Limitations of using a Japanese Blu-ray Recorder in the US?

[rlove2u]

Hi all,
I have been researching the Japanese Blu-ray recorders. And have finally found a source to get one thru. But I am still trying to pin down the compatability issues with using it here in the US. It is my understanding that now that Japan is in the A/1 region same as US and Canada there will be no issues playing region 1 DVD's, or A/1 BD disks. Also Japan is on a 100V 50hz
power grid. I have confirmed that this unit will work properly on any power
grid from 100-240 at 50/60Hz. I have also confirmed that Japan/Asia are on the PAL broadcast system, where we here are on the NTSC system. But I have been told that that difference will only affect terrestial broadcast signals only. That satellite signals will be uneffected ex.Dish DirecTv etc.
Can anyone confirm this?? Or offer any thoughts? Also I don't know if this unit offers any other language besides Japanese, since they are only sold in Japan. I know the onboard TV guide within the BW900 would probably be wasted. And that the remote would be in Japanses but I have a learning remote so that won't matter. Let me know if anyone has any thoughts.

[Krazy]

Japanese BD recorders imported into the US would be a waste because:

1. While Japan and the US are in the same BD region (region A), that is not the case for standard DVD playback where the US is region 1 and Japan is in region 2 and the Japanese recorder would most certainly be region locked for both BD and DVD playback.

2. Japan and the US both use the NTSC for analog TV broadcasts, but as the US is shutting off analog broadcasts after February 2009, you won't be able to record TV broadcasts with the recorder after that happens. As for digital broadcasts, Japan uses a different system (ISDB) which is incompatible with the US one (ATSC) so the digital tuner found in BD recorders would be useless in the US as well.

3. You will also not be able to record satellite TV (Dish/DirecTV) because Dish and DirecTV signals are encrypted and the BD recorders from Japan are not equipped to decrypt/decode satellite broadcasts.

In short: You'll be much beter off waiting for a BD recorder made specifically for the US market as importing one from Japan would waste almost all of it's capabilities because of the above incompatibilities

[DJIcyIce]

What source are u useing to get one thru?

[WickyWoo]

That and you'll pay out the nose for one. You can build a Blu-ray burning HTPC that will be an HD PVR and a Blu-ray burning/playing machine for half of what this will cost you