As the title states, i would like to become region free. I am unfortunately a poor college student who can't drop the cash involved with buying an actual region free player. I currently have an Apex-1500 and i was able to find a hack here http://www.nerd-out.com/darrenk/1500/1500_firmware.htm. I'm worried about doing this and fear that it could permanently mess up my player.
Does anyone else have this player and have you used this hack? Does anyone have any suggestions before i try this, or any suggestions in general?

I have this same player that is CDr Upgradable to regionless and macrovison etc.. But I feel that I have no reason to do the hack. I like this player only because it plays my SVCD's. If I remember correctly, it was only about a 45.00 player when new. Walmart has some for less than 40.00

http://www.walmart.com/search/search...+125875.126071

If you read carefully and go by the instructions(especially the serial#'s and color of the sticker etc..) you shouldn't have any problems.

Read this link for any other info on the Apex:
http://web.quick.cz/ad1500/

What is the purpose of disabling macrovision?

thanks for your help. i'm interested in upgrading so i can get some foreign films and some of the nicer box sets of american films


i'm not exactly sure about macrovision, but from what i understand, on some versions of the player, if you hooked it up through a vcr there were problems with the picture.

There is always a slight risk that updating firmware will screw you up but generally its painless.

why would you hook it up through VCR anyway (unless you plan on copying) ? Hook directly into the tv and macrovision wont be an issue (or get a little switcher box if you don thave enough inputs on your tv).

so would any one here suggest that i try this, or should i just wait until i can get enough money for a region-free player?

Get enough money....buy a region-free player.

Voila!!

Regards,
Pro-B

From Amazon, you can get the Philips DVP642 (which has a one-time simple hack on the remote) for less than $70 delivered.

I own an AD-1500 and the upgrade was painless. If you follow the directions, it's just a matter of popping the CD in and waiting a couple of minutes for the upgrade to complete.

Be warned, though, that the AD-1500 can't handle anamorphic PAL discs right. If you're looking to import discs from Europe, you'll need to get a different player.

you have money for those imports, but not a region-free player?
sometimes importing even a single disc can set you back more than a cheapie region-free!

or buy it at Walmart for about $5 more and walk out with it for immediate gratification. The hack is extremely easy.

Target also carries the Philips 642 for around $70. Cheaper still is the Daewoo 9200N $40 on sale, $49 regular. It's region free remote hackable and does PAL/NTSC, proper PAL/anamorphic conversion too.

This is definately the TYPE of thing you want to look for. You also might want to look at Daewoo-- they make several models of player than are region-free (without hacking-- the region coding is never put in, in the first place so you don't need to remove it) and automatic PAL/NTSC, NTSC/PAL conversation. Also, the Daewoo's can be configured to handle European power standerds.

It's worth it to shop on-line or in bargain stores for a real multi-region machine!

AND look at it THIS WAY-- it's a lot cheaper that the old multi-system TV/VCR set-up you needed in the 1980s to view PAL videotapes (easily a $2000-$5000 set-up) or paying for true videotape conversion from an optical house (typically $50-$100 PER HOUR to convert a PAL videotape to NTSC videotape, AND it went down a minimum of three gens).

--Brit TV fan

By far, the BEST region-free player I have bought in this price range. And mine was region and macro-free out of the box.

i have the philips 727 that works immaculately and was very cheap.

As has been pointed out in several threads, that model# is no longer available, with the DVP642 being the most similar philips machine that can be found.

regardless if it "has been pointed out in several threads"..there are multiple ways to still get this and enjoy the wonder of region freeness with this cheap player!

Perhaps you can do all your fellow DVD Talkers a favor, then, and list the places where the Philips 727 is available for purchase. It's a great player and your info would be most helpful to many people here.

I have TWO (2) 727s; and in case one blows up, I bought a 642. Over a year and counting, not a problem yet. Great Machines except for the multi-angle icon displayed on screen all the time (when multi angles are available) with no way to turn it off. Bothers me when I watch Star Wars. Otherwise, perfect.

Gee.. I just noticed we have dueling signatures here... oh well, I didn't author the line, just copied it down, so no foul.

I forgot about that "feature". Does the 642 correct that?

How's Philips 727 progressive scan capability? Compared with 642? Heard in many reviews that prog. scan capability of 642 is average, maybe even lower.

Yeah, the multiple angles icon is the only downside to the 727...Mine shuts off on Starwars though, however I couldnt get it to shut off on Bridget Jones Diary.

What is the remote hack for the Philips 642?

A handy site for any dvd player hacks:
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.ph...ps+642&hits=50

The 642 is on sale for 59.99 and 64.99 at Target and CompUSA beginnining the week starting tomorrow Sunday . (Just went through the Sunday adverts)

1. Power on the player.
2. Open tray via remote (press & hold "Stop" button).
3. Enter using remote: 7 8 9 OK 0
4. The number 0 will appear on the lower left side of your screen.

Thanks dleedlee and fourizonly. I tried the code and it worked. I was worried at first cos when I checked videohelp there was some debate as to WHICH remote hack worked. Anyhoo, I tried that sequence and it played my R3 LE of House Of Flying Daggers perfectly.

Thanks, again.