Expert: Octane - 8/21/2009

Question
QUESTION: Do you know of any NTSC TV in USA (not imports) that can display PAL signals. I have read your previous advice to use HD component cable for Wii. I guess that can be applied to my Xboxes too (I might need Component video switchers as most TV only has 1 componnet input but several HDMIs). Anyway, what about my PAL Camcorder, I have a SD (not HD) Sony HDD camcorder which only has composite AV cables, could I be able to view my recordings on a TV bought in USA?

ANSWER: Gdya Weng,

Yes the HD Component cables advice is fairly much universal for all current generation Gaming systems.  You run them at 720p you should be fine regardless of them being NTSC or PAL (Maybe 1080 as well)

Unfortunately there aren't too many standard TV in the USA that can switch between PAL and NTSC.  You can watch the PAL signal on an NTSC TV but depending on the TV it will range from a rolling signal to just black and white.  I have yet to find one that is cheap and can be picked up at anywhere like a Walmart.  So you really have to get a converter box which will run you over $100 to playback your PAL Camcorder to your TV.  (If you go that route remember the cheap $25-30 ones are NTSC to PAL and not PAL to NTSC you will be paying easily $100 for a converter)

I would check into a couple of things with your Sony Camcorder.  Like what it is capable of outputting or what file format it output to on a computer.  Provided your camera is storing the video digitally you are going to be fine, which I believe HDD is storing it in some kind of flash memory.  If it is storing it on a SD card or similar even better.  It is more that likely storing the file as a Mpeg or AVI file just when you output it thru the component cables it is outputting/converting to PAL signal because the camera is a PAL one.  If you off load it onto your computer or connect thru a USB to your computer it will be fine to view via the computer because it running a computer standard not a TV Signal standard.  (Then make a DVD from there to play on your TV)  I doubt that camera can convert the signal from PAL to NTSC but if your TV has a USB connection and plays MPegs then you might be able to go that route.

Ultimately the cheapest route would be Camcorder to Computer then to DVD.  besides you want to get a hard copy of your favorite moments just in case.  You probably have everything needed already to do this.  (Computer, DVD Burner, DVD Player)

Hope this helps you out.

Octane

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your good advice. Can I ask you another question:

1) Can you recommend a good PAL to NTSC converter? I read that some PAL-NTSC converter wouldn't work because of the 50Hz and 60Hz discrepancy?

2) Can you also recommend any good automatic component switcher? I think I would be looking at a switcher to automatically select between 2 HD component inputs of Wii and Xbox.

Thanks in advance.

Answer
Gday Again Weng,

Unfortunately I am not going to be much help this time.  

Can't recommend a PAL to NTSC Converter (Because I never have had use for one), although most of them should convert the signal from PAL 50 MHz to NTSC 60 Mhz but again they will cost you a pretty penny (Starting at $100)  The more expensive you get usually the better quality output you get.

Component switchers usually follow the same rule the cheaper it is the chance of it not working well is fairly good.  Stay away from manual ones.  Usually I would check with you TV manufacture and see if they recommend one.

Octane