Going to Australia from USA, wondering what recorder to get

[cpu2000]

Hi,

I'll be moving to Australia in a few months and I'm wondering what recorder would work in Australia. I understand if I buy it here there will be no PAL tuner but what about the other capabilities (Pal DVD's to NTSC TV)? I like to play Aussie DVD's on my NTSC TV. Also, is S-video or Component on US TV only NTSC or doesn't matter? I've been looking at the Philips 75, Panasonic e50 and LiteOn 5001. I like the Philips but not sure. Thanks ahead for your replies.

[asichter]

We have a different power voltage in Australia: 240v. You will need a power supply converter for any US equipment you want to use here. In that case you're probably better off buying a recorder here, although you will find prices considerably higher here compared the US. Both the Panny E50 and the Philips 75 (& 77) are available here, both excellent recorders, and of course they will have Pal Tuners. I have both the E20 (earlier version of the E50) and the Philips DVDR75. Both will record/playback Pal and NTSC, although you can't record both formats onto one disc. I haven't seen the LiteOn here, it may be branded under another name.

Andy S.

[cpu2000]

Thanks Andy, what are the prices like in Australia? If the price is significantly cheaper in the US I think I'll just get a VCR in Australia for the PAL tuner. Here in the US, I can get a Philips 75 for as low is $350 GST included.

[donpedro]

CyberHome or LeteOn supprts 110/220(240)V and PAL/NTSC recording. See my list for more info.

[hech54]

Listen to Andy.....HE knows what he is talking about. To record from TV in Oz....you will need a DVD Recorder with a PAL Tuner.

ALL DVD Recorders are able to record either (PAL or NTSC) signals to a virgin DVDR via s-video or cinch(RCA) inputs..... Whatever signal is incoming....THAT is what gets recorded.

Ricky Retardo is wrong as usual.

[gavmiester]

It will need to be beer resistant as well, preferably with a chicken wire attachment to keep pissed idiots at bay....there will be many...if you buy it, they will come.

[donpedro]

Listen to Andy.....HE knows what he is talking about. To record from TV in Oz....you will need a DVD Recorder with a PAL Tuner.

ALL DVD Recorders are able to record either (PAL or NTSC) signals to a virgin DVDR via s-video or cinch(RCA) inputs..... Whatever signal is incoming....THAT is what gets recorded.

Ricky Retardo is wrong as usual.

Lets stick to facts and try not to insult.

Correct. To record from DVD Recorder's tuner in Australia he would need one with PAL Tuner. But… he is aware of this fact (“I understand if I buy it here there will be no PAL tuner”).

Rest what you are saying is not clear to me… but…. US version Philips DVDR 75/17 can record PAL signal from external connectors (S-Video for example) and make PAL DVD. I have tested this. Problem is that it does not support 240V. US version of LiteOn or CyberHome can record PAL from external inputs. I didn’t test personally this, so I rely on others experience. Also they claim 110~240V 60/50Hz support (again not tested by me). On the other hand, I tested US version of Panasonic DMR-E30 and when I tried recording PAL signal through external inputs, I have got error message. Not sure exactly what it was.

Now cpu2000 since I don’t have experience with Australian DVD Recorders, I can’t tell what they can or can’t do. But that wasn’t you question, right ?

So whatever are you trying to say hech54, you can. And if somebody believes you… what can I do. It is up to them.

[asichter]

Here are some prices on DVD Recorders in Australia: (In Australian Dollars)

Panasonic E50 RRP - $1099 (you can talk them down to $900)

Philips DVDR75 RRP - $1299 (I got mine for $999)

Sony RRP - $1499

Pioneer RRP - $1899

Panasonic HS2 RRP - $1899

If you take about 25% off those figures you should get the cost in $USD. You will find it is far cheaper to buy in the US.

It may be worth chasing up Panasonic in Australia to see if they have firmware that can change the tuner from NTSC to Pal. I've noticed a lot of the cheaper mass produced +RW recorders have an option to change the country on the tuner, so I would assume this is a firmware setup and not hardware, though I could be wrong. Might be worth investigating. What about yout TV, is it NTSC only???

Where about in Australia are you heading to?

Hope that helps.

Andy.

[donpedro]

It may be worth chasing up Panasonic in Australia to see if they have firmware that can change the tuner from NTSC to Pal.

I was never able find out an answer on this. Is TV Tuner norm (PAL or NTSC) something that can be changed by firmware ? I was always in impression that it is kind of "fixed" as an hardware design until I purchased Samsung World VCR that should be able to tune PAL and NTSC channels. Any more info on this would be great.

[hech54]

I was never able find out an answer on this.

I don't recall anyone asking you.....or anyone else..... for an answer to this question. But I'm sure this will now be your life-long quest and you will get back to us on this important issue.


There you go again....trying to make yourself look important and intelligent.

[freakyalbino]

If you want a cheap PAL recorder look for the digitrex model, ive seen it retailing for 504AUD

[donpedro]

I was never able find out an answer on this.

I don't recall anyone asking you.....or anyone else..... for an answer to this question. But I'm sure this will now be your life-long quest and you will get back to us on this important issue.


There you go again....trying to make yourself look important and intelligent.

Are you trying to help cpu2000 with his question or showing us that you are an idiot ? I know that already, so go ahead and prove it to rest of us.

[cpu2000]

Thanks everyone for the detail information. From the look of the price in Australia that is very expensive.. I guess what I'm going to do is buy here in the USA and get a good VCR with PAL tuner. I need the recorder to play on my USA LCD TV too so I think I will be looking into the Philips or Panny.

I will be heading to Canberra. Uni of Canberra to be exact. Thanks again.