making Panasonic DVD-S48 region free

[carolm]

Hi, I'm taking a film course where I need access to DVDs both PAL and Euro region standard. Where in the forums should I post for help? I have the Panasonic player shown in this title. Thanks for any help, carol

[hech54]

There are no hacks for that player:
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks/panasonic-dvd-s48/11528
Most players nowadays cannot be hacked.

"Euro region" is PAL....America is NTSC.
And "region codes" and Video Format(NTSC and PAL) have nothing to do with each other.
It is two completely separate things.

[jman98]

Since you live in the USA, some Philips DVD players sold in the USA (but NOT all - check BEFORE you buy) can still be made region free. In 2012 BestBuy was selling some refurbished Insignia BluRay players for about $50 through their website that can be made region free for both BluRay and DVD if you downgrade the firmware in them. I own one of those Insignia models and I did the firmware downgrade myself.

Hollywood doesn't like Americans having region free players, so they've convinced most of the manufacturers to stop making them. Samsung and Sony players sold in the USA can't be unlocked.

[carolm]

Thank you both for trying to help. Looks as if I'll return the Panasonic player. Any idea which Philips player might work with some help? Meanwhile I'll search for a player for region 2, and probably a transformer from 220 to 110. We have one suitable for going the other direction.

[hech54]

You don't need two players. It won't help.
You need ONE player that can me made region free and can convert between PAL and NTSC "on the fly".

[carolm]

Dear Yank, I understand. I've now ordered a player via eBay BRAND NEW All REGION FREE Multi ZONE NTSC/PAL CD MP3 USB DVD PLAYER 140872513735 . It claims to be region 0, meaning accepts dvd's from everywhere. I agree, one player, not two, is what I need. Does what I did make sense to you?

[hech54]

Although it probably does......it DOES NOT SAY that it will convert PAL to NTSC (and vise versa) on the fly.
Most players will play a region free PAL disc....the only problem is an NTSC television cannot accept a PAL video signal.
You need to cross TWO hurdles when buying DVDs from overseas.
1) region code
2) video standard(PAL vs. NTSC)
You MAY have bought yet another player that will not do what you want it to do.

[jman98]

I know nothing about what you bought on Ebay.

The Philips DVP-3560 can still be made region free if you can find it. BestBuy no longer sells it, but I bought one either last year or in 2011 and our DVD Players (look at the left side of the website here under the LISTS section) section has the instructions on how to make this player region free.

Do note that you don't need a player preset to region 0, you need a player where you can CHANGE the regions to whatever you like. Some Hollywood studios create DVDs that use some trickery to keep them from playing if the player is set to region 0 and you MUST set the player's region back to 1 to play such discs. Please be sure that the player you ordered tells you how to change the regions to whatever you like.

[jman98]

Philips DVD players do convert on the fly between NTSC and PAL but their BluRay players do NOT. So even though a few of their North American BluRay players can be unlocked for DVD playback, they are useless on a lot of North American TVs for playing PAL DVDs. I've heard of any Philips DVD player that could not convert between NTSC and PAL in either direction.

[carolm]

Well, I guess I'll find out when the dvd player arrives, that is, whether or not it solves the problem. If not, I'll be looking for the Philips player. Thank you both again for your very helpful advice.