How do people come up with hacks?

[D'oh!]

Just wondering how anyone actually comes up with hacks (region code/macrovision) for a player or recorder. I'm talking about before it gets posted in the hack section - how it is found out about to begin with. I'm sure it isn't simply by playing with the remote to see what happens Is there a way to track down information about a specific unit? I have a Balance DR4111 and there seems to be no hack info anywhere and I'm wondering where I would start looking for such info?

D'oh!

[lordsmurf]

People are smarter than you (and me too )

[clayts]

Quite often hacks for DVD recorders depend upon the chipset used - thus recorders that use Cirrus Logics chipsets have similar hacks, ditto LSI ones.

It's always helpful to know two pieces of information - who the original manufacturer is (in Sampo's case they make 10 different flavours of their DV-R88ATN, and the hack is the same for each) and which chipset is installed.

It's not really some wird sort of black science, just knowing who makes what.

In your case, it'll most probably be a Far Eastern OEM that isn't Japanese - best bet is to look through the DVD hacks and look at hacks for the "no brand" recorders

[D'oh!]

well, i know that when it (the balance dr4111) creates a dvd+rw the disk is labelled mtk recording volume. I also know that there is a chip inside by MediaTek Inc. ???

where does this get me?

D'oh!

[D'oh!]

The precise chip in the balance dr4111 is the MT1818E (0419-ARS HGFSA)

D'oh!

[Cyrax9]

People are smarter than you (and me too )

Funny, I was just about to ask this and make a similar comment!

Okay, for the people who memorize circuit board manufactuer's and chipset #'s of the non-Intel variety...

I've got a Panasonic DMR-HS2 and a Panasonic DMR-E500HS. I noticed they changed the "Direct Navigator" on the E500HS so I'm wondering if they probably changed the Chipset or manufacturer as well, although it seems to be totally compatible with my HS2 and even non-finalized DVD-R's from said HS2 so I can't be sure.

I know a finalized disc from the Panasonic DMR-HS2 reads with the label "DVD_VIDEO_RECORDER" (No quotes, but a really accurate description, eh?) but I have no clue who makes their US Chipsets or anything like that.

I'd assume that since the recorders are "Made in China" (Like everything else electronic that's not Made in Taiwan or Mexico and sold in the USA) the OEM Manufacturer is probably of the Chinese/Taiwanese variety if they're not from Japan. (Box says Matsushita though so I could be wrong.) I'd seriously like to figure out some hacks for this thing namely:

1. Making it Code/Region-Free so I can play imported Region-2 DVD's. I know people sell units with this ability but they're modded and I don't know their proccess. I also know the UK units are R1-R6 which is making me think "lockout" and there's a simple code involved here.

2. Unlocking the units PAL abilities, I KNOW my TV can handle PAL even though the manual is BS and says it can't. -- I played PAL VCD's -- professionally pressed on it so I know it handle's VCD's. I encoded some PAL DVD's for curisoity, my PC Played them, but the HS2 choked and told me I had a PAL or other-region Disc. This tells me there's a firmware lockout or a code that needs to be punched in.


Finally, I'm surprised nobody's found a way to make ISO files of "hacked firmware" that you could load into your recorder and "hack" it off of a Disc, namely for the HDD units which to me scream "HACK ME!" with a flashing Neon sign. If I can hack my PC, a DVD Recorder should be even easier should it not? Just curious as to why such files aren't floating around. Last I checked no HS2 hacks were posted, but I'll check the hack section again, I have to have the DVD-RAM part of the unit repaired as the cartridge type DVD's won't read anymore. (Never let your mother near your equipment, especially if she can't operate a programmable VCR; lesson learned.) I have no warrenty and I've built PC's and written some code before so I figure this is worth tackling and if it's a matter of "Pushing buttons" I think I can handle it. (If you can master "A," "A," "B," "B," Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, "Select," "Start," you can handle a remote code. NES Fans will get this joke.)

[lordsmurf]

(If you can master "A," "A," "B," "B," Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, "Select," "Start," you can handle a remote code. NES Fans will get this joke.)

Most of these kinds of things were beta tester leaks. I often wondered the same thing 10+ years ago. Only in past years did I get an answer. It's game genie code creator, etc ... those confuse me, though I was able to make up some nifty codes for myself by randomly entering things and keeping good written records.