UK DVD's as US Xmas presents?

Hi all you knowledgeable folks,

Can I buy UK DVD's for my friends back home and will they work in their players?

Thanks for your help!

Only if either the DVDs are region free OR your friend has a region free player.

Likely?  No.  Sorry!!

(It sure would be nice, though!)

I think (although i dont know for sure) that in addition to what Frances said above, they would also have to have a TV that can play the PAL format, as opposed to NTSC.

I think (although i dont know for sure) that in addition to what Frances said above, they would also have to have a TV that can play the PAL format, as opposed to NTSC.

Is there a difference in TVs?  I ask because my cousin has a VCR that plays both PAL and NTSC, and I was thinking of getting one, too.  I always thought it was just the DVD or VCS player...?

Im pretty sure it's the TV, although i should have said 'display', not 'play', because i think the difference has something to do with the number of pixels.

Someone who  >definitely<  knows should be along shortly... i might be talking mince.

When we want to buy DVDs for family in the UK we order them off amazon.co.uk.  That way it's in the correct format.  You could order them off the .com site.

When we want to buy DVDs for family in the UK we order them off amazon.co.uk.  That way it's in the correct format.  You could order them off the .com site.

Ah!  A wise person to look at the problem in such a different light!  Great idea!

Just a note that most DVD players US or UK can be converted into multi region using a special code you get from the internet and programming it in with the remote for the DVD player.

Someone who  >definitely<  knows should be along shortly...

Do I qualify?   

There are two compatibility issues to consider --  the region coding and the NTSC (American) vs. PAL (British) video format.   

Although British TVs which will accept an NTSC video signal have become quite common in recent years, the reverse is not the case, and very few domestic U.S.  TVs will accept a PAL signal.

However, the NTSC/PAL coding only comes into play if you are connecting the DVD player to the TV via an RF link, a composite video link, or an S-video cable.    If you link them together using RGB direct video, then it will normally work.

There are still minor differences in the vertical and horizontal scanning rates between the two systems, but these are generally well within the range with which the set can cope.

Is there a difference in TVs? I ask because my cousin has a VCR that plays both PAL and NTSC, and I was thinking of getting one, too. I always thought it was just the DVD or VCS player...?

Pretty much the same answer as above.   If you're connecting the VCR via S-video or composite video, then the TV needs to be able to work with NTSC signals.  On a direct RGB hookup, it will most likely be fine even if it isn't specifically intended for NTSC as well as PAL.

This is one case where you are better off in the uk.

It is fairly easy to get a multi-region dvd player & a PAL/NTSC VHS player in this country.

So DW's vhs & dvd collection plays just as nicely as mine.

But in USA there is little demand for overseas dvd & vhs so multi-region players are harder to find.

If you order your american presents from american websites you save on p&p too :-)

PS. I think it is the vhs player that has to be NTSC compatible, not the TV. You tell the VHS what TV you are hooking it up to & it sends the correct signal from whichever tape you insert. (as long as it's not betamax!)

PS. I think it is the vhs player that has to be NTSC compatible, not the TV. You tell the VHS what TV you are hooking it up to & it sends the correct signal from whichever tape you insert.

Sorry, it's the other way around.  The VCR will output the signal in the format on the tape, and the TV needs to be capable of displaying that format.   So both the VCR and the TV need to be suitable if you want to watch an American VHS tape on a British system.

The only way you could get a full 625/PAL video signal from a 525/NTSC tape is if the VCR incorporated a standards converter, and that's not something you'll find in the average domestic machine.

You may have heard about a hybrid video format which is commonly referred to as "NTSC 4.43," for reasons which would take a long technical discourse to explain.    It can be found in some very high-end domestic equipment, and is used in broadcast environments where multiple standards are in use.  It would still be no use for composite or S-video into a PAL-only TV though.

(as long as it's not betamax!)

You'd be surprised what some people try to do!        

Hi Folks,

You have saved me from making an expensive mistake!   Thanks ever so much

Kathleen

There is a way to send UK DVDs to the US and have them work, but the process involves a computer and some time.

(I'm doing this for Christmas myself)

There are several computer programs (Free to Download) required to change the programming of the DVD.

1. Ripper (DVD Decripter): This is used to remove all the DVD location programming.
2. Shrink (DVD Shrink 3.2): This takes the altered DVD data and shrinks it back into a DVD.
3. Burn (Nero - This one costs money): Used to burn the DVD back to a disk.
4. Label (Optional): Cover label for DVD Identification.

This is easier said than done, the only costs are blank DVDs.
You could practically go to Blockbuster and copy the entire store all at home, and the DVDs can be played in any player worldwide.

Hope this helps!