Samsung BD-D5300 hack - work for Canada?

[THRobinson]

Would have posted this on the hack board but, says not allowed to ask questions...

I saw a hack listed for region 4... anyone know if the DVD portion can be set to multi for Canada/USA?

[jman98]

What is the "hack board"?

Generally speaking Samsung and Sony DVD and BluRay players CANNOT be unlocked in the USA and Canada. Having said that, we did get a report about a month or two ago that ONE Samsung BD player sold in either the USA or Canada was able to be unlocked but I'm sorry but I don't remember the model number. The odds are quite high that it was not this one. A few Samsung players sold in Australia (region 4) can be hacked, but almost everything else they sell cannot be hacked. Do note that if you find out that the hack does work that it has no impact at all on BD playback and does not make it region free for that. You may know that, but I just wanted to be sure.

It will be very cumbersome, but if you search at the top of the index to all the forums for something like Samsung hack you might find the post I'm talking about where some guy posted the model he says he got unlocked. I wouldn't take a Sony or Samsung player unless you gave it to me for free because they are so hard to unlock, but that's just my opinion.

[THRobinson]

Well, on the left side menu there is a 'DVD HACK' link... takes you to lists of players, click it and it's sorta a board where people post region hacks and how-to's... but not allowed to ask questions just post instructions only basically so, can't post under the BD-D5300 player and say 'has anyone tried these in Canada' since it seems all geared towards people with region 4 players.

I have a few UK imports on DVD so wanted multi-region for those... I only own about 6 Blu-rays so... not too worried about that for region free.

That all being said, there is a 50/50 chance that I'll buy a WD media player plus as well. I have a 2TB external and want to dump everything I have (avi's and DVD's) to it and play from there. But, it's a LONG process, and still want a bluray player since the WD has no cd/dvd/bluray drive.

For now though... looking for something to replace my PS3 since I don't game, and it has no MKV support, ntsf, and now cinavia is on it.

Sony is out for those reasons as a player.

[oldfart13]

Haven't been following the Seiki BD660 comments in this forum have you? Available from Wal-Mart Canada. Will play discs (DVD and Blu Ray) from any region with simple remote control hack. Will play avis, MKVs, etc. from the disc drive or through the USB port. Will support NTFS formatted drives. Cheap construction but worth the $91CAD tax included I paid for it. Go down to Wal-Mart Canada and get one and solve your problems...

[THRobinson]

Hmm, may have to take a peek... sadly one of the brands with no web sites, does it have ethernet w/DLNA?

EDIT - Found a few specs, ethernet yes, DLNA for streaming direct from the computer, seems like a no... if I can find confirmation it will then it solves my probs, if it can't stream from the PC then solves a few problems and adds a few new ones.

I actually gave up, tested 3 blurays and finally decided, sell the PS3, build a custom HTPC unit with a bluray drive. Plays everything NTSF, no forced updates and can install codecs as I find them.

[oldfart13]

Hmm, may have to take a peek... sadly one of the brands with no web sites, does it have ethernet w/DLNA?

EDIT - Found a few specs, ethernet yes, DLNA for streaming direct from the computer, seems like a no... if I can find confirmation it will then it solves my probs, if it can't stream from the PC then solves a few problems and adds a few new ones.

I actually gave up, tested 3 blurays and finally decided, sell the PS3, build a custom HTPC unit with a bluray drive. Plays everything NTSF, no forced updates and can install codecs as I find them.

You might want to wait for the new model to be released. 3D as well as Netflix, etc. Can't wait for one to fall into my greedly little hands to test (probably within 30 days). HTPC good but for that I'd opt for a full i7/2600-K system and that will cost you bux...

[THRobinson]

an i7 system, for streaming video? bit overkill no?