Your HDD is corrupted. Your symptoms are same as mine. Cannot record, pvr functionality not available, no VOD. I reported to them and they gave me a new set of  astro PVR. Problem solved.  At that time, astro ultra did not exist yet.

Be aware about the warranty. If you are out of warranty, maybe got to pay for the new pvr. Ask them in advance about this.

Absolutely no. You do not own Astro box at all, and they have the rights for you to collect it back from you.
Unless you're using Njoi, then they don't care. Even if it's spoil, they rather let you throw it away. Your business.

Astro will ask you why you want to terminate.
They'll usually let you keep the Astro PVR box, so that in case when you want to activate it in the future, or they counter offer you some promotions like free preview many channels but pay at low price for certain period, you can still use that Astro box. Basically the business strategy is, it is still better than you are no longer paying them any money.

If you tell them you are so damn determined that you don't want Astro anymore, or you're migrating to overseas, then they'll need you to return the Astro box, or else pay penalty, even if contract is over.

See that? If they let you keep, means they are "putting hope" on you that you can activate the account again in the future.
If they see that your reasons of terminating the service is like, you hate Astro so much, Astro too many repeated shows, totally not interested in keeping the Astro box, like literally "no hope" anymore, then they'll order you to return it back, or else you pay the penalty.
And that might include dismantling satellite dish to some extent.

Need help to dismantle or want Astro installer to come and collect back? You got to pay for the dismantling and collection fees, or you bring it to the nearest Astro service centre. 
Unless they put your case an exception to waive the fees. So yeah, it's case-to-case basis.

If I would terminate Astro, I'll just talk nicely to them, so that I can keep the Astro box to give them some "hope" that I might resume their service in the future, even if I'm no longer interested to continue Astro service in the future whatsoever. That way, I won't "feel punished" as they forced customers to return the Astro box and other equipment back to them, like giving you so much hassle to proceed with the termination process.
So it's like, if you don't trouble people too much (by terminating their service; their income reduced bcuz of you), then they don't trouble you too much. It's kinda reciprocal la basically.

What to do? It's called business strategy. Cost effective. Who don't want their business to be cost effective? 

They have the resources. But they want to reduce the cost, to optimise their spending better.
If money is all they think about, then they might as well go invest in other kinds of business, like some stocks, invest in properties, or something else.
Don't come and let customer suffer. Picture quality are just one thing. There's many other problems.

Since they operate a pay TV business, then it is their responsibility to provide good service to customers, and that starts with improving their overall service quality.
They don't seem to prioritise on what can they do when customers are unhappy, without affecting their monthly income.

If you tell them you're not happy, you want a bill rebate, you will realise the world suddenly become silence. You'll get what I mean. Nobody wants to lose money.
Then at the end, you will realise, it's better that you "let it go, let it go..." like the Frozen movie. Give up and embrace that crap service is your only option.
They can't satisfy everyone anyway. "So we should be grateful on whatever services they offer." 

That depends on how you gonna have a sweet talk to Astro.
Err, if they deactivate/suspend your account, it's likely that they will restrict you from watching any channels, not even Njoi's free channels.
The dismantle satellite dish (not disc), is case-to-case basis. They might just want the Astro box back, but satellite dish just leave it there, cuz still can reuse it when you want to use Astro again in the future.

You can request to convert your account to Njoi, with a fee of course. As for how much, you ask and double confirm with Astro.
Then you shall able to use back your existing Astro PVR box, and satellite dish. By right, no technician shall come and visit your house to convert to Njoi.
Why? Feeling disappointed already? 😏

hi guys...i want to ask something...before this my astro subscription is family pack hd+sports+1 mini =RM122.90...but today i got december bill suddenly my bill become s value pack 4 =RM113.40...all my channel remain the same except i got 3 more channel...tayangan hebat thangathirai and celestial movies...im worried because i get more channel and my bill is cheaper...astro never told me anything about this change

Once you switched to Njoi, you can't use PVR functions anymore, and you can no longer watch your previously recorded programmes. They will disable it for your account.
Alternatively, you can consider cancel all Astro packages you have, then remain Astro Family pack + Dynasty pack = Total RM81.95/month
Do note that this does not include HD service.

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What you're seeing on TVB Classic channel now (as shown on picture below), is called windowboxed. Nothing gonna do with Ultra Box or your TV problem. As usual, it is Astro's own problem.


This is how it looks like on 4:3 TV (old, big and fat CRT TV)


This is how it looks like on 16:9 TV (flat screen TV, HD TV, UHD TVs like what you see today)

Don't contact Astro customer service and tell them about this windowbox, black bars, this and that...
They'll just tell you to use Astro remote control, press the aspect ratio button and make sure it's "Fit to screen", change to "LB Expand", make sure the TV Size is "16:9".
Still doesn't solve the issue? If you talk somemore, they'll arrange a technician to visit to your house to check, and charge you RM65 technical service fee. This is so Astro.
Basically, it's a waste of time. Relating irrelevant stuff. Be a smart consumer. Don't do that.  :thumbsup:

So how come channels like TVB Classic, Asian Action Channel (ch327), TVB Classic Movies (ch328) has this windowboxed problem? Here's why:

Firstly, there's this 2 common and basic aspect ratio used for TVs, which is 4:3 (pronounce as "four-by-three") and 16:9 (pronounce as "sixteen-by-nine").

Aspect ratio	How does picture shape look like?	Where is it commonly seen and used?
4:3	Square shape, like old CRT TVs	Old TV shows in SD quality
16:9	Rectangular, or widescreen, just like the HD or UHD TV you see today	Today's TV shows in HD or UHD quality

*4:3's "square" shape size are not to be confused with "Square" or "1:1" size as what you commonly see in photo sharing platforms like Instagram.

So far understand?
However, as channels are moving towards HD broadcasting, they have to transmit it in 16:9. So when it comes to displaying 4:3 content, there's some technical conflict that many people not aware of (in harsher words, lazy to bother).

1) The actual channel from channel provider is in 16:9 aspect ratio (presumably in HD), which looks like this:



Because TVB Classic now broadcasts in native 16:9 aspect ratio, but because old TV shows (HK series) are in 4:3 aspect ratio, the channel provider (TVB) puts a letterbox (black bars) on left and right sides, so that the shape won't be stretched and distorted like below:



*Simulated image of how it looks like if there's no letterbox used when showing a 4:3 shows on a 16:9 TV screen.
You like what you see? Well, some people don't mind as long it's "fit my entire 16:9 TV screen", even if the picture will turn out fat, huge and out of shape.

2) So now you know the channel provider transmits the channel in 16:9, but Astro did not change any display aspect ratio settings from their broadcasting side.
Either they lazy, or they don't care, or they think is no big deal, so why bother? Or they think it's normal because it's "4:3". 
"They don't know about it" is not a good reason lor. Work in technical/broadcasting sector don't know about these? What are they doing? Sit down and wait for salary to come in?

So by default, when the channel or content is in 16:9, a letterbox (black bars on top and bottom) will appear.


Letterbox + pillarbox = windowboxed (result as shown on first pic above)

Astro still uses 4:3 aspect ratio on all SD channels, except Disney Junior, which is so far I know, the only SD channel on Astro in native 16:9 aspect ratio.
More than half of all Astro customers are already using HD TV (16:9), so continue using 4:3 format isn't practical anymore.

What Astro can do?
> Just because it's SD, that doesn't mean they cannot use 16:9. Astro should stop using excuse that SD must only be in 4:3, especially when customer service agents in technical department advising the customers.
> It's fine if they want to continue transmit the video in 4:3, but they should not add letterbox or centre cut on a 16:9 content by any means just to make it look nice on 4:3 TV, especially Astro own slot in/in-house ads such as Astro SuperSport ads, Astro First/Best movies ads.
> Remove the letterbox added by themselves on channels like TVB Classic, Asian Action Channel, TVB Classic Movies.
> If that channel provider transmits the SD channel in 4:3 but letterbox is added by channel provider, Astro can remove it themselves before transmitting to viewers.

> SD channels that is supposed to be in 16:9, should seen as 16:9 on viewer's screen, including Astro Go.

Does Astro aware about this? Oh yes, they aware about it. Been months ago, they say they'll do something about it. Until now, same only.
Am I surprised or disappointed? Nope. Why? Because I get used to it already.

Sometimes it's just a matter of changing settings from their side, things that doesn't cost them money, but they got many other bigger things to attend to, so they won't bother this kind of suggestion because for them it's just a minor issue.

If you tell them like that, for sure some of the experts over there on Astro will say "Aiya, still can watch mah... No big deal lah."
If you say this, they will recommend you to subscribe to HD service, "to enhance your viewing experience."
You say not sharp mah, not clear mah, subscribe HD lor...

Now their HD quality doesn't look good like back in those days anymore, still dare to charge customers at same price? Oh, don't come and offer Starter Pack or Value Pack to me. 

"Just embrace the bad, be grateful and appreciate for what we as customer get from their service."
They can't make every customers happy.
After all, both legal streaming services like Netflix, and illegal underground IPTV streaming services are available out there.
"Not happy can just terminate Astro." Then you wait till your company shuts down someday lor, if what Astro still continue to behave whatever they're doing now.

The replacement decoder looks brand new

Remember to give them 30 days advance notice that you want to terminate the service. It's not that you want to terminate now, it can be done now.

Hope you could share more detail on what are your "must have" channels, and/or which are the channels is your main priority and not-so-priority, so that it'll be easier for me to recommend.

Cheapest way to enjoy HD service, start with "Starter pack" category, from RM61.32/month (RM65/month incl SST). 
Astro Xiao Tai Yang and Astro AEC is a free channel, so don't worry.

Celestial HD is "free" if you choose Chinese Family pack, same price RM65/month also.
On Chinese Family pack, besides includes Celestial Movies and a few other Chinese channels, it excludes a few Malay and Tamil SD channels, that's all the difference.

Do you have any other "must have" channels?

If you take both Sports and Dynasty pack (which includes Astro AOD, Wah Lai Toi, etc.), your monthly fee will straight away cost more than RM100/month. 
Do you need all of the main sports channels, like all Astro SuperSport 1, 2, 3, 4 channels? Do note that Astro Arena and eGG Network are free channel (included in Family pack).

The only angle I took as it contains some information about the decoder

Ouch. That "RDMT5"...
The R stands for refurbished 😓😓😓

From what I see, Astro is not just don't have stocks for PVR box, but also no longer manufacture new units of it, since Ultra Box is here.
It's not that Ultra Box is bad. But the thing is, as long Ultra Box still doesn't allow user to record to external hard disk, the demand from customers wanting a PVR box instead of Ultra Box sure will have and continues.

Bellow is list of channels to be stored for a limited time:
https://static02.astro.com.my/astro/media/u...tRoCBDoQAvD_BwE

not exactly forever.... the PVR box kaput or HDD spoil then no more already

If the ultra box allows user to use their own storage media( eg: own HDD)... that should technically remove certain limitation of the ultra box currently has, the ultra box has a micro sd slot, usb 3.0 port for HDD but they were disabled by Astro at the moment.... maybe astro would introduce PVR easi v2.0 for ultra box in the future

Hmm, got one customer posted screenshots of the WhatsApp conversation with one of Astro CS agent, and here's how it went:



Yeah, it turn out quite okay

       

"We no more PVR box. We offer Ultra Box. No Internet no Ultra Box. Bye."
Your live agent session has ended.

So yeah. Why talk much when you got no Internet, right? Easy 

Read this:
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=96871232

Situation like this would arise whenever a customer's PVR box is faulty.

Astro has stopped manufacture new PVR boxes since years ago, hence only the refurbished PVR boxes would be given priority to existing PVR box customers who do not wish to upgrade to Ultra Box due to various technical reasons.
However, just because the "priority" is there, it does not guarantee they will confirm offer you the refurbished PVR box. After all, it is subject to stock availability.
Or, maybe they would tell you they got no stocks for refurbished PVR box. But in reality, it could be opposite. 
They could say that, so that you got no much of a choice but to opt for Ultra Box... Like I said, they got to "reserve" to those who really needs PVR box more.   
So it is something that you got to discuss with Astro directly, and give hundreds of good reasons why you don't want Ultra Box.

So does it mean, now having Astro PVR box is like having a "rare item" in your house? Maybe 

Astro Ultra Box is 100% dependent on Internet connection to stream your cloud recordings, because Ultra Box does not have built-in hard disk in it.
Also, you will need a 4K UHD TV (must be HDCP 2.2 compliant) to watch Astro UHD channel (ch780).
More info here: https://www.astro.com.my/ultra

Therefore, you are strongly advised to do further research on the pros and cons of the product before upgrading to Astro Ultra Box.
Otherwise, take good care of your PVR box, such as making sure it has proper ventilation to avoid being overheat.

Previously saw the offer can convert to njoi to astro... Then contact to dealer help me proceed since I can enjoy slightly more channels.. It is win-win situations.. Dealer u gain profit, then I gain cheap cheap..

After that wait almost 1 month, my account still njoi can't offer me rm25... Then when I inquiry back to dealer, they say something wrong for my account kena blocked upgrade to astro... (Dealer also feel weird..) Dealer help me complain to astro about this case..

And then same time I also contact to astro.. Then the astro HQ also like pieces of shit offer me another pack with RM39+ (I know is RM3X something). Kinda wanna to fool me.. Plus contract me 2 years..

When I ask astro HQ about RM25 package, then they say you nid to refer to the dealer.. Kinda a first action and feel their feeling wanna send a love letter to MCMC about this astro happening.
But at the end, I did not report.. Coz mcmc side nid take processing times to investigate.. And I predict once they can give me back RM25, then the free preview is over (Just like today no more free preview...) Then waste my energy to do for shit..

I rather go for Unifi, coz unifi tv pack cannot cancel it.. It is compulsory to take the pack.. So just enjoy what I have at the moment..

So you are all still using that crappy Astro Byond Decoder/Box?

There are many ways to get hundreds of Chinese/Japanese/Korean and English channels without using Astro.

There are many Chinese/Japanese/Korean VOD and OTT too.

Try replace power adapter first see problem still there or not.