DVD Regions - what works where.

[Reiss]

ok guys.
as always, in all forums, i highly appreciate all responses. its good to know that people take the time to help strangers out (as i do too)

as im going to be buying a standalone DVD player anyway, I may as well get a multi region one, giving me the added option of being able to purchase both US & UK dvd's.

thanks again.

Peace

[Quality's Proof]

If you are going to buy a new standalone dvd player then you could view the dvd player hack thread (nothing more than pushing some buttons on your remote control....no chance of damage to your player) on this forum.

This way you could buy a good quality regular standalone that you can make region free. A lot of the top of the line standalone makers don't make region free standalones and you are therefore limited as to quality, etc. if you buy a "multi-region standalone player, so the remote control hack is a good choice.

You could do a search engine search for "multi region" standalone dvd players and consider the fact that you have never heard of almost all of the brand names, their warranty address in UK, their service center address in UK, or the lack of such as you may find. Many of the makers do not have a service center in every large city nor in most countries and their method of warranty requires that you airmail the standalone to their service center @ your expense. TNT (one of the cheapest air delivery firms will charge up to a $100.00 or more for such a delivery, and then there is the wait, etc..

The hacked method is better, but I still havent' found any hacks for the Pioneer model I have....hint, hint.

You are welcome.

[ashy]

UK and US are somewhat different as Hollywood does not "dictate" as much the technical performance of televisions. Most modern European (west european) televisions do not have a problem with playing NTSC dvd movies.

First of all I live in the UK! A typical assumption of someone as bigoted as you.
AS for modern UK televisions playing NTSC ok, what is your point?

I simply stated that SOME players will require a multiformat TV as does one of mine otherwise a black and white picture will result.

As for multiregion players not being available by the big brands this is also incorrect.
Many suppliers all ready offer players from well known brands as multiregion. Whether hacked or otherwise.
In anycase the player will still be under full guarantee so no worries there.

SONY, PIONEER, TOSHIBA and many others are offered as multiregion players for under £100.
Just a quick search on the net will verify this.

[Quality's Proof]

ashy,

You insulted me by calling me a bigot. Such an insult was a direct attack upon me. Undoubtedly, some of the posters (including you) do not like my posts which contain a free/easy to use solution.

Since you live in UK, are you anglo/saxon? If so, 'tis very funny as my racial identification is minority in US and your calling me a bigot.

Get real about Hollywood being a control freak. Same "official" movies are being sold on DVD in US for $20.00 and @ $2.00 to $3.00 on DVD in Thailand and Phillipines. DUH?

You very much not understand or intentionally seek to confuse the very many "lurkers" whom never post.

You call me a "bigot" and therefore you stereotype me as many US males are supposed bigots.... SHOULD I therefore stereotype you as the stereotyped atypical homosexual UK male?

[BexTech]

As previously stated vitually all TV's in the UK will playback NTSC no problems when fed through an RGB enabled scart socket! Some TV's are multi-standard and will also playback NTSC via RF.

Not all scart sockets are RGB enabled if you have more than one scart socket on the TV, usually just the first one is RGB enabled, sometimes the first two. So your DVD player should go into there for colour playback of an NTSC disc.

All DVD players sold in the UK will play both PAL and NTSC discs.

Many DVD players will transcode PAL to NTSC and NTSC to PAL also, these will usually be the 'cheaper' players, and not required when playing back through an RGB enabled Scart socket, but required if using a non RGB scart.

You can buy an Alba 45 which is Multi-region straight out of the Box, and also transcodes (used when recording NTSC onto PAL video) as well as playing in original NTSC or PAL format.

These currently cost £29.99 - US$56

[Quality's Proof]

High quality dvd players are cheaper in the US than in the UK, was/is my point, as reiss will keep computer and therefore will require a "change-over" power supply (which can also power the US spec. dvd player) and therefore the UK purchase of a dvd player wasn't mentioned/intended.

Also, the US , R - 1 , NTSC, dvd movies are at a premium price, in the UK and the less the originals are viewed, the higher their real $$'s worth actually is , hence, the viewing of the back-ups, instead of the originals.

[BexTech]

Yes I fully understand! I just thought that the cost is so low, a stand alone like the Alba45 which as all the features was ideal!

Would the PC not have a switch or auto-switch between (110V)115V / 230V like all the PC's I have had / built? Not sure you see if they bother in the US of having the PSU switchable.

As a transformer converting 230V down to 110V are expensive, bulky and noisy!

Or was you thinking of replacing the PSU inside the PC?

Some companies make their products operate from 98V through to 264V so it's worth checking!


Note: Harmonization of electricity through-out Europe.

UK has lowered their voltage to 230V, other parts of Europe have raised it's voltage to 230V.

[Reiss]

ill be buying a new power supply for my system.
only thing i wasnt sure about was my monitor, i had it plugged directly into the wall socket in the US, which of course i cant do in the UK. im thinking that i can get a power supply with a monitor supply included, well, i hope i can anyway as i just shipped my 21" crt monitor to UK.

[BexTech]

This depends on what voltage the monitor will accept, as the PSU just routes the the supply voltage through!

So a 230V PSU will just supply that 230V straight to the monitor. The same as plugging it straight in to the mains socket.

If the monitor will only accept 110V, a good service company can easily replace the internal PSU.

What make / model monitor is it?

[Reiss]

thanks
its a HP monitor with sony trinitron tube. not sure of model number.

ill have to have a look when it arrives in the UK.
hope i havent wasted my time shipping the big bastard thing from miami to london!

mind you, i will be buying a transformer to power my turntables, but i know them things are damn noisy so would rather not have to use it.

[BexTech]

HP P1110 21-inch Trinitron Monitor

Works on voltage between 90v and 264v 50hz and 60hz.

Other HP monitors I've checked also work between 90V and 264V.

So you should be OK!

[Quality's Proof]

Originally posted by BexTech
Yes I fully understand! I just thought that the cost is so low, a stand alone like the Alba45 which as all the features was ideal!

Would the PC not have a switch or auto-switch between (110V)115V / 230V like all the PC's I have had / built? Not sure you see if they bother in the US of having the PSU switchable.

As a transformer converting 230V down to 110V are expensive, bulky and noisy!

Or was you thinking of replacing the PSU inside the PC?

Some companies make their products operate from 98V through to 264V so it's worth checking!


Note: Harmonization of electricity through-out Europe.

UK has lowered their voltage to 230V, other parts of Europe have raised it's voltage to 230V.

Since, the other electronics will be powered via a "converter", it would therefore, be more economical and sensible not to replace the computer psu, but rather to use the converter as the ps (unless somputer psu is s multi, etc.). The "converter" should handle the total combined load + 20 -to 25 % for extreme safety and unit longevity (if total connected load is" X" # of amps, then increase size of "converter" by" X" times 1.20 or by 1.25, this is, of course, the "worst case" scenario, but is safer.

The "converters" are cheap in US, is what I am also saying, but if you do buy a US "converter" buy a decent one, as they will last 30 or more years w/regular maintenance (compressed (canned) air ) cleaning) for heat dissipation.