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Multi-region hacks for Sony "Picot" DVP-PQ1 DVD player?
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Posted by: ndunlavey

I've just bought one of those dinky little Sony "Picot" (DVP-PQ1) pseudo-portable DVD players. Stupidly, I didn't check whether it was multi-region first, and I find this one is Region 2 only.

I've googled for hack sites, but it seems that this one can't be hacked using the standard remote - you need to send codes that the user remote won't generate.

Anyone got any leads of somewhere I could go to get this hacked?

Posted by: sanderton

http://www.selen.org/sonydvd.html

Describes the procedure, which uses a laptop, PDA or programmable remote to generate the necessary IR codes to simulate the special remote that they use to access the enginerring menus.

I've used a similar one to make my Sony DAV-S880 multiregion using a Clie, and it worked beautifully; watched Star Trek: Nemesis froma R1 disk last night.

Unfortunately the hack couldn't make the film any good. :(

Posted by: ndunlavey

Thanks for that.

A work colleague has a Clie, and is happy for me to borrow it to try this.

When you say you follwed this procedure, what software do you use to generate the IR codes from the Clie? I take it the Big Frank thingy is for PCs only?

Posted by: ndunlavey

Later ...

Seems that my laptop has an infrared port, but I don't know how to check whether winsamp from Big Freddy's site is sending stuff via it or not. I know the port is working, because if I get my mobile to send something, there's a gubbins in Win 2000 that pops up to say that something is communicating via infrared.

What I can't tell is whether winsamp does anything with the port, or even what COM port it's connected to(*). Is it necessarily on a COM port?

(*) The IR port I mean - I know there's a command line option to tell winsamp which COM port to use, but I don't know what COM port works for the IR device.
____________

Later again .... HP tell me that my infra-red port is on COM3, but running winsamp to open COM3 gives me a "cannot open this port" error :(

Looks like this route might be a dead end, so I'm now very interested in how to do it with the Clie :)

Posted by: sanderton

I can't figure out the serial port emulation under Win2k either!

I did it using these instructions:

quote:

Region code hack posted by Shane at May 07 2003:

With perseverance this hack works a charm.
Its the same hck as for the NS405/305 etc.
Only difference being how you apply it.

1. Turn on the player.
2. Hold down "Display" "Stop" and "Prev" keys ("Mecha Lock" should appear), and while keeping them pressed turn volume knob to the right.
3. Then use your Palm/pronto remote/etc.. as follows.

I used a Palm V, so this is the way I'll describe it.
Download Omniremote Trial version (lasts 12 days at least).
Get the file "Sony_DVD_hack.pdb" (or input the code manually as published elsewhere)
Install both.
Using the Sony DVD hack template now in omniremote, press the keys 1-5 ONCE EACH (not twice like others say) but very quickly. just keep doing that constantly (no need to switch off and try again, just keep typing 1-5 quickly, ensuring each keypress transmits) until "DATA RESET" appears on the player(not the screen). It took me quite a few tries, dont give up.

4. Press the power button on the player remote.
5. Plug it out for 5-10 seconds.
6. Start it again, and play your region 1 etc. discs!!

This saved me 100 euro per dvd player! (worked on my Dav-s880 and the Ns405)

From the superb http://www.dvdrhelp.com/ site. You can download the pdb file from http://dev0_2000.tripod.com where there is also a brief how-to for the DVD players.

Posted by: sjp

where are you in London?

Posted by: ndunlavey

Cheers. Not sure that stuff applies to the Picot, because it mentions stuff about a volume knob and a DVD displkay, which the Picot doesn't have.

sjp - I'm in Blackheath/Greenwich oin SE London. Do you know of somewhere nearby that will do the job for me?

Posted by: sjp

quote:
Originally posted by ndunlavey
sjp - I'm in Blackheath/Greenwich oin SE London. Do you know of somewhere nearby that will do the job for me?

don't know anywhere... was just wondering if you were sufficiently close to offer the loan of a virgin pronto to do whatever was required... would like this thing to have some point to its life (other than gathering dust that is).

you're close enough, let me know

stuart

Posted by: ndunlavey

That would be great, thanks - you (will) have PM for details.