APEX AD-1100WB
IMPORTANT: This page is for
ONLY
the Apex AD-1100WB, which is sold in Europe.
The information and firmware provided here will NOT work with the
AD-1100W (USA/Canada), AD-1100WX (Mexico), or Digitrex GK-1100 (Australia
and now also the U.K.).
Click HERE to visit the AD-1100W page for the USA/Canada 1100W.
The firmware upgrade provided here will make the AD-1100WB region-free, RCE-proof, and Macrovision-free, AND it will ADD VCD SUPPORT!
You would want to make your player region-free so that you can play DVDs bought from anywhere in the world -- not just those in your "region".
You would want to make your
player Macrovision-free if you have to hook it up through a VCR (or
a projector) and the picture constantly fades in and out.
This upgrade gets rid of the fading.
So far, there seems to be only one version of the AD-1100WB, which is a good thing.
However, knowing Apex, they
could release another variation of the player without warning. If
another variation is even slightly different from the one
described on this page, using the
firmware on this page could DESTROY your player.
In order to minimize the chances of upgrading an incompatible version of the 1100WB, please perform the following "tests" to see whether your 1100WB is compatible.
1. Eject the disc tray, and push the following buttons on the
remote control:
SETUP
SLOW
|<< Track Back
>>| Track Forward
You should now see a "VERSION PAGE". The VERSION listed
should be "AD1100-1"
2. Eject the disc tray, and push 1-1-0-0 on the remote control.
You should now see a screen which says the following:
SOFTWARE INFORMATION
VERSION: AD1100WB-1
UPDATE NAME: U1100WB.ROM
3. Push SETUP on the remote
control. Go into the GENERAL SETUP menu.
You should see a sub-menu labeled "TV TYPE".
Don't mix up the "TV TYPE" sub-menu with the "TV DISPLAY" sub-menu. The presence of the "TV DISPLAY" sub-menu inside the GENERAL SETUP menu is insignificant.
4. If you are willing to open
up your player, please compare what you see to
the following pictures:
The most important components
to look for are a small chip that says "ANALOG DEVICES ADV7170"
*AND* a large chip that says "ESS ES4318F".
If you are missing one and/or the other,
the firmware available here will NOT work on
your player!
If your player passes all of the "tests" above, then it should be safe to upgrade to a Region and Macrovision-free version of the firmware.
If your player FAILED *any*
of the tests above, please report your findings
on the AD-1100WB forum.
APPLYING THE FIRMWARE UPGRADE
NOTE: The firmware
upgrade is NOT for sale. Anyone found
selling this firmware will be dealt with severely.
Visit http://apex.phormation.com for further information.
1. Download the hacked AD-1100WB
firmware HERE.
This firmware is Region-free, RCE-proof, and
has Macrovision turned OFF.
It will also add VCD support.
2. Unzip the U1100WB.ROM file.
3. Open
your CD burning program. Perform the steps necessary to set up
the process of creating a new data CD.
4. Burn
U1100WB.ROM to a blank CD-R/CD-RW.
Be sure to apply these specifications before
burning the disc:
Data CD, ISO9660, Mode 1, "Close"/"Finalize"
disc session.
Note: you may wish to place the ROM file inside of a subfolder on the disc. This prevents the upgrade from starting automatically.
(If you need help with
burning the disc, you might want to check out this excellent article
put together by the guys at Area 450. The article references
Sampo firmware, but the burning specifications are basically the
same. Note that the article does NOT make any mention about
creating a subfolder, or closing/finalizing the disc, so you will
need to figure
out those steps on your own.)
5.
After the disc is burned, view the contents of the disc in
Windows Explorer/My Computer/whatever. Right-click on the .ROM file(s) that's
burned on the disc and select "Properties" (or do
whatever is necessary to view the Properties.) Make sure that the
file size is EXACTLY 524,288 bytes.
If the file size is NOT 524,288
bytes, DO NOT CONTINUE!
6. Read the disclaimer:
DISCLAIMER:
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. I DO NOT OWN THIS PLAYER SO I CANNOT TRY
THIS CDR UPGRADE MYSELF. I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE
THAT MAY RESULT TO YOUR PLAYER. PERFORMING
THE PROCEDURE DESCRIBED HERE
WILL SURELY
VOID THE WARRANTY OF YOUR
PLAYER!
7. Eject the disc tray on the DVD player.
8. Put the CD-R/CD-RW, data side down, on the tray.
9. Close the disc tray.
10. The upgrade process will now begin.
(Note: If you placed the .ROM file
inside a subfolder, the file browser menu will appear -
use the arrow keys on the remote to select the folder and then
push ENTER or PLAY.)
DO NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE DISC TRAY HAS AUTOMATICALLY EJECTED.
You should see the following screens, in this order:
DO NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE
DISC TRAY HAS AUTOMATICALLY EJECTED.
DO NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE
DISC TRAY HAS AUTOMATICALLY EJECTED.
DO NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE
DISC TRAY HAS AUTOMATICALLY EJECTED.
DO NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE
DISC TRAY HAS AUTOMATICALLY EJECTED.
11. Once the upgrade is complete, the screen will go blank and the disc tray will automatically eject. Remove the disc.
12. Turn OFF the POWER on the front of the player (NOT the remote control). Wait 10 seconds, and then turn ON the power on the front of the player (NOT the remote control).
13. The disc tray should automatically close, and the upgrade should be complete.
RETURNING TO THE
ORIGINAL (FACTORY) FIRMWARE
Download the original (factory)
firmware (Region 2, Macrovision ON, NO VCD support)
by clicking HERE.
Firmware that is set to
Region 2, with Macrovision ON, but VCD support added,
is also available by clicking HERE.
Repeat steps 2 through 13 above.
WHERE TO GET HELP
Please Note! I do not own an Apex AD-1100WB player. All care taken in accurately providing this information which is kindly provided by others who do own these models. Please visit the sites linked above if you require any assistance.
ALSO NOTE I
AM NOT A FIRMWARE PROGRAMMER!!!
So please don't ask me when
other features will be available...
