Pioneer 109 best firmware?

[Poppa_Meth]

I've got a 109 OEM coming to me today from newegg. What is the best firmare to use? I have to find out if its 1.xx or 8.xx firmware, but I've also hear you can flash A09XL firmware to it, though I have forgotten what the advantages of that were suppose to be and if there were any drawbacks to doing so. I have downloaded 1.17 off the Pioneed site and 1.40 and 8.40 off of the japanese site.

[rr6966]

I'd be curious to see an answer this question as well. I just recieved a 109 from Newegg a week ago, and it has 1.13 firmware. It burns fine, and I really haven't had the urge to change it yet. All the media I use burn fine, I use Maxell ( Japan) x8, x4, TY 16x, and TDK TT02 8x, Verbatim 8x printables, all DVD-R. I think the latest firmware off the Pioneer site is 1.18 but I haven't checked since I bought the drive.

[Exousia]

I bought one of these recently, downloaded 1.18 and flashed the drive. It works wonderfully well - is definitely the best drive I've ever used! The 1.18 firmware upgrade enables better and faster reading and is definitely worth doing. I would stay with the official US upgrades if I were you.

[Poppa_Meth]

latest on the pioneer site is 1.17 as of this morning. wonder where you got 1.18?

[-jsl-]

1.40 (for 109): If you don't want to void the warranty.
1.40 (for A09XL): If you want to disable the riplock.
8.40 (for OEM Buffalo 109): If you want to burn DVD+R with DVD-ROM book type.

1.40 firmwares are available here.
8.40 is available here.
For details how to crossflash check Cdfreaks' or rpc1's forum.

Firmwares <*.40 have serious issues with burning fully compatible DVD-R discs in DAO/SAO mode among other things and are not recommended.

[Exousia]

poppa_meth

Thanks for the correction - actually I was mistaken. I just logged on to my office computer via VPN to check the firmware upgrade. It was not 1.18 after all but 1.40. My apologies for the mistake and thanks again for correcting me so graciously!

[rr6966]

Yeah, my error too. I was thinking of my 108 which is 1.18 firmware. You are correct the 109 is 1.17. Sorry for the confusion.

[HatchetMan]

OEM Buffalo 109???

[Poppa_Meth]

Thanks for the info. I'll go with the 109 1.40 then. I don't care about the rip lock. I don't rip from my burner anyway. And I'll second the what is the Buffalo OEM? Rebadged under Buffalo name? I would like to burn +R as ROM booktype which is what I do now with my NEC 1100A. But not if I have to use unnofficial firmware to do it.

[Quantum]

The Buffalo is a rebadged DVR-109. Pioneer provides a firmware for it (Buffalo) that implements bitsetting for single layer DVD+R media. You can easily flash it to your DVR-109 since it is identical hardware. Personally I would do it.

[Poppa_Meth]

I'll have to consider that one. I've never had a disc fail to play in anything so far. I'll burn a few with the normal firmware and if I have issues I'll try the Buffalo firmware.

[Poppa_Meth]

Got it installed and flashed to the 1.40 firmware and all is well. Burned a disc fine and it plays in the oldest POS player I have with no issues. Unless I run into problems where I may need to try DVD-ROM booktype I'll leave it as it is.

[ROBERT BLACK]

Is there a ripguard hack for the 109 yet? Will the 1.40 firmware upgrade remove the riplock like it does for the A09XL?

[budz]

Is there a ripguard hack for the 109 yet? Will the 1.40 firmware upgrade remove the riplock like it does for the A09XL?

Nope no riplock for the 109 yet. Only the retail A09XL has no riplock.
http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?p=159637#159637&sid=e33aded15e8a669e592949134ebed658

[lordsmurf]

You can crossflash the 109 to A09. Not sure how well it works. If you want to rip, buy a DVD-ROM, don't kill your burner from ripping.

The 1.40 is easily the best firmware, seems to have all issues under controll pretty well.

[mattyboy]

You can crossflash the 109 to A09. Not sure how well it works. If you want to rip, buy a DVD-ROM, don't kill your burner from ripping.

The 1.40 is easily the best firmware, seems to have all issues under controll pretty well.

It works fine, and the writing quality is the same.

[Poppa_Meth]

I'll just stick with the 109 firmware for now. I never rip from my burner unless I have a really problematic disc.