Samsung forum: Mode Not Supported on Samsung TV?

Thanks for your comment.

How come the output resolution of the DVD player cannot be accepted by the TV if it is one of the standard resolutions? Sorry, but I'm just trying to understand what is going on here. Google has been my friend, but I've got nowhere.

Unfortunately I live in the mountains and don't drive so cannot just pop to the shops to look for a region free DVD player and I don't know anyone who has one. In fact my DVD player came from England on my last trip back.
If a player is region free so will play region 2 discs, how does it work if they're PAL? Does it not output a PAL signal? What about 50 Hz / 60 Hz - does this have a bearing?

Do TVs still have a PAL/NTSC distinction? Can I buy a "region free" TV?

I tried the Samsung online support and their phone line - should be renamed no support as they're not interested.

Is there a way to convert the signal from the DVD player for the TV?

We use a region free or "world player" and avoid copy protected links like HDMI. I found it surprising to find Amazon.com to have such things now. I bet Amazon.ca has them too.

I can't guess why it worked before but it's a well discussed topic and as you discovered the big name makers must "OBEY" the regions and more. I hope you can figure that much out.
Bob

So I've been googling to find converters from PAL to NTSC. There seems to be a choice at varying prices where I can input my DVD's PAL 50Hz HDMI signal and output an NTSC 60Hz HDMI signal to the TV.

I don't want to buy a new DVD player as this one isn't a year old yet so this is my next thing to try.

You seem to think the new HDCP system can be defeated. I shared above that I have seen this and a little bit about what we know but I don't think you understand that the makers are not going to offer ways to get around the regions and more. In fact it's been getting worse. Component video was an out but as you can tell it's in "Sunset" and they don't have to support it.

If there is a converter then talk to the those that make such.

Given all your research I'm surprised you haven't discovered what a mess this is.
Bob

So I guess I'm back to square one. Never been a fan of region coding and now it's getting worse with all the copy protection. The ridiculous thing is I can download the films I have on DVD from the internet onto a USB stick and watch them on the TV no trouble, which is exactly what I'll have to do.

Look at what company hosts this forum (CBS) and you are in a manufacturer's forum where I doubt they will offer region free, or a product that dismisses HDCP.

You know how to research this, and for now, Intel has a league of lawyers ready to send out if anyone dares strip or avoid HDCP on HDMI. Not to mention governments with their (unlimited?) budget and time to enforce regions and what you can watch.
Bob

Considering any type of converter will run upwards of $100, and that's what a region/code free DVD player would cost, I don't see that as a good solution.

Sell your current DVD player for $20 and pick up a new one that does what you need it to do. Or, simply use your PC to play back those PAL DVDs. Finding software to remove the region coding takes about 5 minutes using google.

You're right, it's as cheap to buy a new DVD player as buy a converter.
Not sure who in Canada will want a UK DVD player though...even for $20!

I don't have a PC, but my laptop is already PAL so doesn't need a software update, it's just that the quality isn't great when it plays DVDs. It's a shame I can't find a mod for the Blu-Ray player to play region 2 DVDs (I can find one that allows region 2 players to play region 1 DVDs but no one has the other way round).

Anyway thanks for all the input.