Yesterday, after learning how to put my CLD-59 in test mode in order to play an uncooperative disc (thanks to happycube for the tip!), I had the idea to modify my player let me jump into test mode whenever I wanted without having to open it.

I wired up a small momentary switch to the two contact points that have to be bridged to enable test mode, drilled a small hole in the output jack panel, and mounted the switch there.





Simple and discreet, but effective, and now I can watch not only "Diary of a Mad Housewife," but other tricky DiscoVision titles like "House Calls" CLV, as well as all the GM discs I've uncovered as dead sides, all without having to open up my player again!

Video here: https://youtu.be/5CzDzG1_uuM

You're welcome! Never thought of modding a player for a test mode button, since I got a service remote clone, but if you only have one player and enough GM dead sides/bad disks it makes total sense.

The abort on GM disks is caused by a simple bit of player logic: There's no Phillips code in the vertical blank on GM disks, just the MCA code. The PR-7820 was the only player that ever read the MCA codes, and the GM disks were made for it so they only needed to put the MCA codes on. Ironically the V8000 can handle the disk programming GM disks have, but can't read MCA codes so it rejects them. Maybe the V6xxx's can...?

Some early players didn't look at the codes closely (or in the case of the LD-660, at all), but the last generation (504/59 on) of players requires a Phillips code before it decides there's actually a disk playing. Test mode ignores this.

In the case of Housewife either Discovision left off Phillips code by mistake (blam1 might know, but Discovision made almost every mastering error in the book at least once* ) or the first bit is so corrupted the TBC fails and the player doesn't see the Phillips code in time.

On my V2800 in service mode I can even get pseudo-PAL playback, but it's not at all useful off the player at least - the TBC doesn't know how to deal with PAL and digital audio doesn't work correctly because it's playing at the wrong speed. (With ld-decode's PAL version, I have some success, but without digital audio it's not useful)

(* - that reminds me, I saw you got Frenzy. Every frame on side 5 is encoded with a picture stop, but the 504/59 has picture stop cancel - hold down the play button for two seconds (on a paused frame?) and it will play normally)

That makes sense. It would totally explain why the GM dead sides work only in test mode... but I do wonder why my copy of "House Calls" won't work right. All my other DiscoVision CLV stuff does. Either way, test mode fixes it!

Honestly, though, that's actually one thing I absolutely love about DiscoVision -- all the weird quirks that came out of a format that was new and exciting tech, but not quite standardized and working everything out as they went. It's like every disc produced was experimental or a prototype in some way. Sometimes they did an awesome job, other times... we get something like "Frenzy" or "Deliverance."

Speaking of such, that's actually my second copy of "Frenzy" -- I made a video on the PSC feature playing it a while back! https://youtu.be/DPZnnoQ_Cm0 (I wanted another copy since the disc in the question in that video has terrible aluminum degradation. I'm honestly amazed it plays as well as it does)

Ditto here It's quite varied and interesting, and the roots of all optical formats since. And being able to pick up and play something ~35 years old in (mostly*) the same quality it was when new is pretty awesome...

(* - one probably needs a gas tube player to get the original feel... but I've never had a working one )

And here's a quote from blam1's writeup on House Calls - yup, Phillips code probably is missing on your copy:

Great work with the "test mode" switch!
I wanna join the "test mode" club. Any idea if this can be done with the CLD-D703 or CLD-D704?

Yup, almost all Pioneer players have the test mode jumper points. The CLD-79/99 SM should be close: http://www.lddb.com/_misc/manuals/LD_Pl ... Manual.pdf

If you have a lot of players, you might want to get/rig up a test remote. But if you have the parts etc, rigging up the switch is cheaper...

Why didn't you put the button on the front

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the rein-o official signature:

Wanted it to be kind of a stealth mod and maintain the look of the player. The plastic on the front is also much easier to screw up making a hole in compared to the metal panel on the back. If I made a mistake on the back, oh well, no one but me would know it's there. In addition, it took much less disassembly time just mounting a switch to that back panel, since it comes out independently, than it would have been to remove everything inside necessary to modify the front panel.

It wasn't an arbitrary decision, in other words.

Originally, I could not get this disc to play:

1980 Buick Action Library (1980) [GM-127]
However thanks to this thread, I entered "test mode" and it worked like a charm. Thanks guys!

So far all GM discs I encountered with a reference number greater than GM-127 play fine and test mode is not needed. If you know of any past GM-127 requiring test mode, please speak up.

I'm surprised there isn't more discussion about "test mode" since IMHO it seems rather essential for dealing with DiscoVision era stuff.

BTW, on a Pioneer CLD-D703/704 the jumper points are not as clearly identified as on the CLD-59. A small "TEST MODE" text is visible on the board, but not any arrows to let you know exactly which jumper points to use. As such, I went down the path of acquiring a compatible remote rather than adding a button.

How do you rig up a test remote happycube?

You can buy one off eBay, or if you have a programmable remote or IR transmitter you could add the test mode keys to it.

Do you have a guide on how to program a remote to do so?

Pioneer test remote # GGF1067 works with LD players CLD-79, CLD-99, CLD-D703, CLD-704 (and probably a host of others).
Another Pioneer test remote # GGF1381 seems to be very similar and probably works with those same LD players as well (though I'm unable to confirm).

Compatible GGF1067/GGF1381 remotes are available for sale here for $25 US dollars.

IR codes for the GGF1381 are available for download here. Though I'm not sure how one goes about getting those programmed onto a remote.

GGF1381 is a DVD remote I think - on the regular remotes at least the DVD (and DVL) codes are different. The test codes might be the same, I'll have to try it on a DVL someday.

I don't have any programming guides alas, just a USB-UIRT module I can feed with LIRC.

I found the hex codes for the 1067 via google: http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/co ... cld-v2600/

I use Smart Remote on my Samsung Tablet and they do have a method of converting hex to the app's format. I tried them on my 703 and it works fine. I just don't see any difference between regular mode and test mode. Other than some codes on the bottom of the screen when in display mode. Tried it with my Discovision of Jaws and Nothing really. Works the same as before. Everything but test mode worked on my 3030. The 3030 actually played more of the beginning and ending of side 1 than my 703. Neither player can see the intro bumpers on side 2.

I'll have to see if test mode on my 406 lets me see the bumpers, I'm not sure it can. What it's important for with DV are the disks that otherwise wouldn't play at all like the ones mentioned in OP.

I realize that this post is old, but I felt this was pertinent to any CLD-59 owner/user.

I recently bought a generic Pioneer service remote(the Anderic RMC12010) from ReplacementRemotes. I took a chance that it would work with my 59, even though it wasn't listed as one of it's compatible models. I was in the market for a CLD-59 remote and thought this could act as my main remote for the unit, while also giving me the service remote features.

Needless to say, although technically I am saying it , the remote works great with my LD player. Pioneer remotes tend to be universal with their LD players anyway and I'm glad that my gamble paid off. I bring it up now because a lot of people looking to replace their old remote usually have to shell out a lot for the 59's original where as this unit cost less than $30 shipped.

I hope this helps anyone who needs a remote for their own 59, or probably any of the Pioneer LD players, without breaking the bank. Also, being able to use the test mode if desired.

nothing at all quite like owning/using the original remote though, if one can possibly help it...

For aesthetics I'd agree, but given the cost of an original(over $100 on ReplacementRemotes)and the added features of the service remote, this was the device for me.