Info and forum posts by 'mvkaneria'

RE: Just moved to USA - which player should I buy for region 1-2?

Hi Adam:
SAMPO 620 is the way to go. The version for 170 is also hackable. Just make sure it is 110-220 Volts. If its multivoltage, it is remote hackable. As far as I know all sampo 620 are hackable. Only the newer Sampo 620 with latest firmware are not. But no problem . No need to pay mega bucks. Just flash it with an old firmware version. The older version of firmware is at www.area450.com. Its a very good site Its the UK mirror model of Sampo 620 USA.
Check out buy.com, 800.com or dynadirect.com

Just check the return policy -----just in case you need to return it. I got mine from 800.com
Also check the old posts on this site. McHale and clayt are authorities on Sampo. Thanks guys

MK

RE: WARNING SAMPO 620, 625, 660 USERS!!!

By the way McHale do you have the old firmware file. I would like to have it as a backup just in case if anything should ever go wrong. If you have it can you please e-mail me at airenaKVM[at]moc.loa

Thanks
MK

RE: WARNING SAMPO 620, 625, 660 USERS!!!

Hi McHale:
Thanks for warning me on time. I was thinking of doing just that. But was in two minds but for now I am for sure not gonna do it.
MK

This item was edited on Wednesday, 28th March 2001, 19:26

RE: Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

Hi :
Hey McHale, I am waiting for you to get back to Chicago and let us know what player you have and whats the date on it. and other details.
May be I will also return mine.
Ya 80 degrees sounds very good to a New Yorker. Its in 20s here lately. You take care and enjoy your Florida Sun. By the way Any good place to get Panasonic 8584 drive.
Thanks
MVK

RE: Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

Hi McHale:
The last Q is all yours I am not MP3 guy, though I had no problem with one mp3 disk with 120 songs on it that I played when I got the player. I moved pretty nicely No skipping etc.
One suggestion, Keep all songs in root directory. No Subfolders at all, and see if helps. Hey may be someone was sitting on the remote. LOL
Let me know if my suggestion works.
MVK

RE: Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

Thanks Guys:
I am staying put with my 620. will change the firmware only if I come across any problem. I though intend to try out a Panasonic RPC-1 drive like 8584 or 8582 or an Asus 608.just for the hack of it. Want to see if these drives with 512k cache can make any diff in performance and also want to see if Panasonic grade picture is any diff than original sampo drive. Any suggestion?
Oh by the way McHale I opened the player very carefully to see whats in there. You are right except for the designer faceplate on the loading tray, its nothing but a simple computer dvd drive. with a total of 3 simple circuit boards. Boy its very simple stuff, yet capable of doing all the great things.
And by the way can anyone tell me about the Asus drive its available for 65$. Its RPC-1 8x but only 256k cache
http://www.asus.com/Products/dvdrom/dvd-e608/index.html

MVK

RE: Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

Hi guys:
sorry I lost you all Did i miss something on Firmware upgrade.
Indianhack what is this all about. Please update me. Thanks
MVK

RE: Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

Hi Prasad:
I think you are worried too much. Its a good player for Indian use because most of the DVDs there are bootlag. Do you have a DTS Dolby ac-3 compatible decoder, if not dont worry because the problem is only when you play thru DTS audio out. It works fine with Analod out put that you most likely will be using.
Am I right in this MCHale. Whats your take on this.
MK

RE: Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

Hi McHale:
Thanks for all the info on drive replacement. Now please tell me something will they send just the drive for you to exchange or will you have to senfd the whole unit to them. Let me know how you work out things with them
Thanks
MK

RE: Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

Hi McHale:
Let me know if you have any success with getting a replacement drive. and how you go about getting it. I wiil try too.
I did not get what you said about the replacement with Panasonic 6x.
Can you really do that I mean remove the dvd drive from Sampo620 and replace the drive mechanism with Panasonic or toshiba or any other computer DVD drives. I thought the Audio problem will be related to other electronics and not the drive. Are you sure its drive related? Did you call Sampo guys? Sorry for bugging u with too many questions. And Thanks in advance for answers.
MVK

RE: Pioneer 525 - know any hacks?

Check ou following, I am not sure if it works but no harm in trying I guess.http://www.usaleauction.com/regionfree/pioneer_dv_525.htm

Le me know if it works
MK

RE: Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

i THINK I KNOW YOUR PROBLEM WITH SOUND.
Make sure that if you are not playing on a complete set of 5 speaker system, and if you are connecting to the TV directly, then under the audio set up toggle to Analog stereo. this I think will resolve problem.
In any case play around with the Audio properties of the DVD player dthru the set up menu one of those changes will work for you. Let me have yr feedback. i found it all ok with DVD, VCD, CD cd-r cd-rw and MP3. I tested it all ok. McHale what do u think?
MK

RE: hack needed badly for oritron 500

Try following may be its same Not sure though.

http://www.usaleauction.com/regionfree/oritron_dvd_200.htm
Let me know if it works
MK

RE: Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

McHale:
Hi I got my Sampo 620, its a nice thing. Mfg date 09/2000. Smoothly hackable as per your information. and Guess what , 800.com ran out of stock and also increased the price to 159.
Thanks to you and Indianhack, I got mine quickly for 139. My friend and cus got them at 139 too.
Thanks
MVK

RE: Macrovision

Macrovision signals are not separated so you cant snap a pin and get rid of it. They are integrated with main signals. I think you were misinformed. Check for external devices that can bust the Macr. They go under diff names like video clarifier, video enhancer, color corrector etc.
MVK

RE: american dvd player in the uk??

agree 100% with mike. Why would u do this? If you are in UK get a multiregion multisystem player that can play any DVD on any TV( with built in signal converter). Then you are all set. The cost works out to be the same. or may be 30 pounds more. But ITS NOT WORTH tTO BUY A PLAYER IN USA FOR UK.
MVK

RE: Copying DVD to VHS!!!! (you can)

I am in USA using something called Sima SCC color corrector. Its top of of the line device cost US$ 129/- , but takes care of all kinds of copyright bugs including, Macrovision. Works only on NTSC, but I am sure they must have a PAL version too. It also allows you to control the indivudual color sharpness and brightness, contrast etc.
MK

RE: Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

Hi McHale and IndianHack:
I ordered my 620 from 800.com expected on 29th. I am returning my Lasonic, because it cant play any disk on any tv. But from what u all told me 620 does. My cus ordered two , my sis one and a friend one all from 800.com. I was the one who recommended them. I hope they dont go after me if the performance is poo.LOL.
Anyway will post the date of mfg. once I get the unit.
Also for cheaper DVD scan the price at pricescan.com or ecompare.com. May be this will help. I also know the bootlags in China, Singapore, HK etc are cheap too. I just heard dont know for sure.
MVK

RE: Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

Thanks McHale. Now I can buy Sampo 620 with peace of my mind.
MVK

Sampo 620 USA player hack and Macrovision info needed

Hi there:
I need to know 4 things for sure on Sampo 620E player in USA

A- Can you get rid of Macrovision on this player( The USA player)
B- Can this player playback NTSC disk on PAL TV and
PAL disk on NTSC TV ( I dont have a multisystem TV)
C- Does this player have any known problems after the hack
D- How is the Audio Video Quality on this player

I need to get two of these in one week, one for me here in USA and One for my brother in India. Feel free to e-mail airenakVM[at]moc.eticxe
Thanks in advance
MVK

RE: Is Region 1 Aiwa 370 hackable

Sorry no can do. Cant watch the PAL movies in USA Aiwa370.
In a layman`s term Macrovision is a coding on the DVD disks which prevents it from being copied on to a tape in VCR. If u try to coy , the end result will be a copy with lots of flickering, abscence on picture, badly distorted picture etc. its so lousy that u would throw it in garbage.

Are u in USA, and if you want a cheaper player that is multiregion multisystem(NTSC/PAL) plays MP3, vcd, cd-r and DVD with DTS and Dolby Digital compatibility, I have two suggestions
Lasonic 3200- I own this but you need Multisystem TV for this to play your PAL disk. Also cant get rid of Macrovision. I bought this for 180 US $

Or a better choice is (My choice would be this one if I had to get one again)
Sampo 620E
costs about 145 US $ at www.800.com and this one has added benifit of PAL disk playback on NTSC TV( so you dont need multisysten TV) and vice versa. Its a great value for money.
MVK

RE: ONCE MULTI REGION, WONT PLAY ALL REGION DISC???

I guess Ironduke is the king of Hitachi. Look for all his posting. May be you will find some help on hitachi.
MVK

RE: PAL to NTSC conversion anyone?

Check out this product. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT WHAT U R LOOKING FOR BUT IS EXACTLY OPPOSITE OF IT. BUT I AM SURE THEY ALSO MAKE PAL TO NTSC CONVERTER.http://www.shoppersadvantage.com/SHP/scripts/ProductDetail.asp?SID=D21D4CF7EE5611D424bca866814d842d&scat_code=T%2DELEC&group_id=216&cat_id=14&cat_desc=Camcorder+Accessories&ptype_code=TVDP&ptype_desc=Decodr%2FEnhancr%2FProcessr%2FEditor&shop_mode=store&feat_page=1&model_sysid=744342

RE: Is there a Region 1 hack for Pioneer DV-525?

Link is right but their site must be down I could not go there either. Will try later.
MVK

RE: Is Region 1 Aiwa 370 hackable

Mr Prasad:
I checked at company website. Sampo has built in multivoltage converter. Also reading pages on this website suggests its hackable. No I dont know anyone who personally got this player. I would have gone for this one if I had known earlier, because it disables Macrovision. I have already bought Lasonic 3200 with all same feature plus Dolby 5.1 built in decoder( I did not care about that feature). Rest is all same cd vcd mp3 dvd cd-r cd-rw etc.
My suggestion get it now from 800.com try the hack while u are here. Its a remote hack and that I think does not void warranty. If all works fine keep it if not return it within return moneyback period. I dont think it will get any cheaper.
MK

RE: Is Region 1 Aiwa 370 hackable

Hello Mr. Indiahack:
you cant go wrong with SAMPO620 if its hackable. Check the power supply before u plug it in India. Its DTS and AC3 ready, Plays VCD and MP3 . I good bargain. Go for it. I am in NY and desi stores here sell Panasonic, Pineer etc brand names not less than $350/-
A great value for the money. Get it before they are gone just make sure on the hackability and careful with power supply.
Have a safe trip. I am here in US for 13 years but heart is still in India.
MVK

RE: Is Region 1 Aiwa 370 hackable

Hi Indianhack
Region 1 , Aiwa 370 is of no use if you bought the USA version of this player. Not hackable and is not a multisystem. Also having conflicting report on Apex 660 USA model many say its not hackable(not sure on this). So be careful on what u get. I am from Pune.
MK

RE: Is Region 1 Aiwa 370 hackable

what DVD ar u talking about. Desi movies or English(US) movies.
Well I am a NRI. All Hindi DVD here in US (and also in whole world) are region free dvd. They are not coded so u can play them on any dvd player. Now if you are in India or UK, they are in PAL and if you are in USA they are in NTSC. So you must have a player that can play PAL if you have PAL TV. If you have a mutisystem TV you have no problem.

too confusing...... My advice.
Get a multisystem(PAL/NTSC) regionfree DVD player. I bought Lasonic 3200 for my brother in India. He has a mutisystem TV so he is all set. If you want more details email me at airenakvm[at].moc.loa
I will give you more suggestion for other players
MK

RE: Macrovision - External Hardware solution

Does this really wotk?
and more importantly
does it work for both NTSC and PAL systems. please let me know also if you could tell me what is approximate project cost.
Thanks
MK

RE: Is there a Region 1 hack for Pioneer DV-525?

I am not sure if this works but try it. i found it somewhere on the web. Let us know if it works.http://www.usaleauction.com/regionfree/pioneer_dv_525.htm
MK