The APEX AD-500W
Welcome to the Apex/Hiteker* DVD Hacking Pages!
*"Hiteker" in Australia no longer exists. It is now known as "Digitrex"
Now also incorporating Firmware Hacks for many other model DVD players too!
UPDATE: 2nd March 2006
Hi All.
It's been well over a year since I did any work on this website but I'm glad to see that it still remains as a good source of information. I still receive about 10 emails a day and still do firmware chip programming on a regular basis. As said in the last update, the website still now exists as a "What You See Is What You Get" format with very few changes (not that much changes with the players listed anyway), and for anything "One Firmware For All" related you are still advised to visit the official OFFA website here if you want that information. I commend the guys on what they do for OFFA but I don't have the time any more to keep up with the changes.
So what else has happened in the last year? Well, I have moved onto other technical areas. I now primarily help out in the Australian TiVo Community where I help modify and repair the Series 1 TiVo units for use in PAL video areas. Yes, we actually have made our own hobby/community TiVo-like service "down under" after nothing commercial appearing and VHS video tapes getting very old technology! We would like to get Series 2 units going but the thing holding us back is the programming data on the Broadcom BCM7020 and BCM7040 MPEG chips to make them work in PAL mode (they are currently programmed for NTSC in the TiVo software). Some people (including myself) use a Series 2 in NTSC mode but the goal is to get them running in PAL eventually. Unfortunately these chips are protected under non-disclosure agreements so the information needed is not available. If anyone can help please contact me - anonymous if you like. I will ensure your anonymity if you have the information we need and would be much appreciative!
Well, thats about it. Just thought I would pop in and let you know I am still here and thank Alowishus for the server space even though I may seem to have vanished!
As usual if there is anything you need please let me know. Thanks!
Darren King
THE DVD PLAYERS COVERED ON THIS SITE:
(NOW OVER 50 DIFFERENT MODELS!!)
The DVD player pictures you see here are the models which I own or have owned, therefore I can answer almost anything you ask about them. Click on the player's picture to go to it's hacking page!
The APEX AD-500W
The Apex/Hiteker AD-600A
The Centrex CTD-2200
The Conia M-100
Magnavox MDVD-100
Voxson DVDT-172/Prima 1500
Here is original firmware and/or patches for other model Apex/Hiteker DVD players which have been kindly donated by other people. Click on the model number's link to take you there.
Canadian APEX AD-600A (aka AD-600E)
APEX 700
Now with Mini-DVD!
APEX AD-1100W
MexicoAD-1100WX, and Australian DIGITREX GK-1100 look here too.
Hiteker AD-1000 and GK-1000
(Australian DIGITREX GK-1000 look here too)
Firmware patches for non Apex/Hiteker DVD players.
Click on the model number's link to take you there.
General Electric GE 1101PA and GE 1101PB
*Australian GE 1101P AUS look here too.
HAIER HD-700
Now with Mini-DVD!
SAMPO & CLONES
Lots of firmware to reinstate the Loophole Menu!
Your player not listed here? Why not try the Area 450 guys.
Replacing your dead IDE style drive (or "loader") with a PC type IDE DVD-ROM drive
Click HERE for details
Click HERE for the firmware updates for your DSL-600A or DSL-710A DVD-ROM unit which is used inside most Apex/Hiteker DVD players, along with a lot of other players too.
If you want to change the background image on your Apex player click HERE for instructions!
ES4318 and ES4408 Spec Sheets!
A lot of the players on this site is based on the popular ESS Technologies DVD processor chip. Here are the Specification sheets for the ES4318 and ES4408 processors. Unfortunately it does not contain the instruction set but it gives a basic outline of the chip's function and a pinout. You can view the ES4318 HERE and the ES4408 HERE (Adobe Acrobat Reader needed). You can also visit the ESS Technologies website HERE.
ES 6008/18/28/38 Spec Sheet now available too!
You can view the datasheet HERE (4.5MB file). Adobe Acrobat Reader needed.
SPU (Screen Saver) information.
SPU is the format used to generate the screen saver image. This information is vital to anyone who knows about programming the ES4308/ES4318 processor as used in a lot of Apex DVD players. You can view the goodies HERE.
Would you like your firmware chip programmed for FREE? Click HERE for details.
Many thanks to Alowishus at Nerd-Out for the server space
