Install different firmware from another region

[rythem]

Dear All,

I bought a Samsung Smart TV UN60ES8000 from the US couple of weeks ago. I am in Europe at the moment so, I can't use the TV as it is as the System here is PAL and the TV system is Ntsc. I contacted samsung support and they said that the only way is to buy a converter.

What I am thinking of is the following, the model UA60ES8000 is the same TV that is sold here and is Supporting PAL system, may I install the firmware of the UA60ES8000 on my US Samsung model UN60ES8000 and by then it will be working with PAL system ?! if this will not help or can't be done is there another way or hack to make it true without using the converter ? (as such converters don't support transferring 3D signal and only HD signals are converted)

Thanks for your help in advanced, this is the last way I thought of and may help me.

Best regards,

[Sammy]

Is there not an option to choose country or switch in the menu?

[rythem]

Hello Sammy,

No, there is no option to choose country or switch in the menu. The TV doesn't recognize PAL at all and thats why I wanted to check if I can use another firmware.

Best regards,

[juusso]

PAL or NTSC is only hardware depended. If your built-in tunner supports both protocols, then this is selectable in service menu. But big chance your buil-in tuner supports NTSC only and no chance to watch PAL. You have to check service manuals about your TV`s hardware. Problem is not related to firmware.

I had similar problem with UA40D6000 - nothing helped (i changed firmware to EU one), tried to change tuner types (big danger to brick!), but the only solution was to buy another mainboard from EU model. As the ES8000 TV model is quite recent, i don`t think you will find mainboard replacement somewhere except local samsung Service repair. This can be costly...

Don`t worry about uncompatibility of mainboards - from our experience (B/C/D models) - hardware for same models of different regions are cross-compatible and all cables/holes and so on are ientical for UN/UA/UExxES8000. To be sure, someone could post pictures of those models for comparision.

I don`t know how much the converter costs, perhaps this is no big difference between new/used mainboard?

[rythem]

Dear juuso,

Thanks for the valuable reply and information.

1. I checked the service menu of the TV and it doesn't support PAL, only Ntsc.
2. The converters are ranging from 80 US $ up to 250 US $, and all of them doesn't convert the 3D signal only the HD signal.

I have no idea if the EU mainboard for similar model are sold online, can you advice of an online shop ?!

Really thanks again for your help and I hope I will find another solution as converters will not do the job fully.

Best regards,

[Feuerbard]

you dont need any converter - just buy dvb-t ?r dvb-s tuner with hdmi output

[juusso]

you dont need any converter - just buy dvb-t ?r dvb-s tuner with hdmi output

Yes, you`re right! External dvb-t (dvb-c, dvb-s2) receiver or samsung`s BD player with built-in tv tuner is acceptable and makes the magic. Why samsung`s bd? it lets you control all with one RC via AnyNet+...(but price is much more higher than just external tuner).

[E3V3A]

Hmm, this seem like an experimental question, and is in no way resolved until then. I certainly found references to both PAL and NTSC in firmware...
And technologically, most new video devices can handle both.

[juusso]

I just talking from my own experience - if built-in tuner doesnt support PAL, any software won`t help. I`ve had UA40D6000 which came just only with NTSC support and believe me, no success in tuning LT channels in any of three firmwares of different regions (T-GAS6DEUC, T-GASAKUC, T-GAS6DAAC). Sure i changed tuner type to let TV think it has PAL. Always got a lot of errors on debug and silence on the air.