I was given a Philips PET710 portable DVD player (it also connects and plays thru a TV) over the holidays and was surprised at how versatile it was, it has a great undocumented feature in that it has the ability to use any DVD region code and play either NTSC or PAL. The selection for NTSC or PAL is easily found on the on-screen menu, the Region Code is a bit less accessible...

There appear to be a large number of both home and portable DVD players that allow for the unlimited changing of region codes to and from 0,1,2 or whichever region is necessary.

For this particular one, the Philips PET710, do the following to access and change the Region Code Menu:

1. Switch player 'on'.
2. 'Open' tray door.
3. Press 'setup' on the remote control.
4. Select 'preferences'.
5. After selecting 'preferences' you need to press 'OK'.
6. Enter '2,5,2,3,1,5' through the remote.
7. Then, after keying in the code, you need to press the 'left' arrow and then the 'down' arrow.
8. The screen will now display 'Region Code' and your current Region Code #. You may now change this number by typing in the number of the Region Code you want.
8a. These are the Region Codes:

quote:

0: All-Region (NASA has sent two All-region DVD players to the International Space Station)
1: U.S., Canada, U.S. Territories
2: Japan, Europe, South Africa, and Middle East (including Egypt)
3: Southeast Asia and East Asia (including Hong Kong)
4: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean
5: Eastern Europe (Former Soviet Union), Indian subcontinent, Africa, North Korea, and Mongolia
6: China
7: Reserved
8: Special international venues (airplanes, cruise ships, etc.)

9. Press 'Setup' to exit and save.

WH WH WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I would want to do this.........why???

Many CD and DVD players ask on setup for the regional code. This is nothing new. You usually get the chance to set or reset it 5 times. After that, the firmware locks you out of playing anything.

Commercial DVD's and even some VHS tapes are coded for regions to avoid piracy, play with NTSC (not PAL) and to set functionality for subtitles and other features. I happen to think there's also some other insideous reasons behind all that, but I'm paranoid.

Players that allow the user to choose the Region Code on setup do not allow the choice of Code Free or No Region. (Region 0)

quote:

From Mrs. Arten:
And I would want to do this.........why???

You would want this if you were frequently out of the US or if you spent extended periods out of the US.
In some parts of the world you would only want a Region-Free player. (Australians and New Zealanders won't buy anything else, most Londoners will try to get one, etc...)
A few years ago a Region-Free hack would add hundreds of dollars to a players price.

So the question becomes, what can you do with it?

Well, you can watch US movies overseas or Eng lish, continental , Australian , Hong Kong, Japanese, Russian or Bollywood movies in the states. Many of which may never be released or be accessible to you otherwise.

For some this is useful when importing, for others this is useful when one finds oneself constantly in various regions for extended periods.

It's generally considered very difficult or expensive to acquire a Region Free player. The hidden undocumented menu and secret access code I shared above are actually pretty neat to anyone that can, or needs to, take advantage of Multi-Region access.

{GE58, coding does not set NTSC/PAL/SECAM or subtitles, etc}

quote:

Originally posted by jombl:
Players that allow the user to choose the Region Code on setup do not allow the choice of Code Free or No Region. (Region 0)

quote:

From Mrs. Arten:
And I would want to do this.........why???

You would want this if you were frequently out of the US or if you spent extended periods out of the US.

So, you're telling me that people actually travel abroad with their DVD players and there is a big enough market that they make ones with region codes? I certainly wouldn't want to miss the latest Bollywood movie. Sounds just a little too geeeky for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Mrs Arten:

quote:

Originally posted by jombl:
Players that allow the user to choose the Region Code on setup do not allow the choice of Code Free or No Region. (Region 0)

quote:

From Mrs. Arten:
And I would want to do this.........why???

You would want this if you were frequently out of the US or if you spent extended periods out of the US.

So, you're telling me that people actually travel abroad with their DVD players and there is a big enough market that they make ones with region codes? I certainly wouldn't want to miss the latest Bollywood movie. Sounds just a little too geeeky for me.

Remember, not all of us are multigenerational, native GEers. And many of us still have family in other parts of the world and that some of us even like to maintain some cultural ties to our native lands. Through the beauty of mail, family members can send DVDs from the home country that some of us can enjoy here.

quote:

Originally posted by Mrs Arten:
So, you're telling me that people actually travel abroad with their DVD players and there is a big enough market that they make ones with region codes? I certainly wouldn't want to miss the latest Bollywood movie. Sounds just a little too geeeky for me.

All DVD players have a Region Code that restrict its use to playing only those DVD's with the same Region Code.(This is by international Law)

So in order to play a DVD, in must be in a machine with the same Region Code as the DVD itself.

Having a DVD Player with NO Region Code allows it to read and play any DVD no matter which Region Code is encrypted in it.

...
It's not only for those who might carry their portable DVD with them as they spend a few weeks or more outside the US, but also for those who bring back or have mailed to them DVD's from all the various Regions of the world.

It's actually very, very common and not at all geeky. It's just we as Americans leave our country the least and have the least imported mass market penetration of the worlds culture. I don't think that's a big deal myself, but it explains why this concept, which the rest of the world is near universally conversant in is alien to you. We're a big country with a very rich and deep culture that I don't feel it's a knock to say that. (no doubt Phlebas will have something to say about that...)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jombl,

First interesting post of the day. Thanks Jombl. I never even knew this was an issue.

That explains why I can't watch my "Dierdre Does Dublin" video!!!!!

How much can u get it for? I wonder if it's also on Ebay.

"Guess who's back, back again, Pimp D's back, tell a friend. Guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back."

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GE Fan,

Fan, you must be bored tonight.......Singing eminem in the key of Pimp D.......

quote:

Originally posted by Pimp D:
How much can u get it for? I wonder if it's also on Ebay.

For this example, you purchase an off the shelf model the 'Philips PET710', which is available everywhere.

Then just follow the directions above...

I have no doubt that one could sell these on Ebay as "Region Free" if one wanted to.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say this forum is filled
with grade school adolescents that can only raise their IQ is by standing on a chair, lmf@o.

Tha show that need no intro, ya know?

quote:

Originally posted by Pimp D:
If I didn't know any better, I'd say this forum is filled
with grade school adolescents that can only raise their IQ is by standing on a chair, lmf@o.

Careful there pimp, don't go thinking your gonna smoke the grownups later in life just cause you got to see'em goofing around here in the hallways of life and think you got'em all sussed out. Your not seeing peoples A-Game here, comes time to play and you'll get schooled and end up somebodys byotch.

quote:

Originally posted by Pimp D:
If I didn't know any better

As Simon would say "Thank you, I've heard enough."

Always wonder why guys who will obviously only get a high school education in life feel the need to get in the collective face of society. Seems self-destructive.

I never went through that phase in life, must be a generational thing. At what point ,YO, does one drop the dance club boy/gansta bullshit and actually think about avoiding a lifetime of hourly wage. I sure would like to know in case it happens around my house...though given my kids it seems unlikely.

Oh....and world dvd players are way cool.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:

Oh....and world dvd players are way cool.

Suck up! How bout them Jayhawks!

I am in the midst of changing the way people perceive me. That landslide victory really hit home.