Playing Region III DVDs in America

I find myself working abroad in Asia for a few years, where all DVDs
are locked for Region III players. So far, I have abstained from
purchasing *any* DVDs here. I'd hate to be stuck with a large
collection of Region III DVDs that I can't use when I go home to
America later. Anyway, is it pretty difficult to unlock American DVD
players (not PC DVD players) into playing Region III DVDs?

I had always assumed the whole "Region Coding" business was meant to
keep DVD prices down in Asia as a means to combat piracy. Companies
could sell DVDs at dirt cheap prices in Asia, and keep Americans from
using these "cheap versions" via region coding. Seems sensible
enough.

But in practice, I find that it works completely opposite. DVD prices
in the USA are much, much lower than in Asia. It's insane, really.
The Star Wars trilogy, for example, can be found for under $40
stateside... but in Asia, it's closer to $60 USD. Region I DVDs that
cost $15 in America are sold as Region III DVDs for $25 here, where
people typically make five or six dollars a *day*. Go figure. Is it
any wonder why piracy is thriving in Asia?

Opticreep

<< Anyway, is it pretty difficult to unlock American DVD
players (not PC DVD players) into playing Region III DVDs? >><BR><BR>


If you don't want to do it yourself -- or can't -- there are plenty of
pre-hacked region-free machines on eBay for under $100. That's what I
recommend.

SoHillsGuy

On 4 Nov 2004 02:46:42 -0800, (Opticreep) wrote:

>I find myself working abroad in Asia for a few years, where all DVDs
>are locked for Region III players. So far, I have abstained from
>purchasing *any* DVDs here. I'd hate to be stuck with a large
>collection of Region III DVDs that I can't use when I go home to
>America later. Anyway, is it pretty difficult to unlock American DVD
>players (not PC DVD players) into playing Region III DVDs?
>
>I had always assumed the whole "Region Coding" business was meant to
>keep DVD prices down in Asia as a means to combat piracy. Companies
>could sell DVDs at dirt cheap prices in Asia, and keep Americans from
>using these "cheap versions" via region coding. Seems sensible
>enough.
>
>But in practice, I find that it works completely opposite. DVD prices
>in the USA are much, much lower than in Asia. It's insane, really.
>The Star Wars trilogy, for example, can be found for under $40
>stateside... but in Asia, it's closer to $60 USD. Region I DVDs that
>cost $15 in America are sold as Region III DVDs for $25 here, where
>people typically make five or six dollars a *day*. Go figure. Is it
>any wonder why piracy is thriving in Asia?


I would suggest that when you get back, you purchase a properly
modified quality player such as the JVC-XV-N510. I have had no
problems of any sort, after two years, with my model purchase from
Zone Free DVD. Recommended.

http://www.zonefreedvd.com/codefreedvd/xvn510b.html

Charles
nzvideos.org

Charles Eggen

There is a list of code hacks via remote at http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks

I think most if not all Cyberhomes can be made region free via remote.

HTH
-DVDfanatico

>I find myself working abroad in Asia for a few years, where all DVDs
>are locked for Region III players. So far, I have abstained from
>purchasing *any* DVDs here. I'd hate to be stuck with a large
>collection of Region III DVDs that I can't use when I go home to
>America later. Anyway, is it pretty difficult to unlock American DVD
>players (not PC DVD players) into playing Region III DVDs?
>
>I had always assumed the whole "Region Coding" business was meant to
>keep DVD prices down in Asia as a means to combat piracy. Companies
>could sell DVDs at dirt cheap prices in Asia, and keep Americans from
>using these "cheap versions" via region coding. Seems sensible
>enough.
>
>But in practice, I find that it works completely opposite. DVD prices
>in the USA are much, much lower than in Asia. It's insane, really.
>The Star Wars trilogy, for example, can be found for under $40
>stateside... but in Asia, it's closer to $60 USD. Region I DVDs that
>cost $15 in America are sold as Region III DVDs for $25 here, where
>people typically make five or six dollars a *day*. Go figure. Is it
>any wonder why piracy is thriving in Asia?

DVDfanatico

Charles Eggen <> wrote in message news:<>. ..
>
>
> I would suggest that when you get back, you purchase a properly
> modified quality player such as the JVC-XV-N510. I have had no
> problems of any sort, after two years, with my model purchase from
> Zone Free DVD. Recommended.
>


OK, thanks. I didn't realize these region-free players were available
for purchase.

Except for language and subtitle variations, do most DVDs from all the
different regions have the exact same content? Or is it fairly common
to see DVDs from Asian countries that have had various special
features removed?

Opticreep

"Opticreep" <> wrote in message
news: om...
> Charles Eggen <> wrote in message
> news:<>. ..
>>
>>
>> I would suggest that when you get back, you purchase a properly
>> modified quality player such as the JVC-XV-N510. I have had no
>> problems of any sort, after two years, with my model purchase from
>> Zone Free DVD. Recommended.
>>
>
>
> OK, thanks. I didn't realize these region-free players were available
> for purchase.
>
> Except for language and subtitle variations, do most DVDs from all the
> different regions have the exact same content?


Yes and no. Many from other regions have special features removed.

luminos

On Fri, 5 Nov 2004 02:47:21 -0800, "luminos" <> wrote:

urchase.
>>
>> Except for language and subtitle variations, do most DVDs from all the
>> different regions have the exact same content?
>
>
>Yes and no. Many from other regions have special features removed.
>

Or added. Or both.

Mischa

Mischa van Dinter

In article <>,
SoHillsGuy <> wrote:
><< Anyway, is it pretty difficult to unlock American DVD
>players (not PC DVD players) into playing Region III DVDs? >><BR><BR>

>If you don't want to do it yourself -- or can't -- there are plenty of
>pre-hacked region-free machines on eBay for under $100. That's what I
>recommend.

There are many DVD players that can be made region free just by
pressing 4 or 5 keystrokes on the remote.

My Philips 642 is now region free - $69 at K-Mart.

7 8 OK 0



--
Bill Vermillion - bv @ wjv . com

me@somwhere.com

wrote:

> There are many DVD players that can be made region free just by
> pressing 4 or 5 keystrokes on the remote.
>
> My Philips 642 is now region free - $69 at K-Mart.
>
>7 8 OK 0

That's "7 8 9 OK 0".

My girlfriend and I just picked this player up last night at Wal-Mart
(same price as yours). I was a bit concerned with some of the
notes in the Users Manual, and on videohelp.com about certain
"features". According to either the UM or the comments at
videohelp.com, the 642...

(1) Only converts PAL to NTSC for VCDs, but not DVDs.

(2) Will not properly convert anamorphic PAL to NTSC with the
proper A.R.

Both of these proved to be false. We tried various discs:

(1) R2 PAL DVDs, both fullscreen and anamorphic widescreen
(2) SVCDs
(3) VCDs
(4) XviD discs
(5) DivX discs

All played fine, although sometimes the motion on XviD discs gets a
bit jerky. I can live with that.

So far, we're very happy with this player. The only flaw I can find in
it so far is that it doesn't have a DTS processor.

-- jayembee

jayembee

On Mon, 8 Nov 2004, jayembee wrote:

> So far, we're very happy with this player. The only flaw I can find in
> it so far is that it doesn't have a DTS processor.

Have you tried playing a DTS disc in it anyway? I have a Philips DVD
player that doesn't have the DTS logo on it anywhere, yet when I selected
the DTS soundtrack option in the menues of a couple of DVDs, it lit up the
DTS light on my receiver.

Give it a shot anyway, it might work on yours too.

swac

Stephen Cooke