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Old 10-09-2003, 03:23
asjonesuk
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Hi,

OK, I know that to play a Region 1 DVD on my multi-region capable DVD player I need to have an NTSC TV. Unfortunately - I don't have an NTSC Capable TV.

My other option is my PC - I have an:

Pioneer DVD ROM 117 on my PC, I know there are region killers available (software based) to enable me to play Region 1 DVD's on my PC... but I have a few questions...

1) Can anyone suggest a (free is possible) one that works
2) Do any of them mess with the hardware based region settings? (I know my drive can only be changed 5 times - unless anyone knows different?)

The reason I ask is because I really really Want Queer As Folk USA season 1 and 2 from Play.com and various other dvds like Friends (the american ones are better apparantly with more features etc)

Thank you to anyone who can help.
Andy
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Old 10-09-2003, 09:03
comicsansserif
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Some DVD players will do PAL50 conversion so you don't need an NTSC compatible TV. Others do PAL60 which is a sort of half way house that most TV's will do.

Does your player only output NTSC for region 1 (Sony's usually only do this for instance)? Check the instructions and menus for settings.

Have you tried a R1 disc and if so did you get a stable but black and white picture? If so this is a sign your TV should do PAL60. You can get NTSC to PAL60 converters fairly cheaply from mail order electronic places. You can get full NTSC to PAL50 also but these are expensive and it would be much cheaper to get another DVD player that will do that conversion for you.

If your TV will do PAL60 then the picture should be fine when you get a converter but converting to PAL50 (either with a player or converter) usually causes the picture to "stutter" because of the way frames are dropped.
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Old 10-09-2003, 09:14
GreenTurd
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I have used Asus Dvd in the past for my pc dvd software and it only lets you change the region 5 times but all i do is reinstall it each time and it resets the count back to 5. You did say that your drive only lets you change 5 times so this might not work for you but it might be worth a try?

DK
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Old 10-09-2003, 10:57
asjonesuk
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I found a site last night to flash the firmware of the DVD Drive it said it was region free firmware, so after much consideration (DVD Rom Drives are extremely cheap from www.ebuyer.com ) I flashed the firmware - now it says Changes remaining 1 - so i'm a bit worried now. The site says flashing the firmware is only the half the story because I still need to use a utility like Region Free or Region Killer to bypass the Windows / DVD Software checking.....

I havent tried a Region 1 DVD on my DVD Player because I dont currently posses a disc - I will purchase a £4.99 Region 1 DVD from www.play.com to test it out.

Failing that I suppose I could buy another DVD Drive and set it to Region 1 - then id have 2 drives 1 for Region 2 and 1 for Region 1

Thanks for your help - if anyone else has any suggestions I'd be glad to hear them..
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Old 10-09-2003, 14:17
MDX
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http://www.dvdidle.com/

you can get it for free if you know how
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Old 10-09-2003, 19:43
crazydave
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Originally posted by PreZiCion
http://www.dvdidle.com/

you can get it for free if you know how

I would strongly recomend dvdidle for anyone playing regionalised DVD's on thir PC.

OK you have to pay $40, but that is a $40 well worth it.

DVD idle virtually makes regional codeing a non existant issue as well as having aded benifits.

1)No need to worry about messing your DVD rom drive up becuase you do NOT flash it
2)Gives you an operation free dvd player
3)There is an option with the software so that you can skip intros and go straight to the film. (however i find that this does not work for all titles)
4) works even if you have no region changes left.

Flashing a DVD rom will not necicarily make it into an RPC1 drive.

Most flashes only stop the counter from decreacing so that you can change region as many times as you like. The drive will still be PRC2

If i could ask the author anything it would be could he give us an option to hide the tray icon , and could there be an option for it to be installed as a system service rather than user process.
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Old 10-09-2003, 19:45
MDX
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Originally posted by crazydave
If i could ask the author anything it would be could he give us an option to hide the tray icon.
if you are on XP this can be done.

if you need help doing it just ask
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Old 13-09-2003, 09:53
djchrissy
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why do they even bother to invent region codes


people like us just break them anyway
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Old 23-09-2003, 14:25
OrmeMac
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Beware of buying R1 DVDs from play.com. I have just had £10.64 customs to pay on a boxed set that cost £38.
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Old 23-09-2003, 14:28
MDX
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thats cos it was over the £17 limit mate.

i had to pay £2 for my dvd box set that was £23.99

but on all dvds under £17 i have *Never* had to pay inport tax.

and also its playusa.com for R1 dvds
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Old 23-09-2003, 14:59
OrmeMac
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I asked about this on another thread and was told that by using 'play' I could avoid the customs charge.

Q: Anyone know a good UK seller of R1 DVDs so that you can avoid customs?
A: Play (.com i think?)
A: yup I use Play.com (althought its now been rebranded as playusa)
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Old 23-09-2003, 15:56
comicsansserif
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When something comes into this country from abroad then customs has the right to inspect it for various reasons one of which is to see if it is subject to VAT. Shippers usually put the value of the contents on the package and anything which is about £20 or less is USUALLY ignored but pricier items are usually charged.

So if you buy expensive box sets or have multiple discs delivered together you are very likely to have to pay taxes on them whereas cheaper single discs will usually get through.
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Old 23-09-2003, 16:47
kev
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Originally posted by asjonesuk
Hi,

OK, I know that to play a Region 1 DVD on my multi-region capable DVD player I need to have an NTSC TV. Unfortunately - I don't have an NTSC Capable TV.
Hmm, use the main DVD Player for Region 2, and set you PC to Region 1 - job done

My Pioneer DV-350 (Multiregion from Richer Sounds) outputs MOD PAL and is fine on my PAL only TV, but you HAVE to use RGB SCART for this to work (other outputs are NTSC). The only slight problem i have found is that the picture has a slight green tint on the letter box bars.
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Old 23-09-2003, 16:51
kev
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Originally posted by comicsansserif
When something comes into this country from abroad then customs has the right to inspect it for various reasons one of which is to see if it is subject to VAT. Shippers usually put the value of the contents on the package and anything which is about £20 or less is USUALLY ignored but pricier items are usually charged.

So if you buy expensive box sets or have multiple discs delivered together you are very likely to have to pay taxes on them whereas cheaper single discs will usually get through.
hmm, so thats why Play will send out a delivery of 10 discs as 10 seperate items....
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Old 24-09-2003, 00:39
crazydave
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Originally posted by PreZiCion
if you are on XP this can be done.

if you need help doing it just ask
That would be much appreciated.
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Old 24-09-2003, 01:25
damndirtyape
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Originally posted by PreZiCion
thats cos it was over the £17 limit mate.

i had to pay £2 for my dvd box set that was £23.99

but on all dvds under £17 i have *Never* had to pay inport tax.

and also its playusa.com for R1 dvds
I could have sworn that it was an £18 limit I know that some places used to pay any import charge for you although they are few and far between nowadays

I recommend that you used dvdidle or similar tool rather than flashing a new firmware, as the Pioneers usually are more trouble than they're worth when it comes to upgrading (I've had to flash my A04 DVD burner several times )
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Old 24-09-2003, 23:44
crazydave
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merchandise(dvd etc) had a limit of £18, Things wraped and sent as gifts have a limit of £36

Ive never had to pay any import taxes for stuff over this vallue. but then again the value of the stuff i get is never declared in sterling.

I have bought stuff for $120 and not been done for import tax.

I guess they couldent be bothered looking up the exchange rates
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Old 25-09-2003, 12:38
Kevo
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Don't tempt fate Crazydave.

A mate of mine just had to pay £22 on an Amazon (US) order of £140 worth of DVDs (all came in one box).

It was the first (and last!) time he had ordered from them.
I guess he was just unlucky!
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Old 28-09-2003, 03:24
F!RE
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I've never had to pay any import tax here in Ireland on DVD's from the states and I've got a few.

Didnt know that they ship 1 disc at a time to avoid import tax for the customer....I'm happier knowing this.

However I did get stung with importing a pair of runners from the states had to pay €34 to get them after a heafty price already.





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