On this page you can find everything about region hacking your player. As this site was also the place where the generic Panasonic DVD player region hacks originated from, it also covers almost any other Panasonic DVD player.
The easiest way of making your player region free is with the use of modified firmware. In this way you just can use the standard remote control to make the player RCE region free with region selection. Currently for the following players is a region free firmware modification available:
- Panasonic S52, S49 and S295: click here for the available firmware page.
- Panasonic HT335, HT535, HT845, HT885W and HT885 users: click here.
- Panasonic S75: click here.
For many other Pansonic players and for people who don't want to use a firmware modification; use the generic Pansonic region free code outlined below.
Generic Panasonic region free IR code
As you may know for some time chipped remotes are available for many Panasonic DVD players to make them region free. The codes these remotes send are a good kept secret. However now that the firmware is dissambled these codes where found. The IR code to make many Panasonic players region free is:
0082 0015 0089 0004 00F2 0033 0017 0010 0091 0013
You can not send the complete code with just the standard remote. So read on how to send this code with various devices. Note that not all methods described below are tested and it is not guaranteed it will work in your situation or with your player/recorder. Try to experiment yourself with various setups. The codes cannot damage or lock your player. The only thing that can happen that your player displays an error like FT02, than just press cancel to re-initialise your player. Just try again and adjust your speed sending the codes.
Support is given only at the AV Forums at this topic. Please use that forum for questions, experiences etc.
The easiest way is with the use of an PocketPC with an IR-port and using the CCF file compiled by Virus and betablocker. When loaded you can select any region or make the player RCE region free.
1. Download and install TV Remote Controller software.
2. Download this CCF file.
3. Start the software and set the program in CCF mode and select the CCF file.
- If you get an error importing the CCF file, try to shorten the name of the CCF file.
4. You should see the following screen (click for an larger image):
5. Use one of the codes.
6. The region hack takes about 30 seconds and after a succefull update the player will reset itself and restart.
If you own a Pronto or any other remote control wich can handle CCF files, you can directly use this CCF file.
Thanks to Lorenz, Palm users can now use OmniRemote and one of two methods below to make their player/recorder region free in an easy way.
Method:1 (Using a OmniRemote IR code file)
1. Download this Palm Memo file: PanasonicRegionHackIRcode.mpa.
2. Open MemoPad on your Desktop.
3. Transfer the Memo file via HotSync to your Palm.
4. Open OmniRemote on Palm.
5. Load default OmniRemote database (if you modified something before).
6. Import category from MemoPad.
7. Switch to category VCR.
8. Turn on Panasonic DVD player/recorder (No disc inserted!).
9. On your Palm press buttons 0-9 in ascending order - that's it!.
Method:2 (Using a OmniRemote PDB file)
1. Download PanasonicRegionHack.pdb.
2. Install "PanasonicRegionHack.pdb" on your Palm.
3. Open OmniRemote.
4. Load database "PanasonicRegionHack".
5. Switch to category "RegionHack".
6. Turn on Panasonic DVD player/recorder (No disc inserted!).
7. On your Palm press button "Sequence" (which is a macro for pressing all buttons).
You may loose any previous setting with OmniRemote if you choose the last method.
Click here to see if your mobile is Symbian60 based, so you can use irRemote and this CCF file. Please note that people reported that you need to use the Total version (not the trial) to be able to import a CCF file. Start irRemote and import to the CCF template. Assign a button to the code region free hack, press the button facing the IR of the phone to your player.
You need an PSP wich can accept homebrew (firmware 1.5).
1. Download and start IR Shell.
2. Download this rdf file and copy it to your PSP.
3. Open the rdf file with IR Shell using the incorporated IR commander.
4. The to be send IR codes are then shown is the right order (1-10):
5. The keys that need to be pressed after each other are displayed at the left part.
6. The region hack takes about 30 seconds and after a succefull update the player will reset itself and restart.
You need to enter the codes in a regulair speed. Don't wait to long between sending the codes. Just experiment to get the speed right. A user recommended using a combination of the standard remote for the regulair codes (see them below) and use the PSP for the 00F2 code (d-pad up, 5th code).
Here is a step by step guide and files provided by Woziak on using an IRDA or RS232-port to get the Panasonic players region free.
1. Build an DOS bootdisk floppy (or download a premade package from bootdisk.com).
2. Download the Winsamp package from Blank Frank's site.
3. Put winsamp.exe from the Winsamp package on the floppy.
4. Download the remote.txt file here.
5. Place remote.txt in the same directory as winsamp.exe.
6. Boot the Laptop/PC with the floppy.
7. Start winsamp.exe and press "R" to load remote.txt.
8. Point the IRDA port to the Panasonic player with no disc inserted.
9. Press enter to send the first code, then right arrow to move to button 2, then enter etc. in an steady pace.
10. When you succeed the player reboots.
Note: If your player fails to respond try to adjust the distance between the IRDA port and the player. To test receiption best use button 2/7/8/10.
Click here to view the instructions post at the AVS Forums. Or this post at AV Forums using a One 4 All Kameleon together with the standard remote.
The keynotes: the remote must be set to a Panasonic DVD player wich device code is: 490. The code that the standard remote cannot reproduce is: 143. You can set this code as the magic button and have a look at the codes section replacing the IR 00F2 code with the magic button.
Update: some remotes of DVD-recorders don't have specific buttons that are needed for the region free code. The easiest solution to this, is to get hold of a Panasonic DVD-player remote and use it to perform the region free code sequence. Or program your One 4 All (if possible for your model) with the following codes:
- Subtitle key: 00129
- Audio key: 00155
- >=10 key: InputSelect
Eeugene sended me very interesting info using an cheap Philips regulair remote for sending the region free IR code. Most of the time these remotes are even cheaper than a chipped one, so if you don't have any of the devices mentioned above than is the best device to buy. These instructions where tested with an 2006 model Philips SRU-520, but probally many older Philips remotes with DVD-player support will work.
First you need to set your remote to the Panasonic DVD player code. Click here to find the code. Then use the shift button function to program the service button wich you cannot send with the standard remote. The code for this button is 00143. Use one of these codes and replaces 00F2 with the shift+1 button.
Here are the step by step instructions using this method with an Philips SRU-520 remote:
1. Select the DVD as device. The selected device is shown by the LED.
2. Press and hold the 1 key and the 6 key at the same time. The LED blinks two times, and stays on.
3. Enter "9 9 4" in sequence. The LED blinks two times, and stays on.
4. Enter the following code for the missing button/function: "00143". The LED stays on.
5. Press and release the Shift key. The LED stays on.
6. Press the key to store the new function on. The LED blinks two times, and goes off.
7. Press "1".
Now enter a region free code from this list and replace the 00F2 code with SHIFT+1 from the Philips remote.
Here are the key combinations wich are used to modify the region settings. The code wich cannot be send with a standard remote is IR code 00F2. Note: the modification codes for players wich have the region free firmware hack installed can be find here.
1. Be sure players drive is empty (nodISC)
2. Enter following key sequence using remote control:
Enter, 6, >=10, <<, 00F2, Audio, 8, * requested region code here (1-8) *, Subtitle, 1
3. Player will reset and requested region code will be set.
- For example to set region code to 3 press: "Enter, 6, >=10, <<, 00F2, Audio, 8, 3, Subtitle, 1"
1. Be sure players drive is empty (nodISC)
2. Enter following key sequence using remote control:
Enter, 6, >=10, <<, 00F2, Audio, 8, 1, Subtitle, 4
0082 0015 0089 0004 00F2 0033 0017 0010 0091 0013 (IR CODE)
3. Player will reset and set to "region-free" and "RCE-free" mode
1. Be sure players drive is empty (nodISC)
2. Enter following key sequence using remote control:
Enter, 6, >=10, <<, 00F2 Audio, 8, 9, Subtitle, 1
0082 0015 0089 0004 00F2 0033 0018 0010 0091 0010 (IR CODE)
3. Player will reset and set to factory region code
Another way possible at the moment is ordering a special chipped remote, wich is available for many Panasonic DVD players. As the region free firmware hack does it exactly the same (and even more) it is only usefull for people who don't want to firmware upgrade there player and can't use the generic region free code. You can find company's who do this trough google. For example you can find http://www.dvdchips.co.uk/ with it.
When a disc is inserted the player checks if what region coding this disc has and it compare it with region code the player has. This region code is stored in the flash chip, but on a seperate part from where the firmware is stored. It is possible to bypass region code check routines in the firmware so you could play region 1 dvd's. This was made possible with the release of this firmware by Virus. However, another protection can be found on many DVD's called Region Code Enhancement. You cannot bypass this protection by modifying the firmware. Therefore the seperate part on the flash memory wich stores the region code information must be altered.
Here we got a little help from Panasonic. As mentioned above, there are several company's on the web who sell chipped remotes wich sends a code to make the player region free. These chipped remotes actually send a set of key combinations wich normally can only be send with special service remotes. This means that there is region free routine build in the players, probally to sell the same players in different regions. In this way Panasonic can easily modify the region codes. The IR codes and key combinations for Panasonic players are a good kept secret (as in contrary with the Sony ones) for a long time now.
A breaktrough was the moment that firmware modder Virus found out wich key combinations must be entered, where only one IR key code could not be send with the standard remote. This IR code is called "00F2". He changed this 00F2 code to a normal button on the standard remote in the firmware so we can use the build in region free feature with a normal remote now when using this firmware hack. A nice extra is that it is also possible now to change the region code manually or set it back to factory settings. After a region modification you can change your firmware to any version you want without loosing your region code settings, because this now in another part on the flash memory.
Later on Tom found and published the Panasonic DVD player region free IR codes so people could do the hack with a device like a PocketPC, Palm, PSP etc. when no hacked firmware was available for there player. The publishing of the IR code led to various supporting files to make the hacking easier like predefined CCF files. Now a lot of people already made there player (and recorders) region free for free.
The information posted on the forums by the following people where very helpfull in making this page:
Virus, Tom, Peter, Steve, betablocker, ralph.sprenger and John.
Panasonic
S42 / S52 / S49 / S295 Info Site 
