Pioneer X-HM30DAB-K

[jan1122]

Does any one know how to unlock or change or better still to make region free a Pioneer X-HM30DAB-k which shows on the back that it only plays region 4 DVDs
Also that DVD's created from TV programs will not be accepted!?
Anyone??? please?

[aedipuss]

make your own dvds region free.

[jman98]

I think you're stuck. This player appears to only be sold in Hong Kong in region 4. We've had reports that sometimes in Australia that manufacturers will provide unlock codes to customers to who ask. However, if your player is a Hong Kong model and you bought it there, Pioneer Australia may refuse to touch it. Also, I don't remember exact details but one of our members is an expert on all things Pioneer and if I remember correctly (warning - I may not remember correctly) I think he said that Pioneer basically closed down their Australian office. If so, you're likely out of luck.

Some DVD players can't ever be unlocked. I did a quick search and turned up no unlock codes for yours. If a player is "unlocked" then you can change the regions on it. You seem to have some problems with the terms. "Unlock code" and "hack" and "region free code" all mean the same thing.

Finally I have no idea what you mean when you ask if DVDs created from TV programs won't be accepted. Do you mean commercial DVDs available in stores like, for example, season 10 of The Simpsons? Or do you mean DVDs you make yourself from TV shows from a DVD recorder? There's no reason either should have problems, but if you don't finalize DVDs you make yourself or you use bad quality media you might have problems.

[jan1122]

First I have no problems with any terminology, the terms are (incorrectly) used interchangeable on the net and to get as many responses as possible one has to do the same.

The unit was brought in Australia (Dick Smith) and the carton box was closed with tape that had the message " opened in Australian and modified for Australian conditions" on it, therefore, there must be a service centre here in Oz that did make changes perhaps to the internal firmware or switches.

I will open the unit in a few days and look at the DVD-unit perhaps there is an model ID on it and will take it from there, also, perhaps there are some switches which can be changed and even ICs for which I can obtain a datasheet or even an application note.

Further, page En-9 of the op-instructions, it writes that 'some' discs cannot be played: DVDs without the region number, dvd-rom, ram, audio,hd dvd, cdg,cdv, cd-rom sacd etc ; this is quite a list and one gets the feeling that it will do nothing but play standard DVDs. This is not so: it plays audio cds home made or not and all sorts of DVDs R or RW.

Well DVDs created from say TV programs (recorded to a Transport Stream and then converted and written to a DVD) do not have a region code and inaccording to the En-9 list it looks like that they will not play.

Needless to say that in general terms I am disappointed with this device, but, in technical terms I am happy it does produce very good quality sound and its FM and DAB receiver is easy to use, for all its basic applications its not bad at all.

[aedipuss]

regardless of your sarcastic private message my answer stands. it is easier and quicker to make region free copies of your dvds than waste all this time online searching for something that doesn't exist.

[jman98]

aedipuss - Apparently Pioneer has reached a new low that no other manufacturer has stooped to. According to what jan1122 found in the instructions, it seems that the player is idiotically designed specifically NOT to play home made DVDs. So making region free copies will fail with this player. Wow. Even Sony and Samsung, the most consumer unfriendly makers of DVD and BD players in business, haven't done that. Pioneer always had a good reputation in the past for making consumer friendly players that could easily be unlocked.

If the player is new, I'd take it back and get another model if you can. Looks like this one has so many restrictions on what it will play that it's just about useless. I guess this illustrates perfectly why Pioneer is in trouble if this what they are making.

Finally, it actually is possible through a convoluted method to put a region code on homemade DVDs. Normally anything you burn yourself will not have a region code on it. Region coding is a chargeable thing and you are supposed to have to pay a commercial pressing plant to put them on the disc when they press it. If I remember correctly, DVD Shrink offers an option that most people never use to put a specific region code on DVDs it makes. DVD Shrink is free so you could look into that. It really seems like an awful lot of senseless work to have to rip and reburn a bunch of DVDs and put fake region codes on the burns just to get this player to play them. If you have any way of doing so, I'd strongly advise you take it back and get a different model. Note that until you actually try it and see what happens that there's no guarantee that DVD Shrink's region code option will work on this player, but it's the only tool that you as a consumer will have access to that can do this.

[hech54]

To test the theory - create a region coded disc in DVDShrink and try it.

[jan1122]

I have found a way how get the unit's version information:

To check the software version:

connect TV, turn unit on, select DISC function, press SETUP, goto Preference, type 1357 from the remote, this gives you something like: X-HM_EU V8.2 jul 02 2012 17:08:58 Region No: 0

well this unit has, it seems, European software AND is NOT region 4 but region 0 (can play all dvd's ?!!!!!)

How is that..... as they say in cricket.


Also I played, successfully, a home made DVD with an ABC program on it.....................

I am h a p p y.



ps if you want a service manual and other information goto: http://ausst01.pioneer.com.au/pty/service/servicefaq.nsf/ and search for XHM30 .

[hech54]

Never mind...

[jman98]

connect TV, turn unit on, select DISC function, press SETUP, goto Preference, type 1357 from the remote, this gives you something like: X-HM_EU V8.2 jul 02 2012 17:08:58 Region No: 0

well this unit has, it seems, European software AND is NOT region 4 but region 0 (can play all dvd's ?!!!!!)

Just in case you don't know this...
Some region 1 DVDs use what is called RCE (I think it means Region Coding Enhancement) which prevents DVD players set to region 0 from playing the disc. You will have to change the region of your player to 1 (if you can) or rip and reburn such DVDs as region free DVDs. I don't remember offhand which American studios use RCE. A small number of players can only be set to the region they are sold in and 0 and nothing else and RCE was designed to defeat such players. Basically the DVD deliberately misidentifies its own region code to the player to trick the player into revealing its current setting and if set to region 0 the DVD won't play.

[jan1122]

Thanks for that info jman98;

I have tried region 2 and a combination disc with regions 2,4,5; both play without problems. The region 2 discs were brought in the UK (all BBC), I donot have any USA discs so I cannot test these.

It seems that there are no problems at all with this devices despite what the manual and back of the unit are indicating!

Thanks all for you advise, I wish you all an happy 2013.

[jan1122]

I have contacted Pioneer Australia and received the following (at end of my e-mail, sorry the addresses of the providers were supplied as a picture and do not copy into this reply.) :

DearJan,

Your recently submitted enquiry from the Contact Us page of our web site has been answered. The answer to your enquiry is listed at the end of this email.

• Your Incident Number: AUSM-93F89V
  Type of Enquiry: Technical Support for your Pioneer Purchase
  Date and Time Submitted: 29/12/2012 4:19:36 PM
  Product Model Number: HM30
  Category : Feedback
  Product Type: -
  Your Comments/Question:
  I have brough the DVD receiver system X-HM30DAB-K in australia but there is one thing; it can only play region 4. We here receive DVD-presents from family and friends in America and Europe with local series and language. We cannot play them; do you have an unlocking code wich makes the unit region free? the serial number is LJxxxxxxxxAU thank you.

Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer to your enquiry.



Regards,

Pioneer Customer Care
Pioneer Electronics Australia Pty. Ltd.

• To speak to a Customer Care consultant please phone 1800 988 268
  Hours: 9am till 5pm Monday through Friday (Eastern Standard Time).

Pioneer Electronics Australia Pty Ltd respects and is committed to maintaining the privacy of any information given to it by its customers. For full details view our privacy policy.

Further Enquiries?
If you have any further enquires please use the Contact Us page to submit a new of follow-up enquiry.

* REPLIES TO THIS EMAIL WILL NOT BE MONITORED. PLEASE GO TO THE CONTACT US SECTION OF THE WEBSITE TO SUBMIT A NEW OR FOLLOW-UP ENQUIRY.


Our Answer:

All DVD and DVR units released by Pioneer Australia are set to Region 4. The player may have been modified for multiregion playback by an authorised independent organisation on behalf of the retailer. Please check the packaging to see if there is tape sealing the carton that would indicate the unit was opened, modified for Australian use, and resealed. If you cannot determine if the unit has been modified from the packaging please consult your retailer or simply try to playback a DVD other than Region 4. Pioneer Australia cannot modify the region setting of the unit. However, one of the independent service providers may be able to assist.