[Georgebulldog]

I'm completly dumb when it comes to TVs so if anyone can give me a yes/no or something in laymans terms that would be really great

My TV is a Sony & it says the colour system is PAL SECAM NTSC 3.58, 4.44 (only video in) Chanel coverage says I:UHF B21-B69

Any clues anyone before this sells on E Bay for £20 :wah

Thank you

[IanW99]

For a TV to work properly in NZ it must support PAL B/G.

In the UK it is PAL I, so if you only get PAL I option then the sound will not work in NZ.

BTW, On some menus instead of 'system' they allow you to select country instead so you would need to look for a country option that uses PAL B/G for example Germany.

If the TV doesn't support PAL B/G but does have composite video or SCART input then you can still use it by bypassing the tuner e.g. via Sky decoder or a suitable Video recorder. Otherwise it could still be useful for playing UK console games etc.

Ian

[Georgebulldog]

I knew I could count on you Ian, I've read many of your posts & hoped you would see this :nice1

So I can change my TV to Germany under "Picture settings" then I have the following options for "TV Output" Auto - Y/C - RGB - PAL Any of these an good?

Failing that the TV does have SCART sockets so I could do what you said & put everything through the video, I may be contacting you when we get to NZ :D
Thank you so much I'm now going to cacel my E Bay listing as the TV is currently at £11.38 :wah

[IanW99]

I knew I could count on you Ian, I've read many of your posts & hoped you would see this :nice1

So I can change my TV to Germany under "Picture settings" then I have the following options for "TV Output" Auto - Y/C - RGB - PAL Any of these an good?

Failing that the TV does have SCART sockets so I could do what you said & put everything through the video, I may be contacting you when we get to NZ :D
Thank you so much I'm now going to cacel my E Bay listing as the TV is currently at £11.38 :wah

Your welcome.

It looks like you will be fine, just realised that some people may think that they can set the 'language' to German that this is the same thing (it may indicate that it could work in Germany but it could just be that the menus will be displayed in German text.

I suspect you will actually go through a Sky decoder when you get to NZ in which case you will connect via Scart and everything will be as good as :yes .

Ian

[Big Puku]

Careful as many of the UK Sony CRT TV's have probs in NZ - if using an aerial you won't receive all channels and likely no sound either. Solution is to run audio through an NZ video or subscribe to Sky/get Freeview (something you may not want to do in a rental).

Also, if it's a larger screen (25"+) you will probably have picture purity problems (regardless of whether you have Sky etc), caused by the TV being made for the northern hemisphere. This made my set virtually unwatchable - the cure is to remove and turn the picture tube 180 deg and then reset purity and convergence etc (most Sony repairers will do this for you for $80 or so, but it's a pain).

I brought my Sony KV-32DS60U (32" widescreen) over with me and wish I hadn't!

Matt

[IanW99]

...
Also, if it's a larger screen (25"+) you will probably have picture purity problems (regardless of whether you have Sky etc), caused by the TV being made for the northern hemisphere. This made my set virtually unwatchable - the cure is to remove and turn the picture tube 180 deg and then reset purity and convergence etc (most Sony repairers will do this for you for $80 or so, but it's a pain).
...


I think that you were probably unlucky, it sounds like you had 'electrical derangement', if you had insurance that included this protection then you may have had a claim?

We brought over 3 CRT TVs including a 33" and also two CRT monitors without any problems.

TVs aren't actually specifically made for the northern hemisphere and many are shipped from countries such as Japan to the northern hemisphere without any problems.

But you do raise a valid point about CRT tubes, they are magnetic in nature therefore affected by the earths magnetic field and when their picture geometry is set-up it is relative to that location.

The normal problem that you would see under this scenario when you move the TV from one hemisphere to the other is that the picture would become tilted slightly from horizontal.

Ian

[Big Puku]

Probably was unlucky :uhoh - all the other monitors/CRT's we brought over were ok, just the big Sony.

According to a couple of the Sony repairers locally, Sony have quite a few "UK only" models (although you're right most tubes are from Japan) and they've seen quite a few with picture probs caused by passive alignment issues (i.e. the ones they set in the factory).

On the plus side, it did let me persuade the missus to get a Plasma!

[andy141]

Also, if it's a larger screen (25"+) you will probably have picture purity problems (regardless of whether you have Sky etc), caused by the TV being made for the northern hemisphere.


I've heard this myth before when I had occasion to work in Oz a few years ago. Basically it's a scam set up by some disreputable radio/tv 'repairers' to make a few dollars out of gullible people.

True, a tv may suffer the rigours of the journey especially if it was shipped by sea. If it is a CRT model the CRT could be affected by magnetic fields from all sorts of sources emanating from it's surroundings. This could be the container it was shipped in, any electrical machinery close by(working or non working as most motors have magnets or residual magnetism involved within them) or careless packing by the packers, it is common for packers to group items together eg hi-fi's and their speakers(sources of very strong magnetic fields) and other electrical items including tv's.

The simple solution which any reputable tv engineer would employ would be to de-gauss the CRT(i.e. de-magnetise the shadow mask within the CRT) several times using a de-gaussing coil which is many times more powerful than the coil installed in the tv. This should only take minutes to do and the cost would be minimal -- certainly a LOT less than the eighty odd dollars quoted above.

[nickydwuk]

My plasma has scart sockets so we should have no problem in using that in NZ? We don't really want to sell it as it is only 2 years old but would like to be sure it will work ok in NZ.

[IanW99]

My plasma has scart sockets so we should have no problem in using that in NZ? We don't really want to sell it as it is only 2 years old but would like to be sure it will work ok in NZ.

Scart sockets are no guarantee of not having problems in NZ. Scart is a European connection standard and as such you will find very little equipment in NZ actually have it. The only major user of Scart is Sky.

The simplest way to check is to confirm that your TV supports PAL B/G.

Most Plasma and LCD TVs from the UK will almost certainly work, it is really CRT TVs that have the problems. And, worst case scenario, you just use a Sky decoder or DVD recorder (video) to bypass the RF tuner part.

If you can't find it listed in the manual, then maybe you can post the make and model and someone else may be able to confirm for sure?

Ian

[nickydwuk]

Can't find anything in the manual that says whether my TV can be tuned to PAL B/G. If anyone can help the TV is a Philips 42" plasma model number: Philips 42PF55200. Thanks

[IanW99]

Can't find anything in the manual that says whether my TV can be tuned to PAL B/G. If anyone can help the TV is a Philips 42" plasma model number: Philips 42PF55200. Thanks

Yep, this TV is fine for working in NZ, according to the brochure:-

TV system: PAL, PAL B/G, PAL D/K, PAL I, SECAM, SECAM B/G, SECAM D/K, SECAM L/L'

(the model is 42PF5520D isn't it?)

Ian

[flowerlady]

Hi
really silly question, i dont know why i am even asking this,but would my freeview box with harddrive work in nz.i think i already know the answer.
lisa

[nickydwuk]

Yep, this TV is fine for working in NZ, according to the brochure:-

TV system: PAL, PAL B/G, PAL D/K, PAL I, SECAM, SECAM B/G, SECAM D/K, SECAM L/L'

(the model is 42PF5520D isn't it?)

Ian

Yes it is 42PF5520D. My eyesight was a bit squiffy when I checked the model number :laugh How would I have to set it up to work in NZ? Is it just a matter of going into the menu and changing a setting?

[IanW99]

Hi
really silly question, i dont know why i am even asking this,but would my freeview box with harddrive work in nz.i think i already know the answer.
lisa

If the answer was no, then yes you already knew the answer :laugh

Although NZ also now has a freeview service it isn't the same system that is used in th UK (and only via satellite at the moment).

AFAIK, it is unlikely that it will be of much use at all in NZ so would sell it before you leave.

Ian

[IanW99]

Yes it is 42PF5520D. My eyesight was a bit squiffy when I checked the model number :laugh How would I have to set it up to work in NZ? Is it just a matter of going into the menu and changing a setting?

I haven't read the manual for this but it is likely that it will be smart enough that when you say to 'auto-tune' to the NZ TV stations that it will work out the standard automatically and just work.

On the other hand, there will be an option in one of the menus to set it to the appropriate standard.

BTW, If you are planning on using Sky (or Freeview) then you may not bother to re-tune it at all as you would just use one of the AV (scart) 'channels' instead.

Ian

[nickydwuk]

Thanks Ian - you are a real star. :cheers :cheers

[Moorf Junior]

how about HDMI, will any NZ HDMI equipment (is there any? :)) work with my HDMI LCD TV?

Also, dont suppose anyone knows if games bought in NZ will work on my UK PS3?? lol

[IanW99]

how about HDMI, will any NZ HDMI equipment (is there any? :)) work with my HDMI LCD TV?

Also, dont suppose anyone knows if games bought in NZ will work on my UK PS3?? lol

HDMI is a global connector standard, so yes there is HDMI equipment in NZ, and yes it will work with your LCD TV.

HDMI isn't the issue really, it is the HDCP which is the part that controls what can and can't be played (but doesn't appear to be a problem in this case).

AFAIK, the games for PS3 are not region encoded (but are TV standard encoded), so any games bought in any PAL region will work on any PAL PS3. So any UK or NZ games should work without any problems.

For the blu-ray player part, these are region encoded (A, B or C) where UK and NZ are both in region B, so again shouldn't be any problems.

Note: I don't have any real experience of this information so would be good if someone has actually tried it to confirm?

Ian

[Moorf Junior]

HDMI is a global connector standard, so yes there is HDMI equipment in NZ, and yes it will work with your LCD TV.

HDMI isn't the issue really, it is the HDCP which is the part that controls what can and can't be played (but doesn't appear to be a problem in this case).

AFAIK, the games for PS3 are not region encoded (but are TV standard encoded), so any games bought in any PAL region will work on any PAL PS3. So any UK or NZ games should work without any problems.

For the blu-ray player part, these are region encoded (A, B or C) where UK and NZ are both in region B, so again shouldn't be any problems.

Note: I don't have any real experience of this information so would be good if someone has actually tried it to confirm?

Ian

Thanks Ian, thats pretty much all i needed to know, much appreciated :)

[Big Puku]

I've heard this myth before when I had occasion to work in Oz a few years ago. Basically it's a scam set up by some disreputable radio/tv 'repairers' to make a few dollars out of gullible people.

True, a tv may suffer the rigours of the journey especially if it was shipped by sea. If it is a CRT model the CRT could be affected by magnetic fields from all sorts of sources emanating from it's surroundings. This could be the container it was shipped in, any electrical machinery close by(working or non working as most motors have magnets or residual magnetism involved within them) or careless packing by the packers, it is common for packers to group items together eg hi-fi's and their speakers(sources of very strong magnetic fields) and other electrical items including tv's.

The simple solution which any reputable tv engineer would employ would be to de-gauss the CRT(i.e. de-magnetise the shadow mask within the CRT) several times using a de-gaussing coil which is many times more powerful than the coil installed in the tv. This should only take minutes to do and the cost would be minimal -- certainly a LOT less than the eighty odd dollars quoted above.

do a search on some of the AV forums if you're that bothered - purity/convergence issues from Northern to Southern hemisphere are quite common on certain CRTs, and degaussing does nothing to many of the newer sets (Sony's in particular) to rectify this. If you do ever make it over here, do look me up and I'll show you a few sets with these problems.

[CJ22]

Do NZ Sky boxes tend to come with HDMI output. At the moment, I'm using HDMI from DVD, and SCART from my Sky box. I don't use the analog at all. I'm just thinking that if a kiwi decoder comes with HDMI-out, that might bypass the whole thing.

I'm using an LCD TV, which is Chinese, and has a PAL B/G setting (explicitly), so I'm expecting it to work anyway, but belt and braces and all that. If worst comes to worse I can still use it for Home Cinema. Don't watch much TV anyway, and I hear it both sucks AND blows in New Zealand ;)

[IanW99]

Do NZ Sky boxes tend to come with HDMI output. At the moment, I'm using HDMI from DVD, and SCART from my Sky box. I don't use the analog at all. I'm just thinking that if a kiwi decoder comes with HDMI-out, that might bypass the whole thing.

I'm using an LCD TV, which is Chinese, and has a PAL B/G setting (explicitly), so I'm expecting it to work anyway, but belt and braces and all that. If worst comes to worse I can still use it for Home Cinema. Don't watch much TV anyway, and I hear it both sucks AND blows in New Zealand ;)

Nope, Sky or MySky boxes don't yet come with HDMI.

When they start doing HD broadcasts then they will have to release a new decoder and I'm pretty sure that this will have HDMI connector, but for now you will have to make do with Scart.

BTW, If you get MySky then the TV isn't that bad (IMO).

Ian

[andy141]

WHAT CRAP! - do a search on some of the AV forums if you're that bothered - purity/convergence issues from Northern to Southern hemisphere are quite common on certain CRTs, and degaussing does nothing to many of the newer sets (Sony's in particular) to rectify this. If you do ever make it over here, do look me up and I'll show you a few sets with these problems.

Hi Big Puku,

I have been working in electronics for over 45 years so my experience is fairly extensive!! I also paid attention in my physics lessons at school and understand the laws of magnetism:nice1

As a matter of interest, how come the VAST majority of crt TV sets /computer monitors manufactured in both Europe and Japan work in New Zealand without any special treatment? After all they have ALL crossed the Equator.

I reiterate, only careless packing and/or treatment during shipping will cause serious purity/convergency problems.

I should add that mechanical shock and bad handling could cause the inner electrodes and static convergence magnets of a CRT to become misaligned thus causing the same sort of problems.

George

[SNK05]

:) Yay..seems that our rather measely ickle 'Technosonic 32" LCD' may work over there!? We only bought a cheapy that would serve the purpose over here, thinking it wouldn't be worth spending too much on one if we were scooting off! Haven't checked out the PAL settings but will before we depart...she says with a certain amount of optimism!

We have an X-Box 360 which we'd be loathed to get rid of but if Junior Moorf's PS3 will work, am I right in assuming that our games console will?

Oooooooooh, I do hope so...lol

Sue n Kev

[Moorf Junior]

XBox 360's self destruct when taking them over the equator (hehe)

I would suggest you hand over the Xbox to me (and all your games) to prevent any undesired damage to your stuff during transit :D

[Hongi Hicker]

Hi,

Is it still on ebay...I offered the £11.38 ..I'll take the chance if it doesn't work:) :)