PAL + NTSC Compatibility Issue !?

[ells6363]

Ok here the deal. Im also going to be bringing a mini DVD player with me to jamaica that says it can play Pal and NTSC DVDs’ but il be using PAL DVDs. In Jamaica I think they use NTSC TV’s so will my DVDs work on their TVs. I don’t want to be watching them in black and white.

Pal DVDs -- > Pal and NTSC player -- > NTSC TV

whats the verdict??

thanks, ells

[psx_pirate]

Check the players settings to see if there is a setting to change the tv output type ... set it to ntsc (if there is an auto setting then it will most likely work fine set at auto but if not select ntsc) .... this only changes the tv output type and doesn't affect what type of dvd is in the player (ie: you can still play both pal or ntsc discs)

P.S. ... don't forget to set it back to pal (or auto) when you return to the UK

[Richard_G]

You may find that if set to Auto, it will output the same format as the disc it's playing so that may not work. Set the output to NTSC and you'll be OK.

[ells6363]

i dont actually have the DVD play yet so i cant test it and dont even know if you can set the output. Also when it does come in s couple days i dont have a NTSC tv to test it on so i wot no till i get out there

[jman98]

Check the players settings to see if there is a setting to change the tv output type ... set it to ntsc (if there is an auto setting then it will most likely work fine set at auto but if not select ntsc) .... this only changes the tv output type and doesn't affect what type of dvd is in the player (ie: you can still play both pal or ntsc discs)

P.S. ... don't forget to set it back to pal (or auto) when you return to the UK

It is completely wrong to suggest that a setting of auto "will most likely work fine" as it will NOT work fine at all on NTSC TVs! psx_pirate is showing a Eurocentric bias in this answer because in Europe, most people have multistandard TVs and a setting of auto will work fine there. Auto means "whatever format goes in, that goes out", which in your case means the player will happily send a PAL signal from PAL DVDs to an NTSC TV and that won't work at all. Change the output setting to NTSC in Jamaica if you want it to work. psx_priate doesn't know this, but here in NTSC land, we don't have multistandard TVs. With very very few exceptions, our TVs are NTSC only. Multistandard TVs here are very difficult to buy and expensive. You have to order them over the internet because there is no demand for them, so our big electronics stores never have them on display.

[edDV]

It needs to be a player that outputs true NTSC M not the pseudo PAL60 typical in Euro players. The TV sets found in Jamaica will be normal NTSC sets and won't accept PAL.

Specific players may play PAL DVD to NTSC M.

[ells6363]

Ive seen converters you can plug your dvd player into and from that plug them into the tv. It says it will allow PAL to NTSC, know anything about them?

Also, what if i burn the DVD's im going to take into NTSC format and just switch the play to NTSC which says it can be done, that will work right??

[psx_pirate]

Check the players settings to see if there is a setting to change the tv output type ... set it to ntsc (if there is an auto setting then it will most likely work fine set at auto but if not select ntsc) .... this only changes the tv output type and doesn't affect what type of dvd is in the player (ie: you can still play both pal or ntsc discs)

P.S. ... don't forget to set it back to pal (or auto) when you return to the UK

It is completely wrong to suggest that a setting of auto "will most likely work fine" as it will NOT work fine at all on NTSC TVs! psx_pirate is showing a Eurocentric bias in this answer because in Europe, most people have multistandard TVs and a setting of auto will work fine there. Auto means "whatever format goes in, that goes out", which in your case means the player will happily send a PAL signal from PAL DVDs to an NTSC TV and that won't work at all. Change the output setting to NTSC in Jamaica if you want it to work. psx_priate doesn't know this, but here in NTSC land, we don't have multistandard TVs. With very very few exceptions, our TVs are NTSC only. Multistandard TVs here are very difficult to buy and expensive. You have to order them over the internet because there is no demand for them, so our big electronics stores never have them on display.

Thanks jman98 ... you are of caurse correct .... i suffered a brain disfunction with my original reply .... as jman68 (and another poster also) pointed out ... the auto mode will output the mode as defined by the disc .... to get a pal disc to work on ntsc you will have to set the output mode of the player to ntsc .... i'm not sure if portable players will have this function ... best check with the manufacturer