UK US Digital compatibility

ajdowson · 01-01-2009, 11:19

Moving to US shortly and contemplating buying a new digital TV. One option is obviously to buy in US which is cheaper but risk TV not working with Wii or other UK AV equipment or on return to UK. Other option is to buy in UK and ensure TV is compatible with US systems. I understand that US is going digital in February 2009. Under analogue systems, I understood that there were differences between PAL and NTSC, but unsure of whether there would still be an issue using digital.

Can anybody explain the differences in the respective digital technologies, which I believe are ATSC in US and DVB-T in UK, and explain what I would need to look for if buying a TV in US.

For example, I have looked at Sony Bravia specifications for UK and US models, which have some differences. It seems clear that the UK model would be compatible with PAL and NTSC, but it is far from clear about the US model.

Thanks!!

niall campbell · 01-01-2009, 11:25

buy a UK telly and simply buy a set top box in the US for digital tv

Orbitalzone · 01-01-2009, 11:37

It's often considered a waste of time taking a UK TV to the USA or vice versa.

Note that there's NTSC and then there's NTSC! - a European/UK TV will have NTSC playback comaptability but that doesn't mean it can receive it via the analogue tuner of the TV, it means it can display most NTSC signals fed into the scart socket from an NTSC playing device like DVD or video.

A UK or European TV will not receive any terrestrial analogue or digital US broadcasts using the TV's tuner. A US set top box would be required, note that SCART sockets are not used outside Europe so you'd need converter cables to make use of those (such as SVideo to Scart lead) take some with you as you won't find them in Walmart!

Of course the biggest reason to take a UK tv to the USA is that it will playback PAL material from your UK DVD player or games console... virtually all US TV's do not support PAL playback.

Whether it's worth the bother with regards to shipping costs is something to consider. It might be worth taking a small UK TV over to play the games on and get a US TV for the main viewing?

choices choices!

niall campbell · 01-01-2009, 11:45

and UK tellys will have component or should have

just buy a Wal Mart special over there

Nigel Goodwin · 01-01-2009, 13:48

Don't bother - while a UK TV will most probably work as a monitor in the USA, a USA TV may well not work over here at all, apart from with American signals.

American sets are generally crippled and won't work elsewhere - one reason they are so cheap, they are lower spec.

01-01-2009, 11:19	#1
ajdowson Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5	UK US Digital compatibility Moving to US shortly and contemplating buying a new digital TV. One option is obviously to buy in US which is cheaper but risk TV not working with Wii or other UK AV equipment or on return to UK. Other option is to buy in UK and ensure TV is compatible with US systems. I understand that US is going digital in February 2009. Under analogue systems, I understood that there were differences between PAL and NTSC, but unsure of whether there would still be an issue using digital. Can anybody explain the differences in the respective digital technologies, which I believe are ATSC in US and DVB-T in UK, and explain what I would need to look for if buying a TV in US. For example, I have looked at Sony Bravia specifications for UK and US models, which have some differences. It seems clear that the UK model would be compatible with PAL and NTSC, but it is far from clear about the US model. Thanks!!

01-01-2009, 11:25	#2
niall campbell Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Aberfeldy Posts: 7,035	buy a UK telly and simply buy a set top box in the US for digital tv

01-01-2009, 11:37	#3
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	It's often considered a waste of time taking a UK TV to the USA or vice versa. Note that there's NTSC and then there's NTSC! - a European/UK TV will have NTSC playback comaptability but that doesn't mean it can receive it via the analogue tuner of the TV, it means it can display most NTSC signals fed into the scart socket from an NTSC playing device like DVD or video. A UK or European TV will not receive any terrestrial analogue or digital US broadcasts using the TV's tuner. A US set top box would be required, note that SCART sockets are not used outside Europe so you'd need converter cables to make use of those (such as SVideo to Scart lead) take some with you as you won't find them in Walmart! Of course the biggest reason to take a UK tv to the USA is that it will playback PAL material from your UK DVD player or games console... virtually all US TV's do not support PAL playback. Whether it's worth the bother with regards to shipping costs is something to consider. It might be worth taking a small UK TV over to play the games on and get a US TV for the main viewing? choices choices!

01-01-2009, 11:45	#4
niall campbell Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Aberfeldy Posts: 7,035	and UK tellys will have component or should have just buy a Wal Mart special over there

01-01-2009, 13:48	#5
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Don't bother - while a UK TV will most probably work as a monitor in the USA, a USA TV may well not work over here at all, apart from with American signals. American sets are generally crippled and won't work elsewhere - one reason they are so cheap, they are lower spec.

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UK US Digital compatibility