British Expats

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-   Australia (https://britishexpats.com/forum/australia-54/)
-   -   Tv (https://britishexpats.com/forum/australia-54/tv-346260/)

kiap Jan 5th 2006 6:20 am

Re: Tv
 

Originally Posted by Matt Sabin
OK. Geeky bandwidth boy - how do I tell? It's a Panasonic DMR-E50. Any idea?
If you can tell me the answer then I shall forever worship the bandwidth god... :cool:

Err ... dunno .. read the manual. :rolleyes:

But if it was me I'd be looking at selling it and picking up a replacement in Aus.

Happy to stay in the human league for now :)
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Matt Sabin Jan 5th 2006 6:54 am

Re: Tv
 
cool. cheers :)

kiap Jan 5th 2006 8:52 am

Re: Tv
 
This might help a bit more guys...

DVD players/recorders
The manual, or info on the back of your player (or a web-search) should be able to tell you if your DVD player is All Region or not. Unless you are lucky it will probably be only DVD Region 2 which is not particulaly useful in Aus. It is possible to "upgrade" some models to All Regions though - (AT YOUR OWN RISK!) ... Check out:
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks

These guys sell a zapper that can be used to upgrade Panasonics:
www.shoyle.f9.co.uk/dvdchipsuk/nosoldere50.htm

Might be worth a shot to save a few $ ... it's up to you :p

If you have a DVD recorder with an inbuilt analogue TV receiver then it is worth checking whether that receiver can pick up Aus TV (see PAL TV Receivers below) - particularly if you want to use the date/time/channel program feature to record free-to-air TV, because this won't work unless you can tune into the channels!

If the DVD recorder has a video input you could still record whatever you connect into that (say a set top box) but it is not the same thing because you only get one input and you can't program the DVD recorder to change channels

PAL TV receivers
The 8MHz signals in the UK are PAL I type and the 7MHz signals in Australia are PAL B/G types. Some of the newer equipment can handle multiple types. The maunual or info on the back of the system should be able to tell you.

If it has PAL I/BG then then you don't need anything more because you've got both countries covered. :cool:

If you've got a TV which is PAL I only then you can still use the AV input with a set top box or a VCR (with PAL B/G receiver) to receive Aus TV. :)
Good Luck
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Matt Sabin Jan 5th 2006 9:16 am

Re: Tv
 
NICE.... Cheers+++

Karma+++

kiap Jan 5th 2006 10:28 am

Re: Tv
 

Originally Posted by Matt Sabin
NICE.... Cheers+++

Karma+++

No probs - hopefully it is helpful. Karma back to you.

One other suggestion: Even if you can get your DVD machine to handle All Regions I would still consider offloading if it doesn't look like the TV receiver will pick up PAL B/G (edited my last post with a note on this above).

Cheers
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Matt Sabin Jan 5th 2006 10:30 am

Re: Tv
 
B*gg*r - found the manuals...

DVD Player - Region 2 :mad:

TV - PAL1 :mad:

Presume that means we're buying new ones in Oz then...? :(

Tiawamutu Jan 5th 2006 10:37 am

Re: Tv
 

Originally Posted by lawlaw
hi I would be really careful about this we bought a widescreen tv, dvd and vcr from Sony only 2 years ago, I assumed they would be fine but the other day thought I would just send sony an email to check they are compatible and there not, none of them. which is gutting.


I know they said they are not, but I would double check if I were you as half the time they don't know what they're talking about :rolleyes:

It's more often the sound that's the problem.

This is what the different countries specs are:

Australia System B : Color = PAL : Stereo = Zweiton B/G
United Kingdom System I : Color = PAL : Stereo = Nicam I

Look in the manual, or in the set up menu, or it is sometimes on the back of the TV. You should look for I or B/G

Tiawamutu Jan 5th 2006 10:42 am

Re: Tv
 

Originally Posted by Matt Sabin
B*gg*r - found the manuals...

DVD Player - Region 2 :mad:

TV - PAL1 :mad:

Presume that means we're buying new ones in Oz then...? :(

Don't worry, all is not lost :)

DVD player's region can be changed try going to http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/info/multiregion/ and look for your model of DVD player :)

TV will be PAL I not PAL 1. It'a also not the end of the world, as you can either watch your TV through VCR/DVD or AU Digi box :)

kiap Jan 5th 2006 10:45 am

Re: Tv
 

Originally Posted by Matt Sabin
B*gg*r - found the manuals...

DVD Player - Region 2 :mad:

TV - PAL1 :mad:

Presume that means we're buying new ones in Oz then...? :(

Don't sweat it too much...

If the TV is a reasonably good one, I'd ship it and just get a digital set top box when you get to Oz. :cool:

DVD player - see comments above. If you want to try the upgrade to All regions, and are happy with the inbuilt receiver being either PAL B/G compatible or not (as per the comments in blue in previous post) then ship it. Otherwise off-load it and get another one in Oz
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ABCDiamond Jan 5th 2006 10:54 am

Re: Tv
 

Originally Posted by kiap
TV aint TV :p

Analogue TV signals in Australia are PAL with 7MHz bandwidth.
Analogue TV signals in UK are also PAL but with 8MHz bandwidth.

Unfortunately this means that the tuners within the TV are different in the two countries, even although the rest of the TV circuitry is much the same.

This applies to the PAL tuners in VCRs, etc, as well.

If you are really want to keep your UK TV set to watch free-to-air TV in Oz you could probably get around the problem by getting something like a a VCR with an Australian PAL TV tuner and using the AV input on your TV. Or better still, get a digital terrestrial set top box (costs $75 for a cheapie, a bit more for a better brand) to get a nice clean picture ;)


The reason for is related to the signal bandwidth difference I have mentioned above. The sound carriers are not in the same position for UK and Oz.

Good Luck!
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That's worth some Karma, and a couple of blue boxes for you :)

More TV info

kiap Jan 5th 2006 11:19 am

Re: Tv
 

Originally Posted by ABCDiamond
That's worth some Karma, and a couple of blue boxes for you :)

More TV info

That's a good link which covers it well!

Something else people will probably need when using their UK appliances (incl. TVs etc) in Aus is a power point adaptor, although most probably already know that. They're reasonably cheap so not really a problem.

Karma back to you. :)
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extrameant Jan 5th 2006 2:00 pm

Re: Tv
 

Originally Posted by kiap
This might help a bit more guys...






PAL TV receivers
The 8MHz signals in the UK are PAL I type and the 7MHz signals in Australia are PAL B/G types. Some of the newer equipment can handle multiple types. The maunual or info on the back of the system should be able to tell you.




If it has PAL I/BG then then you don't need anything more because you've got both countries covered. :cool:

If you've got a TV which is PAL I only then you can still use the AV input with a set top box or a VCR (with PAL B/G receiver) to receive Aus TV. :)


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While what you say is correct, its not the whole story. In UK, all TV transmission is done on UHF channels, ever since black and white TV was switched off. Australia presently transmits analogue TV on UHF and VHF, but predominantly on VHF.

Australia uses 7MHz UHF and VHF bandwidth channels to modulate the TV signal onto. While Pal B uses VHF and PAL G uses UHF, it doesn’t follow that PALB or G is always on 7MHz rf bandwidth. For instance New Zealand uses PALB/G but across 8MHz rf bandwidth, which is the same bandwidth as UK.

Some TV’s which can switch to PALB/G may work in Australia, even if they are expecting the signal to be across 8MHz bandwidth, as the UK uses. The tuner might be able to pull in the difference or it might not. I think this might be why there is a lot of confusion over this still, because some people are told it will work, and in fact it doesn’t. There’s no real way of knowing if your 8Mhz tuner will work on a 7Mhz channel, except to try it.

However, one person recently put up his specs for his UK TV from his manual and that particular model switched to PAL B/G on European radio channels, ie 7MHz, which is correct for Australia.

To me it’s a no brainer though, because digital TV here is well established and if you’re in a metropolitan area, a set top box and your existing Telly will give you a much better picture than the TV on its own anyway. They are only about $100, but you do need a decent UHF aerial. Might as well bring the TV and use a digital set top box, connected through the aux inputs, ie not through the aerial socket on your TV. That way it doesn't matter if your TV is PALI,B,G or if the tuner is 7Mhz or 8Mhz, cos you bypass all that.

kiap Jan 5th 2006 6:04 pm

Re: Tv
 

Originally Posted by extrameant
While what you say is correct, its not the whole story. In UK, all TV transmission is done on UHF channels, ever since black and white TV was switched off. Australia presently transmits analogue TV on UHF and VHF, but predominantly on VHF.

Australia uses 7MHz UHF and VHF bandwidth channels to modulate the TV signal onto. While Pal B uses VHF and PAL G uses UHF, it doesn’t follow that PALB or G is always on 7MHz rf bandwidth. For instance New Zealand uses PALB/G but across 8MHz rf bandwidth, which is the same bandwidth as UK.

Some TV’s which can switch to PALB/G may work in Australia, even if they are expecting the signal to be across 8MHz bandwidth, as the UK uses. The tuner might be able to pull in the difference or it might not. I think this might be why there is a lot of confusion over this still, because some people are told it will work, and in fact it doesn’t. There’s no real way of knowing if your 8Mhz tuner will work on a 7Mhz channel, except to try it.

However, one person recently put up his specs for his UK TV from his manual and that particular model switched to PAL B/G on European radio channels, ie 7MHz, which is correct for Australia.

To me it’s a no brainer though, because digital TV here is well established and if you’re in a metropolitan area, a set top box and your existing Telly will give you a much better picture than the TV on its own anyway. They are only about $100, but you do need a decent UHF aerial. Might as well bring the TV and use a digital set top box, connected through the aux inputs, ie not through the aerial socket on your TV. That way it doesn't matter if your TV is PALI,B,G or if the tuner is 7Mhz or 8Mhz, cos you bypass all that.

Good points on the set top box recommendation and the NZ info. :cool:

Just to tech it up level though,
PAL B always has a 7 MHz channel bandwidth.
PAL G always has a 8 MHz channel bandwidth. :p

The good news however is that, despite this channel bandwidth difference, both systems have the sound carriers at the same spacing relative to vision carrier.

This means that the systems are very compatible receiverwise - which is probably why "PAL B/G" is so often bandied around. The main difference to be aware of is that the channel steps of 7 and 8 MHz respectively. This would only be a problem if your your PAL receiver can't tune in MHz steps
If you want more detail, check out: If your UK TV says PAL B/G it should work in Aus which is PAL B (for VHF and UHF) or NZ which is PAL G.

Cheers :)
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chatty34 Jan 5th 2006 6:24 pm

Re: Tv
 

Originally Posted by Matt Sabin
Sorry to start a new thread on this, but I'm a bit confused by the different postings regarding TVs. Some say they work, some say they don't, some say they work with top boxes....

We've just got a normal panasonic tele and panasonic DVD recorder/player and now I don't know whether they should go on the ship or not.

Advice please... :confused:

We bought 5 TV's with us, chanced it really as like you we had heard conflicting stories. Some were about 5 years old but 2 a sony and Matsui were only about a year old and not one of them worked. We could get fuzzy pics but no sound. The good news is that all of them work with a Top Box or through Foxtel, the Top Boxes are $75.00 in Coles.

extrameant Jan 5th 2006 6:44 pm

Re: Tv
 

Originally Posted by kiap
Good points on the set top box recommendation and the NZ info. :cool:

Just to tech it up level though,

PAL B always has a 7 MHz channel bandwidth.

PAL G always has a 8 MHz channel bandwidth. :p

The good news however is that, despite this channel bandwidth difference, both systems have the sound carriers at the same spacing relative to vision carrier.

This means that the systems are very compatible receiverwise - which is probably why "PAL B/G" is so often bandied around. The main difference to be aware of is that the channel steps of 7 and 8 MHz respectively. This would only be a problem if your your PAL receiver can't tune in MHz steps


If you want more detail, check out:If your UK TV says PAL B/G it should work in Aus which is PAL B (for VHF and UHF) or NZ which is PAL G.


Cheers :)
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Thats quite embarassing, I have been getting that wrong for years!. I won't tell you what job I do after that. :o


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