HDTV compatibility......

GreenwichCT · 23-01-2007, 20:55

Here's a technical one. Since HDTV is a standard like PAL or NTSC shouldn't a TV from the USA be capable of receiving a clear signal from say Sky HD as long as the correct input is used?

Nigel Goodwin · 23-01-2007, 21:28

Most plasma and LCD sets will, HDTV isn't PAL or NTSC, it's digital and should work fine - the main difference is the frame rate (either 50 or 60), but most do both anyway.

GreenwichCT · 23-01-2007, 21:48

So would Sky + also work on an NTSC TV (assuming the farme rate is auto select) with digital inputs?

LCDMAN · 24-01-2007, 09:57

Not Sky+ as it's only SD output, but Sky-HD yes, via HDMI (DVI). NTSC is only relevant to analog signals (composite, s-video or component) where it defines the resolution (720 x 480 interlaced), horizontal line rate, refresh rate and where the colour info appears. All of these differ for PAL signals.

The HD "standards" are the same worldwide, 720p, 1080i, 1080p.

But............. a display designed for the US market might not understand 576i (PAL resolution)

Cheers,

LCDMAN................The man with no sig!

jer1956 · 24-01-2007, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCDMAN

Not Sky+ as it's only SD output, but Sky-HD yes, via HDMI (DVI). NTSC is only relevant to analog signals (composite, s-video or component) where it defines the resolution (720 x 480 interlaced), horizontal line rate, refresh rate and where the colour info appears.

Cheers,

LCDMAN................The man with no sig!

Standards for NTSC and PAL region DIGITAL video do exist. DVD's are digital and PAL/NTSC dependent. Equally HDMI has to pass digital video derived from such PAL/NTSC region dependent sources.

Nigel Goodwin · 24-01-2007, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCDMAN

Not Sky+ as it's only SD output, but Sky-HD yes, via HDMI (DVI). NTSC is only relevant to analog signals (composite, s-video or component) where it defines the resolution (720 x 480 interlaced), horizontal line rate, refresh rate and where the colour info appears. All of these differ for PAL signals.

It 'should' work via component as well, NTSC and PAL isn't involved at all in component - so the component output should work just as well as the HDMI output.

It all really depends if the NTSC set will work off 50Hz frame - often American sets are crippled to only work on American TV.

jer1956 · 24-01-2007, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

It 'should' work via component as well, NTSC and PAL isn't involved at all in component - so the component output should work just as well as the HDMI output.

It all really depends if the NTSC set will work off 50Hz frame - often American sets are crippled to only work on American TV.

Some poor sod posted that he had bought a PAL HD Ready TV which had PAL region analog and Freeview tuners, but it's HDMI only had NTSC region settings, ie 480i,480p, 720p (60hz) and 1081i (60hz)!

Jarrak · 24-01-2007, 14:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by jer1956

Some poor sod posted that he had bought a PAL HD Ready TV which had PAL region analog and Freeview tuners, but it's HDMI only had NTSC region settings, ie 480i,480p, 720p (60hz) and 1081i (60hz)!

The he should return it as the HD Ready spec calls for 50hz support so either the retailer knowingly missold or the manufacturer did

GreenwichCT · 24-01-2007, 15:36

Hmmm, thanks everyone, I'll check with Sony and see what the score is (assuming I get someone who has a clue in the first place). The set has HDMI so is compatible with Sky HD connector-wise but I'm concerned about the 50/60Hz issue (and of course being an American model TV has no scart sockets at all......).

GreenwichCT · 24-01-2007, 16:03

Amazingly enough no-one at Sony support can answer my question....why am I not surprised.

Nigel Goodwin · 24-01-2007, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenwichCT

Amazingly enough no-one at Sony support can answer my question....why am I not surprised.

Two reasons!.

1) Why would Sony UK know anything about an American TV?, and why would they offer support for a set they don't sell and have never seen.

2) Sony customer support isn't done by Sony any more!, it's been sold off to a third party company.

GreenwichCT · 24-01-2007, 16:32

Ah, I'm still in the USA, and Sony US don't know the specs of their own TVs although I think it's quite likely it only works at 60Hz - and it's still Sony who do their own support centre here.

GreenwichCT · 24-01-2007, 17:42

Just to end the story, I managed to get a response from the Sony regional (North East US) repair centre.

All Sony TV's sold in the US are NTSC compatible only, 60Hz and that's it.

Pity, good TV and they're cheap as hell here.

23-01-2007, 20:55	#1
GreenwichCT Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16	HDTV compatibility...... Here's a technical one. Since HDTV is a standard like PAL or NTSC shouldn't a TV from the USA be capable of receiving a clear signal from say Sky HD as long as the correct input is used?

24-01-2007, 09:57	#4
LCDMAN Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Yorkshire, God's County Posts: 5,182	Not Sky+ as it's only SD output, but Sky-HD yes, via HDMI (DVI). NTSC is only relevant to analog signals (composite, s-video or component) where it defines the resolution (720 x 480 interlaced), horizontal line rate, refresh rate and where the colour info appears. All of these differ for PAL signals. The HD "standards" are the same worldwide, 720p, 1080i, 1080p. But............. a display designed for the US market might not understand 576i (PAL resolution) Cheers, LCDMAN................The man with no sig! Last edited by LCDMAN : 24-01-2007 at 10:01.

23-01-2007, 21:28	#2
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Most plasma and LCD sets will, HDTV isn't PAL or NTSC, it's digital and should work fine - the main difference is the frame rate (either 50 or 60), but most do both anyway.

23-01-2007, 21:48	#3
GreenwichCT Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16	So would Sky + also work on an NTSC TV (assuming the farme rate is auto select) with digital inputs?

24-01-2007, 10:18	#5
jer1956 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,106	Quote: Originally Posted by LCDMAN Not Sky+ as it's only SD output, but Sky-HD yes, via HDMI (DVI). NTSC is only relevant to analog signals (composite, s-video or component) where it defines the resolution (720 x 480 interlaced), horizontal line rate, refresh rate and where the colour info appears. Cheers, LCDMAN................The man with no sig! Standards for NTSC and PAL region DIGITAL video do exist. DVD's are digital and PAL/NTSC dependent. Equally HDMI has to pass digital video derived from such PAL/NTSC region dependent sources.

24-01-2007, 10:19	#6
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by LCDMAN Not Sky+ as it's only SD output, but Sky-HD yes, via HDMI (DVI). NTSC is only relevant to analog signals (composite, s-video or component) where it defines the resolution (720 x 480 interlaced), horizontal line rate, refresh rate and where the colour info appears. All of these differ for PAL signals. It 'should' work via component as well, NTSC and PAL isn't involved at all in component - so the component output should work just as well as the HDMI output. It all really depends if the NTSC set will work off 50Hz frame - often American sets are crippled to only work on American TV.

24-01-2007, 14:23	#7
jer1956 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,106	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin It 'should' work via component as well, NTSC and PAL isn't involved at all in component - so the component output should work just as well as the HDMI output. It all really depends if the NTSC set will work off 50Hz frame - often American sets are crippled to only work on American TV. Some poor sod posted that he had bought a PAL HD Ready TV which had PAL region analog and Freeview tuners, but it's HDMI only had NTSC region settings, ie 480i,480p, 720p (60hz) and 1081i (60hz)!

24-01-2007, 14:29	#8
Jarrak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ilkeston Posts: 18,075	Quote: Originally Posted by jer1956 Some poor sod posted that he had bought a PAL HD Ready TV which had PAL region analog and Freeview tuners, but it's HDMI only had NTSC region settings, ie 480i,480p, 720p (60hz) and 1081i (60hz)! The he should return it as the HD Ready spec calls for 50hz support so either the retailer knowingly missold or the manufacturer did

24-01-2007, 15:36	#9
GreenwichCT Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16	Hmmm, thanks everyone, I'll check with Sony and see what the score is (assuming I get someone who has a clue in the first place). The set has HDMI so is compatible with Sky HD connector-wise but I'm concerned about the 50/60Hz issue (and of course being an American model TV has no scart sockets at all......).

24-01-2007, 16:03	#10
GreenwichCT Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16	Amazingly enough no-one at Sony support can answer my question....why am I not surprised.

24-01-2007, 16:27	#11
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by GreenwichCT Amazingly enough no-one at Sony support can answer my question....why am I not surprised. Two reasons!. 1) Why would Sony UK know anything about an American TV?, and why would they offer support for a set they don't sell and have never seen. 2) Sony customer support isn't done by Sony any more!, it's been sold off to a third party company.

24-01-2007, 16:32	#12
GreenwichCT Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16	Ah, I'm still in the USA, and Sony US don't know the specs of their own TVs although I think it's quite likely it only works at 60Hz - and it's still Sony who do their own support centre here.

24-01-2007, 17:42	#13
GreenwichCT Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16	Just to end the story, I managed to get a response from the Sony regional (North East US) repair centre. All Sony TV's sold in the US are NTSC compatible only, 60Hz and that's it. Pity, good TV and they're cheap as hell here.

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HDTV compatibility......