Page 1 of 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

>A- Can you get rid of Macrovision on this player( The USA player)

yes

>B- Can this player playback NTSC disk on PAL TV and
>PAL disk on NTSC TV ( I dont have a multisystem TV)

yes

>C- Does this player have any known problems after the hack

no

>D- How is the Audio Video Quality on this player

pretty damn good. As I`m sure you know it has DTS out to plug into your receiver so that`s awesome. Using the component out for video is great. I run mine through my VCR as well in case I need to watch a movie at a friends house who can`t play PAL DVDs.

>I need to get two of these in one week

www.800.com for 139 bucks.

-McHale

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

go here m8 you`ll get all the info you need
www.aera450.co.uk

l8trz

...or here even :

http:///www.area450.co.uk

(ne`er mind, Bedlam - pretty good effort, old bean)

Although the site refers to the Encore 450, the hacks are exactly the same, as McHale has helpfully pointed out from Stateside (cheers McH!!!)

This item was edited on Tuesday, 23rd January 2001, 00:06

Actually, the Sampo (US) has an additional code that works in the 3.3c version that didn`t work in the UK (3.3D) version. It changed the DVD LOGO when you first turned on the machine (LIKE ANYBODY GAVE A s*** ENOUGH ABOUT THAT!!!!)

Anyway, here` all the codes and descriptions I`ve collected so far... Enjoy. These have been tested on 3.3C (US) and 3.3D (UK) and the differences between the two have been noted. Enjoy...

p.s., if the formatting is all screwed up it`s because I had the bright idea that it would look nice and pretty once it was open on the viewing page as opposed to the SUBMIT REPLY page.

-McHale

SETUP 12345 CHECK FIRMWARE VERSION

I tested these commands on VER 3.3D C2 E 2000/08/09 and VER 3.3C C2 UY 2000/05/25)

SETUP 38883
CHANGE REGIONS

REGION ID>>REGION 1 (USA & Canada)
REGION 2 (Europe, Japan, South Africa, Middle East)
REGION 3 (South-East Asia)
REGION 4 (Central & South America, Australia, New Zealand)
REGION 5 (Former Soviet Union, India, Pakistan, Africa)
REGION 6 (China)
BYPASS (Will Play ALL Regions except some Region Code Enhanced Discs)
SETUP 590419
SET CSS AND MACROVISION

CSS >>AUTO (Plays ALL DVDs)
OFF (Will NOT Play Copyrighted DVDs)
MACROVISION >>AUTO (Copyprotection ON)
OFF (Copyprotection OFF)
SETUP 72555
TOGGLE PAL/NTSC/MULTI MODES
(Europe/USA/all?)

SETUP 62555
US Changes The Logo - LOGO PAL, LOGO NTSC
UK Didn`t do anything. :(

SETUP 8888
cycles the output from composite round the other options from the setup menu.

US Y/CR/CB, S VIDEO
UK SCART COMP, SCART RGB, SCART S-VID, S-VIDEO


Side Note: Region 7 = Reserved
Region 8 = Special international venues (airplanes, cruise ships, etc.)

Hi guys,

I ordered one from 800.com last week and it is on its way. I will try all these hacks once i have them and let you guys know.

Also buying a DVD at best buy/circuity city costs me 19 to 25 bucks. Do you guys have any idea as to whether I can buy stuff on the net cheaper than this? I know columbiahouse.com, but for that you need to be in US for two years to fulfill their long list of conditions.

Mine just came in from 800.com on monday. I guarentee the codes work. What you could let us know is if the Manufacture date is 9/2000 or newer. Mine is 9/2000 but I`m thinking that newer ones (which have different internal DVD drives) are better. Just a theory so don`t worry if you get one that`s 9/2000. Mine is 9/2000 and don`t have any problems.

Also, for cheaper DVD`s, places like circuit city, best buy, and wal-mart are among the highest.

I usually check out www.closeoutvideo.com. I picked up a DVD that was 30 bucks EVERYWHERE (even online) for 17 bucks there.

I also use a DVD search engine at www.dvdesp.com when I`m searching for specific titles.

Of course, you can check out amazon and cdnow but that`s usually a last resort for me as I`ve had better prices elsewhere. I also buy used here and there.

-McHale

Thanks McHale.

Mine is expected on 30th and I will hack on the same day and and let you know. I am from India and am in US for few months only and hence want to accumulate as much DVD at as less as possible. I do not mind buying used ones as long as they work fine. You must have been to columbiahouse.com. After taking into account all your commitments, it still works out to something like 10 dollars a dvd and they have most of the ones released in 2000.

I hope my DVD is manufactured after 09/2000(although thats highly unlikely).

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