DVD region free firmware mod

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › DVD region free firmware mod

n00dy

482 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

Lifetime subscriber

#29598 12-Jan-2009 22:04

Many years ago when I bought my Sony DVD player I sent it to a home theatre place in Auckland that I found on the net, think it was something like nzhometheatre.co.nz and it was modified to play any region DVD, ( back then there was hardly any region 4 DVD's & Amazon had heaps but region 1) anyway, the DVD was modified to read any DVD regardless of region as well as it allowed for the skipping for the FBI warning ( a real pain ) Now I have a Panasonic EH57DVR and I want to get the same thing done, anyone know who these guys were, are they still doing Mods or anyone know anyone else doing it. I have an allinone remote and have tried the code change but it plays only some region1 and not others.

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#189105 12-Jan-2009 23:32

Have you checked whether the Region 1 disks that won't play have additional protection like RCE where the player has to have a matching region not region free?

rscole86

4999 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 462

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#189106 12-Jan-2009 23:36

Have you tried calling next electronics?

FishHo

12 posts

Geek

#189149 13-Jan-2009 10:23

Its a bit of a saga but there is a proceedure here.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/dvd-player-hacks/368649-panasonic-dvd-players-region-free-hack-now-available-44.html

gehenna

8667 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3883

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#189169 13-Jan-2009 11:57

Used to be you could download an iso image that updated the firmware, or enter a code on the remote to unlock those features on standalone dvd players. been a while since I went down that road though, hope you find what you're looking for.

n00dy

482 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

Lifetime subscriber

#189174 13-Jan-2009 12:23

FishHo: Its a bit of a saga but there is a proceedure here.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/dvd-player-hacks/368649-panasonic-dvd-players-region-free-hack-now-available-44.html

As in my post I have already done this, what I was trying to do is find someone from the old nzhometheatre website that did the first job and see if they still do it, I cant find an iso firmware file to burn and upload into the dvd, that would be great. FOund a site that I can rewite the firmware myself and create a iso file but a programmer I am not.

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#189192 13-Jan-2009 13:15

As rscole86 has said have you tried NEXT, AFAIK Panasonic have an arrangement with them that they region free on request. Still seems odd that you can play some R1 but not others.

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

clevedon

1059 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 205

#189205 13-Jan-2009 13:51

Yep Next Electronics will do it for free if you tell them Panasonic NZ sent you, about a ten minute job they told me.

kUD

27 posts

Geek

#189382 13-Jan-2009 22:57

CAll Panasonic customer services, and they'll send you an authorisation email for a number of electronics firms (inc. Next) to make the mod and bill Panasonic. Their number is on their NZ web site.
We had this done on our DMR-EH57 so that we could view UK DVDs. However, it hasn't made the machine work entirely like our UK DVD player. the 2 issues we've noted are: 1. some dodgey pirate disks bought in Thailand won't play on the Panasonic, but will on the UK machine. 2. On a much older (early 90s?) movie the Panasonic can't switch off the subtitles but the UK machine (a REOC A3) can.
I keep meaning to go back and get it re-done, but Next in Wgtn (Ngauranga) wanted the machine for 3 days, and there's always something I'm looking to record, so haven't found the right window yet....

n00dy

482 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

Lifetime subscriber

#189499 14-Jan-2009 12:44

clevedon: Yep Next Electronics will do it for free if you tell them Panasonic NZ sent you, about a ten minute job they told me.

Just having a small problem here, seems that all the "Next Electronics" in the lower north island have closed, did a search in white and yellow pages and only 4 results, 2 upper north and 2 south island. There used to be one in almost every town what happened to them

clevedon

1059 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 205

#189508 14-Jan-2009 13:03

Google it, there are 19 branches NZ wide or 0800 GO NEXT, also Smart Electronics in Manukau will do it for free as well.

n00dy

482 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

Lifetime subscriber

#189526 14-Jan-2009 14:21

Done, thanks, that 0800 put me on to a local company, funny not next electronics but they must do their work. Will do same day service...

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

johna11

18 posts

Geek

#189538 14-Jan-2009 14:51

I don't suppose anyone knows how to unlock DVD multi region for a Sony BDP-S300 blu ray player? I am ok with the regions for BluRay, but wonder if the DVD regions can be freed up. I am sure I read something somewhere about this (and some other markets sell this model region free).
Thanks for any help....