Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

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AndyDursin
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Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#1 Post by AndyDursin »

Similar to the Insignia, this player does region free with a remote hack. It does literally nothing else (there's no online connection for it), but if you want a cheap player for region-free capability, this will do the trick:

Seiki Blu-ray™ Player SR212S
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 89026169-2
With the player on, press "set up" on the remote.

Then punch in 8520 on the remote and a menu will pop up.

They'll be a box at the bottom right for the region coding of dvds and another for blu-rays.

With the remote, punch in 0 for dvd. This will make it region free.

For blu-rays, punch in 1 for region A, 2 for region B and 4 for region C (Haven't tried these yet).

Once you're done, press set up. That simple. As already mentioned, you'll have to change the region coding for blu-rays everytime you change over.

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Paul MacLean
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#2 Post by Paul MacLean »

This plays Blu-rays from every region, not just DVDs?

Any idea on how well this player is built, longevity, etc.?

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AndyDursin
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#3 Post by AndyDursin »

Right, it's one of the rare players does both.

In terms of how its built -- well, it's a bargain player from China. The only way this gets around the Blu-Ray region spec is because it's flying under the radar. That said, you can scroll through some of the message board posts like this and most people seem to be quite happy with it --

http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=216607

The Seiki and the Insignia you own are basically the only options you have unless you want to spend $500 for an Oppo. It won't change either because the licensing requirement for Blu-Rays mandates that they're locked for a specific region. (Though I do have a Panasonic that'll play most out of region Blu-Rays, just not the PAL 1080i50 ones -- but it cost $100).

Really you should just bring your Insignia down on your next visit and I can put the firmware in it that'll enable it. It's essentially the same player as the Seiki (with the added benefit of Netflix and such, which the Seiki doesn't do), and the code that opens up the other regions functions the same way (numeric code you put in each time you want to watch a disc from a non-US region).

The Seiki is basically a bargain-end player you'd use for out of market Blu-Rays and DVDs...it has no internet capabilities, it doesn't even have sound outputs beyond HDMI (if you need optical audio out for an older receiver, you're stuck)....so if you're not interested in the region free angle, there are much better and better-constructed name brand players on the market for the same price.

John Johnson
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#4 Post by John Johnson »

London. Greatest City in the world.

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AndyDursin
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#5 Post by AndyDursin »


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Monterey Jack
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#6 Post by Monterey Jack »

Which Insignia players are region-unlockable? Mine is an NS-BDLIVE1 model.

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AndyDursin
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#7 Post by AndyDursin »

Certain models running certain firmware from 2010. If you've updated the player since then, it won't work...and I'm not sure that model does it. I think it's the later machines.

Check this thread --

http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=190357

mkaroly
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#8 Post by mkaroly »

I was thinking of buying something like this at some point:



Do you have any recommendations about manufacturers Andy?

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Monterey Jack
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#9 Post by Monterey Jack »

Anyone know where to get the Seiki player? By the time I had enough to get the $60 model, it was no longer on the Sears website. :evil:

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Monterey Jack
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#10 Post by Monterey Jack »

Would anyone recommend this?

http://www.world-import.com/Sony-BDP-S1 ... any-TV.htm

Really need a region-free player (ordered some Arrow titles), and this seems fairly idiot-proof, even if it's more than I'd really like to spend.

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AndyDursin
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#11 Post by AndyDursin »

That looks pretty decent. Can't vouch for the merchant though...they have OK ratings?

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Monterey Jack
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#12 Post by Monterey Jack »

I have no idea about the merchant, but the website was linked to from another message board I trust.

I think I'm gonna go for it after my next paycheck.

sprocket
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#13 Post by sprocket »

There is also these guys. Never dealt with them though.

http://www.220-electronics.com/region-f ... ayers.html

John Johnson
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#14 Post by John Johnson »

Monterey Jack wrote:Would anyone recommend this?

http://www.world-import.com/Sony-BDP-S1 ... any-TV.htm

Really need a region-free player (ordered some Arrow titles), and this seems fairly idiot-proof, even if it's more than I'd really like to spend.
I have ordered from this company, as it was pretty local to me. I had an LG BD-640. The player worked well for about 6 months, then I noticed it started to making whirring noises, trying to access the different regions. Funnily enough, I only ever had this problem trying to watch blu rays. The DVDs were fine. When it came to getting my replacement player, I decided to go with Bombay Electronics. I got a Samsung BD-5700 player, which has been fine.
London. Greatest City in the world.

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AndyDursin
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Re: Seiki Region-Free Blu-Ray Player $60 @ Sears

#15 Post by AndyDursin »

Might be worth paying a little bit more and buying from Bombay. What about the Orei on Amazon? That was $125 the last time I checked.

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