British Expatriate Network

I have been trying to make sure that we will have decent NTSC TV capability in the UK so that we can use our Playstation, DVDs, videos etc.

I was thinking that we would need to buy a multi-system TV just for this purpose. However, I have discovered that new British TVs are capable of reading NTSC inputs from DVDs, camcorders etc. The prices don't seem any different from the TVs that don't have this feature either. This is really good news for us.

Actually Jo I was surprised when I was in England at Christmas just how many DVD players were on sale which were multi-region (code free) so you can play DVD's from anywhere in the world.

http//www.amazon.co.uk is currently selling a multi-region DVD player for 120 GBP and I'm sure if you look at websites for Dixons/Currys/Comet etc. you will find similar items on sale. smile

I've just taken another look at the http//www.amazon.co.uk electronics page and they're selling a Pioneer DVD multi-region player for 100 pounds.

Not bad at all! grin

Now I wonder why the mulit-region systems not widely marketed here in the US? roll

My girlfriend bought one of the very early DVD players on the market and we can play both formats. (We are very good BlackStar customers now)

It seems on later models in North America some sort of blocking device was installed.

Don't forget you'll also need voltage converters to step down from 240v ac to 110v ac if you're taking US gear to the UK.

If nothing else, you'll be paying a fortune for import PS2 games.... heh heh heh

We'll be buying our TV equipment in the UK, so won't have any probs with voltage. I will get a couple of low power transformers for the few bits and pieces we are taking. We have run a few UK items off a transformer for the past few years and it has worked fine.

We have plenty of PS2 games already, but there isn't a lot to pay for importing these into the UK. As long as you are below £18 apparently, there isn't any duty or vat to pay. Also, DH will be making lots of trips back here, so he can always slip a couple of games into his suitcase well within his duty limit. I'm just pleased that I don't have to take a US TV with us just to play PS games. Space will be at a bit of a premium!

Apparently, you can make most DVD players region-free simply by pressing a sequence of numbers on the remote control! Whatever we buy, I'll make sure it's code free from the start or hackable.

We have a great little portable DVD player (battery operated with flip-up screen), and this will work with the TVs that can take NTSC signals.

Before I left England I bought my dad a VCR which had NTSC playback for seventy quid. It seems pretty standard now. Unfortunately, not the other way around, so I still haven't seen any of "The Bill" tapes he has sent me.

send the bill tapes to me and i'll gladly copy them onto american format for you ..
just cover the postage and send me a few blank tapes ok.
i have a worldwide video set up to copy pal to ntsc and vise versa. :roll:

CamCorders

Looking at old threads for help - no joy cry

I'm thinking of buying a DIGITAL CAMCORDER here in the US that I want to use when I go back to the UK. The man in the Sony Shop on Fitfh Avenue said that US Camcorders had formatting problems with European devices. He more or less advised me not to buy a Camcorder if I was moving back to Europe. I now can't remember what he said and why...
I am a bit of a laggard when it comes to technology but know just enough to be dangerous. Does anyone know their Camcorder stuff?

1. I have a Sony Vaio laptop purchased about three years ago.

2. A UK DVD player (in storage) only plays European DVD's

If I buy a Camcorder here in the US will I be able to download onto my PC and burn dvd copies?

I don't have the thingy for burning CDs/DVD's. If I buy that here will it work in the UK also? How much do they cost?

Regarding the voltage differences. Will I need anyting more sophisticated than a travel plug? Will the Camcorder explode if I use it or must I buy a transformer

Good info links or personal experiences appreciated...

I have a US digital camcorder and US computer. Not that I do it a lot, but I have managed to burn a CD and play it on a UK multiregion DVD player (£29 from Amazon), then tape it onto a VHS tape.

As for DVD burners, I just bought an internal one from PC World for about £35. It's set to play R2 DVDs, so presumably record in that format too.

Our camcorder plays directly on our British TV without any problems (the TV accepts NTSC input via the AV connectors). It should also work directly with my VCR, but haven't tried it yet. Must make a point of doing this lol .

As for voltage concerns, my Panasonic charger is multi-region, so all it needs is either a new power cord (it uses a standard radio cable), or a plug adapter.

lol lol

My NTSC/PAL VCR just died - right as I was about to watch Raging Bull. I was crushed. Anyway, it cannot be saved so now I'm considering ponying up for an NTSC/PAL VCR/DVD player.

I know there's been lots of talk around these issues already but am wondering if there's any new info or experiences that people would be willing to share.

And what is it about not being able to have/do something that makes one want it 100 times more intensely?? I haven't watched a video tape in about a year, have 184 items on my Netflix list and suddenly, all that appeals is watching UK videos. Argh.

I have seen them in COSTCO, am not afan of all in one, and the size of it too o