DVin page

Most DV cams imported to Europe are without possibility to record video clip back to the tape. There are some companies here which sell their solutions to enable DV in for Sony, Panasonic, Canon and maybe other models of DV cams. There are more companies here which offer this solutions to owners of cams. Prices are from 50$ to 200$ (maybe more), no guarantee (you can lost guarantee to cam) and why pay for something, what non europe owners have for free (for the same price as you).

I decided to make solution for my Panasonic NV-DA1. The program named PanaTest (...only for testing and studying purpose, blah, blah...) is working good, is very simple to use if you know the right codes for enabling (or back - disabling) your cam. This program can read/write code (byte) from/to any address (location) of VCR memory (parameters for VCR mode). PanaTest uses the same commands like Panasonic DV Studio (for capturing still images) so that if the DV Studio works with camera, PanaTest will work too.

Why we need DVin

The digital system converts the analog video and audio information to a digital format prior to recording the video on to tape. Standard digital data storage techniques such as compression, and error detection and correction mechanisms are utilized to ensure that the integrity of the data remains high. Because noise and crosstalk are not an issue with digital data, the video can be transfered to the PC, edited, and copied back to the tape without any loss in quality.


What do you need?

PC - Windows 95/98 (not tested with Windows NT, but works with Virtual PC 3 on MAC- thank Reinier S.)
free serial port
Panasonic DVC still capture cable

If you haven't panasonic personal computer connection kit (VW-DTA1E) you can make your own cable .

plug - RS232
RX ---> pin 3 (TX)
TX ---> pin 2 (RX)
GND -> pin 5 (GND)

This is my cable uncovered

Read detailed description - Make your own cable - http://www.cis.tu-graz.ac.at/wb/dvin/panautil.htm or Siggi's homepage (German)

How can I enable (disable) DVin?

Note: This instruction is for newer PanaTest v. 2. It is very similar to old PanaTest, it has new option - Page. But you don't need PanaTest v. 2 for older models of Panasonic cams (they have codes in Table 1). Ignore all instructions about Page, if you are using old PanaTest, it reads and/or writes only from and/or to Page 0.

Instruction for use of PanaTest:

1. Connect PC and DV cam by cable, turn DV cam on and switch to VCR mode.

2. Run PanaTest. Close About dialogue.

3. Look at this picture:

4. Check Com port which you are using (1) and click on Read button (2).

5. You should see:

1st line - Page "0" (9), Address "F8" (3) and code at this place of memory(4).
For older models only:
this can be used for identification of cam (62 is DA1 and so on) - compare with Table 1.

2nd line - Page "0" (at white field) (10) , Address "F7" (5) (at white field) and code at this place of memory (6).
For older models:
Compare with code at table 1, address F7 of your model: you can see if your cam has DV-in enable or disable.
For newer models:
Compare with code at table 2, if the code is the same as that at Table 2 - OK.

If the connection is wrong, you'll see message box and XX in code fields (4) (6).

6. For older models:
There are right Page ("0") and Address ("F7") for changing code on 2nd line. Put code for enabling DV-in (from Table 1 - e.g. DA1 - 00) to the white field above Write button (7) and click on Write (8). You can see the same code at field above button Read after successful writing to the cam.
If you have to change code at Address "30", click on Address "F7" (5) and change to "30". Click on Read. Compare with Table 1. And again: put code for enabling DV-in (from Table 1 - e.g. DA1 - EF) to the white field above Write button (7) and click on Write (8). You can see the same code at field above button Read after successful writing to the cam.

For newer models:
If you have to change code at Page "0", Address "DD", (all newer cams except DS11 and DS8 -from 3C to 2C for enabling DV-in) click on Address "F7" (5) and change to "DD". Page is the same as was - "0". Click on Read. You can see - "3C" for disabled and "2C" for enabled DV-in. Put right code for enabling DV-in (from Table 2 - "2C" for enabling) to the white field above Write button (7) and click on Write (8). You can see the same code at field above button Read after successful writing to the cam.
Now click on Page "0" (10) and change it to "1", click on Address "DD" (or "F7", if you have DS8 or DS11) and change to "97". Find the code for enabling your model (e.g. DS8 - "83", DS11 - "03") and put it to the white field above Write button (7) and click on Write (8). You can see the same code at field above button Read after successful writing to the cam.

Use only capital characters (A, B, C, D, E, F) or digits (0..9). If you put wrong character (i.e. ff, b8, ...), you'll get warning message and no code is written to cam. Allways make note of address and code before and after writing!

7. If you are finished, turn DVC off for no less then 5 sec.

If you need to disable DVin (for servicing) you can do it by the same process with codes for disabling.

WARNING!!!
Modification of cam's memory may result in lost of warranty.
Be careful. If you use wrong codes or addresses, you may damage your cam!
Close Panatest and turn off cam before connecting or disconnecting, you may damage your port!

Have you any question?

Read FAQ


DVin codes

Table 1 - older cams
If you don't have PanaTest v. 2 (unnecessary for older cams) ignore column Page

Model Page Address Code En. Code Dis. Comment List
DS77 0 F8 42 42 Identification
0 F7 01 or 81 19 or 99
0 30 23 33 Confirmed DS77List
DA1 0 F8 62 62 Identification
0 F7 00 18
0 30 EF FF Confirmed DA1List
DS33 0 F8 72 72 Identification
0 F7 01 19
0 30 23 33 Confirmed DS33List
EX1 0 F8 82 82 Identification
0 F7 01 19
0 30 23 33 Confirmed 9.1.00 EX1List
DX100 0 F8 A2 A2 Identification
0 F7 00 18 Confirmed DX100List
DS5 0 F8 B2 B2 Identification
0 F7 00 18 Confirmed DS5List
DS1 0 F8 C2 C2 Identification
0 F7 A0 B8 Confirmed DS1List

Table 2 - New Cams
Use PanaTest v.2 for enabling these cams!

Model Page Address Code En. Code Dis. Comment List
DS99 0 F7 A0 A0
0 DD 2C 3C
1 97 02 12 Confirmed DS99List
DS11 0 F7 68 68
1 97 03 13 Confirmed DS11List
EX3 0 F7 A0 A0
0 DD 2C 3C Note 1*
1 97 02 12 Confirmed EX3List
DS8 0 F7 68 68
1 97 83 93 Confirmed DS8List
DS35 0 F7 A0 A0
0 DD 2C 3C Note 1*
1 97 02 12 Confirmed DS35List
DS55 0 F7 A0 A0
0 DD 2C 3C Note 1*
1 97 06 16 Confirmed
DS15, DS25 0 F7 A0 A0
0 DD 2C 3C Note 1*
1 97 07 17 Confirmed DS15List

Note:
Code en. = code for enabling (unlocking) DV-in
Code dis. = code for disabling (locking) DV-in

For older cams (Table 1):
Difference between codes of address F7 is allways 18h (in codes above):
Disable[F7] - Enable[F7] = 18h
Disable[30] - Enable[30] = 10h

For newer cams (Table 2):
Disable[0;DD] - Enable[0;DD] = 10h
Disable[1;97] - Enable[1;97] = 10h
Your List may be different from these above for different setting (or e.g. with/without cassette).

Note 1*:
Update 4.7.2000:
It isn't necessary to change code at address DD (page 0) for types DS8 and DS11, I got message that DV in of DS11 and DS8 works fine with unchanged code 3C at address DD. I got also information that EX3, DS35, DS55 and DS99 probably have the same codes but I still didn't get verifying about it.
Update 6.7.2000:
I got other messages that it is suffice to change only address [1;97] for all cams (except DS99 - I didn't got any message about it). But I recommend to use (and change} code 3C to 2C for DS35, DS55, DS99 and EX3.
Update 25.7.2000:
I have list of these unlocked cams:
DS8 - originally unlocked - bought in Singapoure, no change at page 0, address DD ([0;DD])
DS11 - unlocked by PanaDvin, no change at [0;DD]
EX3 - by PanaDvin, it has code 2C at [0;DD]
DS99 - one originally unlocked - bought in Australia and one unlocked by PanaDvin, the same as EX3
I have speculation about code at [0;DD] - correction of sumcheck (XOR). Again, I recommend to change code for newer cams except DS8 and DS11





©1999-2000

Michal Krejcik, mkrejcik@volny.cz
www.volny.cz/mkrejcik