Not really IT. Television Set standards

[The Lone Gunman]

I purchased my 36" flat screen in Germany 4 years ago (its old I am upgrading soon) and had no problem bringing it back to the UK (apart from plugs).

I also brought a cheap one which I purchased as a stop gap while I got a good one. This has no sound due to differences in signal. However if you connect it via a scart then the sound works.

Most modern TVs are software set up which will mean they work OK anywhere. Particularly if it is a large international manufacturer.

NOTE: TVs and other electricals are not always cheaper abroad!

[Clog II The Avenger]

Maybe I'm being blonde here:

If I buy a nice flat-screen (no special model in mind yet) TV in Germany or Switzerland ...... and later take it to UK, will it work ?

Analogue won’t work in the UK unless it is multi standard. Digital will. Your can use a Video recorder tuner via a scart and it will work. Or do what I do, go without a TV in Blighty.

[Sysman]

Make sure you get one with stereo sound where you can select left or right channel only, preferably one which remembers your setting on a per channel basis.

A lot of film broadcasts in .ch (and I think .de) are bilingual.

In .ch check out the schedules at www.trs.ch to see what's on as "Bicanal".

The channels from outside .ch come as stereo - check out the Swiss ones:

SF1, SF2, TSR1, TSR2, TSI1, TSI2

[ASB]

Nah. All europe uses the same version of PAL.

The difference is in the sound subcarrier separation, they use 5.5MHz and we use 6MHz.

Because we're British and proud of it.

Nope, only the mainland. Where PAL is used it is PAL G we use PAL I. The difference is more than just the sound seperation (but it might not matter). To be portable through all of europe you need:-

PAL - G/I
Secam - K/L

PAL - B probably wouldn't hurt if you are desperate to pick up the VHF TV still being transmitted. I think RTE still transmit on VHF.

[Troll]

Nah. All europe uses the same version of PAL.

The difference is in the sound subcarrier separation, they use 5.5MHz and we use 6MHz.

Because we're British and proud of it.

I thought only Germans used diff sound subcarrier

& I thought France was SECAM

but without being arsed to googleI could be talking usual tosh

[VectraMan]

Secam aside, I thought most of Europe used a slightly different version of PAL. So you'll probably get black and white if it can't cope. But that's only going to be analogue, and nobody watches analogue (at least nobody worth talking about).

If it has a DTT tuner in it, then that might well not work. But if you're using it with a Sky/DTT/cable box with SCART of whatever, then you should be okay.

NTSC/PAL is a whole other issue, but I would think any decent modern TV will cope with both if you happen to end up in the US or Japan by mistake.

[ASB]

Would the different power voltages have any effect?

Potentially but doubful. AFAIK nowhere in Europe uses a radically different voltage or frequency. Most power supplies are pretty good at adapting.

[ladymuck]

Would the different power voltages have any effect?

[ASB]

Don't count on it. Depends on the model and how well the tuner copes with differing standards. Even where the picture transmission is identical sound is often transmitted differently. Ask the manufacturer. Some are more flexible than others.

France for example uses SECAM not PAL and a different sound carrier frequency. A standard UK set in France will give black and white and no sound. In practice most modern sets will work fine but it is not guranteed.

If you're looking at HDTV sources then it's not supposed to be a problem.

This might help:

http://www.bigdishsat.com/fs04_stds.php

[Angela_D]

OK, yes. I meant to add in the op that apart from the power connection... will it plug n play ? I was wondering if different broadcast standards would come into play.

I hope and expect that a TV made in Korea or wherever these days will work just about anywhere.

I just remember my folks having problems with a US bought TV many years ago. NTSC v PAL v ?

[threaded]

Yes, and No.

No it won't unless you change the plug or buy an adapter.

[HankWangford]

yes

yes, only problem is the plug

[Angela_D]

Maybe I'm being blonde here:

If I buy a nice flat-screen (no special model in mind yet) TV in Germany or Switzerland ...... and later take it to UK, will it work ?