Panasonic UB820/UB9000 4K UHD Blu-ray player

[0xd]

Originally Posted by Andrew Woo

I have no idea. Both ran with version 1.69. I purchased them region free from https://www.bluraymods.it/
I just had to press "1" or "2" on the remote and the player would directly boot up with region A or B.

This sounds like RattleBytes but you'll need to reach out to your dealer. It is possible they will provide you the modified 1.6 firmware to flash via USB. Hopefully the ability to downgrade still exists.

[Andrew Woo]

Originally Posted by 0xd

This sounds like RattleBytes but you'll need to reach out to your dealer. It is possible they will provide you the modified 1.6 firmware to flash via USB. Hopefully the ability to downgrade still exists.

Yes, I did that. Got a reply already:

"Dear customer, we are very sorry. Please wait patched firmware from us, is under developing.

We will update you soon as possibile.

Many thanks, kind regards."

[WITCHCULT]

Yeah, I learned last time to not update via USB as it killed my region free mod I got from 220. Had to pay shipping both ways for them to fix it.

[IlCorvo]

Originally Posted by Andrew Woo

Yes, I did that. Got a reply already:

"Dear customer, we are very sorry. Please wait patched firmware from us, is under developing.

We will update you soon as possibile.

Many thanks, kind regards."

They use the mods from RattleByte.

Be aware that RattleByte is on vacation until 2nd of September. So, you should get your firmware next week.

[thebarnman]

Originally Posted by 0xd

It hasn't been confirmed yet but given the timing of the release, many suspect it is to fix a bug allowing root access to the device which allows for region free patching and adding 9000 series functionality to the UB820 and UB420.

That's interesting.

What kind of functionality does the 9000 series have that the 820 doesn't have?

Also, what do you mean by saying "given the timing of the release?" What's been going on recently that Panasonic would want to take back control of?

[0xd]

Originally Posted by thebarnman

That's interesting.

What kind of functionality does the 9000 series have that the 820 doesn't have?

Also, what do you mean by saying "given the timing of the release?" What's been going on recently that Panasonic would want to take back control of?

The patch\exploit was released yesterday and Panasonic updated the firmware today.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by IlCorvo

They use the mods from RattleByte.

Be aware that RattleByte is on vacation until 2nd of September. So, you should get your firmware next week.

Isn’t Rattlebyte indicated to not do a firmware upgrade unless they are okayed by them?

[edtwozeroniner]

I have the 1.69 regionfreedom firmware. I’m guessing there’s no way to get this new version without losing the region free capability since the site has gone?

[0xd]

Originally Posted by edtwozeroniner

I have the 1.69 regionfreedom firmware. I’m guessing there’s no way to get this new version without losing the region free capability since the site has gone?

If exploit still works with the latest firmware, you'll be able to update using the free patch mentioned above. This may take a few months for information to trickle out though. Only a handful of people have patched the original release so it'll take time for experimentation.

[PuppetMasterBlu]

Originally Posted by Phoenix123

Looks like the new update has fixed it. Yes!

Update from the player or TV?

[PuppetMasterBlu]

I don't follow this thread closely so can anyone tell me about this "defective" chip I am seeing reference to? My 820 was one of the first 500 sold in the US so...I certainly have whatever old chip. What makes it defective or lesser or whatever?

[Sango]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

Do you suppose they will add 1.76 to their server in a few days, so you can download it directly into the various machines?

I would imagine the only real reason for the update is a refresh on the disc license keys. It would be great if they could fix their Dolby Vision problems as laid out by Stacey Spears and update the DV version as created by Dolby Labs, but I don't know if anything can be done in that regard without a physical DV chip swap.

It should be on the server already since I updated it via ethernet cable connected to the player myself. I manually invoked the check for update since I do not have my ethernet cable connected to the player unless I am specifically performing an update.

[Sango]

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

I don't follow this thread closely so can anyone tell me about this "defective" chip I am seeing reference to? My 820 was one of the first 500 sold in the US so...I certainly have whatever old chip. What makes it defective or lesser or whatever?

I do not know the exact details myself but to my understanding is that during COVID, Panasonic may of switched chip suppliers due to chip shortages at the time, however these chips appear to have issues causing some units to fail. They have since switched suppliers back therfore, current units (post COVID) do not have this issue.

I personally have UB9000 and 820 when they were first released and do not have this issue.

[captainsolo]

My 820 did a really weird thing recently where it refused to play any UHD without SDR downconversion. After many resets and cable changes I was able to get it functioning normally by power cycling my OLED again.

Now if only there was a firmware update that made Dolby Vision discs not play subtitles, menus, warning screens and non HDR extras in forced DV making them blindingly bright or terrible looking...

[Cherokee Jack]

Originally Posted by PuppetMasterBlu

I don't follow this thread closely so can anyone tell me about this "defective" chip I am seeing reference to? My 820 was one of the first 500 sold in the US so...I certainly have whatever old chip. What makes it defective or lesser or whatever?

It’s all speculation at this point. Your unit is likely fine if it’s several years old and never had any issues. The thinking is that Panasonic might have used some inferior parts during COVID shortages. Faulty chip is one possibility; I’ve also seen at least one person say they fixed their player by installing a new disc drive at considerable expense.

[mdhaus]

Originally Posted by SmittysGelato

With After Hours and The Phantom Menace the audio eventually goes out too. I have taken some videos that I might post somewhere, or at least take screenshots to demonstrate the damage.

Edit: I put together an album showcasing the playback errors: https://forum.blu-ray.com/album.php?albumid=5122

Based on all of your posts, it's pretty clear you have a technical problem with the player. You should simply get it serviced...or replaced.

[SmittysGelato]

Originally Posted by mdhaus

Based on all of your posts, it's pretty clear you have a technical problem with the player. You should simply get it serviced...or replaced.

It would be nice if servicing it would resolve the issue because I wanna get back to enjoying all the lovely UHDs. I looked into going digital if worse comes to worse, but I found purchasing movies digitally and actually getting them to play on my TV to be a total hassle so I would rather not do that!

I bought my player in April '21 so maybe I got one of the bad COVID players.

[mdhaus]

Originally Posted by Phoenix123

Looks like the new update has fixed it. Yes!

For what it's worth, I am the person who posted who also has the occasional issue with Dolby Vision menus on my TCL TV. It's not a player problem, but rather a flaw in the TVs firmware. For me, it only happens rarely and I can still select the menu options; they are just blacked out.

It sometimes affects subtitles on those discs as well. But that is also very intermittent for me - The vast majority of my Dolby Vision discs do not have either of those problems.

[mdhaus]

Originally Posted by 0xd

The patch\exploit was released yesterday and Panasonic updated the firmware today.

I'm skeptical that they could have written, full tested the code, and taken all of their steps in just one day.

[mdhaus]

Originally Posted by SmittysGelato

It would be nice if servicing it would resolve the issue because I wanna get back to enjoying all the lovely UHDs. I looked into going digital if worse comes to worse, but I found purchasing movies digitally and actually getting them to play on my TV to be a total hassle so I would rather not do that!

I bought my player in April '21 so maybe I got one of the bad COVID players.

Why would servicing it not solve the issue?

I guess I'm just not understanding what you're waiting for...It's pretty clear that there is a problem with the player. It's not going to work well until you get it addressed. It's not the fault of the discs...there is a hardware issue going on.