DVD Region Problem

[bertrand]

I knew this would happen one day.

I had made a point last year of looking for a multi-region DVD player in case I ever come across a DVD that is not set up to play in the U.S. I looked online, asked on this very forum and identified one that seemed to do the trick: the Philips DVP3560. I wound up getting it at Best Buy and they confirmed that it was in fact their only model that was multi-region.

Of course, I had no way of checking since I had no DVDs at the time with this problem.

So now I just got the DVD of Weather Report Live In Cologne 1983. First my computer only recognized it if I was willing to change regions, something I can only do 4 times before it's stuck in a given region, so of course I said no. Then I tried the DVD player which also refused to play it saying, 'wrong region'. I did notice that the setup on the remote had an option to change to 'multi' so I tried that but it just resulted in a screen that kept scrolling - I had a dickens of a time setting it back. There was some message about making sure the TV supports mulit-region, so maybe I can try hooking up the DVD player to the other (newer) digital TV - this TV is a few years old.

The case says it is NTSC, Region Code 2,3,4,5,6. This seems to be everything BUT the U.S. and Canada. But here's what is odd:

1) Amazon claims it is region 1.

2) B+N don't list a region, but the DVD is out of stock. Don't know if a region was listed when it was in stock.

3) Abstract Logix (never bought from them) specifically states it is region 2-6 and that they will not take returns for this issue. Glad I did not buy from them.

So what are my options?

1) Could it be that both a region 1 and region 2-6 version exists and they sent me the wrong one?

2) IIRC, there is a way to rig the player to ignore the region thing. But perhaps I am supposed to be able to switch to multi and my TV is just too old.

3) If all else fails, I will try to return it to a brick and mortar B+N. Glad I only paid $20 for this.

Why the hell do they do this region thing anyway? Was it something about bootlegging? If so, the supreme irony is the whole thing is out on youtube. Teach me right to try to be honest. Also, I am probably one of only 10 people in the world who want this DVD.

Pissed off,

Bertrand.

[ejp626]

I knew this would happen one day.

I had made a point last year of looking for a multi-region DVD player in case I ever come across a DVD that is not set up to play in the U.S. I looked online, asked on this very forum and identified one that seemed to do the trick: the Philips DVP3560. I wound up getting it at Best Buy and they confirmed that it was in fact their only model that was multi-region.

Of course, I had no way of checking since I had no DVDs at the time with this problem.

...

Why the hell do they do this region thing anyway? Was it something about bootlegging? If so, the supreme irony is the whole thing is out on youtube. Teach me right to try to be honest. Also, I am probably one of only 10 people in the world who want this DVD.

Pissed off,

Bertrand.

It rarely pays to be (too) honest these days. Anyway, it shouldn't be anything to do with the TV. What is probably the case is that the DVD player, while it is possible to unlock it to be multi-region, hasn't been unlocked yet.

[whiskeycat]

Hey Bertrand -- consider me one of the other 10 people in the world and guess what? I had almost exactly the same problem!!! I purchased this DVD through an Amazon Marketplace seller. The DVD cover image on the main purchase page had a big "0" on it, which ususally indicates that the DVD is free from coding and playable "worldwide". As you mentioned, it also says on the purchase page that the DVD is Region 1 (U.S. and Canada). So, I figured either way I should be good, so I went for it. I received it in the mail this past weekend. Just like you did, the DVD I got was indicated on the back of the box that it is Region 2-6. Ugh...

I don't have a real fancy machine like yourself, I am using a U.S. Sony DVD/Blu-Ray player. After putting it in, I immediately received a message that playback is prohibited due to region coding. Very frustrating! Especially since a few months ago, I purchased the Weather Report, "Live in Berlin 1975" CD/DVD set (also had the "0" on the front cover) and that plays perfectly.

It's been a lot of emailing back and forth between me and the Marketplace seller. They just emailed me a product return mailing label are allowing me to ship it back. Hopefully there won't be issues and they'll understand the situation. If their version wasn't Region 1 as is noted on the purchase page, then it is wrongful advertising on their part. I would certainly accept a new, Region 1 copy, if that exists (I still do really want to see this concert!) But with the annoyance factor, I'm ready to just get my money back and move on.

It feels good to share the frustration with someone who knows exactly what I'm going through, so thanks Bertran, for your original post. And good luck!!!

[Pete C]

There are instructions online for how to hack a Philips DVD player to make it Region 0 (all region), just search with your model # and something like deregionalize. I've done it to two units. It involves entering codes through the remote while the tray is open. The Philips DVD players are PAL-compatible, but they can only sell region 1 in the U.S. (regardless of what Best Buy told you), then you have to hack it yourself to make it all-region. I have lots of Region 2 (UK) and Region 4 (Brazil) DVDs that I watch all the time on my Philips. The right hack code should solve your problem and leave you with an all-region NTSC/PAL player. The regions have to do with licensing restrictions of content. If somebody is selling an all-region Philips on Ebay, they've likely bought one with factory settings, then hacked it and upped the price for something you can easily do yourself.

Edited November 8, 2011 by Pete C

[seeline]

I've done the same with my Philips and haven't had any problems with compatibility since...

[GA Russell]

I bought a Sony during the summer. Can I do this with that too, or is it only good for a Philips?

[Pete C]

I bought a Sony during the summer. Can I do this with that too, or is it only good for a Philips?

I'd search around to see if there's a hack for your model. But if it's not PAL-compatible it won't do you any good for European DVDs.

Edited November 9, 2011 by Pete C

[GA Russell]

OK, Pete.

There is a website called regionfreedvd.net that sells what we are talking about. They sell a number of brands including Sony.

[Pete C]

OK, Pete.

There is a website called regionfreedvd.net that sells what we are talking about. They sell a number of brands including Sony.

My guess is they modify the machines. I think technically that makes them ineligible for warranty, but when DVD players are $50 or so who really cares about warranties?

[GA Russell]

Funny you should say that, Pete. My Sony was ca. $35. The Amazon reviews indicated that it had a high failure rate at the six-month point, so for $10 I bought a Square Trade three-year warranty. I'm happy.

[bertrand]

The internet (and my fellow organissimo members) is my friend. The unlocking instructions worked perfectly.

Whiskeycat, my machine is hardly fancy (I paid $50 or so for it)! I do recommend you google to see if there are hack codes for your machine as well before you return the DVD. I don't know how to check for PAL-compatibility. I guess the players listen on the region free DVD site are PAL compatible and, as pointed out, were probably unlocked. That's why I saw my player listed on that site. I'm pretty sure the box for my player did not mention region-free. The guy at Best Buy probably was not aware about the locking issue and the reason he saw the European DVDs working was that another co-worker had unlocked the machine.

Two questions remain in my mind.

1) A co-worker of mine bought a Pioneer player at Costco that plays region free, but it was specifically mentioned on the box. The model is DV-490V. So is Costco selling this illegally? He is able to play Italian DVDs.

2) Why did the same company (Birdjam?) make this DVD region 2-6 but the Live In Berlin (as pointed out) is region 0? Don't know about the third DVD in the series (Live in Offenbach) since I had the U.S. version that was part of the WR box. I'm thinking of getting in touch with them; this will give me the excuse to see if any other titles are forthcoming.

Now that I am unlocked, I am going to revisit the ina.fr site to see what I might be able to buy. This was what was making me hesitate.

Bertrand.

[Pete C]

I don't know how to check for PAL-compatibility.

...

1) A co-worker of mine bought a Pioneer player at Costco that plays region free, but it was specifically mentioned on the box. The model is DV-490V. So is Costco selling this illegally? He is able to play Italian DVDs.

I have a number of dual-format region 0 DVDs, e.g. The Greatest Jazz Films Ever from Idem, so if one has one of those and it plays fine on both sides of the disc you have a PAL-compatible machine. A region 0 PAL DVD will play fine in any computer drive.

Pioneer's own description of that model doesn't mention all-region, which would be a selling point if it were kosher, I should think:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/Blu-ray-Disc-and-DVD/Pioneer-DVD-Players/DV-490V-S

According to this forum thread, the model needed a hack:

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks/pioneer-dv-490v/6824

This vendor of the item specifically mentions modifications:

http://www.world-import.com/dv-444DV.htm