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From: gv@hou2e.UUCP (A.VANNUCCI)
Newsgroups: net.analog,net.misc,net.tv
Subject: Re: TV & VCR standards
Message-ID: <795@hou2e.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 15-Jan-86 12:27:32 EST
Article-I.D.: hou2e.795
Posted: Wed Jan 15 12:27:32 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 17-Jan-86 01:45:32 EST
References: <512@nicmad.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 26
Xref: watmath net.analog:616 net.misc:9108 net.tv:3860

> The tape is not different.  I sent tapes to my mother-in-law for her to
> record the last season of Dr. Who.  I couldn't play them here, but I did
> get them digitally converted.  That job cost me about $1700.00.

   For a lot less than that I bought a multi-system TV set and a 
multi-system VCR.  I can watch television in the US where we use
the NTSC system, record US shows and play US tapes.  I flip a switch
and I can play PAL tapes that my father sends me from Italy.

   The fact is that conversion from one of the european systems (PAL or
SECAM) to the american system is difficult due to the different frame
and horizontal scan rates.  But making a TV set or VCR that works with
both simply requires retuning of the various oscillators, and minor
differences in the signal-processing schemes.   As a result, multi-system
TV sets and VCR's cost little more their NTSC-only counterparts.

   Using a multi-system TV and VCR you can do a home-made conversion by
placing an NTSC camera in front of the TV screen where you play a PAL
tape (the sound can be transferred directly through a cable, as there
is no incompatibility there).   The quality is surprisingly good,
especially when you compare prices !!!

		Giovanni Vannucci
		AT&T Bell Laboratories      HOH R-207
		Holmdel, NJ 07733
		hou2e!gv