Blu Ray Player Modification

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golfpunk111

94 posts

Master Geek

#95908 16-Jan-2012 18:00

I see there are places overseas where a blu ray player can be modded to be zone free, is there any one in NZ that offers that service? If not I might have to look at getting it done in Aus...

Thanks

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343 posts

Ultimate Geek

#569571 16-Jan-2012 18:27

Depending on the model all it takes is a quick google search and you will find a code you can enter on the remote control which will unlock an extra menu, that menu will have an option to enable/disable multizone. You don't really need to send it away to get someone else to do this.

Have you already purchased a Bluray player?

Oblivian

7302 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#569579 16-Jan-2012 18:53

And don't forget unless you are importing them from obscure parts of the world (the US), NZ,AU, UK all use same region. Making amazon.co.uk a good choice for a lot of them.

And a Large percentage of releases are also all 3/Free, with only Mr Fox playing it badly and putting single regions on BDs.

http://regionfreemovies.com/

dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek

#569583 16-Jan-2012 19:01

Poll: Depending on the model all it takes is a quick google search and you will find a code you can enter on the remote control which will unlock an extra menu, that menu will have an option to enable/disable multizone. You don't really need to send it away to get someone else to do this.

Have you already purchased a Bluray player?

This usually only applies to the DVD side though, right?
You usually can't make the Blu-ray side region free.

This one claims to be region free, so it must be possible, but possibly only with a hardware/chip hack.

old3eyes

9120 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#569586 16-Jan-2012 19:07

You can buy region and zone free players in NZ for a price. The Oppo which are pretty much top end players..

http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/oppo-blu-ray-players.html

Regards,

Old3eyes

Oblivian

7302 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#569590 16-Jan-2012 19:11

Theres also a toshiba model in NZ that claims to be.

Search for region within GZ finds them.

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=93411

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#569600 16-Jan-2012 19:34

golfpunk111: I see there are places overseas where a blu ray player can be modded to be zone free, is there any one in NZ that offers that service? If not I might have to look at getting it done in Aus...

Thanks

With a bit of Googling you can do it yourself but it's complicated, risky (could brick the player), probably illegal and would certainly void any Warrantee.
I don't know of anyone in NZ providing this service.
NZ is same Zone as UK and discs from Amazon UK are much cheaper than here, they have a much larger catalogue of discs available and free postage as well.
Unless you really want to play discs from USA or other Zones (there are only 3 Zones) then it's not worth the effort.

1080p

1332 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#569621 16-Jan-2012 20:20

B1GGLZ: ...probably illegal...

I doubt it is illegal if there is a retailer in New Zealand selling them and I know that most New Zealand importers will simply region free players if a customer requests it.

The reason they're region locked is to adhere to terms and conditions imposed by the large media companies, not the government.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

golfpunk111

94 posts

Master Geek

#569661 16-Jan-2012 21:27

Yeah I was hoping to be able to play USA as my partner is from there and we go back and forth a bit, with her family often sending packages here so would be quite easy to pick up a collection of those.

Not too worried about voiding the warranty, have ripped apart a couple of xboxes and the like in my time to fiddle with them.

I saw the oppo but that price is crazy for those, is the benefit worth the huge price jump?

If it is going to be as much of a hassle as it seems then amazon.co.uk maybe the go, i'll do another google search for that toshiba, couldn't find sod all in NZ before apart from oppo.

Thanks for the comments

golfpunk111

94 posts

Master Geek

#569665 16-Jan-2012 21:36

Just found this thought it might be useful for anyone asking the same question, apparently this toshiba will play every zone if you update it with the australian firmware, confirmed to be working as of mid last year. Not too sure how future firmware updates would affect it though, could be worth a try.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-player-multiregion-hacks/1504741-toshiba-bdx1200-regionfree-dvd-multiregion-bd.html

the exact model bdx1200ky is being sold at jb for 99 bucks (apparently ky is the aus version) so in theory this should be multi zone? anyone got this player, that can confrim?

scuwp

3886 posts

Uber Geek

#569688 16-Jan-2012 22:28

AFAIK all players sold by NZ retailers can only be multi-zoned for DVD playback only. I have never heard of someone successfully multi-zoning the BR disk player function.

Good luck.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#569689 16-Jan-2012 22:32

1080p:
B1GGLZ: ...probably illegal...

I doubt it is illegal if there is a retailer in New Zealand selling them and I know that most New Zealand importers will simply region free players if a customer requests it.

The reason they're region locked is to adhere to terms and conditions imposed by the large media companies, not the government.

They will region free the DVD side of the player but not Zone Free the Blu Ray side.
The op was referring to Zone Free Blu Ray, not Region Free DVD.
I understand most can only be Zone Freed with new firmware which may or may not be legal.
The service agent that Region Freed my players was also under the impression it was illegal to sell them Region Free and/or Zone Free.
The ones for sale that are Zone Free may or may not be legal. I doubt anyone is likely to be to be prosecuted in our insignificant little sales area.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#569690 16-Jan-2012 22:37

golfpunk111:

the exact model bdx1200ky is being sold at jb for 99 bucks (apparently ky is the aus version) so in theory this should be multi zone? anyone got this player, that can confrim?

You'll probably find it is already DVD Region Free but set to Aus/NZ Zone for Bly Ray. Many models can change the Zone using the remote and this sounds like one that can. Ask the sales Rep. They should know. Take one of your US discs and ask to try instore.

golfpunk111

94 posts

Master Geek

#569697 16-Jan-2012 22:54

Yea it does seem like one that you change the zone with the remote each time for the respective discs, but I always thought there was only a limited amount of changes you could do before it became locked? So there are other players that allow unlimited changes?

EDIT: So it seems that you CAN switch the Blu Ray zone as many times as you need, only catch is you have to change it every time you want to play a out of region disc and then back again for an 'in' region disc. It seems pretty easy though just press a couple of buttons enter the zone and exit.

Will see if I have much money left over after painting my house over Anniversary and Waitangi weekend to get it, if so I will repost with the results.

pacificsurfer51

60 posts

Master Geek

#569711 17-Jan-2012 00:01

This worked on my Samsung Bluray Player

To change the DVD from region 4 (Pacific/Australia) to region 9 (region free) follow these steps using the remote control. (Adapted from http://tinyurl.com/2acybpj for Australian conditions).

1. Ensure that there is no disk in the tray.

2. Switch the player off and then back on. This is necessary to clean-boot the firmware.

3. Wait until the main menu page appears and the player stops doing anything.

4. Press the eject button to open the tray. (The button is between the "Power" and "TV Power" buttons at the top of the controller.)

5. Press the eject button to close the tray.

6. Wait while the player searches for a disk.

7. As soon as the "No Disk" message appears at the top left corner do the following.

8. Press the REPEAT button ? just above the TV channel selector at the bottom right of the controller.

9. Enter 7 6 8 8 4 on the number pad.

10. The region code "4" should appear at the top left corner of the screen.

11. Enter a "9" to make the player region free. (Enter a region code if you want to lock the player to another region for some obscure or perverse reason.)

12. Power down and power up again.

13. Play a foreign DVD to verify the change.

JonnyCam

643 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#569751 17-Jan-2012 08:50

To change the DVD from region 4 (Pacific/Australia) to region 9 (region free)

Again, the OP was talking about BR zone free, not DVD regionfree.

There are plenty of stes with databases for every player that can be multizoned through a remote code.

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