Customer service disappointment

[Bernard Barnett]

When my DV88+ died (subsequently found to be because of a blown internal fuse), my dealer sent it to Arcam for repair. It was away for a month, which I thought was quite a long time, and when it came back all my settings had been removed and the factory defaults restored - meaning, for instance, that if you connect straight away via component you won't get a picture; you have to connect via scart, then opt for component in the menus, then put in your component cable. Of course this isn't a big deal - although the manual doesn't give you any guidance on this - but it's annoying, especially if you've forgotten what you have to do and are confronted with a blank screen when you switch on. More infuriating, however, is the fact that the machine has been un-hacked and now won't play region 1. Does anyone know of a remote hack or am I going to have to lug it back to my dealer?

[highlanders]

Hi
Have a look Here
just tried and it may be down so try latter.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

For future users here's a tip:

When set to factory default of RGB out and you need to see on screen menu's to change to component out etc do this. Plug Y lead of YPrPb in to composite video output. You will now get a fuzzy image that is fully navigable on screen.

To make region free do this.

OPen drawer then press
1
1
1
1 and 4 * should now be on screen.

Then press
1
3
for multi region

Gordon

[Bernard Barnett]

Thank you!

[Bernard Barnett]

An update. Gordon, I'm afraid your method didn't work for me. Highlanders, the link you kindly gave is still down so I haven't been able to access it. However, my dealer has supplied the fix: 1 - go to set-up menu; 2 - key in 4792. This brings up the service menu. The first item is the region enabler. 3 - scroll down to Auto and select OK. 4 - Power off the player. When you switch on again region 1 is enabled.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

What part of my method doesn't work?

If you type "1","3" after the 4 ones it's region free
if you type "0", "1" after the 4 ones it's region 1 specific
"0", "2" and it's region 2 specific

The composite in to Y channel should work fine as well.

Pehaps Arcam have chnaged the method to region free their units, i n which case sorry!

Gordon

[highlanders]

Hi
I've just tried the link and it seems that it's unavailable or worse it’s gone, I hope not so does anyone have a link to the unofficial Arcam FAQ that works?

[robocop]

A tip for you.
If your machine is set to component when you start it up, and you want to use scart,press and hold the "stop" button for about 3 seconds. You will then get a display with a "green tint" in the video settings menu. Simply scroll down and change the output to RGB scart. Job done.

As far as the region hack,here's a cut and paste I did.

To change this unit to a specific region
1. Press the Open/Close button on your remote control to open the drive tray
2. Press the buttons 1, 1, 1 and then 1 on your remote control, in order, one at at time
3. Press the button 01 on your remote control to select Region 1, or 02 to select Region 2, and so on, or enter 13 to select Region Free
4. The word Region and then the number you selected should briefly appear on screen to confirm that the hack has been successful
To change this unit to a specific region if the above does not work
1. Press the Setup on the remote control
2. A setup menu should now be displayed
3. Press the buttons 4, 7, 9 and 2 on the remote control, in order, one at a time
4. Using the Left and Right keys on your remote control, change the region to 1 for region 1, 2 for region 2, and so on
4. Exit the setup menu

HTH

[Bernard Barnett]

Gordon, I'm afraid I don't know which bit didn't work - it just didn't! I understand my player received a software update while it was at the factory, so maybe the method has changed. Kevin, the set-up/4792 method works fine - thank you.

[Matt Horne]

What version of the software are u on ? Latest I have is 4.12.0

And the 1111 method works fine (defo set it to 13 so yuou never have to worry about regions again )

I also always found the RGB to work even when its set to Component anyhow.. it just appears on screen with a green tinge until you set it back !

Cheers

Matt

[Bernard Barnett]

I'm afraid I don't know the software version. The 1111 fix didn't work but the 4792 one did. And I obviously didn't make the point about component clearly enough - when you first operate the player from new (or factory reset to default), you will get no picture - and hence no menu - if you've only got your component cables connected. You have to connect via scart and then select component from the menus. As I've already complained, you only find this out through trial and error as the manual doesn't offer any guidance (hint to Arcam if the manuals ever get reprinted!).