Pioneer DV-220V-K DVD player for canadians June 21,2010

[jakeconnor]

My DVD-220V-K bought in December of 2009 at bestbuy.ca has the firmware YKD9702A.
The web site http://www.pioneerfaq.info/index.php?question=Firmwares has StM V1.0 which is for all regions enabled (region code is turned off).
The StM is based on the orginal firmware YKD9615B

I phoned Canada Pioneer today and the tech told me that there is no firmware for backup. I need to backup firmware YKD9702A incase the StM V1.0 does not work.

Has anyone tried this with the orginal firmware being YKD9702A and then upgraded to StM V1.0 ?

[bitjockey]

I tried the StM flash today on my Canadian DV-220V-K which had the same firmware version as you mentioned. The good news is that it didn't brick my player -- everything seems to work as normal. The bad news is that it still isn't region free -- it didn't play a Region2 disc. I checked the version number after reflashing and it indicated the new StM version, so I know the reflash actually happened.

[jakeconnor]

Bitjockey, did you follow all of the instructions. I remember some people forgot to use the enter key or something.
It is good that your player still works. You could also try the orginal firmware YKD9615B Original 226.
After that you could try the StM . The StM is based on the is based on the YKD961 original firmware.
You could also try Pioneer in the US and see if they have firmware YKD9702A .

[bitjockey]

I know I did the reflash correctly, no problems there. However, StM's instructions in the README say to press Enter -- and I have, but at what point in time? Tried at various times, nothing changes. Are there other docs beside the README in the ZIP file? As for finding YKD9702A firmware - no luck there, I tried US, Europe, Japan, and Oceania Pioneer sites and found nothing.

[em-t-wallitt]

After the update is completed, remove the disc from the tray. Hold down the Enter button on the remote until the DVD tray closes. See if that makes it region free.

[bitjockey]

After the update is completed, remove the disc from the tray. Hold down the Enter button on the remote until the DVD tray closes. See if that makes it region free.

Well, since I've long since completed the update, I can't readily do that. Also, here's the exact text from StM's README:
- Multiregional when Enter is pushed until the player turns off.
- Original region setting restorde when Clear is pushed until player turns off

Sounds like you can go back/forth at will, but for me, pressing Enter does nothing. The screen which shows my firmware version lists StM's version correctly, but it always says Region 1. Seeing as StM's firmware was developed outside of Region 1, looks like my player won't switch out of Region 1 using his firmware.

[jakeconnor]

Bitjockey, I phoned Pioneer USA today. I told them that my DV-220V-K had the original firmware YKD9702A. I then asked them what the latest version was. They told me that latest firmware version YKD9CO9A . So if I were you I would download YKD9CO9A for that dvd player.

Have you had any luck playing a dvd for region code 2 with the StM V1.0 ?

[bitjockey]

Bitjockey, I phoned Pioneer USA today. I told them that my DV-220V-K had the original firmware YKD9702A. I then asked them what the latest version was. They told me that latest firmware version YKD9CO9A . So if I were you I would download YKD9CO9A for that dvd player.

Have you had any luck playing a dvd for region code 2 with the StM V1.0 ?

Update: - success!
My steps, not sure all were needed:
1. Upgraded to YKD9C09A (note it's a zero not a letter 0). Got mine from Pioneer Latin America site. This didn't play Region 2.
2. Upgraded to StM's v1.0, and then did what em-t-wallitt suggested.

After doing this, my Region 2 PAL discs play without problem -- I don't have to press Enter or anything else each time I power up. My version info shows the StM version 1.0, even so my Region still shows as 1...hmm.

So -- StM v1.0 can be used on Region 1 players with complete success!

[lkg]

Excellent player for the money. Some small issues with the motor noise and tray configuration but good picture and small foot print override any complaints. One note that others have not stated is that it will play PAL DVD's without any region free coding changes.

this was a BestBuy comment on March 4th, 2010.

There is no need for region hack on this unit. It plays region free and all PAL dvd's out of the box without reprogram.

this was a fixya answer on March 4th, 2010.

i'm guessing it's now Region Free and Firmware updates are only necessary for older batches?

[victoriabears]

One point I would like to make is that if a player will play PAL on a NTSC TV, simply making backup of the disc makes it region free without attempting to change the firmware, the real struggle is playing PAL on a NTSC TV as that cannot be done any other way, making a backup is a good idea anyway.

[lkg]

anybody?

[lkg]

well it looks like the Pioneer DV-220V-K is now Region Free I played a retail PAL Disc and to my surprise it not only played but has a PAL -> NTSC converter. my older Philips model played PAL but picture and letter box were not converted.

I have read the motor is loud on the Pioneer DV-220V-K I have to disagree it's very quiet compared to the motors on the Philips DVP5xxx models.

I have read the tray on the Pioneer DV-220V-K exits 50% of the way and requires special handling of the disc ie removing the disc from the left or right side of the tray but my tray exits at 90% and it doesn't require any special handling.

I have also read the numbers and letters on the front of the Pioneer DV-220V-K are too small this I agree with but it's also a compact DVD player so I am willing to live with it.

a couple things I don't like.

Video Options are disabled in USB Mode. you have to exit USB Mode to access Video Options but they will be applied when you re-enter USB Mode.

no Mute button on remote.

in case anybody is curious I used Sandisk USB Thumb Drives 8 and 16GB and it had no problems detecting.

[jakeconnor]

Bitjockey, I phoned Pioneer USA today. I told them that my DV-220V-K had the original firmware YKD9702A. I then asked them what the latest version was. They told me that latest firmware version YKD9CO9A . So if I were you I would download YKD9CO9A for that dvd player.

Have you had any luck playing a dvd for region code 2 with the StM V1.0 ?

Update: - success!
My steps, not sure all were needed:
1. Upgraded to YKD9C09A (note it's a zero not a letter 0). Got mine from Pioneer Latin America site. This didn't play Region 2.
2. Upgraded to StM's v1.0, and then did what em-t-wallitt suggested.

After doing this, my Region 2 PAL discs play without problem -- I don't have to press Enter or anything else each time I power up. My version info shows the StM version 1.0, even so my Region still shows as 1...hmm.

So -- StM v1.0 can be used on Region 1 players with complete success!

Success

Ok, My DVD-220V-K bought in December of 2009 at bestbuy.ca has the firmware YKD9702A.
So what I did next was upgraded to StM V1.0 firmware.
1 Turn on the player and open the disc tray.
2 Put the cd with StM V1.0 firmware in and close tray and push play
3 The player will load the data and the tray will open.
4 Remove the disk and wait for the updating to finish.
5 Hold down the Enter Button on Remote until the DVD tray closes.
6 The Region code will still show Region 1, but I have been able to play many Region 2 dvds with no problem.
7 If this does not work for you start the whole procedure all over again.


Thanks to bitjockey and em-t-wallitt for their help.

[spiritgumm]

Just a word of caution: I used the hack, but the dvd player motor became louder and seems to be running at high speed all the time. I tried switching back to both of the "original" firmwares on pioneerfaq, but the only change was the firmware number in the player display. The player still plays region-free and loud. Either they are not quite the original firmware, or the hack does something that can't be reversed. The Latin American firmware looks to be the same as the pioneerfaq ware for YKD9C09A.
http://www.pioneer-latin.com/en/products/dv220kvk-234.html

[jakeconnor]

Just a word of caution: I used the hack, but the dvd player motor became louder and seems to be running at high speed all the time. I tried switching back to both of the "original" firmwares on pioneerfaq, but the only change was the firmware number in the player display. The player still plays region-free and loud. Either they are not quite the original firmware, or the hack does something that can't be reversed. The Latin American firmware looks to be the same as the pioneerfaq ware for YKD9C09A.
http://www.pioneer-latin.com/en/products/dv220kvk-234.html

I did not notice any change in speed after I did the hack. I bought my Pioneer dvd player from bestbuy.ca last December 20 of 2009. Before the hack the European Dvds would not play because of the region code. After the hack all of the European DVDS play just fine. I do not get the loud motor sound. Put back the orginal or version and phone Pioneer. Do not tell them that you changed the firmware or they might not honour the warranty. They are located somewhere around the town of Markham.