"I Need a Region 2 DVD player." Topic

I caught part of "To the Ends of the Earth" on public television a few weeks ago and was looking to pick up the DVD. It seems it's only available in the UK!
I understand it will play on a PC, but I don't always have access to one.

Can anyone tell me where to pick one up, or change settings or fiddle with the player somehow?

I'd appreciate it.

That better be a good DVD.

You can hunt down an "all region" or "no region" player.. they are out there.. but not from local best buy.. they are reserved in specialty shops.

You can change the region code in windows so you can watch the dvd on your PC. Windows allows you to change it 3 times? 5? someone help me out here. P

There are also 3rd party software solutions that dont require you to change your windows settings.

I'm in the market for a new DVD player anyway.
I think I found some on Amazon fairly cheaply.
Thanbks anyhoo!

That would be "thanks anyhow"

I know that PC isn't a great option for you, but the cheapest way to go would be to download a multi region player from CNET or Download.com. You only need the software and they do work. Even better, I downloaded one called Rio (I think) that gave me a free week's trial. If you can watch it all in a week, you may not have to spend anything.

I also have a multi region player on my TV and they are pretty pricy as the store needs to mess with the hardware.

Thanks for the info, Baron. We may do that for our PCs. We do have a multi-region DVD player, but it would be nice to watch our British disks on the computess as well.

well, the route I went was to find the DVD player I fancied… and then search online if it was hackable… obviously I don't know if the models available in the UK would be available where you are so I won't bother linking the hack site I used – but in essence, find your normal R1 (or wherever) DVD player, check a more liberal DVD forum for hacks, but the player and the necessary all-in-one remote (you know – hifi-tv-video things) and just press the buttons you need to press when you're told to press 'em…

I'll admit mine was a little trickier than that as I had about 6 different hacks for the one model so I had to do trial and error, but it worked and I'm region free….

I got a region free portable player from jlist.com. They had 2 players that you hook up to your tv and the 1 portable. I think the cheapest one was $80. USD My portable with shipping came to $160 USD but it playes everything. And I can hook it up to the tv if I wanted to. I like to watch alot of asian movies so it's come in handy alot for me so far.
As far as hacking one from the store, it seems the noname brand players are the easiest to hack.

If it is a UK DVD you will not only need region free but a PAL to NTSC converter.

I found mine by checking a local big box chain.

I would check all the really cheap players in your area, write down the name and model number an d check this site.
link

I found mine with a PAL to NTSC converter for $35. USD The region hack to make it region free was listed on the above site. The down side to cheapo players is they have no fan so when not in use turn them off.

over here in the UK our DVD players automatically change NTSC to PAL, I have no trouble watching Region 1 discs (complete Robotech boxed sets, Space Above and Beyond…..)

I don't know if this is any help, I use it all the time for hacks
link
it's a pretty big list of players. It might solve your region problems, but it sounds like you'll still need a Pal/NTSC converter.

It's weird, it is almost impossible to buy a DVD player in Australia that isn't multi- zone and that includes all the cheap brands. The last two I have had have cost me no more than $80 USD AUD. I couldn't live without one about 60% of my DVD collection is non english. How is it the US lags so far behind?

Carlos Marighela- DMCA is the answer to your question. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMCA

Carlos; The US doesn't "lag behind", we're simply under the thumb of the entertainment cartels.

I buy a lot of Region 2 DVD's, I usually just copy them using DVDshrink which removes the region coding. My DVD/DivX player handles the PAL/NTSC conversion automatically. A region hack for the player is available, I've just never bothered doing it which is, admittedly, very silly of me.

Your present DVD player can be changed into a region free player if you search the internet for the codes. Most DVD players are "locked" into one region on the asssembly line by the manufacturer installing a code to hide the region menu.

I have my portable DVD region free after finding the code online. My other DVD player, which just died, was region free after finding the code to get to the region menu.

I don't think either will change NTSC to PAL but I haven't bothered with that since I am in Japan and I just need to have my players run Region 1 and the Japanese region setting, Region 3 IIRC.

Now I need to get a digital DVD player so, internet here I come….

Mmm Paul violated the DMCA for shame, that is if he is in the USA only of course;)

Yeppers, and violated joyfully and wholeheartedly. My youngest (9 next month) is Autistic and without said violations DVD's have a viewing lifespan that is usually measured in single digits. He doesn't get violent with them, they just get so dirty and scratched up from fingers on the disk. I have no guilt about fair use that might happen to violate the DMCA. My full fealings on it would get me doghoused for life.

An interesting bit of movie trivia, according to the music and movie industries you're breaking copyright laws by loaning a DVD to a friend to watch, because when you purchased that DVD they only licensed YOU to watch it in YOUR home.

Regional codes are just another way for THE MAN to make more of our money.

japan is region 2, same as europe… region 3 is the rest of asia….

Okay, here is the poop, troops. First of all, the link above is a VERY good resource (I've been using it for years).

Secondly, Region Free players are CHEAP! You just have to know where to look. Additionally, almost all region-free players automatically convert PAL to NTSC and vice-versa (to be blunt, though, you should expect a small lose in audio and picture quality when you do this, but it's negligible so don't fret about it).

All players under the APEX label are region free (or will be with a few key combinations on the remote). The codes are at the site above. Now, keep in mind, Apex models also carry the GE and other labels. Check the site above if you're not sure. Also, you do tend to get what you pay for: don't count on a $30-$60 DVD player for lasting years and years (a few years, yes, but after 3+ you're living on borrowed time).

So, grab any cheap Apex you see, get the codes, and enjoy your DVDs. It's as easy as that.

I take a slightly contrary view, don't count on any DVD player lasting a long time, regardless of price. I had a standard brand model that lasted just on a week longer than it's warranty. Repair costs are more than a new player. It was replaced by a generic brand (that is actually the home brand of a more expensive model) and it has lasted twice as long. And let's face it for $50 USD if the damn thing dies after two years that's a 50 cents a week. This laptop plays all regions too.

MMITCHELL is right, you dont have to worry about NTSC_PAL stuff if you get a region free DVD player. I bought one off the internet from a place in Chicago for under $100 USD bucks, and it works great! No more waiting for my fav asian or Brit shows to be released to an American market, if ever….

just get a PS2 and get the RA MAX disc it has all of them on it u can play anything with it