DIY: Sony BDP-S360 Region Free Using Harmony remote, programmed manually

gertsen

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I got tired of waiting in line for the shared login to get the settings for my harmony remote, so I started reading forums on how to program the Harmony Remote manually.

Turns out it's not as impossible as you might think, it's just not very user friendly.

I will here outline how I did it, using my Harmony 525 remote.
Since this is reconstructed partly from my memory, it may not be 100% accurate, but with alittle faith it should be possible for anyone to do the same.
From I started searching forums til now took about two hours, so it's far from impossible...


First start by creating an account using the Logitech Harmony Software.
I recommend making a new account, if using an existing account I recommend deleting all activities and devices before starting.

Start out by adding a DVD player: Sony BDG-S360
It will automaticially be named "Dvd"

Then add another identical DVD player, it will be named "Dvd 2" (No, you don't accually need to own 5 physical players!)

Make sure you finish adding each player one at a time, instead of adding all 5 in one go.
If you add all 5 players in one go, the program will change it into one single composite device, and that will not work for this purpose.


Releat 3 more times, untill you have "Dvd", "Dvd 2", "Dvd 3", "Dvd 4" and "Dvd 5" added.

The reason you need 5 DVD players created, is because the website we're going to use next can only create one command for each device, and we need 5 commands.
If you try to add more commands to one device, it will just overwrite the previously created command for that device.
So 5 players are critical!

Now go to logitechs online webinterface and login using your harmony account created earlier:

http://members.harmonyremote.com
(If it says it found a software update, just click next...)

Now go to the "Secret" Infrared page:
Logitech® Harmony® Member Web (members.HarmonyRemote.com)

Click the "Select an active device" link, and select "Dvd"
Click the "Manual" button

There are now 3 input-fields you can enter text into, click on the last one "Data Value:" (Below "Pronto") and copy/paste in the following codes:
0000 0068 0000 0015 0060 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 01AE
Click Process
It will show some more codes, telling you it was successfully converted - Click Next

Now type "Hack 1" in the "Name:" field, and click the "Add" button.
It will now tell you that the command was added successfully. Click Next

Now click on the "Current Device:" link - Should say "Sony DVD (BDP-S360)"
It will show you a list of your five DVD players, click "Dvd 2"
Now Click "Manual" again, but this time enter the following codes:
0000 0068 0000 0015 0060 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 01F6
Save this command as "Hack 2"

Continue untill you have created all 5 "Hack-codes", here are the final 3 sets of codes:
Sony Code 3:
0000 0068 0000 0015 0060 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 01F6
(Save on "Dvd 3" as "Hack 3")

Sony Code 4:
0000 0068 0000 0015 0060 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 01C6
(Save on "Dvd 4" as "Hack 4")

Sony Code 5:
0000 0068 0000 0015 0060 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 020E
(Save on "Dvd 5" as "Hack 5")



Now you're done on the website, all five commands have been created.



Back in the Logitech Harmony software, create a new acticity, choose to manually add the activity.
Type of activity: Utility
- (Then choose "Generic Activity", the only choice available under Utility)

Now add all five DVD players to the activity (Click Add next to each of them, one at a time)

Click Save

It will now show you a list of settings, it should look like this:
Device Status / Actions
Sony Dvd Sony Dvd is on
Sony Dvd 2 Sony Dvd 2 is on
Sony Dvd 3 Sony Dvd 3 is on
Sony Dvd 4 Sony Dvd 4 is on
Sony Dvd 5 Sony Dvd 5 is on
Other All other devices are off
Choose "Yes, but I want to add more control of options and devices for this Activity." and press Next

You should now be shown a list of actions that are to occur whenever the activity starts or stops.
It should be empty by now.
In the top half (actions that should occur when activity is started) choose "Dvd" and click "Add"
Choose "Send this infrared Command" and from the dropdown-box select "Hack 1" (Should be the last on the list). Click Next

Now select "Dvd" again, and click "Add"

This time choose Send this infrared delay: "1 second". Click next.
(This one second delay between commands is VERY important, this will NOT work without it!)

Now Select "Dvd 2", and click "Add"
Choose "Send this infrared Command" and from the dropdown-box choose "Hack 2". Click Next
Now Select "Dvd 2" again, and click "Add"
Choose Send this infrared delay: "1 second". Click next.

Now Select "Dvd 3", and click "Add"
Choose "Send this infrared Command" and from the dropdown-box choose "Hack 3". Click Next
Now Select "Dvd 3" again, and click "Add"
Choose Send this infrared delay: "1 second". Click next.

Now Select "Dvd 4", and click "Add"
Choose "Send this infrared Command" and from the dropdown-box choose "Hack 4". Click Next
Now Select "Dvd 4" again, and click "Add"
Choose Send this infrared delay: "1 second". Click next.

Now Select "Dvd 5", and click "Add"
Choose "Send this infrared Command" and from the dropdown-box choose "Hack 5". Click Next
Now Select "Dvd 5" again, and click "Add"
Choose Send this infrared delay: "1 second". Click next.


When done click "Save"

It will now show you a list of settings, it should look like this:
Device Status / Actions
Sony Dvd Sony Dvd is on
Sony Dvd 2 Sony Dvd 2 is on
Sony Dvd 3 Sony Dvd 3 is on
Sony Dvd 4 Sony Dvd 4 is on
Sony Dvd 5 Sony Dvd 5 is on
Other All other devices are off
Sony Dvd "Hack 1" command is sent to the Sony Dvd
Sony Dvd The remote pauses for 1000 milliseconds
Sony Dvd 2 "Hack 2" command is sent to the Sony Dvd 2
Sony Dvd 2 The remote pauses for 1000 milliseconds
Sony Dvd 3 "Hack 3" command is sent to the Sony Dvd 3
Sony Dvd 3 The remote pauses for 1000 milliseconds
Sony Dvd 4 "Hack 4" command is sent to the Sony Dvd 4
Sony Dvd 4 The remote pauses for 1000 milliseconds
Sony Dvd 5 "Hack 5" command is sent to the Sony Dvd 5
Choose "Yes, theese settings are correct" and click Next
Click Done

Optional: Click the "Settings" button next to the newly created "General Acticity" and choose "Rename General Activity" and rename it to "Sony Hack!" or whatever....


Click "Update remote" and wait for the remote to be programmed.
now you're done programming the remote!


Now go and turn on your TV and the Sony BDP-S360.
Wait untill you see the home screen on your TV, and make sure there are no discs in the drive, and that the drive is closed.
Now aim the remote at the DVD player, I recommend keeping a distance of about two meters, you be the judge of that..
Now press the new activity button, should be named either "General Activity" or "Sony Hack!" or whatever you called it.
Keep aiming the remote at the DVD player for at least 10-15 seconds.
The remote will blink alittle while it's working...

When the remote stops working, the DVD player should start blinking the blue light above the disc-drive - this means everything worked.
Now try inserting a DVD with a region-code you couldn't play before - it should now play!

Once you are satisfied everything is ok, turn the player off, and disconnect the power.
Then plug back the power and everything is good now.
(This last step is to stop the blue light from blinking while the player is turned on...)


Enjoy region free DVD playback on your Sony BDP-S360!


Disclaimer:
I tried this on my own Sony DBD-S360 player using a Logitech Harmony 525 remote and it worked!
I don't know if it works when you try it, and I don't offer any support in getting it to work.
From what I read elsewhere, this should work for the following players too, but I can't verify that myself:
SONY
PAL Models Only
BDP-S350
BDP-S550
BDP-S5000ES
DAV-DZ30
DAV-IS50
(that's the home theatre with tiny speakers and wireless rear speakers)
BDP-S760

PANASONIC
PAL Models Only
DMP-BD30
DMP-BD50
DMP-BD35
DMP-BD55
DMP-BD60
DMP-BD80



PIONEER
PAL Models only
BDP-LX91
BDP-LX71
BDP-51FD
DV-410V-K


Incompatible
SONY BDP-S300

Sources:
 
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Reading all that I'm so glad I bought a One-For-All remote instead to hack the BDP-S360, it was much easier with far fewer steps than the Harmony.

Nevertheless, it's probably a great post for Harmony users :thumbsup:
 
Reading all that I'm so glad I bought a One-For-All remote instead to hack the BDP-S360, it was much easier with far fewer steps than the Harmony.
I think the main problem is that the Harmony Software doesnt allow you to enter hex-codes directly :-(
 
I take it you cant save these commands into a file? Eg like an import/export thing? Would save us v lazy people.

So far I have not found any way of exporting or importing theese settings or commands.
I guess that's that main reason for the account-sharing threads in the first place?

If there is a way to export and someone tells me how, I will gladly save a copy of my remote's settings.
 
Reading all that I'm so glad I bought a One-For-All remote instead to hack the BDP-S360, it was much easier with far fewer steps than the Harmony.

Nevertheless, it's probably a great post for Harmony users :thumbsup:

I have a harmony 525 remote and the above does look like a lot of work to hack the sony,you say you have the one for all remote,which one? and how did you do it with that or what did you do to hack your sony,i am thinking of getting one just for the hack,but maybe to save money as i have the harmony 525 is to use that,but which model of one for all did you use and how easy as i seen two in argos one is on offer too.

One For All 6 Way Remote Control.
535/6209

One For All 5 Way Comfort Remote Control.
534/7892

i wonder what is the difference on the above two as one says comfort which is almost double in price the other one is half price
 
I have a harmony 525 remote and the above does look like a lot of work to hack the sony,you say you have the one for all remote,which one? and how did you do it with that or what did you do to hack your sony,i am thinking of getting one just for the hack,but maybe to save money as i have the harmony 525 is to use that,but which model of one for all did you use and how easy as i seen two in argos one is on offer too.

One For All 6 Way Remote Control.
535/6209

One For All 5 Way Comfort Remote Control.
534/7892

i wonder what is the difference on the above two as one says comfort which is almost double in price the other one is half price

I used this one from Amazon (URC 7950) and it worked fine. I think most OneForAll remotes will do the job. The hack for the BDP-S360 is the same as the BDP-S350 and is detailed here. If you search these forums for BDP-S360 hack you will find further threads.
 
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still hope someone can tell me on the two i mentioned from argos which one is best and if the link you provided works with this remote,i have no idea what model numbers them are in argos.
I do have a harmony 525 and i suppose i could use that instead of buying an extra remote,just wondered if anyone else has also got a one4all instead of using there harmony
 
still hope someone can tell me on the two i mentioned from argos which one is best
This thread is about using the Harmony remote to make the player region free for DVD playback.
Could we please stay on topic, and take unrelated topics elsewhere (make a new thread perhaps??).
 
Worked a treat, cheers mate :smashin:

Created a new account, and used my old 525 (now got a 785) to do it. Top Tips - You need to exit the "add a new device" section each time, or it'll combine the devices into one and then it can't/ won't work.
 
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Many thanks for taking the trouble to put all this down, OP. I'm going to program the hack onto my old 525 and I'll report back once I'm done.

EDIT: Done, and worked! Took about 15 minutes from start to successfully hacked!

Thanks again, gertsen. :thumbsup: :smashin:
 
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Is there any "security" reason why one of us who's done this shouldn't post the Harmony username and password we set up here? Or offer it to other members via PM?

It would mean anyone who wanted to apply this hack via their Harmony could just log in using our details, and load the hack activity onto their remote.

Just a thought, to save people time..?
 
Easier way (involves adding just one extra device, instead of using 5, and one extra activity) -

Add a computer device, select -not listed- as manufacturer, put "MultiRegionHack" as in the manufacturer dialog box, and "SonyBDP-SXXX" as the model.

Try to skip everything, there's no need to assign any buttons codes.

Now you should be able to enter the Codes above for this device in the infrared page. Otherwise, you may be able to enter the Pronto codes if you use Linux and Congruity (I don't know about the Windows client).

For each code, name it H1 to H5, similar to instructions above. You do no need to create separate devices, you can just add them to the same device (MultiRegionHack Computer).

Then create a new activity, manual, Utility, Generic Activity.

Add only the "MultiRegionHack" Computer to the activity. Save.

Then select "Yes, but I want to add more control of options and devices for this Activity."

Select Save, then you will get to the "Please review the actions for your Generic Activity Activity:" page

You will need to create the following actions when the entering the activity -

1 Computer Send "H1" command to the device
2 Computer The remote pauses for 1000 milliseconds
3 Computer Send "H2" command to the device
4 Computer The remote pauses for 1000 milliseconds
5 Computer Send "H3" command to the device
6 Computer The remote pauses for 1000 milliseconds
7 Computer Send "H4" command to the device
8 Computer The remote pauses for 1000 milliseconds
9 Computer Send "H5" command to the device

Save and rename the activity "MultiRegion Hack". Update the remote.

Now turn your BD player on, wait for home screen and select the "MultiRegion Hack" activity. Blue lights should blink afterwards. All done.
 
Works like a charm!!! Did it for the Pioneer LX91 - easier because it only has one step. Many, many thanks for your help on this. Saved me a heck of a lot of trouble!!
 
Thank you for this. It was easy to implement, and worked perfectly. Now, if only the industry could get its ass in order and drop this ridiculous ********, everyone would be so much happier.

I used:
Logitech Harmony 785
Sony BDP-S363
 
Thanks for posting the raw IR codes. I've just put them into my Pronto (TSU96'00) and used them to 'multi-region' a S360 that I've got for my father. It's saved me the hassle of taking the available CCF and importing it into PEP1 (which I'd have needed to reinstall on my PC).

John
 
:thumbsup:
Worked fine with Harmony 900 and Sony BDP-S363 as well.
Just a tip to add in the Harmony tool that you should use your TV, receiver etc as well so they won't get turned off when doing this.
 
Thanks gertsen - your steps worked on a Sony DAV-IS10 with a Harmony 895 remote!

(btw I didn't need to unplug (no flashing blue light anyway), but it was important to power down the device using the original remote after using the hack on the Harmony)
 
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Fantastic worked a treat, much less hassle than waiting for someone to login! Many thanks for all your great work!

J.
 
:lease:

I have a Harmony 525 and I am trying to program it to Multiregion my Sony S360.

You say in your instuction to go to the "Secret" Infrared page, but I cannot find the "Secret" Infrared page.

I am logged into my Harmony Members Web I can not find any reference and the search brings up nothing.

Can you help "Please"
 
Hi,

Keyed this hack last night on my new Sony BDP-S370 using a Harmony 525, not as complicated as it initially looks and worked like a dream.

Got hundreds of US DVD's so this option was always important to me.

Thanks for posting!

John
 
Hi , I have the blueray model Sony BDV-IS1000, I read in some forums, that the code to unlock it is the same code that the code for unlock the model BDP-360, I tried the instruction from your post, but only my Buray is turned off, but when I turned on, nothing happen :(, Do you know if I need to try any other way ?
Regards,
Diego
 
I can confirm it's working for German BDP S370 with Harmony 515. Thanks sooo much!!!!
 

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