Did Astro auto sign me up to disney+? My monthly bill went up by RM5 before tax.

HAHAHAHHA.... TV1 hijacked Fam Movies channel entirely 🤣🤣🤣🤣
   

   
Hard-coded Malay subtitles are actually from TV1 channel itself.
But the English subtitles is from Fam Movies (which I can turn on/off). So the video and audio track meant for Fam Movies, go where already? 😂 Only the subtitle track remains?

Currently on Fam Movies channel, only English (Stereo) audio track has sound from TV1.
English (Dolby), Multiple (Stereo) and Multiple (Dolby) audio tracks are silent.

I see don't have also? Or I missed that?

When you see weird stuff like that, quickly take photo and post it here 😁😁😁

Yes, you will be bound with 24 months contract upon upgrading to Ultra Box, or prorated penalty charges of RM1000-1500 applies (excl SST) if terminate within contract period.
For Astro & Broadband / Astro IPTV users, the prorated penalty charges will be RM2400 (excl SST).

Whether you would be bound with package contract or not, it depends on what package you're changing, and when did you change it (sometimes package contract can be in seasonal basis).
For example let's say if you subscribe to any packages that has Sports pack now, so happen UEFA Euro 2020 is going on, then it will trigger an either 3 months / 12 months contract just for the Sports pack alone.
Another example, whoever subscribes to Movies pack now, you will be bound with 12 months contract, thanks to the Disney+ Hotstar entitlement, even if you don't use it.

If you change or downgrade to a lower tier package, and if the contract period for that package hasn't over yet, then prorated penalty charges applies.
For example, both Value Packs and Starter Packs has 6 months package contract.
So last month you just subscribed to Value Pack, and then suddenly now you want to downgrade to Starter Pack. Ah, then you kena penalty lor...

Another scenario is, imagine today is 14 July 2021. Last month you subscribed to Starter Pack, and then now you want to upgrade to Super Pack Lite (Sports).
Even though the 6 months contract of Starter pack haven't over yet, but you want to upgrade package, sure no problem. No penalty charges cuz Astro will waive it for you. 
Lol... Yeah, what did the CS agent told you is true 
As what I know is, there is 2 types of contract on Astro, one is the contract for the Astro box itself, another is the bundle package itself. Make sure you don't confuse the two.

As long you don't perform any package changes on your account where that particular package has contract (including upgrading, downgrading, or swap/change packages), then it won't "trigger" any new package contract one.
So if you upgrade/downgrade/replace your Astro box whatsoever, then it will "trigger" a new contract just for the particular Astro box.
Unless if it is a exceptional case or in certain circumstances, they can choose not to impose any new contract for you due to replacement of your Astro box (e.g. faulty unit).

If you're using PVR box now, and thinking of upgrading to Ultra Box, read this: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...ost&p=100498320

Shouldn't be an issue.
Astro will ask you: "Why do you want to downgrade your package?"

So what do you plan to answer to that question? 

Yes it does the trick.
Some other forumer previously shared with us that by telling them that you're facing some financial constraints, they would offer you some customer retention offers.
It could be in the form of monthly rebates, like some RM___ rebates x 12/24 months, something like that. Or it could be free channel previews on certain package/channels for X number of days.
Don't expect monthly rebates that lasts forever la. So after the 12/24 months period is over, it'll revert back to the original package price.

This one you need to call their customer service hotline directly, 03-95433838.
If you PM them, email them, WhatsApp-ing them, or anything other than calling them, they won't layan you one. They'll still tell you to call 03-95433838.
So if you want them to give you retention offer, you got to be more hardworking a bit, and be patient waiting on the line. Of course Astro hopes that customers are impatient, and eventually give up the idea of calling them la.
Do ask whether the particular offer has other T&C or not, like is there a 12/24 months contract or penalty charges, or not?

And please don't be dumb smart and ask "Oi Astro, propose me some customer retention offers please." You need to be creative with that. 

But before you proceed to do that, try to think in other way round.
If you open a business, and your business is already facing financial struggles, yet you ought to propose customer retention offers to customers that wants to pay less to you, because you don't want to lose them or disappoint them as a loyal paying premium customer.
How does that make you feel? Is it ethical? Or you won't care? The choice is yours lah. 

Or, just tell them you're not interested with the customer retention offers, and just proceed downgrading to Super Pack Lite packs or Value Packs, and then pay a one-off RM10.60 switching fee. Case closed.
Small matters like these, no need suka suka MCMC one...
Reserve those MCMC cases for big issues like quality of service, programme repeats, unnecessary censor here there, suddenly Go Shop appear on my favourite channels, stuff like that. 

I guess is no, since Super Pack Plus already has Movies pack in it.

Why not you ask the customer service instead? It's not that I can help you do it also 

HAHAHAH maybe they know you're expecting customer retention offers 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Btw does it take long time for an agent to attend you? Or you've waited 10+ minutes on the line earlier?

And yes, package changes (regardless if it's downgrade or change packages) will only take effect on the next billing cycle one.
Unless if you upgrade package, then it will be effective immediately, with prorated charges until your next billing day.

What you mean "when you hear ch200"? 

Wah, no one in the queue? So good ah? What a rare sight  Good, good, keep it up 
Cuz the impression that I have with Astro customer service hotline, is always busy one.

So they proceed to downgrade your package from Super Pack Plus to Super Pack Lite (Movies) pack for you, with no questions asked?
And then advise you on the RM10.60 switching fee as well, I suppose? And then "thank you, bye bye"? That's it?

Measat 3 is getting far and far away from its original orbital position of 91.5°E 

The satellite is like "loitering" around space, and now it's at approx. 84.8 °E, as if the satellite has lost control and it just can't get back to its original position...

On the other note, because of Measat 3 satellite outage, certain deep rural/remote areas like Sarawak and others, have been facing mobile coverage outage, since some mobile telcos relies on satellite backhaul through Measat 3 satellite (C band).

Example, from Celcom. https://www.celcom.com.my/support/network-checker
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/telecommun...-mcmc-DE8071757

If Measat 3 is 'no more' for real, then Astro is gonna have bandwidth constraints...
...until Measat 3d satellite launches in 2022.

- 14 HD channels per transponder
I see Astro have been squeezing 14 HD channels per transponder (FEC 5/6) now, yet I don't see perceivable picture quality drop on its HD channels (except all sports channels, especially during fast motion scenes).
Picture compression artifacts is there, but do you think it somehow gets worse, or still the same, or better a bit, knowing that now they squeezed 14 HD channels per transponder? 
Ah, maybe it's related to this? 😂😂

Also, thankfully, almost all (not entirely all) redundant Dolby 5.1 audio tracks has been removed, although I still wonder why the heck Go Shop channels still has Dolby 5.1 audio
I never see Astro has been that efficient in utilising its satellite bandwidth before, with almost no empty spare channels left Well done  :thumbsup: 

- All Astro First & Best channels have been migrated to High Ku band (11.7-12.75GHz)
That is if so happen you wish to rent Astro First & Best movies, yet you're using HD box or NJOI box, yet you see the SCNA message appears when tune to CH480, 481, and any Astro First/Best channels, contact Astro customer service for further advice.
I believe only a minority of people would care and affected about this 

- The issue of poorer audio quality on few SD channels, still persists.
Nothing changed since then. https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...ost&p=101578415
I guess probably they've maxed out the entire transponder bandwidth until the point it can't even slightly increase the audio bitrate?
Maybe they could consider remove the secondary "Multiple" audio track for Astro Xiao Tai Yang, Vellithirai, Tutor TV SPM, and then salvage them by increasing audio bitrate on some SD channels back to 192kbps?
Cuz as far as I remember, I don't think the 3 channels mentioned has programmes with multiple audio dubs in it... I see they removed Astro AEC (346) one, but what about the others? 

TAMPA, Fla. — Malaysian operator Measat has likely lost control of an aging satellite that has been drifting westward in geostationary orbit for nearly a month, according to analysts at space tracking company ExoAnalytic Solutions.

Measat-3 appears to have made several in-orbit maneuvers after beginning to drift June 22, but “none since our analysts confirmed on July 1 that it was tumbling,” said ExoAnalytic Solutions executive vice president of engineering Bill Therien.

“It’s rare to see one come back from this stage,” Therien told SpaceNews.

MEASAT, in a statement released earlier today maintain that they still have command and control of Measat-3, but confirm that all services on the troubled satellite is now being handled by co-located MEASAT and other third party satellites serving the region.

Errr... It depends on the channel/content, and how your TV or A/V equipment processes the Dolby audio input.... 
If your TV's audio settings has the option that goes by the name of "Auto Volume" or "Volume Normalisation", try turn it on.

Hmm turned that on in the sound bar settings already, switching it on/off doesn’t seem to make it loud as the non-Dolby audio track.

Connected via hdmi ARC( ultra box > LG TV > soundbar(HDMI ARC))

The soundbar only has hdmi 1.4 input and output for HDMI

In that case, then I'm not sure already... 

Audio bitrate wise, Astro is quite consistent with the bitrate setting used for HD channels (64kbps HE-AAC & 384kbps AC3), except certain SD channels now (MP2 192kbps vs MP2 128kbps)...

I can't confirm whether is it Astro's own audio stream issue or not.
But as for me, I did enable the "Auto Volume" setting on my TV audio settings (built-in speakers), and I also use my 5.1 home theatre system to enjoy the Dolby 5.1 audio, so far I hadn't notice obvious volume changes even when I change in between Stereo and Dolby 5.1 tracks.

It seems your TV is the root cause of the inconsistent volume levels when changing between Stereo and 5.1 track.

Since your sound bar doesn't support HDCP 2.2, then your option is:
1) Connect Digital Optical cable from Ultra Box to your soundbar.
2) Use a HDMI splitter that completely remove/strip off HDCP 2.2, like this one: https://shopee.com.my/product/152405931/622...31-1626845793.9

Ultra Box > HDMI splitter > Soundbar > TV.

- Any other routers to recommend for this kind of IPTV services (supports VLAN / IPTV stuffs)?
That one I don't have recommendations. After all, the good quality third party routers out there usually allows user to configure VLAN if needed, so those should work fine.
VLAN tagging ID for Astro IPTV (Maxis Fibre) is VLAN 823.

If you want to subscribe to Astro IPTV, then you better decide fast, cuz I've been told that Astro may be planning to stop allowing anyone from subscribing to Astro IPTV starting 1 October 2021 in favour over its Plug & Play service.

Well, I did highlight about this previously. It is something that we have to expect to happen from time to time.
Anyway, I tried streaming some Astro Go earlier. Seems fine to me.