Panasonic BD10, Firmware 2.0 DVD region free no more.

[jgwatt]

I am from Australia and sold my all region Marantz DVD player for the ALL REGION out of the box Panasonic BD10 as agreed with the retailer AND the state rep.
The firmware upgrade to 2.0 now changes my player from a region free to a region 4 which I believe is wrong for Panasonic to do as it CHANGES my original purchase expectations and what I can no longer use the player for.
With over a 1000 region 1 DVDs this has really hit me but my retailer (whom is a good friend) has agreed to give me back my money back. I have also tried the Stargate blu ray (region A) and you will find that it will not work the rear channels using DTS HD and the analogue outs. I cannot confirm if the HDMI DTS HD works properly.
Fine, I can get my money back but how many out there cannot and its not really what I want. I would much prefer for the machine to be ALL region and to do the DTS HD properly. Heaven knows if DD TRUEHD works as there is nothing much out there yet to confirm it does.
Lets all see if we somehow can get Panasonic to sort this out now or theaten to give our Panasonics back to the dealers for a full refund because THEY (Panasonic) have changed the item purchased that is NOT now as previously wanted and supplied.

[Josh]

Can't your dealer use the remote hack to bring you back to Region Free for DVD? Has your dealer contacted Panasonic regarding the issue?

[jgwatt]

Originally Posted by Josh

Can't your dealer use the remote hack to bring you back to Region Free for DVD? Has your dealer contacted Panasonic regarding the issue?

What is the remote hack?. I am sure he will try to make sense with Panasonic but it could be a maze in trying to do so.

[gillman]

Hi folks, had my BD10 for a few days now - only one movie at present (A Knight's Tale) but more on the way. Region B, firmware 1.4 and would like to update to 2.00. I tried the Oceania version, burned CD with Nero 7, but my player tells me the disc is unsupported. jgwatt, could you please tell me which version you used and what program you used to burn your disc? I am also interested in the remote hack if I finally get the firmware updated. Thank you,
Best wishes,
Ron
Adelaide, South Australia

[ralphpuller]

Originally Posted by jgwatt

I am from Australia and sold my all region Marantz DVD player for the ALL REGION out of the box Panasonic BD10 as agreed with the retailer AND the state rep.
The firmware upgrade to 2.0 now changes my player from a region free to a region 4 which I believe is wrong for Panasonic to do as it CHANGES my original purchase expectations and what I can no longer use the player for.
With over a 1000 region 1 DVDs this has really hit me but my retailer (whom is a good friend) has agreed to give me back my money back. I have also tried the Stargate blu ray (region A) and you will find that it will not work the rear channels using DTS HD and the analogue outs. I cannot confirm if the HDMI DTS HD works properly.
Fine, I can get my money back but how many out there cannot and its not really what I want. I would much prefer for the machine to be ALL region and to do the DTS HD properly. Heaven knows if DD TRUEHD works as there is nothing much out there yet to confirm it does.
Lets all see if we somehow can get Panasonic to sort this out now or theaten to give our Panasonics back to the dealers for a full refund because THEY (Panasonic) have changed the item purchased that is NOT now as previously wanted and supplied.

i have the same problem and have emailed panasonic about this and they
refered me to their service outlet in ringwood victoria.i gave them a detailed account of what has happened and are awaiting a reply.

[ralphpuller]

Originally Posted by gillman

Hi folks, had my BD10 for a few days now - only one movie at present (A Knight's Tale) but more on the way. Region B, firmware 1.4 and would like to update to 2.00. I tried the Oceania version, burned CD with Nero 7, but my player tells me the disc is unsupported. jgwatt, could you please tell me which version you used and what program you used to burn your disc? I am also interested in the remote hack if I finally get the firmware updated. Thank you,
Best wishes,
Ron
Adelaide, South Australia

if you install update version 2.0 you will lose the ability to play ntsc region 1 dvd's.

[gillman]

Not really concerned about losing Region 1 ability because I have a backup multiregion player for DVD. I do want to unlock (if that's the correct term) the audio section though. I have also e-mailed Panasonic and like you I'm waiting for a reply. Appreciate your advice very much - thanks.
Ron

[jgwatt]

Originally Posted by gillman

Hi folks, had my BD10 for a few days now - only one movie at present (A Knight's Tale) but more on the way. Region B, firmware 1.4 and would like to update to 2.00. I tried the Oceania version, burned CD with Nero 7, but my player tells me the disc is unsupported. jgwatt, could you please tell me which version you used and what program you used to burn your disc? I am also interested in the remote hack if I finally get the firmware updated. Thank you,
Best wishes,
Ron
Adelaide, South Australia

Hi Ron,
I used an OEM version of Nero No 6.3.1.18 and used a CD to make a Data disc. But it chages your player from an ALL region DVD to a region 4.
The DTS HD does not work properly as you get only 2 channel from the Analogue outs and through a processor you DO NOT get DTS but only a kind of matrix. My player will be going back if these problems are not resolved because it was purchased with the clear understanding that IT WAS all region. Let me know how you get on

[jgwatt]

Originally Posted by ralphpuller

i have the same problem and have emailed panasonic about this and they
refered me to their service outlet in ringwood victoria.i gave them a detailed account of what has happened and are awaiting a reply.

Do you have a problem with DTS HD. For instance Stargate will only play front channels through analoge outs using both PCM & Bitstream and through a processor DTS does not register and a matrix audio will only work.

[gillman]

Thanks for your advice jgwatt & ralphpuller,

I've decided to stick with 1.4 for the time being & i'm sorry to hear about your problems with DTS HD. I've played a few Reg 1 DVD's and found the quality to be excellent so don't want to lose Reg 1 after all.

Best wishes,
Ron

[gillman]

Hi folks, me again.

Forgot to add, I think the mistake I made with the firmware update was that I didn't decompress the file before burning to disc so now I'm rather glad I screwed it up.
Cheers
Ron

[GoldenRedux]

Originally Posted by jgwatt

Do you have a problem with DTS HD. For instance Stargate will only play front channels through analoge outs using both PCM & Bitstream and through a processor DTS does not register and a matrix audio will only work.

I've finally gotten around to testing a DTS-HD disc on my Panny with the 2.0 firmware and I have no problem with the audio whatsoever. I am strictly using the analogue outs, so I cannot comment on the HDMI.

I tested it with Stargate, and I got sound from all of my speakers. I double checked that I had DTS-HD selected as the audio option, and I walked around and put my ear up to each speaker - even the sub - just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. Sure enough, they were all working.

There could only be two things I could think that would be different. I am using a Region A player and I am using a 7.1 setup as well. Either A) this problem is unique to the Region B firmware upgrade or B)It only manifests itself if you have the player set for 5.1 output?

There is a third option: the Audio settings are incorrect? You must have the DD+/TrueHD and DTS-HD outputs set to PCM and DD and DTS set to bitstream. I also have PCM downconversion set to off.

[jgwatt]

Originally Posted by GoldenRedux

I've finally gotten around to testing a DTS-HD disc on my Panny with the 2.0 firmware and I have no problem with the audio whatsoever. I am strictly using the analogue outs, so I cannot comment on the HDMI.

I tested it with Stargate, and I got sound from all of my speakers. I double checked that I had DTS-HD selected as the audio option, and I walked around and put my ear up to each speaker - even the sub - just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. Sure enough, they were all working.

There could only be two things I could think that would be different. I am using a Region A player and I am using a 7.1 setup as well. Either A) this problem is unique to the Region B firmware upgrade or B)It only manifests itself if you have the player set for 5.1 output?

There is a third option: the Audio settings are incorrect? You must have the DD+/TrueHD and DTS-HD outputs set to PCM and DD and DTS set to bitstream. I also have PCM downconversion set to off.

Thanks Goldenredux, I have rechecked and ensured that my Panny is the same settings as yours, there can be no doubt that it is UNIQUE to the region B firmware upgrade. Dam Panasonic, and now I wonder if the DD Truehd works properly. Is there anybody else out there that has a Region B Panny and Stargate to prove this.

[gillman]

Hi John, check out this forum (http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=48714). It appears Matt.G has successfully applied the 2.00 firmware and tested with the Stargate disc. I still haven't been game to give it a go.
Best wishes
Ron

[GoldenRedux]

I've just discovered something about he Panny today with the 2.0 firmware. You can only extract the core dts from DTS-HD MA (or HR for that matter) now if you have the DTS-HD settings set to bitstream. I was watching Kingdom of Heaven today when I discovered this. We know the Pany will not decode DTS-HD MA, so I was expecting that it would just extract the core dts, but it wouldn't. I could only get a stereo PCM signal from the optical out and even from the analogues. I had to stop playback and go into setup and under the Audio settings, go into Digital Output and change DTS-HD from 'PCM' back to 'bitstream' to get the core.

[gillman]

Hi Folks,
Despite my reluctance, which was based on others experience & thanks for that, I have just applied version 2.00 firmware (Oceania - I'm in Reg B, Australia). The only disc I have with a DTS-HD sound track is "Night at the Museum" which seems to be playing perfectly so far. I have DTS-HD settings set to PCM and I'm using the analog out connections. I had a brief listen with DTS-HD set to bitstream and couldn't hear any difference. Yes, it has locked my machine to Region 4 for DVD but i'm personally not concerned about that. Just wanted to pass on my early experience, I really need to get a couple more DTS-HD discs to test it properly but I have no plans to do this just yet.
Best wishes,
Ron

[blitz6speed]

Originally Posted by gillman

Hi Folks,
Despite my reluctance, which was based on others experience & thanks for that, I have just applied version 2.00 firmware (Oceania - I'm in Reg B, Australia). The only disc I have with a DTS-HD sound track is "Night at the Museum" which seems to be playing perfectly so far. I have DTS-HD settings set to PCM and I'm using the analog out connections. I had a brief listen with DTS-HD set to bitstream and couldn't hear any difference. Yes, it has locked my machine to Region 4 for DVD but i'm personally not concerned about that. Just wanted to pass on my early experience, I really need to get a couple more DTS-HD discs to test it properly but I have no plans to do this just yet.
Best wishes,
Ron

NATM is DTS HD-MA. Your panny can only do DTS HD-HR, which is not lossless. No device other then HTPC's can decode DTS HD-MA at this point in time, sadly.

[gillman]

Thanks blitz6speed, even if I'm only getting the "core" DTS, that sounds great from the Panny anyway.
Cheers
Ron

[blitz6speed]

The 1.5 core does indeed sound great. Enjoy!

[bgccdx]

That's a bit strange. I tried Night at the Museum a couple of days ago when I was running component video into my Sony VPL VW12HT at 1080i and coax audio from my Panny with V2 firmware. All I got was stereo! Today I installed a new Mitsubishi HC5000 projector so I am now HDMI all the way and I now get DTS-HD audio. Great pictures too. it's going to be a fun night (at the museum).

BTW, I now feel that my Panny that I paid AUD2,500 for 4 months ago is now worth about $400 because of the PS3 and the new Panny. I offered it to a colleague today for $400 and he said, "no way. I am buying a PS3". I think I might do that too. Early adopter's constant problem!