I made a backup of Transformers from an HD-DVD, re-encode it into blu-ray format and backed it up on a DVD+DL disc. It does play and sounds great, but i'm only getting 4:3 format where the picture is squeezed to fit with the black bars on the side, not the usually 16:9.

I played the disc in a PS3, it works fine, displays 16:9 and the quality is superb HD.

I tried updating the firmware, but it would render the player useless playing AVCHD DVD disc. Revert back to the old firmware, i'm able to play the disc.

For the record, if you make a "backup" of an HD-DVD with the main title encoded in VC-1, all you have to do is use TsMuxer to transcode the stream and select the "Remove Pulldown" and "Change FPS 24000/1001" (which is 29.976). The resulting remux should play flawlessly on the BH200 as long as it is burned correctly on a DVD+/-RW or a BD-RE.

HOWEVER... If you update to the latest (0602?) firmware, you are SOL. LG disabled support for AVCHD on DVD and BD-RE. Revert back to previous (0406?) and you should be fine for now.

I hope they re-enable this on later firmwares. It's really a great feature for those of us with HD camcorders. No need to buy yet another player. Isn't that the underlying reason why we purchased the BH200 in the first place? Definitely a step backwards on LG's part (in my opinion). Not pissed, but annoyed (for good reason).

Cant imagine why they disabled it. Nor can I imagine them not re-enabling it. But then if they do re-enable it. I will be sitting their 'imagining' why they disabled it in the first place.

Imagine all the ppl.

I'm having the same problem with back-ups...but it only seems to happen when the aspect ratio is wider than 16:9. Anything truly 16:9 displays fine, but something 2.35 or others like that are forced into a 4:3 frame and obviously look very wrong.

I'm still on the April firmware...so I don't think that's it. Or do I need to go back to an earlier (March) firmware? Weird.

Any suggestions??
THANKS

So if I burn an avchd to dvd+/-R, and am still on the 0406 firmware on this player, it will play?

Aren't "backups" illegal copies?

Aren't "backups" illegal copies?

Depends who you ask. DRM says you can make a personal backup of digital media.

At the same time, they say you can't tamper or disable any copy protection schemes, so how do you make the copy?

Its a gray area. Studios will say its illegal. Advocates of individual rights will say its ok as long as its for personal use only.

...catch 22....in my state it is not illegal to smoke marijuana, but it is illegal to posses it. So how do you smoke it if you can't have it in your possession :)

Okay to make a copy, just don't break the copy protection because that is illegal.

...catch 22....in my state it is not illegal to smoke marijuana, but it is illegal to posses it. So how do you smoke it if you can't have it in your possession :)

Okay to make a copy, just don't break the copy protection because that is illegal.

My backups play just fine on the BH200.
Friends & family have contingency backups also.
For home land security & self defense purposes.

I have zero "backups" of my 620+ titles and will never make any.

and now back on topic please

Anyone able to say whetehr Avchd plays on a firmware 0406 (or even 0318) lg bh200?

I will assume that someone with the answer simply hasn't visited this site yet.

I have zero "backups" of my 620+ titles and will never make any.

Good for you? :rolleyes:

Anyone able to say whetehr Avchd plays on a firmware 0406 (or even 0318) lg bh200?

Why don't you just try it? Most of the posts regarding this subject indicate that the AVCHD playback disappeared with the June firmware, so I assume it works with the April firmware, but I haven't personally tried it.

FYI: The BH200, unlike many other units, lets you load previous firmware versions without any problem.

Hey man, you are so right. But having a 2 year old with a wife pregnant with twins makes it a little tough to get a usb flash drive and extend your arm out to the player to install the april firmware, only to find out it may have done nothing new. but you're right, when i find time, I'll try it out. And, i promise to report. i will make an avchd from the HV20 cam footage, dowloaded to pinnacle 12and on to dvd-/+ r's. and i will let you all know.

So, for those that are able to play back-ups, are they only true 16:9 or 1.78 aspect ratio or wider? My true full 16:9 or 1.78 movies (like all HD TV shows) play fine, but movies with a wider aspect ratio (ie should have black bars on the top and bottom) are formatted into a 4:3 full frame.

I'm still on the April firmware.

has anyone heard any info on if the BH200 will play AVCHD with new firmware?

it is ridiculous that they disabled that on later firmware updates

many blu-ray players can play those; all Sony and Panasonic will play AVCHD

I have zero "backups" of my 620+ titles and will never make any.

I'm willing to bet you don't have kids, or a wife like mine.

My kids only have access to the backups, they don't have access to the originals. I should include my wife in that group because of the way she has treated her CDs over the years. Just throw 'em anywhere is her storage method. Needless to say she has tons of discs that are scratched beyond repair. She does the same with our DVD's, HD-DVDs, Blu, Wii games, music CDs... really anything round and made of plastic.

I honestly can say that the backup method has saved me more than once from having to go buy a replacement. Is what I'm doing illegal? I don't think so, not that the law would care about my feelings. But, my use is personal and there is a very real reason for it.


has anyone heard any info on if the BH200 will play AVCHD with new firmware?

it is ridiculous that they disabled that on later firmware updates

many blu-ray players can play those; all Sony and Panasonic will play AVCHD


There was a guess floating around here that it was because of a licensing issue. No one knows for sure, but it's been gone for a while so the assumption is that it wasn't by accident it was removed. The hope is, someone posted this, that the licensing requirements have been opened up a bit which may allow LG to enable playback those discs without any problem. These are just guesses, and we'd have to hear from someone on the inside to know for sure.

AVCHD playback has returned with the newest firmware.

just updated the firmware and tried AVCHD disc

DID NOT WORK. I am very disappointed. they should have enabled this feature. when I call them, they have no idea what AVCHD is

just updated the firmware and tried AVCHD disc

DID NOT WORK. I am very disappointed. they should have enabled this feature. when I call them, they have no idea what AVCHD is

Plenty of ppl are saying it has been re-enabled. Have you tried more than one copy?

I just tried a 2nd AVCHD disc, DID NOT WORK
the first was made with Sothink HD maker, 2nd one was with Nero 7

what software are people using to make the discs that work

With the new firmware, AVCHD works, but the player will still not play BD-R/BD-RE. In otherwords, you have to burn it to a DVD. For BD-R to work, you need to rollback to an early firmware (and give up some of the newer features)

I am using regular DVD's. that is what AVCHD is
you burn HD content on a regular DVD. that is what I am doing
these discs play on my computer using PowerDVD and they will play on the Sony Playstation BUT they are NOT working on the BH200

I would like to know which software people are using to burn the discs
I have used Nero 7 and Sothink HD maker

With the new firmware, AVCHD works, but the player will still not play BD-R/BD-RE. In otherwords, you have to burn it to a DVD. For BD-R to work, you need to rollback to an early firmware (and give up some of the newer features)

That's definitely not the only problem. I'm burning them to DVD and like the above poster, it STILL doesn't work.

What programs are you using that enable AVCHD to work? I'm using Total Media Extreme, which works in conjunction with the Hauppage HD-PVR, and these discs work fine on every other platform I've tried (PS3, Panasonic BD player, etc.), but they DON'T work on the BH200. The other poster above is using Nero, and the BH200 doesn't work for him either.

Obviously whatever AVCHD capability there is in the BH200 is quite limited to specific authoring programs. Again, I don't understand why these discs work in other BD players but not the BH200. They read as "Data" discs, despite being authored as AVCHD and having the exact proper structure they should.

yes I would love to have other people post what software they used to make AVCHD work on the BH200

it sounds like others have the same issue as me; the discs will not play in the BH200

I have yet to read anyone's posts about using these discs successfully

it sounds like others have the same issue as me; the discs will not play in the BH200

exactly, it's not just you. I know for a fact my AVCHD DVDs are authored properly -- the BH200 just doesn't read them. Should probably PM Samsungmaster and see if they can't figure out what the problem is.

To you guys that have discs that don't work, did you verify that they work with the April firmware?

they have worked at any time since I have had this player for over a year
I know it did not work with the March/April firmware either
I also tried those discs on the Playstation then and now they work fine as well as my computer

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post this but here is what I used and it works perfectly.

I convert mkv files to AVCHD format using mkv2vob.
Set output type to AVCHD.
Set output file extension to automatic.
Set transcoding codec to x264 high bitrate.
Once done I burn using Nero Burning Rom 8.
Project type is DVD-ROM (UDF).
Under UDF tab set to manual settings.
Set file system version to 2.50.
Copy the BDMV and Certificate folders to the project and burn.
I am using TDK DVD+R DL media.
Works in both April 2008 firmware and the latest firmware released last week.

even if this worked, this is for making mkv files into AVCHD
if your original file is not MKV, then this won't work unless you convert to MKV first
this is going thru too many steps
many of these softwares have the ability to burn AVCHD disc and it does all the work for you
But these will NOT play in the Bh200

I would love to hear from other people who have taken MPG, M2TS, or other files and gotten the BH200 to play those on an AVCHD disc

I just tried Nero burning ROM 7 and chose DVD-ROM UDF, manual settings, 2.50
DID NOT work in the player, said disc error
I noticed a couple other settings
under partition type, I had Physical
under multisession, I had no multisession

let me know if I need to change the settings but the disc I burned did not work in the Bh200
these were mt2s files and I added the BDMV and Certificate folder

@Detroit1: Make sure you actually have the most recent firmware. From another thread, it's apparent you have the December 2008 firmware, and that one definitely does NOT play AVCHD of any kind. Only April 2008 firmware and reportedly the new one do play AVCHD.

The BH200 Mini-FAQ has the details on how to check your firmware version (scroll to the big "* Miscellaneous - Firmware" heading, it's directly under that).

I'm guessing yours is BH02081205A, which is the one from December 2008 (and is the most recent one on the website). BH02 is BH200 (2nd generation dual format from LG), with the remainder being the date (yymmdd format).

The fact LG hasn't yet published the new one to their website (or the March 2009 firmware either) is a big part of the confusion.

I just did a firmware update a few months ago in March
if they have the Dec 2008 one on the site, that is ridiculous
there is a March one listed on this forum

To be annoyingly redundant, March 2009 is not the same as the "new one"*. March 2009 doesn't play AVCHD either. The "new one"* reportedly does. Please check your firmware version #.

*I don't have it yet, so I don't have the version #, otherwise I'd give it more specific name. I'm assuming it'll be something like: BH020907xx though it could be BH020906. June/July 2009 firmware at any rate. :)

Yup, March 2009 is also now old hat.

To clear things up for you, detroit (if you haven't worked it out yet):

The latest one on LG's actual site is from December 2008.
There is another one from March 2009 mentioned in this forum, yes, and that one was only ever leaked here by an LG rep (never placed on LG's site and never put on the update server accessible only by the player).
The only way to get the July 2009 firmware just released last week is to update it through your player, after making sure it's connected to the Internet.

Still lost? lol

Yup, March 2009 is also now old hat.

To clear things up for you, detroit (if you haven't worked it out yet):

The latest one on LG's actual site is from December 2008.
There is another one from March 2009 mentioned in this forum, yes, and that one was only ever leaked here by an LG rep (never placed on LG's site and never put on the update server accessible only by the player).
The only way to get the July 2009 firmware just released last week is to update it through your player, after making sure it's connected to the Internet.

Still lost? lol

I'm totally lost.

To help claify the latest firware, the latest version is BH02090630A. Technically released in July, but finialized in June.

the LG people are idiots for Not putting the correct firmware on the web site
also, since there is a July update, the month is almost over, they should have put this on the site. I called them and they are sending me a disc
I am not in a position to hook it up to the internet at this point because of where the unit is. I like the normal way of putting in a USB drive or Disc and updating it; it is faster as well

AVCHD never worked for me -- not in this update, not in the April 08 firmware either. Yet these discs play properly in other BD players, the PS3, my PC, etc., so I doubt the authoring is the issue.

Samsungmaster told me some people have gotten AVCHD to work on the BH200 and others haven't, so there's clearly something not quite "right" with it, even in the firmwares that DO have it available.

I hope more people can post how they got AVCHD to work on the BH200
so far, I have only read 1 person writing in on that
I really want to get this to work

the LG people are idiots for Not putting the correct firmware on the web site
also, since there is a July update, the month is almost over, they should have put this on the site. I called them and they are sending me a disc
I am not in a position to hook it up to the internet at this point because of where the unit is. I like the normal way of putting in a USB drive or Disc and updating it; it is faster as well


I will post the latest firmware for the BH200 later today.

AVCHD never worked for me -- not in this update, not in the April 08 firmware either. Yet these discs play properly in other BD players, the PS3, my PC, etc., so I doubt the authoring is the issue.

Samsungmaster told me some people have gotten AVCHD to work on the BH200 and others haven't, so there's clearly something not quite "right" with it, even in the firmwares that DO have it available.

PS3 can play anything you throw at it even if it is not AVCHD compliant. Same story as PC. To test if your disc is AVCHD compliant, you need put on a real standalone BD player like Sony or panasonic player.

AVCHD has very strict format requirements. Check avchd-info.org for what kind of video and audio tracks are allowed on AVCHD disc.
I typically use TsMuxer to make sure the folder structure is correctly created and use ImgBurn to burn it as UDF 2.50.

To test if your disc is AVCHD compliant, you need put on a real standalone BD player like Sony or panasonic player.

As I've already written twice in this thread, I have. I tried them on a Panasonic BD30 and a cheapo Memorex 2511. They all work on BOTH players.

I had AVCHD working on my BH200 immediately after upgrading to the new firmware. I was using the AVSHD709 calibration disk (for Bluray) burned to DVD and it came up quickly and everything worked perfect.

However, after I went into the setup menu and changed everything to my preferences (Film mode, 1080p, primary pass through), then I could not get the disc to work again. It got stuck on 'reading' every time. I did not go back and test each setting, but perhaps this is something that others can test to see if one of these settings is causing the AVCHD discs to freeze and not load.

My problem isn't that they freeze, but that the BH200 reads them as DATA discs despite having the proper structure. :confused: Again, they work in standalone players.

Try the AVSHD calibration disc posted on this site(you can search for the link in avsforum). It is an ISO file and see if it works for you. This ISO file is proven to be compatible with all AVCHD players.

Try the AVSHD calibration disc posted on this site(you can search for the link in avsforum). It is an ISO file and see if it works for you. This ISO file is proven to be compatible with all AVCHD players.
Tried the AVCHD iso of AVSHD v1.3...and no dice. Attempted burns with ImgBurn 2.4.4 on the following:
- DVD+R - changed book type to DVD-ROM
- DVD+R - no change of book type
- DVD-R

In each case, the BH200 deemed it a "Data" disc. FWIW, BH200 firmware is 02090630A.

Is there a crucial setting in ImgBurn that's commonly overlooked? Or is the new BH200 firmware still unable to play AVCHD?

I have not problem playing my discs. However I need to state that I am using BluRay format on DVD. A handy little program called tsMuxer to make the file into BluRay format and then Nero (changing the settings to UDF 2.5) to burn. I've not had an issue with Mpeg2 or Mpeg4 video.

The HDMV version of the AVS HD 709 DOES in fact work. Burned the folders with Imgburn (UDF) and the BH200 plays it properly as a Blu-Ray disc.

The AVCHD iso didn't work -- but the HDMV version does (specifically, this version: http://www.sendspace.com/file/43et9a)

As others have suggested, I will try producing a Blu-Ray disc (with a DVD) instead of an AVCHD disc with the multiavchd program and see how that goes.

Well it worked -- being burned as a BLU RAY disc, as opposed to AVCHD, the disc plays. :) That seems to be the trick here anyway...

Interesting. Thanks for the extra info 2shave and the confirmation DM2006RI.

Course "BD format on DVD" raises another question...do these discs work in other BD players too? I'll try it out in any case.

Thanks again!

oilblue -- you're welcome.

My problem now is that the DVD discs I'm producing with this method have obvious "juddering" problems. The source itself is 1080i (ts files), and I've tried two different programs (tsmuxer and multiavchd) with this same file, but both produce the same result: DVDs with obvious "juddering" issues whenever the camera pans (i.e. herky-jerky movements) on the BH200. It's basically unwatchable. This time the discs have the same juddering issues on my other BD player, so it's not the BH200 that's the problem.

However, these files when burned as AVCHD play fine on my other BD standalone, and the .ts files themselves (when played back on my media "network tank" Popcorn Hour) have no such issues.

So again I'm stuck as to why I can't get this to work!! UGHHH!! :o If anyone has any suggestions as to how I can fix this problem, by all means let me know.

For DM2006RI
If the files are Mpeg 2, then you can use videoRedo to stripe them to their elementary streams (audio/video) and then import those streams to tsmuxer. I've had that issue once or twice but they usually play on the bh200 fine but not the other players.
If they are Mpeg 4 then use Mpeg Streamclip for get the files to their elementary streams (You need to load the file in a round about way: instead of loading the file, go to the list and select batch list then add files. Select Demux to M2V and AC3. and check Fix Timecode breaks and do not skip any frame. Then you can import the two streams into tsmuxer. If you are like me and importing certain files captured from a certain satellite provider then note that those files are really 1088i and not 1080i. So the play back can be "shaky" on certain players that do not allow for files outside the standard range. The BH200 does not have issue with this but sony players (aside from the ps3) will not play files properly that are not 720p, 1080i,or 1080p. They don't work for weird sizes like 1088i.

For Oilblue.

You're welcome. The BD on DVD has worked on every player that I've tried that supports AVCHD. However as stated above I've had issues with shaky playback on SONY players when the source file is not standard size. You can always use Xilisoft HD converter to adjust the size from 1088 to 1080, but then you change the compression of the file and they generally will no longer fit on a normal DVD. Sometimes they will still fit on a DL-DVD, but usually the resulting file is too big for even that. That is one reason I love the BH200. I can fit a 1088i movie recorded of satellite, that is Mpeg4 compressed onto a normal dvd and watch it back in HD clarity. I can't do that with my sony blu-ray.

2shave: can't thank you enough for the response. I'm going to give that a try -- and yes, my files are H264 recordings from "a certain sattelite provider." ;)

2shave: can't thank you enough for the response. I'm going to give that a try -- and yes, my files are H264 recordings from "a certain sattelite provider." ;)

You're welcome. You should be set now for everything. If you need more details just ask.

You're welcome. You should be set now for everything. If you need more details just ask.

2shave, isn't H264 using 16x16 macro blocks? If so 1080 doesn't fit where 1088 does. I'd think that all 1080 would be on 16 row boundries (ie 1088) but I don't have any experience with those streams.

I have a feeling you guys are talking about the "other" HD streams than I get.

You're welcome. You should be set now for everything. If you need more details just ask.

IT WORKS!! 2shave you are a magician. If only I knew that before I went through a stack of DVD dual layer discs trying to get this to work! lol.

The quality is just phenomenal. Looks even better than the original stream playing off the Popcorn Hour. Very, very satisfied -- finally! :)

2shave, isn't H264 using 16x16 macro blocks? If so 1080 doesn't fit where 1088 does. I'd think that all 1080 would be on 16 row boundries (ie 1088) but I don't have any experience with those streams.

I have a feeling you guys are talking about the "other" HD streams than I get.

Not sure about the sizing. I just know what works and my theory (from experience) as to why the sizes don't work on Sony players.

As for the streams, the major Canadian provider transmits Mpeg2 at 720p. The American provider that advertises that it is cheaper then the other US provider transmits HD as Mpeg4 at 1088i. If I convert the 1088i file to 1080i then it will work on the Sony players, but the 1088i files don't play back properly. They appear to be to larger to display properly and make the screen roll.

Over the Air transmitted files (such as your local FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS channels for example) will broadcast either 720p or true 1080i. Both Mpeg2 encoded. These file look amazing when you put them on BluRay-DVD as they have much less compression then and Satellite provider. The "down" side though is that they are much larger (usually needing DL-DVD) since they have less compression.

IT WORKS!! 2shave you are a magician. If only I knew that before I went through a stack of DVD dual layer discs trying to get this to work! lol.

The quality is just phenomenal. Looks even better than the original stream playing off the Popcorn Hour. Very, very satisfied -- finally! :)

Thanks. Glad it works for you as well as it works for me. Just consider the wasted disks part of the costs of testing. I've learn much and wasted alot. I'm pretty satisfied now.

I tried to burn the blu-ray files on a regular DVD using Nero 8 ROM and also with Imgburn
when I play the disc on the BH200, it starts playing but the Video is not smooth; it is hesitating every couple seconds so that also affects the audio; it is not watchable
I am wondering what software people are using to get this to work and play smoothly
I know I burned the disc right because the BH200 recognizes it and starts playing but not smoothly
please do post what softwares you are using