What is PAL and NTSC?
These are two different TV picture standards. Region 2 (Europe) uses the PAL standard whereas region 1 (USA and Canada) uses the NTSC standard. These standards are incompatible with one another and to be able to view a region 1 DVD on a UK TV, you’ll need to have an NTSC compatible or multi-standard TV.
If region coding wasn’t confusing enough – many countries have a different video standard (the way the actual video signal gets to your TV – also referred to as “TV System”). The two main power frequencies widely used arround the World, 50Hz and 60Hz divide the World’s TV systems into two distinct systems: the 25 frames per second system (50Hz) and the 30 frames per second system (60Hz). PAL will NOT play in an NTSC VCR / DVD player (and vice versa) without a video signal converter or internal converting hardware inside the VCR / DVD player (not a common feature on consumer players). We carry multi-standard DVD players and VCRs for rent that convert all of the different signals digitally. There is no difference in quality from the orginal video signal during these conversions. Computer DVD drives are PAL/NTSC-indifferent, i.e., a computer DVD drive can play both PAL and NTSC DVDs. There are currently 3 main video standards used throughout the world: PAL – Phase Alternating Line. Develo
PAL and NTSC refer to the different television formats extant in the world, and create another and more difficult hurdle to those who wish to play DVDs or videotapes from other countries. Even if one can change the region encoding of a player, one will not be able to watch the DVD unless there is a compatible TV system matching the disc.
If region coding wasn’t confusing enough – many countries have a different video standard (the way the actual video signal gets to your TV). The two main power frequencies widely used arround the World, 50Hz and 60Hz divide the World’s TV systems into two distinct systems: the 25 frames per second system (50Hz) and the 30 frames per second system (60Hz). PAL will NOT play in an NTSC VCR / DVD player (and vice versa) without a video signal converter or internal converting hardware inside the VCR / DVD player (not a common feature on consumer players). We carry multi-standard DVD players and VCRs for rent that convert all of the different signals digitally. There is no difference in quality from the orginal video signal during these conversions. Computer DVD drives are PAL/NTSC-indifferent, i.e., a computer DVD drive can play both PAL and NTSC DVDs.
If region coding wasn’t confusing enough – many countries have a different video standard (the way the actual video signal gets to your TV). The two main power frequencies widely used arround the World, 50Hz and 60Hz divide the World’s TV systems into two distinct systems: the 25 frames per second system (50Hz) and the 30 frames per second system (60Hz). PAL will NOT play in an NTSC VCR / DVD player (and vice versa) without a video signal converter or internal converting hardware inside the VCR / DVD player (not a common feature on consumer players). We carry multi-standard DVD players and VCRs for rent that convert all of the different signals digitally. There is no difference in quality from the orginal video signal during these conversions. Computer DVD drives are PAL/NTSC-indifferent, i.e.
