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Quick question, we know that sometimes an NTSC signal will play Black and white on a PAL tv, but does it do the same the other way? A friend in oklahoma has ordered Spaced on dvd and she`s worried she won`t be able to see it in all it`s UK glory

It proberbly wont play at all.

All UK DVD players with play NTSC as Japan is region 2 like us but NTSC.

Most US DVD players will not play a PAL UK DVD at all!!

What model/make DVD player does she have?

She proberbly could buy a Cheap DVD player which would convert PAL to NTSC?

She`s using a multi-region X-Box, so playback isn`t an issue. I just wondered if a NTSC tv can handle a PAL signal

The vast majority of US TV`s are not multi-standard, and won`t take any kind of 625 line signal, PAL or not. It the multi-region X-Box won`t do PAL -> NTSC conversion she`ll probably see nothing, B&W or colour. Those in the US who want multi-region players usually look for those that do PAL -> NTSC conversion to avoid this problem.

This brings up an interesting problem.The PS2 is purely Region 2,but using the AR2 disc Region 1 discs playback in pure NTSC,although NTSC games refuse completely unless internal mods are done.A UK X-box modified for multi region also plays NTSC discs.Maybe this shows that both consoles are able to play both PAL and NTSC.
Of course this does not solve the problem that standard US tv`s are not geared for PAL at all,although I know of many people with multi standard equipment I am not aware of the cost

This is exactly the problem I requested some advice on in my post (0 replies) on the 24th concerning the Ronin P703.

The Cyberhome I had (can`t remember the model but it was an early one) did this, it would play any region once set up to do so, it would output NTSC from a PAL disk, and of course it would play NTSC as NTSC and PAL as PAL + PAL from NTSC.
Because of the problems outlined by previous contributors to this thread I need a lighter model to take out to my daughter in Canada so that she can play family DVD`s that I have produced in PAL and also play NTSC DVD`s purchased in Canada.
I now have a Toshiba which will play NTSC as PAL, NTSC as NTSC, PAL as PAL, but not PAL as NTSC.

Hugh

Any DVD player with a MediaTek processor can do a PAL to NTSC conversion perfectly. If you can bag a Sampo DVE612(N) (there is a model called the DVE612, without the extra N - this is a different player and won`t do a perfect conversion, so best avoided) from the US that should do it, or possibly one of the Norcent decks sold in Canada (I think the Norcent DP300 is a MediaTek player) : have a read through the message boards at Nerd Out, particularly the Norcent forum :)

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This item was edited on Wednesday, 1st October 2003, 18:55

You mentioned earlier that playing US dvds on some UK player results in b&w signal.
I`ve got one of those Toshiba SD330 - is there any way around this, or is the problem my dodgy tv?

Is there not an option to output the video signal to the TV as PAL ?

Failing that, connect up to your TV`s RGB capable SCART socket (most TVs made in the last ten years or so should have this, except El Cheapo ones), and ensure you select RGB output - then the NTSC/PAL issue is irrelevant for us lucky Europeans :)

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Moderator
DVD Reviewer

Webmaster of Area 450 - independent Sampo DVD site

Toshiba machines only output PAL and pure NTSC.There is no PAL 50 or 60 on those players.A black and white picture is down to the tv.Try the above suggestion regarding Scart,although I have never seen it in action myself.If that fails,its either another player,or another tv.