British VCRs in Oz
Nov 9th 2003, 10:17 am
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 334
British VCRs in Oz
Hi - tried to read all the stuff about TVs and VCRs on the site but my head exploded...
We brought our UK VCR with us as our toddler can operate the buttons and goes bonkers when faced with a VCR he can't rewind/fast forward or whatever.
This is what we've found out. Converting UK VCRs to work to receive/tape Oz programmes is too expensive to be bothered with. Converting TVs is a bit cheaper maybe - haven't done it yet.
But...you can use your UK VCR to play tapes with an Oz TV (good for kids as they trash any decent VCR you own anyway). That way you can get some use out of it rather than selling it secondhand in the UK for peanuts.
You need to make sure the Oz TV has AV inputs - the sound and picture ones usually at the front that you use for camcorders. The TVs with AV inputs don't seem to cost any more - each brand seems to have a few models like that.
Then just get a cable from Dick Smith Electronics or wherever that has AV plugs on one end (3 plugs - 2 audio (only plug one in if TV is mono) and 1 picture). The other end of the cable needs a scart or AV outputs (whichever your video has for output). Plug your video into the TV as if you were plugging in a camcorder and it works fine and plays all those annoying Teletubbies tapes you brought with you.
We found The Good Guys to be the cheapest electrical retailer. I think each branch is a separate operator trading as a franchise. Listed in the yellow pages. Their website is www.thegoodguys.com.au but it's meaningless as they have a lot of stuff that's not listed on the site and they will sell you things much cheaper than listed for cash (we got things around 15% cheaper). We bought a 14" JVC portable TV with AV inputs and a bookshelf Phillips stereo (detachable wood colour speakers) for the kitchen for $440 together.
Good luck all,
Jo
We brought our UK VCR with us as our toddler can operate the buttons and goes bonkers when faced with a VCR he can't rewind/fast forward or whatever.
This is what we've found out. Converting UK VCRs to work to receive/tape Oz programmes is too expensive to be bothered with. Converting TVs is a bit cheaper maybe - haven't done it yet.
But...you can use your UK VCR to play tapes with an Oz TV (good for kids as they trash any decent VCR you own anyway). That way you can get some use out of it rather than selling it secondhand in the UK for peanuts.
You need to make sure the Oz TV has AV inputs - the sound and picture ones usually at the front that you use for camcorders. The TVs with AV inputs don't seem to cost any more - each brand seems to have a few models like that.
Then just get a cable from Dick Smith Electronics or wherever that has AV plugs on one end (3 plugs - 2 audio (only plug one in if TV is mono) and 1 picture). The other end of the cable needs a scart or AV outputs (whichever your video has for output). Plug your video into the TV as if you were plugging in a camcorder and it works fine and plays all those annoying Teletubbies tapes you brought with you.
We found The Good Guys to be the cheapest electrical retailer. I think each branch is a separate operator trading as a franchise. Listed in the yellow pages. Their website is www.thegoodguys.com.au but it's meaningless as they have a lot of stuff that's not listed on the site and they will sell you things much cheaper than listed for cash (we got things around 15% cheaper). We bought a 14" JVC portable TV with AV inputs and a bookshelf Phillips stereo (detachable wood colour speakers) for the kitchen for $440 together.
Good luck all,
Jo
Nov 9th 2003, 10:24 am
#2
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Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Nappyland
Posts: 2,886
Re: British VCRs in Oz
Originally posted by Jolyn
Hi - tried to read all the stuff about TVs and VCRs on the site but my head exploded...
We brought our UK VCR with us as our toddler can operate the buttons and goes bonkers when faced with a VCR he can't rewind/fast forward or whatever.
This is what we've found out. Converting UK VCRs to work to receive/tape Oz programmes is too expensive to be bothered with. Converting TVs is a bit cheaper maybe - haven't done it yet.
But...you can use your UK VCR to play tapes with an Oz TV (good for kids as they trash any decent VCR you own anyway). That way you can get some use out of it rather than selling it secondhand in the UK for peanuts.
You need to make sure the Oz TV has AV inputs - the sound and picture ones usually at the front that you use for camcorders. The TVs with AV inputs don't seem to cost any more - each brand seems to have a few models like that.
Then just get a cable from Dick Smith Electronics or wherever that has AV plugs on one end (3 plugs - 2 audio (only plug one in if TV is mono) and 1 picture). The other end of the cable needs a scart or AV outputs (whichever your video has for output). Plug your video into the TV as if you were plugging in a camcorder and it works fine and plays all those annoying Teletubbies tapes you brought with you.
We found The Good Guys to be the cheapest electrical retailer. I think each branch is a separate operator trading as a franchise. Listed in the yellow pages. Their website is www.thegoodguys.com.au but it's meaningless as they have a lot of stuff that's not listed on the site and they will sell you things much cheaper than listed for cash (we got things around 15% cheaper). We bought a 14" JVC portable TV with AV inputs and a bookshelf Phillips stereo (detachable wood colour speakers) for the kitchen for $440 together.
Good luck all,
Jo
Hi - tried to read all the stuff about TVs and VCRs on the site but my head exploded...
We brought our UK VCR with us as our toddler can operate the buttons and goes bonkers when faced with a VCR he can't rewind/fast forward or whatever.
This is what we've found out. Converting UK VCRs to work to receive/tape Oz programmes is too expensive to be bothered with. Converting TVs is a bit cheaper maybe - haven't done it yet.
But...you can use your UK VCR to play tapes with an Oz TV (good for kids as they trash any decent VCR you own anyway). That way you can get some use out of it rather than selling it secondhand in the UK for peanuts.
You need to make sure the Oz TV has AV inputs - the sound and picture ones usually at the front that you use for camcorders. The TVs with AV inputs don't seem to cost any more - each brand seems to have a few models like that.
Then just get a cable from Dick Smith Electronics or wherever that has AV plugs on one end (3 plugs - 2 audio (only plug one in if TV is mono) and 1 picture). The other end of the cable needs a scart or AV outputs (whichever your video has for output). Plug your video into the TV as if you were plugging in a camcorder and it works fine and plays all those annoying Teletubbies tapes you brought with you.
We found The Good Guys to be the cheapest electrical retailer. I think each branch is a separate operator trading as a franchise. Listed in the yellow pages. Their website is www.thegoodguys.com.au but it's meaningless as they have a lot of stuff that's not listed on the site and they will sell you things much cheaper than listed for cash (we got things around 15% cheaper). We bought a 14" JVC portable TV with AV inputs and a bookshelf Phillips stereo (detachable wood colour speakers) for the kitchen for $440 together.
Good luck all,
Jo
We converted our big TV and it cost about $70. The portable TV wouldn't convert (even tho it was a Sony and less than 2 years old)
We also had to buy a new video!
Was a bit disappointed that the UK DECT phones don't work in Oz and can't be converted.
HP
Nov 9th 2003, 11:39 am
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13
Hi HP
We are using our DECT phones over here, I changed the cable with one from Bunnings so that it would plug in to the Oz socket, only trouble was it would only make out going calls and would'nt ring so we brought a cheap phone just to hear the ring and everything works ok.
Not so lucky with the TV and video we had to buy a new video but the TV was ok, it is something to do with it being a Pal B or G something like that, the sound is received different but the pic is ok.
Cob
We are using our DECT phones over here, I changed the cable with one from Bunnings so that it would plug in to the Oz socket, only trouble was it would only make out going calls and would'nt ring so we brought a cheap phone just to hear the ring and everything works ok.
Not so lucky with the TV and video we had to buy a new video but the TV was ok, it is something to do with it being a Pal B or G something like that, the sound is received different but the pic is ok.
Cob
Nov 9th 2003, 11:53 am
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Nappyland
Posts: 2,886
Originally posted by cob
Hi HP
We are using our DECT phones over here, I changed the cable with one from Bunnings so that it would plug in to the Oz socket, only trouble was it would only make out going calls and would'nt ring so we brought a cheap phone just to hear the ring and everything works ok.
Not so lucky with the TV and video we had to buy a new video but the TV was ok, it is something to do with it being a Pal B or G something like that, the sound is received different but the pic is ok.
Cob
Hi HP
We are using our DECT phones over here, I changed the cable with one from Bunnings so that it would plug in to the Oz socket, only trouble was it would only make out going calls and would'nt ring so we brought a cheap phone just to hear the ring and everything works ok.
Not so lucky with the TV and video we had to buy a new video but the TV was ok, it is something to do with it being a Pal B or G something like that, the sound is received different but the pic is ok.
Cob
We took the DECTs to 3 different places and were advised that they didn't work here - we also tried putting in cables from Aussie phones but couldn't get a dial tone!
The positive I must remember is that having a static phone has probably contributed to low phone bills - we haven't been able to lie on the sofa for hours on end rabbitting to people in the UK cos the phone is in the hall!!
