At first dannychen previously shared on January that he managed to downgrade from Value Pack to Starter Pack:
And then on February, he said his downgrade request from Value Pack to Starter Pack is being reversed.
Back then, I almost thought they might have quietly changed their business rules, but turns out it's not.
Based on what I've known for a long time is, Astro don't allow downgrades from legacy pack to another legacy pack.
I suspect that particular Astro staff is not well versed enough on their business rules, and made a mistake by telling customers (in this case is dannychen) that the agent can do downgrade within different legacy packs.
And once their managers found out, they reverse dannychen's downgrade order in the system.

This is not surprising to me because it is already a known thing to me since forever that some sleeping Astro CS agents tend to give wrong info to customers one.

As what you previously shared, your current package now is

Value Pack 2 RM80.00 + Kids RM12.00 = RM92.00 + 8% Service tax = Total RM99.36

They offer you RM25 rebate, correct? I'm guessing, that rebate lasts for 24 months?
So it's: Value Pack 2 RM80.00 + Kids RM12.00 - RM25 retention rebate = RM67.00 + 8% Service tax = Total RM72.36

Astro don't allow downgrades from legacy pack to another legacy pack.
That CS agent made a mistake with dannychen, so I suggest you just forget about the idea of downgrade to Starter Pack because that is not possible.
Let's move forward and focus on what are the options available for you now:

Option 1: Retain your existing subscription, and accept that RM25 monthly retention rebate
Value Pack 2 RM80.00 + Kids RM12.00 - RM25 retention rebate for 24 months = RM67.00 + 8% Service tax = Total RM72.36

Option 2: Move to Astro One: Entertainment Pack, and then add-on Kids RM9.99
Astro One: Entertainment Pack (RM49.99) + Kids RM9.99 = RM59.98 + 8% Service tax = Total RM64.78
If you go for this option, you'd get 24 months contract.

Since your Sports Plus Pack has an ongoing 24 months contract, if you attempt to move to other pack and resulted in a lower total monthly fee, you will need to pay prorated penalty fee based on unfinished months.

Or nothing I can do now until my contract ends in Oct 2026?
Short answer is yes.

Can.
That one won't affect your contract.

ohh too bad suspended value pack to started pack already stop stupid astro
Hello, not suspended, okay? It's clearly agent's mistake. Don't get it wrong.

no other tips for reduce bill right
No other tips unless you don't add Kids, then save RM9.99

Since you go for a pack that is less than RM99.99, therefore you're not eligible for free upgrade to Ultra Box.

If you insist, you'll need to pay installation fee.

If i remember correctly is RM150.
You can ask the CS agent to double confirm.

This post has been edited by joshhd: May 8 2025, 01:36 PM

Of course you can join the conversation.

Short answer is Yes

Ulti Box supports maximum 1080p Full HD output, while Ultra Box supports 2160p 4K Ultra HD output.
From there, you can conclude that Ultra Box has a better hardware specs, and tend to have an overall better performance than Ulti Box.

This post has been edited by joshhd: May 8 2025, 09:32 PM

I have one account with me which was downgraded from Wah Pack to Starter Pack successfully.
I've double checked with my sources, and I can confirm that as of today, they don't allow downgrades between legacy pack to another legacy pack.
Since yours were somehow managed to successfully downgraded back in Jan 2025, then probably it's either you were the lucky batch ones, or it could be that agent genuinely made a mistake, but the manager just close one eye on it, and then lecture all of their agents to never make such mistake again.
Also, their retention offer mechanism may change from time to time, so... a lot of possibilities there

Another account for my sister (free Ultrabox and free Ultibox) with discounts and another account for my mother in law only discounts no change of decoder. All three accounts have different offers. It is all depending on different agents that I have spoken to and all three accounts have different legacy pack due to different channel requirements.
The amount of their retention offer's monthly rebate varies on pack and/or monthly subscription price, so what you described is true.

There is no such thing as I give you my account number and you go to bargain it with Astro kind of things. It is all depending on individual negotiation skills and which agent pick up your call. There have 101 answers to same question I believe.
Of course.
Generally, if you tell them you want to terminate Astro because you'll be migrating to other country for a long time, then of course they won't propose any retention offer to you.
Therefore, use the "I'm facing financial difficulties" excuse is still the universally accepted one.

Thanks for the update

I even showed him the screenshots when it was happening but he doesn't seem to focus on what I'm showing.
Sadly in this case he seemed to be in a hurry and didn't even see what I'm showing him.
Well, that is how a typical installer who has this kind of mindset look like:
Lesser time in each site visit = able to attend more sites = more income for them = customer no complain means all ok = empathy put aside

I have this habit of recording an issue when its happening so that the technician can see what's wrong
This is a good habit to have. Keep it up

---

Added on
I'd like to clarify with you:

Sadly my 50 ringgit byebye la even though it was an alignment issue.
I was speechless for a moment and it clicked in my mind that he isn't gonna care since this visit is FOC.
You said RM50 is gone, then later you say this visit is FOC? What is that RM50 about?

He came to check the issue and then proceeded to climb up to check the satellite reception.
Then he climbed for the 3rd time and aligned the dish...
So that installer climbed up 3 times? What did he do on the second time?

First time: Re-terminate (retrim) the satellite cable
Second time: ?
Third time: Perform satellite dish realignment

he actually swapped the transponder settings to 'Universal'.
Earlier you mentioned when the installer climbed up the roof to do realignment on the dish, did he replace a new LNB?
If you are able to see your satellite dish, do you see a change in colour of your LNB right now? If yes, what colour was it previously, and what is it now?
Also, you don't have Multiroom (Box) connected to the same satellite dish, right?

He was ignoring my query and kept saying Green means updating.
It is true that green light means updating. The thing is, do you see it on your TV that your Ultra Box is really performing software update when the front panel LED light shows green?
If not, what do you see on your TV screen when the front panel LED light is showing green/blue light? And do you know how to reproduce that issue?

i already ask about ulti box to ultra box satellite RM199 lol
Oh, then I think I've mistaken it with some other stuff

we done Option 2: Move to Astro One: Entertainment Pack, and then add-on Kids RM9.99
All right. Enjoy your new Astro One pack.
At least you'll be paying lesser than the amount you pay previously.

Hmmmm... Next time, tell installer to realign the dish and also the rotate the whole LNB position (LNB skew) first and see if the signal reading improves, rather than replace whole new cable first, then only do the realignment.
Who knows, your old satellite cable might actually still works fine (which I think it's likely still works fine)...

I still told him that he is seeing 2 wires that have seen flood waters for multiple times and asked if that might be the issue.
Anyway, since the installer replaced a new cable for you, then just treat it as if like you pay RM50 to the installer as their "additional wages".

He was trying to wrap up as long as the signal is there and he hears the channel play.
Typical installer lah. They do things the "shortcut" way, want to "finish work fast, and then quickly go to the next customer's house".

By right, the proper way is they got to double check the satellite signal readings using a signal meter device, make sure to make fine tune adjustments on the satellite dish and/or LNB skew until the signal readings shows highest possible.
But for most installers, they just aim for 70-80% reading, rather than 90% and above (which is actually achievable).
FYI, my CNR reading could go between 20-21dB on Measat 3d transponders. It is achievable if you slowly fine tune the dish position and the LNB skew.
But because most installers, especially for existing customers with existing satellite dish, they want "fast" or "troublesome to bring the signal meter device with them", hence most of them skip this step, and all they care about, is "as long got picture appear" (able to view TV channels), then jalan already, which exactly fits the description of what you've experienced with that installer.

CNR : 16.9 - 17.4
Ah, this is great already.

why no answer for 'Blue'? He had no answer and said since now it's pink again it should be okay.
Of course... Even I myself, never see my Ultra Box showing "blue" colour also, and I have no idea what that means

The cyan/blue light, does it appear during normal TV viewing, or only when the box is on standby mode (press power button on Astro remote control)?

Have you tried clear NVRAM to see if the weird cyan/blue LED light issue resolves?
https://support.astro.com.my/question/refre...-ultra-ulti-box

However I noticed that sometimes the box runs the channels (Live Channels) as if it was ran in 15fps video.
Does it happen whenever you do Live Pause or Play from Start, where it appears poor picture quality for the first 5 seconds, then 5 seconds later it looks okay?

I'm guessing it's likely your Ultra Box hardware issue.
Contact customer service, tell them issue persists even after you've done clearing NVRAM, then request to replace new Ultra Box for you.

No use telling installer directly. Box related issue and satellite reception issue is separate.
You'll need to tell customer service, then they'll assign job to installer, then they'll get paid after completing the job of replacing your Ultra Box.
The installer came and fix your satellite reception issue, and they get paid for that. But they don't get paid for replacing new Ultra Box for you. Get what I mean?

Just contact customer service again.

Based on the pics, it looks like Universal LNB to me.

Unlike those days, Astro don't provide dCSS LNB to every Ultra Box customers anymore.
Universal LNB now works perfectly for Ultra Box as well.
Nowadays, they only provide dCSS LNB to those who have Multiroom (Box) as it is necessary when cable splitter is used to split the signals to multiple Astro boxes that connects to the same satellite dish.
If your satellite dish only connects to 1 Astro box, then Universal LNB already good enough.

Am I fooled here? I remembered during 2023 they came to replace the Lnb and set to dCSS ??? damn I'm pissed here.
You can double check with that technician directly. But there is a possibility that your dCSS LNB was faulty (which is why you faced the signal issue), that's why they replaced it.

In other words, any LNB faulty replacements will be Universal LNB if you don't have Multiroom box.

Generally, there won't be noticeable impact on your viewing whether you're using either Universal LNB or dCSS LNB, so no need to feel pissed about that.

doesn't Astro state that the Ultrabox needs dCSS to be able to receive channels? That's what I remembered at least.
That is true in the past, but no longer true today.
DCSS LNB is no longer mandatory for Ultra Box since end-2022. Read this for more info: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...#entry106111484

This is a shocking news to hear that we are running on Universal LNB too. If that's the case I'll revert the settings to Universal then.
Yes. On your Satellite Settings, you'll need to make sure the LNB Type setting is set to Universal.
If you use Universal LNB on your satellite dish, but your "LNB Type" setting is in dCSS, you may experience SCNA/Switch to Continuous Viewing message on certain channels.

1. when the box asking a yes no question when we tune to another channel after clicking the 'Switch Now' button.
The "Would you like to stay on this programme?" message with a Yes and No option, will appear when you are not watching the Live broadcast of the TV channel you're currently watching.
Common reasons is because you tried to either "Play from Start", or "Switch to Continuous Viewing" or you pause/rewind the TV channel earlier on.

That message is to remind you before you try to tune to other channel that:
- You are NOT watching the Live broadcast of the channel
- If you select No (means proceed to tune to other channel), it will discard the playback you were watching earlier.

For example:
1) The live programme airs on 8:00pm to 9:00pm.
2) At 8:40pm, you press "Play from Start" or "Pause" on your Astro remote. This means you're no longer watching the live moment — you're now watching from an earlier point.
3) From this point on, if you try to switch to another channel, a message will appear: "Would you like to stay on this programme?"
4) This happens even if the programme hasn't ended yet, because you're watching a delayed version.
5) If you select No, that playback will be discarded, and you won’t be able to continue watching it from where you left off — unless you rewind all over again, or you’ve recorded it and choose to watch it from your recordings.

Remember, the moment you Play from Start or Live Pause, it means the viewing is no longer "live" as what the rest of the people watches the channel anymore.

And it is considered a general practice among pay TV providers that such message would appear when tuning to other channel, because it is to prevent accidental channel switching.

(Elderly find it extremely annoying not being able to switch channel)
You got to guide the elderly that when they see this message, it means whatever they see on the screen now is not the "live" channel, and it is asking you to double confirm whether you really want to tune to other channel or not.
If they're sure that they don't want to watch this channel anymore, just select No.

2. Astro not automatically changing to Plug and Play when the weather is not good outside. (Like why must I click 'Switch Now' for this to work...)
Not exactly sure why. Probably is to get consent from the user that they want to temporarily continue watching the channel via Internet connection instead of satellite.

3. Astro Ultra UI starting at the Home page where it randomly starts playing the video preview.
Likely because Astro want to force encourage people to explore their On Demand content library; create public awareness that viewers can stream more shows via On Demand.
Otherwise, we all would keep complain that the TV channels programming keep repeating non-stop (which is true, especially non-Astro channels which pay TV providers like Astro have little to no control over it).

It is a way to urge you to explore their On Demand content library first; you can pick and watch your shows from there.
Even for those who don't know that they can stream shows through On Demand there, will get to know that they're able to do so.
It's like flash it on your face "Nah ambik kau, watch it On Demand".

As for the preview autoplay feature, it's basically Astro "copying" what Netflix and other streaming apps been doing.
It auto-plays a short clip or trailer from that show, to get your attention, make you interested to watch that show.
Otherwise, we all would keep complain "Astro got nothing to watch, other than sports".

(If someone has a way to prevent that please teach me)
As of today, there is no setting to disable preview autoplay.

Why cant it just land at Channel 100 or whatever channel it was playing before.
Tip: When you're on that On Demand home page, you can just guide the elderly to just straightaway press the channel number that they want to watch, and it'll tune to the channel right away.
No need to purposely press "Back" button to exit to the main TV viewing screen.

This post has been edited by joshhd: May 12 2025, 05:10 PM

Yeah, I got the info that there'll be 5 channels that will cease on 1 June as well.

To narrow down your guesses:

- All 5 channels are English language channels
- It is not Astro in-house channels
- It affects Astro, NJOI and sooka.
- One of the channel, is a sports channel

Anyone want to guess what would be the 5 channels...?

This post has been edited by joshhd: May 16 2025, 09:55 PM

Why do you think it's HBO channels?

Who remembers this 2 whole books about Astro Ultra? Now you only get pamphlet style papers.
Since we all don't want to pay so much money to Astro every month, so they save cost.

I was comparing the specs and saw the only downgrade being the removal of USB 3.0 and MicroSD slot.
It is believed that the USB 3.0 port on Ultra Box v1 (SFH1) was previously meant for external hard disk recording, but that feature never get to launch commercially.
For the microSD slot, no idea what's the purpose of that, and we never get to use it anyway, so no impact for us.

Kinda miss the OG Ultrabox remote (the one that won awards idk..).
To me, that award is more like to acknowledge the designer's efforts of that very first Ultra Box remote control, giving the "overrated" feel.
But practically, it means nothing to most consumers.

Still no clue why the remote lights up itself (ik motion sensor but what does it contribute)
For the current Ultra Box remote control, when it detects movement (like being picked up), it automatically turns on the button backlight, making it easier to see the keys in the dark.
This will benefit for those who watches TV at night with all the room lights off (like a cinema), or for people who are having vision/eyesight problems.

Some modern, higher end TV remote controls tend to have that, so it's not really unique to Astro only.

Yes correct. The 5 channels that is ceasing on 1 June are:

- Animal Planet (CH556)
- Food Network (CH708)
- Warner TV (CH712)
- DMAX (CH716)
- Eurosport (CH825)

All of these channels belongs from a company called Warner Brothers Discovery.
It is believed that the cessation are highly influenced by business strategies from Warner Brothers Discovery, to drive more viewers to continue streaming their documentaries using Max app (soon to be called, HBO Max).

As for live sports coverage pertaining to Eurosport, Max (HBO Max) already been offering live sports coverage in Western countries like the US, Europe and Latin America, so it is possible that live sports coverage would come to Max (HBO Max) in Asia Pacific sooner or later.
We see this happening on Netflix already, so I won't be surprised to see this on Max (HBO Max) in the future.

This post has been edited by joshhd: May 17 2025, 03:38 PM

Not all VOD shows has Addressable Advertising.
Did you compare by watching the same show/episode on both Ultra Box and Multiroom Smart TV platform, to see if ads do appear?