PAL in Canada?

Lanky · 06-03-2003, 13:44

In the Uk some video recorders are capable of playing NTSC system tapes as well Pal. My daughter is spending a year in Canada. Does anyone know whether videos in Canada have the capability to show Pal tapes.

Thank you

Orbitalzone · 06-03-2003, 19:19

Well from what I saw in the USA (ok it's not Canada, but similar products sold) there are no (or almost no) PAL compatible vcr's or TV's.... that's not to say they can't be found (for a price) but they're not common as NTSC are in Europe.

NTSC compatible machines started in Europe because of the many US troops in West Germany, UK and other countries... they wanted to play USA tapes, so suitable vcr's / TV's were produced.

Now it's more to do with region 1 DVD films, but it's not too likely that an American would want to play a region 2 DVD as we get the released films much later then in the USA.

EDIT

I stand corrected!... a quick search reveals that multi standard VCR's and TV's are to be from some stores... Here for example......

GaryB · 06-03-2003, 21:05

Apart from the really cheap supermarket VCRs, most decent brands now have multi-standard playback. This is mainly because it's cheaper for manufacturers to make a single chipset and use it all over the world rather than make specific chipsets for each region.

Jim Rae · 07-03-2003, 00:05

Are you sure?

Many PAL TVs will accept pseudo NTSC playback, but not the real thing.

And I'm not at all sure it will work the other way around...

Orbitalzone · 07-03-2003, 18:08

Well on the link I posted, there are PAL compatible TV/ VCR's in the US... however, I don't think they're quite as common as NTSC equipments are in Europe.

GaryB · 08-03-2003, 19:54

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Rae
Are you sure?

Many PAL TVs will accept pseudo NTSC playback, but not the real thing.

And I'm not at all sure it will work the other way around...

It's usually in there. Wether the manufacturer chooses to enable it is another thing. Many modern chipsets have a pin which can be pulled high or low or left floating to choose if the set will play NTSC, PAL or both.

Orbitalzone · 08-03-2003, 21:10

That's certainly true of European TV's and videos, stands to reason it might well apply to USA and other NTSC coutnries.... more likely that it's an unused feature in many NTSC equipments though, from what I've seen whilst living in USA

Jim Rae · 10-03-2003, 11:41

Just out of interest - would VCRs in Canada not be available with SECAM rather than PAL to allow tapes to be played by the significant French population?

Orbitalzone · 10-03-2003, 16:37

Yes Jim, you're probably right!

When I went to Quebec it was like being in France but with American money! .... so I'd guess Secam video tapes would likely be sent from friends and families in France....

Jim Rae · 10-03-2003, 22:24

I honestly don't know the answer - it was just a thought....

Any French Canadians out there who can help?

06-03-2003, 13:44	#1
Lanky Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancashire Posts: 216	PAL in Canada? In the Uk some video recorders are capable of playing NTSC system tapes as well Pal. My daughter is spending a year in Canada. Does anyone know whether videos in Canada have the capability to show Pal tapes. Thank you

06-03-2003, 19:19	#2
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	Well from what I saw in the USA (ok it's not Canada, but similar products sold) there are no (or almost no) PAL compatible vcr's or TV's.... that's not to say they can't be found (for a price) but they're not common as NTSC are in Europe. NTSC compatible machines started in Europe because of the many US troops in West Germany, UK and other countries... they wanted to play USA tapes, so suitable vcr's / TV's were produced. Now it's more to do with region 1 DVD films, but it's not too likely that an American would want to play a region 2 DVD as we get the released films much later then in the USA. EDIT I stand corrected!... a quick search reveals that multi standard VCR's and TV's are to be from some stores... Here for example......

06-03-2003, 21:05	#3
GaryB Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: St Albans Posts: 4,088	Apart from the really cheap supermarket VCRs, most decent brands now have multi-standard playback. This is mainly because it's cheaper for manufacturers to make a single chipset and use it all over the world rather than make specific chipsets for each region.

07-03-2003, 00:05	#4
Jim Rae Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ayrshire Posts: 4,125	Are you sure? Many PAL TVs will accept pseudo NTSC playback, but not the real thing. And I'm not at all sure it will work the other way around...

07-03-2003, 18:08	#5
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	Well on the link I posted, there are PAL compatible TV/ VCR's in the US... however, I don't think they're quite as common as NTSC equipments are in Europe.

08-03-2003, 19:54	#6
GaryB Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: St Albans Posts: 4,088	Quote: Originally posted by Jim Rae Are you sure? Many PAL TVs will accept pseudo NTSC playback, but not the real thing. And I'm not at all sure it will work the other way around... It's usually in there. Wether the manufacturer chooses to enable it is another thing. Many modern chipsets have a pin which can be pulled high or low or left floating to choose if the set will play NTSC, PAL or both.

08-03-2003, 21:10	#7
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	That's certainly true of European TV's and videos, stands to reason it might well apply to USA and other NTSC coutnries.... more likely that it's an unused feature in many NTSC equipments though, from what I've seen whilst living in USA

10-03-2003, 11:41	#8
Jim Rae Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ayrshire Posts: 4,125	Just out of interest - would VCRs in Canada not be available with SECAM rather than PAL to allow tapes to be played by the significant French population?

10-03-2003, 16:37	#9
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	Yes Jim, you're probably right! When I went to Quebec it was like being in France but with American money! .... so I'd guess Secam video tapes would likely be sent from friends and families in France....

10-03-2003, 22:24	#10
Jim Rae Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ayrshire Posts: 4,125	I honestly don't know the answer - it was just a thought.... Any French Canadians out there who can help?

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PAL in Canada?