TV systems R'us

[Al Powell]

Dave C <conner at cfm.ohio-state.edu> said:
>
> Jim,
> You had me convinced.  I asked "Santa" for this video, but it turns out the
> "PAL" format is a TV format and not compatible with North American TV's.
> Kudos to Duke video for warning me this format would not work here in the
> US.  This was news to me ... that there are different TV formats.
> Apparently Duke videos are mostly available only in the European PAL
> format.  If anyone knows of a source for this particular video in the North
> American NTSC format, please tell us about it.

Dave, I don't have the source you ask for, but I'll offer a bit more
background - there are three major TV formats - NTSC is the US system, PAL
originated in the UK and Germany, and SECAM is French in origin.  Countries
using these systems are scattered about the globe.  There are even
sub-systems like Pal-A and Pal-B and SECAM-D/K and SECAM-G to make things
more interesting!

If you're ordering rally or other possibly international-source videos (and
don't forget this on ebay) make sure the tape is compatible with your
playback equipment!

Try a search for "international TV standards" and you will find numerous
references.

FYI, a very intimidating TV standards chart can be found at:
http://www.tenlab.com/worldtv.htm

A more helpful one can be found at:
http://www.btinternet.com/~drakegroup/drake02/world_TV.htm

Also - don't forget that thanks to Hollywood, DVDs are encoded to certain
parts of the world so you can't trade a DVD with your buddy in London - the
discs won't play if you swap them across the ocean because they're in the
wrong area.

Cheers....

************************************
Al Powell
Fort Collins, CO
cougfan1 at gocougs.wsu.edu
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