One good thing about this unit is that we were able to make it region free. This procedure, however, is tricky as you will need one button not present on the remote control that comes with the unit. Then you will need a programmable universal remote control, a PDA, PlayStation Portable (PSP) or a laptop with IrDA (i.e., infrared) port. Below we will describe the procedure we did to make this player region free by using a One For All URC-7555 remote control (European version, with the “magic” button). The complete procedure for making this player region free using other devices can be found here.

To make Panasonic S53 DVD player region free you have to send the following sequence of commands to the player, using your remote control:

Enter, 6, >=10, <<, Service, Audio, 8, 1, Subtitle, 4

The problem is that the “service” key doesn’t exist on the remote control that comes with the player. With a universal remote control you will need to program one of its buttons to be the service key, which should send the code “143” (or “00143,” if your remote uses 5-digit numbers).

On our One For All URC-7555 we programmed its button “1” to be this key, using the following sequence:

• 1. Press the “DVD” key.
• 2. Keep the “Magic” key pressed until the DVD light blinks twice.
• 3. Enter “0490” to tell the remote that we will be talking to a Panasonic device. The DVD light will blink twice after that.
• 4. Keep the “Magic” key pressed until the DVD light blinks twice.
• 5. Enter “994” to tell the remote to enter its programming mode. The DVD light will blink twice after that.
• 6. Press the “Magic” key (don’t keep it pressed this time). The DVD light will blink once as you press this key.
• 7. Enter the code “00143.” The DVD light will blink once right after each key is pressed.
• 8. Press “1” to tell that you want to associate this code with the button “1.” The DVD light will blink twice after that.
• 9. Your remote is programmed.

Now pressing the button “1” on the remote control will send the missing “service” command to the player.

Turn on your DVD player with no disc inserted and wait until it displays the “No Disc” message. Now point the two remote controls to your DVD player and enter the sequence posted above, the only key you will press on the One For All remote will be the “1” key, which stands for “Service,” all other keys should be pressed on the player’s remote control.

After sending the sequence, the DVD player won’t acknowledge that it was hacked. This is the normal behavior. Turn the player off and then on again and try playing a DVD from another region and see what happens. If it still complains that it cannot play discs from other regions, try sending the sequence again, but faster, without stopping between each command.