LG BH200: Mini-FAQ + Firmware Info (TrueHD 7.1, DTS-HD, 24p) + SD DVD Multiregion! - Page 27

Wow, ordered my second BH200 from Crutchfield yesterday and it shipped... glad I did!

I read the mini-FAQ and I still have two questions:

I recently order a new BH200 from crutchfield, if I connect this new bh200 to internet and update the firmware, does it work or do I need to make a firmware update using CD/USB to enable ethernet updates?

if the update using ethernet works just opened, does it update to the 2008-04-02 firmware??

Thanks in advance.

Most likely, it'll have the 701 firmware and u'll have to update it to 702 before the network is enabled for firmware update through network? I'm not sure if it's the firmware or the driver that enables network updates.

Nice to know u can change region manually, but a little "risky" to do on a regular basis. hopfully someone finds a "region X" setting soon.

I found another pretty good deal for the BH200...almost, but not quite, as good as the Crutchfield deal. Anyway, Circuit City has the BH200 on sale for $499 here, then visit this site and click through to get an additional 7% off. The discount will appear in Step 3 of the checkout process (before your order is finalized).

The circuit city link doesnt work.

Well, it works for me. Another way to get there is to click on the second link, click through to the Circuit City website, then search CircuitCity.com for "BH200".

Well I have tried numerous times to download Region Management Test Mode hack every time I get the main zip downloaded when I unzip it contains the main folder RMTM000, instr., and the sample pic, but when I click on properties to check the file it says 0. What am I going wrong I have tried both links. The other link just download the main file but again its empty. Can any one help? Thanks Tom

Ok got it, the first cd was a bad burn, what confused me was that the first file said zero but kpjc19_1.dvd was right, so when the first disc didn't take I figured there was something missing in the files, I just reburned and Viola! it works great. I just got the player today and did all the firmware, driver and hack update I love this player, I have the PS3 (wont bitstream), and the Sammy 5000 which I found useless unless they release an update. But this Player does it all and can play my region 1,2,3, and 4 discs too. Thanks bradavon for your quick response and help. Tom

I did the network update over ethernet from the March to April version. It took a few days after the April version had been out before it showed up as available on the update screen however.

thank you bradvon, badwilly and pobf, I expect my bh200 to arrive next May 30-31

I've had the SuperBlu hooked up for a week now and I think it's great!
I like the cool sounds, the light show it provides on start-up, the FW and driver updates went quick and flawless.

It's played everything I've stuck in it (HD, BD, STD and DVD+R) with no problems except one: When using the 'disk enabled' zoom feature on The Matrix HD DVD, it froze twice and had to press the 'Home' button to escape. I don't have much of a problem with this personally.

I like how you can step frame by frame. I couldn't see how to get my Tosh A30 to do that.

I think I got the last sealed boxed unit from FS in my area. They are now selling the display model for $399. They don't sell display models unless they know they are not receiving anymore stock! I'm glad I got it when I did! 3 free BD came with mine at $499.

I also have 2 UP5000's. I got the first one at the same time as the BH200 and set them up side by side and attached them to my system. I am set up as follows:

TV:Samsung LN-T4069F
Receiver:Yamaha YSP-900 Sound Bar (DTS, DD 5.1, etc.)
Video to TV:HDMI
Audio to Receiver: Optical (SPDIF)

I sampled The Matrix: Reloaded in 3 formats (HD, STD and burnt on DVD+R) in both machines. The PQ on both the BH200 and UP5K were great with no real discernible differences to my eye (which is what counts in my house)!
The sound was great on both also accept, of course, when I tried to force TrueHD on the disk menu, the LG accepted it no problem (re-encode to DTS) but the Sammy popped up a screen that said something like "your machine cannot decode this option..."
I also sampled Die Hard 4 (BD) on both machines with the same results as above.

I chose to keep the LG hooked up to the system for now because of its ability to re-encode the TrueHD track to DTS, its cool light display, BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE IT WAS QUIETER THAN THE UP5K. The Sammy had a louder fan and the moving parts inside were noticeably noiser than the LG. Also, for some reason the Sammy froze up when trying to upgrade FW from CD. I had to shut down the unit and it then upgraded through Ethernet OK but took about 35 minutes to complete.

In summary, I feel that I am set with keeping my collection of movies active on any TV in the house using only 1 player at a time (especially after we get the FW update from Sammy). I wanted a combo player ever since the were first made available but not for what they originally cost! Now I have 3 machines for the price of 1.

Thank you all for your comments in this forum as it has helped me a lot!

Regards,

DetectiveJ

Question for anyone. If I purchase a Region B locked title and the Amazon page lists it as PAL. Does PAL even come into play with BD media, I know it would with SDs.

As far as I know NTSC and PAL are a non-issue with high definition media. It uses 1080 horizontal lines of resolution in all countries.

Yeah, don't worry about Amazon, it often doesn't know what it's talking about with HD (eg it lists Blu-rays as Region 1).

Then Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill Vol. 1 @ 2 will look damn good on my machine this fall from Amazon.uk. Thanks guy!!

At most PAL *might* affect SD extras on BD or HD DVD. I don't have a Region B BD though so I can't confirm. Other in here can clarify I'm sure (TIA).

Main point is, anything HD on either BD or HD DVD disc is completely free from PAL/NTSC differences (well, in theory anyway...like I said...no BD to actually verify ).

That is not entirely true. USA is 720P/60 only and UK players generally support 720P/50 as well as 720P/60. I cant think of anything but test patterns that use 720P/50 yet but I suspect they will come eventually. 720P/60 discs are very rare.

Much more common are 1080I/50 discs that most USA players cant play. UK BDs from EIV generally use this format. The format is used by European HD broadcasters because they need to synch HD broadcasts with existing PAL SD broadcasts.

Thanks for clarifying Krobar. So that means 1080p is the only source material safe from regional broadcast standards?

Just updated my player to the latest driver version over ethernet. I had done the firmware update by CDROM a while back. Time to go test this puppy again with the movies I have. I have been quite impressed so far.

I need to borrow some BD's from a friend so I can compare PQ to my PS3. I think blacks might look better on the PS3, but I need to run both players at the same time to decide.

All in all though, eliminating the HEAT and the NOISE of the PS3 for BD playback, and eliminating a second player for HDDVD playback has made this player a very worthwhile investment.... Especially considering I paid $53 for a Tosh XA2 which I sold for $450, and replaced for $399 with this player.

One more thing on the to-do list. I have an Integra 9.8, and I did get some popping on Golden Compass when Bitstreaming DTS-HD MA. I think that can be rectified with a firmware update to the Integra.

Once that is done, I will really be able to sit down and spend some quality time with this player!

Yeah I figured Id be safe and Import those 3 from Amazon UK just in case us in the US don't get our releases till 2009 at least I'll have them. I'll get a chance to try out the hack real soon though (possibly) as I've pre-ordered the new Stones BD from Amazon France. I know about European SDs and PAL as I own one HD DVD which is the German Import of the movie Crank with has the bonus so called "FU" disk in PAL SD.