Will Imported NTSC TV work here?

[kokevi]

I am moving back from USA and have an NTSC HD (720) TV. I have had mixed answers to whether or not some inputs will work in SA. I know that I won't be able to plug an aerial signal into the TV and I understand that it is that same for SD component cables. What about HD inputs (HDMI or Component)? Will either of these work?

Thanks

 

[Smurfatefrog]

Our TVs here can all handle both NTSC & PAL. Maybe get a PAL DVD & test it on your screen

 

[LazyLion]

Most modern TVs.. at least those that were manufactured in the last 5 or 10 years can handle both formats. You can check that by looking under the settings menu on your TV. It normally has three options PAL/NTSC/Auto. I am 90% certain that your TV should work just fine. What is of more concern though is the switch from 110 volts to 220 volts and from 50 hertz cycles to 60 hertz cycles. What does the TV say about power input on the back or in the manual?

 

[noxibox]

Check the manual to see what it says it supports. Will also depend on what you intend to plug into it. Many devices allow you to choose the output format.

You will probably need a downconverter for power, but there again your TV manual will say whether it can operate on multiple input voltages.

 

[PeterCH]

I am moving back from USA and have an NTSC HD (720) TV. I have had mixed answers to whether or not some inputs will work in SA. I know that I won't be able to plug an aerial signal into the TV and I understand that it is that same for SD component cables. What about HD inputs (HDMI or Component)? Will either of these work?

Thanks

Read your manual. Your TV can probably handle both PAL and NTSC - if it has an HDMI component. Also, we have 220-240v power supply here, your TV may only be able to handle 110-120v, so you'll need a transformer.

 

[davemc]

I had imported a JVC VCR about 6 years ago from Europe that could handle the PAL video transmission here fine, but it simply could not deal with the audio.
I could tune it into SABC1,2,3 and E-TV and the picture would be fine, but the audio would simply be silence.

I used it for recording directly (not using the tuner) from the DSTV decoder back then using direct input so it was not a problem, I just thought that it was kind of strange that the audio failed like that.

 

[PeterCH]

I had imported a JVC VCR about 6 years ago from Europe that could handle the PAL video transmission here fine, but it simply could not deal with the audio.
I could tune it into SABC1,2,3 and E-TV and the picture would be fine, but the audio would simply be silence.

I used it for recording directly (not using the tuner) from the DSTV decoder back then using direct input so it was not a problem, I just thought that it was kind of strange that the audio failed like that.

Well this person will either use a DSTV/MNET decoder or a terrestrial digital TV tuner/decoder, or both. TVs currently sold in SA do not contain digital tuners and we're heading towards digital TV.

 

[Roamer]

I lived in Canada for a few years, and I was quite surprised that while all good TVs here are multisystem, the same can not be said for North America.
Even if you use direct input, please remember that 720 and 1080 still come in 50Hz and 60Hz, and if your TV can not do 50Hz you may have problems here.

I had imported a JVC VCR about 6 years ago from Europe that could handle the PAL video transmission here fine, but it simply could not deal with the audio.
I could tune it into SABC1,2,3 and E-TV and the picture would be fine, but the audio would simply be silence.

I used it for recording directly (not using the tuner) from the DSTV decoder back then using direct input so it was not a problem, I just thought that it was kind of strange that the audio failed like that.

That is probably because we use PAL I, where the sound channels are 6Mhz away from the TV Signal. The UK also use PAL I, but then the formats change across Europe, but most countries there use PAL B/G, where the sound is 5.5Mhz away from the TV signal. Most high end VCRs should have a selection to change this option.

 

[BBird]

Kokevi:

The voltage and cycle differences aren't a train-smash and can usually be solved with a good transformer. In fact, many newer A/V products sold in the USA are 100-240 voltage.

The BIG issue is whether the TV can cope with "multisystem" video input (whether by HDMI or other input ports). Unfortunately, most North American TVs aren't ready for play anywhere other than NTSC-land. Similarly, most North American DVD players read nothing other than Zone 1 by default. Yes, most local equipment is "multisystem" and can operate in several places in the world. However, your question isn't about what's available locally. Rather, you want to know whether your American-purchased TV will work here in SA. When importing an American device, I've checked the Internet for "hacks" on the device's make and model number. Often, there is a means of "reprogramming" the device to work as "multisystem" - even if PAL doesn't appear in the default menu system. My son's portable DVD player had a successful "hack" (sequence of keys entered on the remote to reprogram it). My daughter's TV/DVD Player had no such luck.

If you ask most American sales representatives if the TV will work with PAL, they look at you as though you're from Mars. To be fair, many South African sales reps are equally uninformed. My recent Sony DVD Recorder purchase began with a local sales rep telling me that it was incapable of playing Zone 1 DVDs. I pulled one from my backpack, slipped it into the player and it loaded perfectly. He quickly left me with another sales rep and shifted to another customer.

As an earlier comment stated, you'll also need to know whether the TV can handle PAL I - so that the sound will function properly.

Your best bet is to search the Internet using the TV's make and model number + "PAL compatability." You might even throw in a reference to "hacks."

If you decide that you'd like to discuss the issue with a knowledgable sales rep in the USA, consider a company that sells world-wide-use electronics (like http://www.western-international.com/).

Good luck!

 

[BBird]

Another thought is the PAL to NTSC converter. I looked at http://www.converters.tv/signals/pal_to_ntsc.html and notice NO MENTION of HDMI! The input/output options were VERY OLD composite (RCA plug) or S-Video. Plus, they're extremely EXPENSIVE!

The same site also offers PAL to HDTV converters at http://www.converters.tv/signals/pal_to_hdtv.html.

Though they're based in Australia, it might be worth asking Converters.tv if there's a converter-box solution to your situation. See http://www.converters.tv/contactus.html.