[Alan]

Has anyone taken a Panasonic plasma to NZ and if so did it work fine?

I am being told by Panasonic that the UK spec ones are UK only and do not support PAL B/G which is what NZ uses as well as most of Europe. However, they were also pretty rude when I called them and told me that I should wait and buy one over there if and when I go.

Funnily, enough a lady on the Samsung help desk told me that it was illegal to take a TV and use it in different countries and that Sony, Toshiba and LG who do were breaking the law! When I stopped laughing I told her I could see I wasn't going to get anywhere with the conversation.

[IanW99]

Has anyone taken a Panasonic plasma to NZ and if so did it work fine?

I am being told by Panasonic that the UK spec ones are UK only and do not support PAL B/G which is what NZ uses as well as most of Europe. However, they were also pretty rude when I called them and told me that I should wait and buy one over there if and when I go.

Funnily, enough a lady on the Samsung help desk told me that it was illegal to take a TV and use it in different countries and that Sony, Toshiba and LG who do were breaking the law! When I stopped laughing I told her I could see I wasn't going to get anywhere with the conversation.

Certainly the information about PAL B/G is correct from Panasonic so they probably are telling you the correct information?

Have you got the manual as it should tell you in there, or have you got the model number so we can check?

Have you tried the menus to see if it will allow you to change the PAL setting or country setting for tuning (not language) to German?

Ian

[Alan]

Ian, it is a TX42PX80B, however most manufacturers do not specify whether the TV's accept other standards, even the ones that do like Toshiba. I have looked on the website, the manual etc and there is nothing.

In fact Samsung themselves do not know, I have had four different answers from four different people on their help desk and the final person admitted they weren't sure.

I know for instance that Philips work from someone who took one and they did not need to change any menu settings, so I guess I need to wait for someone on here who may have taken one.

[StevieD]

Alan, it is proving quite difficult to find any information on this TV model number, is the number you put on correct?

I know how to get into service mode with a similar tv but there is no guarantee that this will cure your problem as I had a similar problem recently.

There again, you can just used an NZ Sky box or similar DVD recorder to route your signal to the TV that way.....

Steve

[Alan]

Steve, yep the devil's in the detail! It's a TH-42PX80B as I put too many X's, I am not that fussed because as you say I'll just get an NZ DVD recorder etc and put it through that way, just would be nice if not.

[StevieD]

Best way if you want to keep the TV Alan, shame to waste it after all...... and you can get a decent enough DVD recorder here (or Sky+) if you want to fork out for this.

Good luck with the rest of the journey.

[Alan]

Cheers mate.

[IanW99]

Would just like to point out that this Panasonic TV includes an integrated freeview box, this is highly unlikely to work in NZ so don't expect to be able to watch any of the digital channels on it (without an external set top box of course).

When you look at getting a set-top box, you may want to consider the FreeviewHD or the MySky HDi boxes as they have HDMI outputs.

Ian

[Kate D]

Would just like to point out that this Panasonic TV includes an integrated freeview box, this is highly unlikely to work in NZ so don't expect to be able to watch any of the digital channels on it (without an external set top box of course).

When you look at getting a set-top box, you may want to consider the FreeviewHD or the MySky HDi boxes as they have HDMI outputs.

Ian

I have a similar problem. My Panasonic tv with in built Freeview doesn't work as you say - well pictures but no sound and that was after all on the on-line checking etc for compatibility. Must be same or similar model to above. it plays DVDs great though:-) I was also anticipating either:
1) Buying an NZ dvd player
2) Resorting to Sky...

When you say set-top box, do you mean for Sky or something else?

And if I got another DVD player, does that mean I have to abandon my nice shiny matching quality Panasonic one which was bought to accompany the surround sound system and play CDs, or is it unheard of to have two DVD players in parallel for slightly different purposes...?

I knew at some point Ian that I'd be asking you for TV advise for sure:laugh

I hope this isn't thread hijacking but complementary to the original queries!

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Set top box is for freeview which you can get in NZ via dish or aerial (like UK) depending on where you live.

There is also now a freeview HD version (received via UHF aerial).

[Kate D]

Hi BBB,

Is that in addition to a Sky box or DVD player so that I can get sound from my TV, or instead of....?

If the latter that'd be geat as I don't really need 2 DVD players and have never been that fussed about Sky either.

Fingers crossed...

Kate

[IanW99]

Hi BBB,

Is that in addition to a Sky box or DVD player so that I can get sound from my TV, or instead of....?

If the latter that'd be geat as I don't really need 2 DVD players and have never been that fussed about Sky either.

Fingers crossed...

Kate

If you get picture but no sound then this is most likely the PAL B/G issue.

It's possible on some TVs that you just need to change the TV standard when tuning.

If it doesn't work then the simplest approach is to use any external device that has a built in tuner e.g. Video recorder, DVD recorder, freeview box, Sky etc.

Of course if you want Sky or Freeview then you will need to get one of these set-top boxes.

Ian

[Kate D]

"Any" external device in the list above? Perfect - many thanks Ian!

Kate

[IanW99]

"Any" external device in the list above? Perfect - many thanks Ian!

Kate

Yep, that's not an exhaustive list, there are other devices that contain tuners. It should be noted that you don't want something that only has RF in and RF out otherwise you will be no better off e.g. you want something with separate audio out connectors or Scart or similar.

BTW, what is your TV model number and we maybe able to check if it can actually work?

Ian