REGION FREE DVD

Diagnostic software descriptions and troubleshooting
5.6.1 Servicing DVD loader
The DVD Loader / mechanism, VAL6011, has to be exchanged completely in case ol failure. A new mechanism can be ordered with codenumber 9305 023 61101.
5.6.2 Reprogramming of new mono boards.


Caution
This information is confidential and may not be distributed. Only a qualified service person should reprogram the mono board.
After reset of NV-memory or repair of the mono board, ail the customer settings and also the region code
will be lost.
Reprogramming of the mono board will put the player back in the state in which it has left the factory,
i.e. with the default settings and the allowed region code.
Reprogramming is limited to 25 times
When the counter reaches 25, reprogramming is not possible anymore
Reprogramming will be done by way of the remote control.
Put the player in stop mode, no disc loaded..
Press the following keys on the remote control:
<PLAY> followed by numerical keys <1> <5> <9>
The display shows:"--------------"
Press how successively the following keys :
for DVD612 /002 /021 /051 : <0><2><7><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0>
Press <PLAY> again.
The TV screen will become BLUE during a short time to confirm that the mono board has been
reprogrammed, then the set goes io standby mode.

DVDR-880, DVDR-890, DVDR-980, DVDR-985, DVDR-990, DVDR-1000

DVDR75, DVDR80

Q40, Q50

other models not listed here may work too

1.  Set up the remote by pressing the MAGIC button until it flashes twice, then enter 0539 to set the code.
2.  Press the MAGIC (or SETUP) button.
3.  Press 085.  The display should read '----'
3a. NOTE: For recorders such as the Philips DVDR-880 and 890 you will need to use the code 121 212 005 255 instead. You will also have to set the recorder to use the DVD Player remote and not the Recorder remote.
4.  Enter the following with the normal Philips remote:

222 222 005 PLAY

5.  The player should now be region-free.

On newer models, there appears to be 11 spaces in which to enter a code.  In this case, enter the following:

222 222 222 005

or try

222 222 005 255 (works for 612, 622, 623, Q50, 743, 951)

For newer 880 and 890 models and definitely 990 models, try:

121 212 005 001 for region 1
121 212 005 002 for region 2 , etc.

Entering this means that all 11 spaces are filled and the 5 appears on the line underneath, in the portion of the display that shows how many tracks are on the disc.

For DVDR75, use 121 212 005 255

The One-4-All remote that definitely works is the digital version available from Argos, model 7560 (www.argos.co.uk). The 7562 model also works. The 7544 model works too - ANY One4All remote that has a DVD option button should work.....

Other ways to generate the RC6 code:

OneForAll (URC7560):

1. The remote should be set up to control the DVD (setup code 0539).
2. Press the DVD button.
3. Press the Magic button.
4. Press 085.
5. The familiar dashes on the front panel display should appear.
6. Enter the region hack code as above.

OneForAll 6(URC4300):

1. Here, you need to change the AUX2 button to a DVD button.
2. Go to www.oneforall.com. Select the European English site.
3. Click on Product Support at the top of the page.
4. Click on Universal Remote Controls.
5. Click on One for All 6 at the bottom of the page.
6. You have to register to gain access (quick and the password arrives in the mail)
7. Click Next at the bottom of the page.
8. Select from Laser Disc Players menu Philips -1 (this is what contains the Philips DVD codes).
9. Click Submit at the bottom of the page.
10. Follow the on-screen instructions to program the remote.
11. Click Next.
12. This page tells you how to test which code will work.
13. The Philips 710 model is the 7 key.
14. The remote can now be used to program the RC6 and the hack can be applied.

Palm V:

1. You need to use the OmniRemote software from Pacific Neo-Tek, which converts the Palm into a remote control.
2. A PDB file will be needed to use the RC6 code - download it here.
3. When you use this file, you will see an Omniremote screen with the 'secret' key.   Press this key to change the DVD player's display to get the dashes onscreen, after which you can then enter the hack.

Philips Pronto:

1. Connect the Pronto to your PC.
2. Start the Pronto Edit version 1.05.
3. From the menu, select Device followed by Add Device.  A new device will appear in the list on the left.
4. Go to the Device Properties for the newly added device.
5. Go to the Action tab.
6. Click RC5/6.  A new window will appear.  Select RC6 mode 0.
7. Enter the value 4 at System.
8. At the Command, enter 235.
9. Press OK when you're ready.
10. To transmit the code, do NOT disconnect the Pronto from the PC, start the IR test by clicking: test IR.
11. The DVD player's display will change to the dashes required for entering the region hack.

It is also possible to use a PocketPC to send the RC6,4,235 code to allow code input to Philips' DVD players, eg DVD956.

The user needs a PocketPC such as an iPaq, with an IR port, the TV Remote Controller software from www.pdawin.com (SW 20$, but the unreg'd version will do just fine) and the ccf file for the RC software that contains the RC6 code. A working ccf file can be downloaded here too.

After installing the required software, just point the PocketPC at the DVD player and click the only button on the remote. You then get the 11 dashes and can input the 222 code.

To play RCE discs on the DVR880:

In step 5 for the handset hack, use the hack code 121 212 005 001 for Region 1 only, then the Disk will play.

Later versions of the 880 may not work with the hack listed here and may in fact be corrupted by doing the hack, so be warned!

Philips SBC RU880:

1. Push on the keys 1 and 6 for 5 seconds.
2. The display of the RC indicates SYNTH.
3. Release the keys.
4. The display indicates CODE.
5. Press 235.
6. The DVD player will then show the dashes required for the region hack to work.

DVDR985 region 1 models may not be hackable with these codes.  More information as and when I get it!!!!

DVDR985 models may also only be able to be changed to specific regions.  Use the code sequence 121 212 005 00x, where x = the region number required in step 4 in the first method.

If you have a 711 and have locked the player due to incorrect codes - here is the restore to factory settings method:

1. Press play then 1,5,9 then 053 000 000 000.
2. then press play again followed by the blue screen.
3. turn off the player and then turn back on.

728

Method for European 729, 728 and 728S:

1. (No cd should be in the tray).
2. Turn on.
3. Open tray.
4. Using the remote: 9, 9, 9, 9, 0 ("Region 0" should now appear in the upper left corner in blue/white colour).
6. Close tray.
7. Turn off.

VCD Enable for MX1060

1. Insert an audio CD.
2. Using the remote control, key in the following: Stop, System Menu, 1, RDS Search, Open.
3. A menu will appear to enable VCD playback.
4. The screen can also be adjusted for VCDs in the TV Aspect Menu.

Macrovision Disable for MX1060

1. Insert a DVD.
2. Using the remote control, key in the following: Stop, RDS Search, System Menu, 5, 9, 7, Exit.

TV/DVD Combi - 15PT6807

Another slightly different method:

1. Select DVD Mode (blue screen)
2. Enter 062596 using remote control number keys
3. Press <Menu> Button
4. Select ‘DVD’ option using down arrow key
5. Press <OK>. Screen with serial number and current region code will be displayed.
6. Enter region using remote control number key (e.g. for region ‘1’, press <1>)
7. Press <Standby> (Red) key. Unit will switch to standby mode

When standby key pressed again, unit will switch on and be set to new region.

Just go through the same process again if you need to reset the region to its original value.

I found that if I set the region to zero via the keypad it went region free but did request the dvd password (default is 0711)

To convert this player to Multi-Region if the above does not work:

1. Open the player's tray.
2. Using the remote control, key in the following: 0, 0, 0, 0, followed by the required region, or 0 for region free.
3. Close the tray.

To check the currently set region on this

1. Press the Open button on player to open the drive tray
2. Press the Display button on your remote control
3. The second line of the onscreen display should display the word REG followed by the currently set region

1. Press Play and 1, 5, 9, then enter 005 000 128 156.

Region 2 playback:

1. Press Play and 1, 5, 9, then enter 013 000 128 156.

1. Make sure there is no disc in the tray.
2. Press Setup and then 3, 1, 1, 4, 7, 5.
3. A hidden menu should appear saying YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE, where you can turn Macrovision off and set region number.

1. Using the remote control, key in the following: Play, 1, 5, 9, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1 0, 8, Play.

To change to region 2:

1. Using the remote control, key in the following: Play, 1, 5, 9, 2, 2, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 8, Play.

You must reset the player from the System menu after each change.

The number of hacks is limited to 25 times, but the counter can be reset using:

Play, 1, 5, 9, Play.

The numbers after 159 in the methods refer to the TV system and region number. The first number is the TV system, where 1=NTSC, 2=PAL, 3=Auto.  The next two numbers refer to region, eg 11=region 1, 22=region2.  Only regions 1 to 4 are confirmed, but 5 and 6 may work too.

DVD616K, 733K

1. Press the tray "open" button on the DVD player.
2. Enter the following numbers SLOWLY on the remote control: 1, 1, 1, 1.  You will see nothing on the screen.
3. Press 0 on the remote control.  The TV should now show "New Region 0" in the top left hand corner of the screen.
4. Press "Open/Close" button.

Note - I guess that substituting any region number in place of the 0 in step 3 would make the player set to theat region number.

To reset the region change counter on this unit to enable another 25 maximum changes:

1. Press the Play button on the player.
2. Using the remote control, key in the following: 1, 5, 9, Play.

To check the currently set region on this player:

1. Press the Open button on player to open the drive tray.
2. Press the Display button on your remote control.
3. The second line of the onscreen display should display the word REG followed by the currently set region.

Here's a revised version of the method, which works:

1. There is NO open button on the remote. You must press the open button on the DVD player itself.
2. No need to press the system button as stated above.
3. Using your remote control, press the buttons 1, 1, 1 and 1, in order and one at a time.
4. Press 0 to make region free
5. A box will then appear at the top left corner of the screen with- NEW REGION 0
6. DVD tray will close automatically.
7. Enjoy your DVD's from any region!

Newer method for later firmwares of LX3000D:

1. Press Play (on the remote)
2. Press 159 023 793 90 play (remote).
3. You may get blue screen here.
4. open DVD tray.
5. hit right arrow, then 123, then hit OK button.
6. You should then see a screen with a code (starts with
"ver").  Change this to 255 for region-free or change to specific region number.

Apparently the code above enables VCD too and is more than likely to disable Macrovision as well!!

A quote on the newer hack on 3000D:

"Nothing worked. But i found that you can see the version code if you have the tray out, type in 123 and then ok. Also with the tray out if you press 159 and then ok you get a way of changing the tuner region (Europe, 2S, Austria...). As i told you my ver code is "VER 0113 1 2S 0 2003". So i found the way to change the 2S to Eu or As or something else.but i have no luck with the change of 113 to 255"

To restore 5.1 sound if the hack kills it:

1. Use the remote control to enter: play 159 221 030 08 play.

Note: pause between entering each number.

1. Turn on the DVD727 unit
2. Open the DVD drawer
3. Using the remote control, key in this number sequence slowly pausing between each digit: 9999, followed by 0 for region free, or the region number required.
4. The display will show "Region:n" (where "n" is the value you entered after 9999 in step 3) if the region has been changed successfully.

Note: With the 727, after a few months, a random keypress may disrupt the Video display, rendering the player useless.  Not sure how this may happen and not sure what can be done...does anyone know how to reset the player back to factory default

1. Using the remote control, key in the following: "play", "159 222 023 00", then press "play" to set it to region 2.

Remember to do thep-scan hack before you do the multiregion hack, which although not listed specifically here, is more than likely the usual RC6 then 12 digit number type of hack or the PLAY 159 hacks listed elsewhere on this page.

Here's a similar hack for the "MT" version:

Philips DVD 580MT

1. Press "Eject" button on player.
2. Press "Program(FTS)" button on remote. (hand will appear on screen)
3. Press '1', '3', '5' and '6'. ("REGION CHANGE: XXXX" will appear on screen)
4. Now it accepts region number. Press '0' to make it region free.
5. Press Stop 5 times to make the hack permanent.

To check firmware version and firmware filename press sequence is: 'program','1','3','5','6','8'

Works with versions:
DVD580M171V01-ES-020717
and
DVD580M001V01-ES-020827

Note: you could try swapping the 0 in step 3 with the region number required, if you want to specify only one region for RCE pruposes.

Potential problem from someone in Spain after doing this hack:

"My problem is that when I play a movie, most of the time I can see a light black vertical lines through the screen that annoying me. I don't know if this is because hack or is a dvd player problem."