Region Free DVD from www.M-99.com
REGION FREE METHODS FOR : Yamakawa

 

MODEL(S) : METHOD : CONFIRMED?
215
218 (later firmwares)		 in SETUP enter
"13698888"
You'll see a bunch of numbers/letters near the bottom of the screen.

Then the field called "VERSION" will appear.

Move Cursor on VERSION and open with PLAY button.

(Note: at first it may be hard to make out the "VERSION" option, but just scroll down, you'll see it).

Use Cursor buttons to go to the REGION CODE setting, and enter the desired code.

NOTE: your options are 0-6. Selecting "0" seems to make it code-free.
Then go back to SETUP to save

NOTE: (I tried a Region 1 "Monsters" DVD as well as a Region 2 "Spirited Away" DVD, and both worked with this setting).

 

It looks like there IS a way to change REGIONS in the "normal" (not hidden) menu -- it's in preferences (and even shown in the pictures in the owners manual).
However, the user might want to use the "13698888" method instead (described below in my other post)
for two reasons:
(1) If you use the "13698888" method, you don't have to keep changing it each time you put a disc with a different region in, and...
(2) Somehow, when you use the "13698888" method and set the REGION to 0 using this method, it turns the UOP off!!

UOP is the thing that forces you to watch (and usually not be able to skip past) the FBI warnings and other such stuff.. now you can!

There's no notification that the UOP is on or off, but noticed that as soon as set REGION to "0" using the "13698888" method was suddenly able to SKIP the FBI warnings and such.

  

 

MODEL(S) : METHOD : CONFIRMED?
218 1.Turn on player and wait for "no disk".
2. Use remote and push the following buttons: Setup, Mute, Stop, Zoom.

Display Firmware Revision:

Switch on your DVD-Player and wait until the display says "no disc". If your DVD-Player has no display (DVD-218) wait about 15sec. after you switch on the unit.

Then enter the following four keys:
1) SETUP
2) MUTE
3) DISPLAY
4) F.F>>

On the TV-Screen the normal Setup page will be displayed. After you pressed the 4th key on the top left corner of your TV-screen the firmware version of your DVD-Player will be displayed for about 5 seconds, with the Setup page being the background.

There will be 2 lines of information:
The first line begins with ESS and ends with ".xxx" three digits behind the dot. These three digits are referred to as the Firmware Version of the DVD-Player. In case there is a firmware with a higher number in our list, you might consider to update your player.

Reset player to default settings:

The following procedure will enable you to reset your Yamakawa DVD-Player (modell DVD-218, DVD-258) from “region free” to the factory setting fro the USA of “REGION CODE 1”. This will then once again limit you to playing only movies made for the USA market.

Your Yamakawa DVD-218 must be turned off completely (not in Stand-by mode) before you start this procedure.

Turn on the DVD-218/258.
Enter “SETUP MENU – MAIN PAGE” using your Remote Control.
Scroll to “PREFERENCES” (p.24 in your manual)
Scroll to “DEFAULTS” (p.27 in your manual)
Select “RESET”
Exit from Setup Mode.

Your DVD-218/258 will now be set to standard factory settings. Here are some settings you may have to adjust due to the reset.


1. You may notice that the OSD is no longer in English (is has reset itself to German). Follow this sequence to return OSD to English. (p. 14-18 in your manual)
SETUP / TV SETUP / OSD SPRACHE / ENGLISCH
Exit Setup Mode

2. During movie play back you only hear the background music and sounds, the actors` lips move but you hear no voice. Follow the sequence to activate voice audio (p.20-21 in your manual) when running sound through TV:
SETUP / SPEAKER SETUP / DOWNMIX / activate VSS or Stereo
When running sound through Dolby Digital Pro-Logic receiver:
SETUP / SPEAKER SETUP / DOWNMIX / activate LT/RT

 

  

 

MODEL(S) : METHOD : CONFIRMED?
713
715		 1.  Press SETUP
2.  Rapidly press SLOW, LEFT SKIP, RIGHT SKIP on the remote control.
3.  Choose your region with the arrow keys on the remote control.
4.  Press SETUP
5.  Sometimes, you need to press STOP two times (if you have just watched a movie) before you apply the hack.		 Yes, for firmware 01-0T/04-31

 

MODEL(S) : METHOD : CONFIRMED?
DVD-780
DVD-820
DVD-860

Here are some Remote handset key presses that perform certain player modifications:

Macrovision off:

STOP, STOP, SETUP, SLOW, SKIP-RIGHT, PAUSE

Set Region:

SETUP, LOW, SKIP-RIGHT

Region Free:

Setup, Slow, Skip-links, Pause

Version Check:

Setup, Slow, Skip-Right, 3

Drive type check:

Setup, Slow, Skip-RIGHT, 4

Reset to standard:

Setup, Slow, Skip-links, 0

Problems:

You must have the right firmware. If these don't work try downloading new firmware from www.seditec.com.

Links:

Some other links you may find handy relating to this player:

http://www.linkpatrouille.de/yamakawa.htm

http://dvdfrak.50megs.com