Multi System TV's

is an HDMI port in the UK the same as an HDMI port in the US?  Same cables?

Yes, it's the same electrical interface, same connectors, and same cables.   There are still different picture formats though, which relate to the different U.S. and U.K. standards.  However just about any set which is equipped with an HDMI interface will support all of the possible formats when fed with a signal that way.

Is the US HD standard the same as the UK HD standard?  (I know it probably doesn't matter to the TV I was just wondering)

No, there are still differences between the formats.  The same applies if you are using the HDMI channel to watch a "normal" definition signal, which in HDMI terms would be 480i/60 for American video and 576i/50 for British. 

If you connect a DVD player, satellite receiver or other signal source to the TV via component video inputs, then the NTSC vs. PAL encoding issues are completely bypassed.  All that is necessary then is that the TV can cope with the slightly different scanning rates of the two different systems (15,625Hz vs. 15,734Hz horizontal; 50Hz vs. 60 Hz. vertical).  Most modern sets will cope with those variations fine.   

Most American model TVs are not designed to accept PAL on the composite/S-video inputs, nor will they have a tuner which is suitable for use in the U.K., but if you are happy to watch everything by way of the component video inputs (satellite, digibox, DVD), you may be fine.

Hi Paul - I am looking to return to the UK soon and having the same dilema about my Sony Bravia - and I was under the impression that the TV wouldnt take a PAL signal without a standard converter (which would degrade quality) - are you sure about composite by passing the PAL/NTSC issue?  If so then would the HDMI not do the same?  Tuner isnt an issue for me as i would always use Sky or a set top box.  Shipping is covered by work and if they broke it then i would be quids in.  I had decided to sell and re-buy in the UK but now you have me thinking!

Cheers

are you sure about composite by passing the PAL/NTSC issue? 

Not composite video.  Composite is the video signal fully encoded to NTSC or PAL standard, pretty much exactly as it would be applied to a TV transmitter for broadcast.

But component video does indeed bypass the NTSC vs. PAL color encoding issues, because instead of using a single connection for the whole video signal as composite does, it employs three separate connections to send the red, green, and blue signals which comprise the picture separately (either directly as RGB or by what are known as color-difference signals, Y/Pr/Pb or Y/Cr/Cb).

So when you connect by RGB or Y/Pr/Pb, the only factor is whether the TV can lock to the slightly different scanning rates for the two different systems to give 30 frames per second of 525 lines each (American) or 25 frames per second of 625 lines each (British).  Just about all modern digital/LCD/plasma sets will do that.   There might be an odd one somewhere which doesn't, but it would be rare. 

Note that S-video is not component video, and connecting by that method does require full NTSC or PAL compatibility.  S-video sends the luminance and chroma parts of the signal over separate wires, but the color is still NTSC or PAL encoded.

If so then would the HDMI not do the same? 

Yes, HDMI will also bypass NTSC/PAL coding, once again just leaving the issue of the different horizontal & vertical scanning rates.   As digital sets with HDMI interfaces are all pretty much designed to accept about a dozen different formats for "normal" definition, high definition, computer display, etc. they'll almost certainly all work.

Awesome information Paul.....this really makes me feel better about keeping my US Bose system and just buying a new HD TV over there....at least I can still play my Xbox and watch my DVD's.....

Not composite video.  Composite is the video signal fully encoded to NTSC or PAL standard, pretty much exactly as it would be applied to a TV transmitter for broadcast.

But component video does indeed bypass the NTSC vs. PAL color encoding issues, because instead of using a single connection for the whole video signal as composite does, it employs three separate connections to send the red, green, and blue signals which comprise the picture separately (either directly as RGB or by what are known as color-difference signals, Y/Pr/Pb or Y/Cr/Cb).

So when you connect by RGB or Y/Pr/Pb, the only factor is whether the TV can lock to the slightly different scanning rates for the two different systems to give 30 frames per second of 525 lines each (American) or 25 frames per second of 625 lines each (British).  Just about all modern digital/LCD/plasma sets will do that.   There might be an odd one somewhere which doesn't, but it would be rare. 

Note that S-video is not component video, and connecting by that method does require full NTSC or PAL compatibility.  S-video sends the luminance and chroma parts of the signal over separate wires, but the color is still NTSC or PAL encoded.

Yes, HDMI will also bypass NTSC/PAL coding, once again just leaving the issue of the different horizontal & vertical scanning rates.   As digital sets with HDMI interfaces are all pretty much designed to accept about a dozen different formats for "normal" definition, high definition, computer display, etc. they'll almost certainly all work.

sorry - i meant to write component!  This is awesome news - there is now no reason to not bring the TV back - it is dual voltage already.  I will use my PS3 and multiregion DVD player.  The only thing I was concerned about was TV but using HDMI from a Sky HD box and I should be sorted - brilliant!

I just bought a tv with the following specs:

Power Device
Form Factor
Internal Frequency Required 50/60 Hz
Nominal Voltage AC 120/230 V
Power Consumption Operational 260 Watt
Type Power supply

It appears that I lucked out and got dual voltage unit that will work when I get back to the US, right?

It also says it will accept NTSC and PAL inputs. 

Jackpot? 

120/240V and accepts NTSC/PAL video -- Yep, looks like you did all right there! 

It probably won't have a tuner which will work with off-air signals in the States, but then analog NTSC broadcasts are due to be shutdown in the very near future anyway.

It probably won't have a tuner which will work with off-air signals in the States, but then analog NTSC broadcasts are due to be shutdown in the very near future anyway.

Yes... I believe it to be January 2009 as there are always commercials about it on as well as non-stop stories on the news about it.

We are moving to the UK in about a month and I understand that the roll out to switch to digital will be soon there so I'll get to go thru all of the same commercials! lol   

We are moving to the UK in about a month and I understand that the roll out to switch to digital will be soon there

Yes, analog is due to be closed down here on a region-by-region basis, starting in November of this year and ending in 2012:

http://www.dtg.org.uk/consumer/switchover_map.html

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when