DVDizzy Forum

I'll be moving regions soon for the second time, this time going from NTSC to a PAL region. If I take my NTSC DVD player, will it play on a PAL TV? It's multi region and plays all my collection, I'd dearly like to keep it.

It should.

PAL TVs support NTSC by nature, but NTSC TVs usually don't support PAL (Something about where the copyrights for each format are located and licensing issues...)

Do you have the right wall plug though? If so, you should be able to hook it up and the TV will either detect it (or you have to set it by yourself - I can't really help with that)

Any TV made in the past 20 years or so will accept NTSC input. However, you'll need a step-down transformer for the power supply. Unless you want an explosion.

LOL...

Wouldn't it just be easier to buy a region 2 PAL player and then hack it to be region free? That way it'd play both formats in any region.

Oddly enough....

I spoke to Dell about this as I also have to move my laptop. They said I need the wall plug converter-and that it doesn't do step down. They said that because its lower ampage, it works fine.

So I assumed that it would all work ok on the same $10 plug. Is there something in the laptop power pack that automatically will deal with the step down-and so, is boom a real likelihood? They said it would be fine for the printer too, and that does not have a power pack.

Eeeevah! wrote:Oddly enough....

I spoke to Dell about this as I also have to move my laptop. They said I need the wall plug converter-and that it doesn't do step down. They said that because its lower ampage, it works fine.

So I assumed that it would all work ok on the same $10 plug. Is there something in the laptop power pack that automatically will deal with the step down-and so, is boom a real likelihood? They said it would be fine for the printer too, and that does not have a power pack.

Most electronic equipment nowadays automatically adapt to the different voltage, but you must be sure to check the manual of your specific equipment on this.
It is cheaper for equipment manufacturers to produce one type of powered device for the entire world (and supply different power cords for the different types of electrical outlets) than producing specific equipment for 110V and 220V.
But as I said, you should check the manuals of the equipment or verify with the manufacturer if your equipment is capable of "distinguishing" between the different types of power provision. It seems (as you verified) that your Dell equipment is just capable of doing that.

Generally, anything with a small plug that has a box separately (think of laptops, DVD player chargers, etc.) will work with either 120 or 240V. The large plugs that most DC appliances use, on the other hand, usually only work with one or the other.

As far as I know, DVD players only work with one voltage.

I'm not exactly sure what you are saying with the boxes. DC items include the laptop (since batteries cannot be A/C). So for a DC item that has the large plug converter, is it the plug that cannot handle the voltage change? So in theory buying a DC converter in the other country that is appropriate might help?

But, if it's an A/C item, no plug of any kind, is it likely to work at all? We already have one multi region where we will be living, so its not that big a deal, but if it won't work I won't waste the luggage space

I can see the logic behind making just one unit and selling with differing plugs, that would keep overheads down.

as i understand it, american tv's start at 60 hz upwards, english start at 50 hz, so on top of your voltage problems you have to have a pal tv with at least 60 hz or it will not play, i speak from experience. if you are moving to uk, my daughter just bought a multi region sony player off of amazon uk for about £40 (about $80). much cheaper than shops & a sight less stress than plugging in & blowing up your disney collection hope this helps. good luck, if not you will have to watch my collection

waltmad wrote:as i understand it, american tv's start at 60 hz upwards, english start at 50 hz, so on top of your voltage problems you have to have a pal tv with at least 60 hz or it will not play, i speak from experience. if you are moving to uk, my daughter just bought a multi region sony player off of amazon uk for about £40 (about $80). much cheaper than shops & a sight less stress than plugging in & blowing up your disney collection hope this helps. good luck, if not you will have to watch my collection

Really, the chances of any PAL TV not accepting a 60hz audio/video signal these days is incredibly remote. Most TVs from the past 20 years are dual format compatible. You'd really need to look hard to find a TV which can't show NTSC. I can guarantee 95%+ of all European posters on this site import R1 DVDs and watch them in their native NTSC format on PAL televisions.

i think you misunderstood what i wrote 2098 1/2. I said some tv's still for sale in uk shops today are only 50 hz & THESE are the ones that will not play ntsc, like a philips portable in 1 of my bedrooms. if i have written anything wrong this time, the coincidece was purely intentional

I know that the TV is dual format from setting it up. It's not new-about ten years old, but we're returning to the home we left (yes ok, I'm moving back to my parent's house at 30 yrs old with my daughter Hey, I have to start somewhere when I move back.....).

We have the one multi region, and at that price I guess I'll just leave this one behind and get a new one. Sad, but thanks. Now I have to double check about my printer, you've got me all nervous.