Questions about VHS tapes

Hello everyone,

I wasnt sure where to place this question, so I guess Im going to write it here...  From what I have heard, VHS tapes are not compatible with the VCR's over in the UK. What can you do in order to be able to watch movies that you made over here in the states? Like home movies etc.... ? Thanks again  
Michelle

It's true, the TV system is completely different in the UK.  The system is known as "PAL", and the US one is "NTSC".  These letters are often marked on the spine of the video box.  

All you need to play MTSC tapes in the UK is a dual standard VCR, they are fairly widely available though you might need to go to a specialist (not a main high-street chain store) to get a choice and a reasonable price.

Having said that, I have heard a rumour that almost all VCRs are now dual standard, both in the UK and the USA, though this not advertised.  When you come to the UK take a NTSC tape down to your nearest electronic shop and see if you can play it on a new midpriced (not budget) VCR.  I am slightly sceptical, but it is worth trying as it will save you a good amount if it is true.

If that doesn't work, you can always get them converted. I had a couple of videos from France (they were home videos, so obviously of value to me) For one tape it cost me $17 to get it converted from Pal to NTSC. Not something you want to do to a video library of 100.

I've got a vcr with NTSC playback and I'm so glad i can once again enjoy video's from the states!!! DEFINATELY A MUST HAVE!!

Hiya Michelle!
Well, I've never had a problem playing my US tapes in my b/f's UK vcr.  The only time we did was trying to play some Buffy episodes  :'(  But other than that, everything else has been fine - even my 10 year old Grease tape!  

~Christa

aaaah i was just waiting for this post (but was hoping it would show up in grievances, lol).   when i moved over with the kids last october.  my wonderful terrific loving husband steve said we couldnt bring ANY american vidoes bkz they wouldnt work (WHAT!!  ive only been collecting Disney videos since 1989, so u can imagine how many we had and how disappointed i was that i couldnt bring them with me).  last xmas a relative sent the kids a video over from the states.  and i had to explain to them ...sorry guys wont work, we can just put it on the mantle for sentimental reasons, hehe.  WELL ANYWAY....u know kids, they aint gonna listen, one of them put the video in the vcr we had and IT WORKED!!! hummm made me look real bad...and boy was steve in lots of trouble, lol.  his sister had let us borrow one of her vcr that played both UK/US videos and he didnt know it. (so yes i apologized for all the screaming and yelling about leaving my videos back in the states).  but i bet i can guess what i brought back on my recent visit back to the states, lol. .....

just so u know steve bought another vcr last week and it def plays both UK/US videos and it was very inexpensive.

LOL....great story Pam!  I can just imagine the look you shot Steve at that moment!!  

Has anyone had trouble getting programs that were taped from the tv to work on their dual VCRs?

I had someone send me a tape of General Hospital over and it completely wouldn't work.  I wonder if it had something to do with the tv reception or something because other videos we bought and brought back work fine!

No problem with recorded and pre-recorded NTSC (American) VHS tapes.. I must add, if somebody is going to tape something for you (to send over here) make sure they zero-up the tracking before doing the recording. (not many people ever think about this besides not knowing anything about it!)

As for getting VCRs in the U.K that are dual-standard (or even tri-standard) is not difficult at all and you don't have to spend a minature fortune to obtain them.. I've seen VCRs of these types as low as 89 pounds!! (I personally don't like cheapo equipment but even the less expensive VCRs should get anybody started.)
-- Anyways.. These machines ARE super easy to find, unlike what many people seem to think!

A misconception is that you can record or buy a PAL VHS tape in the U.K. and it'll work in the U.S..... A) no (unless somebody bothered to foot the bill (a large one in America) to buy a multi-standard machine.
Another one is that people think that they can simply plug in a dual-standard machine into another PAL machine to transfer their tapes.. NOPES, again.

As NTSC is something like 29.+ frames per second at 60 cycles and the PAL is around 26.+ frames per second at 50 hz, the dual standard machines simply "teases" the signal to your telly to obtain a "mock" 50-60 cycle signal and NOT truely converting NTSC to PAL.

Good news it that you CAN get VHS machines that are multi-standard and CAN playback as well as record in true standards that you want to obtain.. ie: recording your fav. soap in the U.K. (arrrrgh!) from a PAL encoding directly to NTSC to send to your friends and family in America so they can actually watch it with no specialized equipment!!
*(maninly used for family cam-corder junk)

Sorry it's brief but I'm sure the general jist is there now.

aaaaahhhh wishstar....general hospital, how i would love to see general hospital right now      ooooh love those Quartermaines, dont you, hehe.  

I'll tell you why this wasn't in the grievances section, Pam. Because "over here" is so much more technologically adaptable (advanced, in my book) than "over there"!! Okay, I'll calm down.



Anyone ever notice how the folks in the States can't be bothered to adjust to suit other country's standards? International dialling codes are different. You can't use your US cell phone here, but you can your UK mobile (triband) over there, not to mention using a US cell phone in the US to phone a UK-in-UK mobile/land line? Can't be done. See above for the VHS differences. BTW, great explanation, Ken.

Frankly, I like the higher voltage and the faster frames-per-second and the way Dyscon sucks and the openness of TV (oops, that's not quite technological) and the fact I can use my mobile anywhere in the world (that has an agreeable signal). Just gives me that nanny-nanny-boo-boo feeling.

Can you believe I've forgotten all about General Hospital? Whoa!

aaaahh steve is now Super Dad   [smiley=thumbsup.gif]   bkz the kids can now play both the US and UK vidoes.  

..... A misconception is that you can record or buy a PAL VHS tape in the U.K. and it'll work in the U.S..... A) no (unless somebody bothered to foot the bill (a large one in America) to buy a multi-standard machine. ....

Ken,

I used to be as sure as you that PAL tapes would not work on NTSC machines unless they were specifically dual standard (which btw are now available for less than $400), but there is information circulating over here (USA, VA) that most new mid-priced or better machines will now play PAL tapes even if they are not sold as dual standard machines.  The rumour also apparently covers PAL machines playing NTSC tapes.

I am hoping to buy a VCR soon and I will let you know what I find out about American machines and PAL tapes.

In the mean time I repeat my advice above, take an "incompatible" tape along with you when you want to buy a VCR as you may be surprised.

Thank you all so much for all the info!  

Love,
Michelle

Because I had a video collection of about a zillion tapes, I gave most of them away to family and friends just to reduce the amount of crap I was taking over with me!

We figured we'd just upgrade to a multi region dvd player and haven't looked back!  We still use the vcr to record tv, but I love my dvd player!!