Last update : xx/06/1999

Region Playback Control Management

To watch DVD-Video discs on DVD-Video players you just need to match the Region Code of the DVD-Video disc with the Region Code of the DVD-Video player.

However, in the case of PC systems, there are two types of RPC management on the market:
RPC Phase-1 - The RPC code of the PC system is managed by the DVD Video decoder inside the PC system.
RPC Phase-2 - The RPC code of the PC system is managed by a DVD-ROM or RAM drive.

Table 1. Playing compatibility

  Region code of DVD Player
Region code of Title

1

2 3 4 5 6
All Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
1 Yes No No No No No
2 No Yes No No No No
: --- --- --- --- --- ---


DVD Video Decoder for PC systems

There are three(3) types of DVD-Video decoder in market.
Type 1 : The RPC code has been set by the manufacturer and cannot be changed.
Type 2 : The RPC code can be changed up to the maximum of four times.
Type 3 : With RPC Phase 2 drives, the DVD-Video decoder copies the same region code as the drive.

For Type 2 DVD-Video decoders, you are requested to set it to the region code which is appropriate for your region.  Please note that you can only alter the region code setting four(4) times after the initial setting. Once you have reached this limit, it may not be possible to change the RPC code of that DVD-Video decoder again.

If you have any questions about your DVD-Video decoder, please ask at your point of purchase.  Because Hitachi does not manufacture DVD-Video decoders, it cannot support questions of this type.

DVD Drives for PC systems


There are two types of DVD-ROM or RAM drives in the market.
Type 1 : Drives that possess an RPC code inside.
Type 2 : Drives that do NOT possess an RPC code inside.

Hitachi describes Type 1 drives as "RPC Phase 1 drives" and Type 2 drives as "RPC Phase 2 drives".

Table 2. Who manages the RPC code

  DVD Drive
DVD Decoder RPC Phase 1 RPC Phase 2
Type 1 Decoder Decoder & Drive
Type 2 Decoder Decoder & Drive
Type 3 Decoder Drive

You can see from the table above that if your DVD drive is an RPC Phase 1 drive, you need to use a decoder that possesses an RPC code that matches the DVD-Video disc.   If your DVD Drive is an RPC Phase 2 drive, then you might need to match the RPC code of DVD Video title to that of the DVD decoder as well as the DVD drive.

Note: If you bought a PC with DVD-Video play back ability, it is normal practise for the PC manufacturer to implement the appropriate RPC code.  If you wish to change the RPC code, you will be doing so at your own risk.

Table 3. Implementation of RPC to Hitachi DVD drives

Model . RPC Comments
GD-2000BV 2X DVD-ROM RPC Phase 1 All
GD-2500BV and BVH 4Xmax DVD-ROM RPC Phase 1 RPC Phase 2 in some OEM models
GD-2500BX and BXH 6Xmax DVD-ROM RPC Phase 1 RPC Phase 2 in some  OEM models
GD-5000BV 8Xmax DVD-ROM RPC Phase 2 All
GF-1000 DVD-RAM ATAPI RPC Phase 2 All
GF-1050 DVD-RAM SCSI RPC Phase 2 All


Hitachi Europe Ltd.