
But just today, Netflix announced price hikes across all of their plans.
It's just a matter of time, bro...

According to Soyacincau article:
https://soyacincau.com/2024/11/14/netflix-m...rice-hike-2024/

Looks like we're going to see a price hike for Astro packs that has Netflix bundled in it, starting 1 Mar 2025.

Astro: No Price Change For Netflix Bundled Plans Until 1 March 2025
https://www.facebook.com/lowyatdotnet/posts...cJ8vWjBhKMjm7kl

https://www.lowyat.net/2024/337358/astro-ne...g-announcement/


This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 14 2024, 02:02 PM

Enjoy while it lasts.
It's not that they generous, and I'm pretty certain it's not because Astro absorb it.
It must be some mutual agreement have happened between Netflix and Astro...
All this are related to commercial/business agreement stuff, like Netflix will be charging to Astro on the new rates a bit later, hence the 1 March 2025 date.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Nov 14 2024, 02:12 PM

One of the reason I can think of is, they want to use different font.
I also notice that Astro seems to changing fonts here and there, especially since the day they use the Mulish font, around early this year 2024 if not mistaken.
Astro logo now has somehow been using a different font than previous, which appeared out of nowhere, then now all their in-house channels will undergo channel logo revamp, which standardises the font they use at the same time.

I suspect part of the reason, is also the fonts they use. It could be due to some commercial licensing issue from using all of their previous fonts

And another reason I can think of, is also to streamline the template of the channel idents.

No, I think you guys got it wrong...

If your Netflix standalone addon is billed through Astro, then the price hike will take effect on next billing cycle.
But if you get Netflix subscription through Astro bundles (Entertainment Plus Pack, Movies Plus Pack, Sports Plus Pack, Premium 2, Premium 3, Platinum Pack...), then you'll experience some price hike from 1 March 2025 onwards.

Hope that clarifies.

I contacted the Astro CS thru web chat. It's quite the contrary. The agent stated that we MUST change to new packs in order to actually upgrade our legacy box. I asked if he's sure and he still said that upgrade can not be made as long as we're in legacy packs. And then he proceeded to give me the November 2021 statement saying about the new packs.
It seems that the CS agent aren't aware of the free box swap campaign for legacy pack customers at all.
When you said "Astro CS thru web chat", you mean you did a live chat with them through the chatbot widget in astro.com.my? Or somewhere else?

Wasn't astro actually giving out free box upgrades to legacy package paying 100+? I kept asking and he never said yes.
This free box swap campaign is eligible only for customer who are still on the legacy packs (if you upgrade to new packs now, then you'll become ineligible to this free box swap campaign), and your monthly subscription must be at least RM60 and above. Those below RM60 ones are not eligible, regardless how many years you've subscribed to Astro.

Monthly fee between RM60 to RM99.99 will be getting Ulti Box, while those RM100 and above would be getting Ultra Box.
Default installation method (especially if you tell them you have Internet at home) will be Plug & Play. If you wish to continuing using satellite dish to watch TV channels upon getting the box swap, you must tell them specifically you want Satellite before they create your box swap order in the system, so that they'll process it accordingly.

The friend that you're referring to, what pack did he/she subscribed to, and how much is he paying for Astro now (excl. tax).

As far as I remember, this free box swap campaign has been ongoing since last year 2023

Yes. The live chat via astro.com.my. I did keep some screenshots because I wanted to show my friend. But since the answer was not what I was expecting I didn't send him.
Would you mind share all the screenshots here?

My friend is still on legacy pack (Super Pack I believe). He's paying 130 ish
Then your friend should be eligible for the free box swap campaign, and can get Ultra Box already.

I'm quite confused on how did an agent did not know what's going on and proceed to give an outdated info from November 2021. I was shocked to hear that he insisted that we MUST change to new packs in order for the swap to happen.

2 possible reasons:
One, that agent are not up to date with the latest information happening on Astro, which is NOT supposed to happen, yet it happens, and I'm not surprised.
Two, the agent conveniently assume that customers won't know there's such thing as free box swap campaign, and simply upsell customers to the new packs (upselling stuff is always good for the company anyway), because if the customer upgrades to the new pack with the help of the agent, that agent would likely to earn higher commission compared to successful takeups from the free box swap campaign.

Do note that this is just possibilities, not accusing ya.

Next time can come here and verify information also 😂😂... Who knows some of us here know better than some of their subpar agents.

That agent seems clueless about the campaign.

But I see BOX ENQUIRIES instead.
Anyway, NimalKumar you can tell your friend to try this CH200 method.

He made the chat today and again oddly this time the whasapp chat agent said can only get Plug n Play and not satellite as it will impose 2 yr contract ..???

Then evening today after being fed up and cancel the box another agent called and said the previous one is a new staff so she dk the offer.
Oh dear.... What a coincidence that he get to communicate with a new staff that has no idea about this campaign...
I start to suspect that their customer service team may be are experiencing "high turnover, yet high recruitment" situation.

and agreed to have a 1year contract for the box (package no changes). Ultrabox.
He insisted to proceed with Satellite, right? Ultra Box or Ulti Box?
Your friend subscribed to which legacy pack, and how much is he/she paying per month now?

Why does the Ultra box feel (choppy) when tuned in. You need to change to another channel and then return in order for the weird choppy effect to go.

By choppy I mean its like running on 15fps.
First of all, can confirm whether:
1) Are you on Plug & Play mode or Satellite?
2) Have you tried rebooting the box?
3) If persists, since when this issue started to happen?
4) What other troubleshooting steps have you tried?