Magnavox MDV-460 region free DVD player image control problem

[helobuff]

I Have a Magnavox MDV-460 that I unlocked the regions on it for DVD play (I posted the code in the thread too)
Anyway.. It works on my smaller TV but when I hook it up to my 42" Panasonic Vierra TV the image wont stay still.
The player has progessive scan but cannot seem to turn it on, it stays locked on OFF position.
Does anyone have any idea how to fix this?
Would finally solve my problems. Having Movie deprivation !

[october262]

you may be playing a pal dvd on an ntsc tv

[helobuff]

I would have thought that too but I have a toshiba dvd player I unlocked that is quirky (doesn't work often, have to take it apart twice a week to clean it to get it to work) .. anyway it plays my region 2 dvd'd on my panasonic vierra tv no problem. So it has to be the Magnavox player. I am tired of fighting to get the toshiba one to work (toshiba SD4100) so I wanted to replace it with the magnavox one. The Magnavox player works when attached to a 19" Audiovox tv, so it can't be the Magnavox player (I unlcoked it) it has to be something to control the horizontal hold on the tv? or something else. I wonder if there is a problem with magavox working with panasonic vierra tvs overall..that would explain it, like it's missing a codec or something.

[usually_quiet]

I would have thought that too but I have a toshiba dvd player I unlocked that is quirky (doesn't work often, have to take it apart twice a week to clean it to get it to work) .. anyway it plays my region 2 dvd'd on my panasonic vierra tv no problem. So it has to be the player.

Some DVD players can convert from PAL to NTSC for compatibility with a typical N. American TV. By sheer dumb luck, I bought three players with that ability (two were gifts, one is mine), and none are region free! However many DVD players, even ones that were made region-free, can only play PAL as PAL.

And the player works when attached to a 19" tv, so it can't be the player it has to be something to control the horizontal hold on the tv? or something else. I wonder if there is a problem with magavox working with panasonic vierra tvs overall..that would explain it, like it's missing a codec or something.

Although doesn't happen often, every once in a while someone buys a multi-system TV (usually from a minor brand) without realizing it. Maybe the 19" TV is multi-system.

If the Viera TV or the 19" TV has an "Info" button on the remote that displays information about the signal being displayed, you might be able to find out whether it is 480i, 480p, 576i or 576p.

[helobuff]

Ok, if I do that on the info thing, how will that help? I am checking
the Vierra TV now and it says - 480i (haven't updated it) not hooked up to wifi here, I have wifi but tv isn't connected to wifi yet
and the Audiovox says - 1080i
What do I do now?
Should I try to figure out how to update the vierra to make it 1080i?
Any idea how i do this? thanks!

[usually_quiet]

Ok, if I do that on the info thing, how will that help? I am checking
the Vierra TV now and it says - 480i (haven't updated it) not hooked up to wifi here, I have wifi but tv isn't connected to wifi yet
and the Audiovox says - 1080i
What do I do now?
Should I try to figure out how to update the vierra to make it 1080i?
Any idea how i do this? thanks!

Wifi is not an issue, and no, making the signal 1080i won't help, if this is a PAL/NTSC problem. 1080i is 25 frames per second in PAL countries, and 29.97 frames per second in NTSC countries, and NTSC TVs don't like playing 1080i25 video either.

PAL vs NTSC is an issue, because the vast majority of the TVs sold in the US won't display a PAL signal. Japan is the only country in DVD Region 2 that uses NTSC like N. America. All the others use PAL. Of course if you are only interested in playing Japanese DVDs, maybe you should mention that and we can skip this whole PAL/NTSC discussion.

The idea of using the "Info" button was to try to figure out if your Magnavox DVD player was sending a PAL (576i or 576p) video signal which is incompatible with the Vierra TV, or an NTSC (480i or 480p) video signal which the Vierra TV should be able to display correctly.

If you can hook the DVD player to one of the Audiovox TV's composite video connections, play a problem R2 DVD, and check the resolution for the composite connection with the Info button, you should be able to find out whether your DVD player converts from PAL (576i) to NTSC (480i) or not.

[jman98]

Basically you have a classic PAL<->NTSC mismatch where it seems the Magnavox is sending out PAL signals to a TV that can't handle it.

Possible fixes:
1) Check the Magnavox to see if the video output allows you to specifically select NTSC instead of ANY or MULTI.
2) Buy a region free DVD player that's capable of converting PAL video to NTSC output.
3) Buy a new TV that can accept PAL input (This would be a stupid choice, but it's certainly an option.)

All the stuff you are worrying about is distracting you from what I talked about (the PAL<->NTSC thing), which is your problem, and NOTHING you have proposed is going to solve your problem. Choose among my 3 choices if you want it fixed.

I suppose there is also some chance that the Magnavox is defective or that your unlocking did something unintended. What you need to do is test with a region 1 DVD and see if it plays correctly and report back. If not, then you probably have defective player issues that we can't solve. If an NTSC region 1 DVD plays OK, then again, you need to look at my 3 choices above.

[helobuff]

Hi Jman98 and thank you for your reply (although I didn't get an email you responded or would have been here sooner...

I am happy to report that I did try the region 1 dvd in the magnavox MDV-460 attached to the audiovox 19" tv and it worked perfectly.

I certainly would not buy another tv.. your right that would be the wrong choice, much too pricey for me. lol

I was looking online at a phillips - not important until I came here and read a reply to a thread in the hacks area (didn't want to reply there because of the Not a forum reminder when I went to post... but they did mention the same problem wth their phillips dvd player that I am having on this magnavox and it wasnt the tv..

I will quote them and link you to the thread..

"If you turn off and on you get b/w image and a "moving" screen" this is the same issue I am having.

this is the thread https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks/philips-dvp642/4117 - below is direct link to comment
here is the direct link to the comment https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks/philips-dvp642/4117#16550

I wish I knew how to apply the fix to my dvd player. I mean how many to I need in my house..
onkyo DV-BD507 - can't hack, firmware crack out but only for region 2 players
Toshiba SD4100 that spends it's days saying loading loading, no disk no disk and don't talk to me about cleaning it, I do it twice a day, and if I want to use it more than once a day I have to take it apart and clean it then replug it in - which isn't easy behind a tall bookcase full of media components.. drives me friggin insane! lol
Then there is the Maganxov MDV460 which other than this issue seems to work flawlessly if you can manage to watch a 19" tv without missing anything and I confirm I cannot.

[usually_quiet]

I downloaded the MDV460 manual from Magnavox. As already suggested by jman98, changing the DVD player's TV system setting to NTSC should solve your problem. According to the manual, when NTSC is used for the TV system, the DVD player will convert the video signal of a PAL disc to NTSC format for output.

Press the SETUP button on the remote. Select "Video". Select "TV System". Change the "TV System" setting to "NTSC".

[helobuff]

Not sure it will work.. I have the Panasonic Vierra 42" TV model number TC-L42u25..from what i have researched online it is only NTSC tv.. I think the toshiba dvd player that died that worked with it must have auto converted the PAl to NTSC for me. Will try your suggestion now though.

Also the Panasonic Vierra TV does not have a setup button

[usually_quiet]

Not sure it will work.. I have the Panasonic Vierra 42" TV model number TC-L42u25..from what i have researched online it is only NTSC tv.. I think the toshiba dvd player that died that worked with it must have auto converted the PAl to NTSC for me. Will try your suggestion now though.

Also the Panasonic Vierra TV does not have a setup button

Well, if I was trying to change something the DVD player does, I would use the SETUP button on DVD player's remote NOT the TV's remote.

[jman98]

Also the Panasonic Vierra TV does not have a setup button

This is irrelevant because you MUST make the change on the DVD player.

[helobuff]

Maybe this is the question I need to ask... how is it that the TOSHIBA SD-4100 Progressive Scan DVD Player would play the DVD's to my NTSC Panasonic Vierra 42" tv and the magnavox won't? What is different? SO when I go to buy another DVD player I get the one that will covert the PAL to NTSC output to the TV at the frames per second so I get the picture on the TV? That way I know what to look for in a DVD player so I can get it to work without having to buy these all the time. If I know what to ask for I won't have a problem. TY

[helobuff]

Not sure it will work.. I have the Panasonic Vierra 42" TV model number TC-L42u25..from what i have researched online it is only NTSC tv.. I think the toshiba dvd player that died that worked with it must have auto converted the PAl to NTSC for me. Will try your suggestion now though.

Also the Panasonic Vierra TV does not have a setup button

Well, if I was trying to change something the DVD player does, I would use the SETUP button on DVD player's remote NOT the TV's remote.

I would glady do that, (and wish I could share the picture of it here, but not photo option) anyway, what I get is a vertical hold issue on the screen of the panasonic TV when the magnavox is connected and it won't let me see the setup options when it is connected. Should I attempt to change it while connected to the other tv (the 19" audiovox? I am so grateful for everyone's help here!

I did go into the settings while attached to the audiovox, the tv display is set to MULTI, won't change to NTSC, also it won't turn on the progressive scan. Strange to me. Any advice?

[helobuff]

Also the Panasonic Vierra TV does not have a setup button

This is irrelevant because you MUST make the change on the DVD player.

I get is a vertical hold issue on the screen of the panasonic TV when the magnavox is connected and it won't let me see the setup options when it is connected. The screen keeps jumping -

I did go into the settings while attached to the audiovox, the tv display is set to MULTI, won't change to NTSC, also it won't turn on the progressive scan. Strange to me. Any advice?

[usually_quiet]

Not sure it will work.. I have the Panasonic Vierra 42" TV model number TC-L42u25..from what i have researched online it is only NTSC tv.. I think the toshiba dvd player that died that worked with it must have auto converted the PAl to NTSC for me. Will try your suggestion now though.

Also the Panasonic Vierra TV does not have a setup button

Well, if I was trying to change something the DVD player does, I would use the SETUP button on DVD player's remote NOT the TV's remote.

I would glady do that, (and wish I could share the picture of it here, but not photo option) anyway, what I get is a vertical hold issue on the screen of the panasonic TV when the magnavox is connected and it won't let me see the setup options when it is connected. Should I attempt to change it while connected to the other tv (the 19" audiovox? I am so grateful for everyone's help here!

It makes more sense to try to change the DVD player's settings while the DVD player connected to the Audiovox TV that can display a picture.

I did go into the settings while attached to the audiovox, the tv display is set to MULTI, won't change to NTSC, also it won't turn on the progressive scan. Strange to me. Any advice?

I can't explain why the DVD player won't allow you to change its "TV System" setting to "NTSC" unless the hack did this as a side effect or your now 7-8 year old Magnavox DVD player is getting flakey in its old age. If you have DVD in the DVD player, you could try removing it to see if that makes a difference.

According to the manual, you can't turn on progressive scan unless the DVD player is connected to the TV with component video cables (the cable for the red-green-blue ports).

[helobuff]

maybe if I change it back to region 1 while hooked up to the audiovox then hook it up to the panasonic , then try to hack it again? I can try that, I know I have tried everything else, it might be a side effect of the hack.. .. and I do have it connected with the old component cables, red white and yellow, it lacks HDMI connection on the magnavox. The reason I have older type DVD players is that the new ones are harder to hack I have been told.

I will try removing the DVD to see if that makes a difference. thanks again!

I tried it, sadly didn't work.
I removed the hack took it to the other room (magnavox) plugged it into panasonic tv, it won't change from multi to NTSC.
I applied the hack again while the screen was flipping, how I don't know, it was a guessing game since I couldn't see the screen lol
still skipping vertically
it does play region 1 dvd's no issue.
tried a few region 2 dvd's same problem. Thinking maybe it's the disk itself. Still no resolution.
Also since the the DVD player is set to MULTI wouldn't it determine what the TV out put is automatically. Since I can't change it from multi? Also, most likely it stays on MULTI since the region is set to "0"
but when I changed it to region 1 it still wouldn't move off of Multi to NTSC tv setting. Strange.

So what would be different that I would need to look for on another DVD player so I don't have this issue?

[usually_quiet]

maybe if I change it back to region 1 while hooked up to the audiovox then hook it up to the panasonic , then try to hack it again? I can try that, I know I have tried everything else, it might be a side effect of the hack.. .. and I do have it connected with the old component cables, red white and yellow, it lacks HDMI connection on the magnavox.

You are confused about your terminology. Composite cables are yellow, often with a set of red and white connections for audio. Component cables are red, blue, and green for video, sometimes with the addition of a set of red and white connectors for audio.

The reason I have older type DVD players is that the new ones are harder to hack I have been told.

True, they are usually impossible to hack. Finding a new player that can be hacked is not easy. Frequently even if there is a hack, it won't work with the firmware installed in the version of the player made for the USA. However you can buy a new DVD player from a specialty retailer at additional cost. The hardware or firmware has been modified by the seller so the player is region free. ...or the player is a gray-market import made for a middle-eastern country where region free playback is a requirement. Most convert from PAL to NTSC. If the player does not convert, it will be noted in the description.
www.world-import.com
www.220-electronics.com

Also since the the DVD player is set to MULTI wouldn't it determine what the TV out put is automatically. Since I can't change it from multi? Also, most likely it stays on MULTI since the region is set to "0"
but when I changed it to region 1 it still wouldn't move off of Multi to NTSC tv setting. Strange.

I guess it is possible that the Magnavox DVD player's manual contains an error and your player NEVER had the ability to convert from PAL to NTSC or from NTSC to PAL.

The "MULTI" setting causes the DVD player to play PAL DVDs as PAL and NTSC DVDs as NTSC. The setting is for use with a multi-system TV. A multi-system TV can accept both PAL and NTSC signals without problems. If you were only playing Region 1 DVDs "MULTI" would work just fine because all of Region 1 uses NTSC.

[helobuff]

Do you think component cables would help a region hacked dvd player maintain vertical hold when playing a region 2 dvd on an NTSC television? If so if I add the component cables it would maintain the vertical hold and it would work? I mean it does play it but no vertical hold.... so worth a shot you think??

[usually_quiet]

Do you think component cables would help a region hacked dvd player maintain vertical hold when playing a region 2 dvd on an NTSC television? If so if I add the component cables it would maintain the vertical hold and it would work? I mean it does play it but no vertical hold.... so worth a shot you think?

All component cables will do is allow the Magnavox DVD player to supply progressive output to a TV with a component video connection. Using progressive video output and component cables will not correct the picture problems you observe when the Magnavox DVD player is used with your Vierra TV. The progressive PAL video from your Region 2 DVD will still be the wrong resolution and frame rate for an NTSC TV. A PAL signal also handles color differently than NTSC.

There is nothing more you can try to fix the problem you have when using your Magnavox DVD player with your Vierra TV. You need a new region-free DVD player that can convert PAL video to NTSC video.

[helobuff]

would this item work? does it convert PAL video to NTSC video? I can't tell.. http://www.radioshack.com/gpx-d200b-2-channel-dvd-player/55065884.html#start=5&tab=tab2

[helobuff]

ALso was wondering, couldn't I buy this and it would do it? http://www.amazon.com/Mini-PAL-to-NTSC-Converter/dp/B009TBFWJK/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc...A3G9OEEJ375E8H would it also work with my unhackable ONKYO DV-BD-507

[usually_quiet]

would this item work? does it convert PAL video to NTSC video? I can't tell.. http://www.radioshack.com/gpx-d200b-2-channel-dvd-player/55065884.html#start=5&tab=tab2

The description says it converts from PAL to NTSC. However the hack published here at VideoHelp reportedly no longer works. I already gave you two sources for DVD players that are region free and convert. I'm not interested in answering questions about every cheap DVD player you find that you think might work. Good luck.

[helobuff]

would this item work? does it convert PAL video to NTSC video? I can't tell.. http://www.radioshack.com/gpx-d200b-2-channel-dvd-player/55065884.html#start=5&tab=tab2

The description says it converts from PAL to NTSC. However the hack published here at VideoHelp reportedly no longer works. I already gave you two sources for DVD players that are region free and convert. I'm not interested in answering questions about every cheap DVD player you find that you think might work. Good luck.

It's not a DVD player at all, if you had even taken a second to look at the link you would see what I was talking about. http://www.amazon.com/Mini-PAL-to-NTSC-Converter/dp/B009TBFWJK/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc...A3G9OEEJ375E8H

I have two dvd players, and one blu ray that isn't hackable. I wanted a solution for what I already own. this looked like it might do the trick. I was just wondering if it would and would solve my problems. I like my blu ray player, wanted to make it work for the livingroom for the region 2 dvd's I have. I was hoping someone would be interested in helping in that regard. Not really interested in buying an addtional DVD player, the first link was just to see if I knew what I needed to look for in the future if indeed what I have doesn't work at all.. I was trying to learn.

[helobuff]

Wanted to let you know I finally got it working.. I looked at the manual and tried it their way which of course doesn't work..
I then used this method to change the NTSC option which wasn't taking all the time..

Open disk tray while attached to the tv that is not displaying anything properly
go to system menu
while there choose tv type under video option
This is where their instructions failed to mention
select TV type
click ok
arrow down to NTSC

HIT THE LEFT ARROW.. THEN CHOOSE OK
ANOTHER SCREEN POPS UP TO CONFIRM (WHICH DIDN'T BEFORE)
then hit left arrow again to choose ok.

hit menu

it works fine connected to the NTSC OUTPUT playing region 2 dvd's on the Magnavox MDV 460 playing on the NTSC PANASONIC VIERRA 42" TV MODEL number TC-L42U25

Hope this helps others if they have the same issue I have had.

this is the link to the manual and their directions for doing this is nothing like what I did. http://www.manualslib.com/manual/97616/Magnavox-423.html?page=22

[usually_quiet]

would this item work? does it convert PAL video to NTSC video? I can't tell.. http://www.radioshack.com/gpx-d200b-2-channel-dvd-player/55065884.html#start=5&tab=tab2

The description says it converts from PAL to NTSC. However the hack published here at VideoHelp reportedly no longer works. I already gave you two sources for DVD players that are region free and convert. I'm not interested in answering questions about every cheap DVD player you find that you think might work. Good luck.

It's not a DVD player at all, if you had even taken a second to look at the link you would see what I was talking about. http://www.amazon.com/Mini-PAL-to-NTSC-Converter/dp/B009TBFWJK/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc...A3G9OEEJ375E8H

I have two dvd players, and one blu ray that isn't hackable. I wanted a solution for what I already own. this looked like it might do the trick. I was just wondering if it would and would solve my problems. I like my blu ray player, wanted to make it work for the livingroom for the region 2 dvd's I have. I was hoping someone would be interested in helping in that regard. Not really interested in buying an addtional DVD player, the first link was just to see if I knew what I needed to look for in the future if indeed what I have doesn't work at all.. I was trying to learn.

You have been your own worst enemy throughout this thread. How am I supposed to guess that when you posted this link: http://www.radioshack.com/gpx-d200b-2-channel-dvd-player/55065884.html#start=5&tab=tab2 you were window shopping for a possible future need not the immediate need that brought you here?

As for the question about the converter in this link http://www.amazon.com/Mini-PAL-to-NTSC-Converter/dp/B009TBFWJK/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc...A3G9OEEJ375E8H. I didn't see that question until now. No converter will address the DVD region code problem with your unhackable Blu-Ray player, only the PAL to NTSC problem. It cheap for a reason. Users complained in some reviews that there is nothing included that they can use to power the unit. The thing depends on a USB connection for power and the included wall adapter is not made for a US-style wall outlet.

[helobuff]

Learning all the time here. thanks.. was hoping if i cracked the dvd side of the onkyo it would work. or at least it would work on the magnavox, that way in future if I had the same issue (because i wasn't sure of the cause) it would be here to use not only on the magnavox but on a future player if necessary. I still can't see how the region is hackable to those in the UK with that firmware update i have.. just haven't applied, yet it is not to those of us in the USA. Would be great to read the code and change the 2 to a 1 in the firmware update so that it would work. Might try that at some point. If I download it to my computer and then open it as a read only file then copy it and change the code to a 1 instead of a 2 it might work for us. If I do it and it's successful I will get a drop box and post it there for everyone to download.

[usually_quiet]

Learning all the time here. thanks.. was hoping if i cracked the dvd side of the onkyo it would work. or at least it would work on the magnavox, that way in future if I had the same issue (because i wasn't sure of the cause) it would be here to use not only on the magnavox but on a future player if necessary. I still can't see how the region is hackable to those in the UK with that firmware update i have.. just haven't applied, yet it is not to those of us in the USA. Would be great to read the code and change the 2 to a 1 in the firmware update so that it would work. Might try that at some point. If I download it to my computer and then open it as a read only file then copy it and change the code to a 1 instead of a 2 it might work for us. If I do it and it's successful I will get a drop box and post it there for everyone to download.

I think you need to think twice about this plan. There can be hardware differences between players sold in different countries even when the model number is the same. Installing inappropriate firmware could brick your $450 MSRP Blu-Ray player rendering it unusable.

I don't know how you expect to be able to figure out what to change in the firmware itself. I see no indication that you would be capable of such a feat. You couldn't figure out how to navigate the setup menu on your Magnavox DVD player without reading detailed instructions in the manual.

[helobuff]

It's like debugging a system..
and the manual was wrong!

[usually_quiet]

It's like debugging a system..
and the manual was wrong!

Well then by all means try it (customizing UK firmware for use in the US). What is the worst that can happen? Rendering a very expensive Blu-Ray player inoperable in the name of science is surely an acceptable loss.

The manual at http://www.manualslib.com/manual/97616/Magnavox-423.html?page=22 is likely wrong because it is for a different model, a Magnavox 423.

The Magnavox MDV-460 manual that I read had those instructions. See page 18. https://www.p4c.philips.com/files/m/mdv460_37/mdv460_37_dfu_aen.pdf I guess I should have known that you didn't have the paper manual anymore and wouldn't figure out how to find it in PDF form with a search engine.