Codefree Vs. Code Switchable - Pioneer DV-505 Instruction And Installation Manual

Pioneer DV-505 Code Switchable Modification

1.2 Codefree Vs. Code Switchable

In the terminology of making DVD Video players free of the constraints of region coding
there are two distinct types of modification, the Codefree player or the Code Switchable
player. The difference is an important one.
A codefree player is one that will attempt to play any disc. Since in the official
specification for DVD Video it is the responsibility of the player to enforce region coding,
it is possible to modify a DVD player so that it doesn't do the enforcement. In some cases
this involves the player merely playing the disc despite a region code mismatch, but more
commonly it involves setting the player region code to #0 which theoretically allows it to
play anything. The constraint on this is that some recent US DVD releases - MGM and
Disney titles are notable examples - use the scripting language within the DVD Video
specification intended for writing on-screen menus etc to enforce the regional lockouts.
These titles will refuse to play on a region #0 player. Some more advanced codefree
modifications may now probe the disc for it's region code number and answer back with
that number.
A code switchable player acts as if it is a genuine player of the region number to which it
is currently set. Thus if it is set to Region #2, it will refuse to play a Region #1 DVD
Video disc. A quick change of region number and it will of course play the disc without
further complaint. This approach has both advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages are that in many cases, this modification for the Pioneer DV-505
included, there are no changes required to the software that controls the player. The
method used in the factory to set the initial region code is merely re-enabled. Secondly,
it is hard to imagine that a DVD Video disc could detect that any given player is actually
capable of being re-configured to another region code making countermeasures of the
kind seen against Region #0 players difficult to devise.
The main disadvantage is that the user of the player has to be aware of the whole issue
of region coding, of which region each disc they want to play requires, and of the key
press sequence needed to effect the change of region number.
In part, this manual has been written to help people with these players explain the issues
to their family and friends who may have cause to use the modified player.
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