2006-11-01 11:56:40 · 6 answers · asked by lucy 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TiVO & DVRs
as has been hinted at in other answers, im assuming you're in the UK, ok then, first of all tapes recorded in the USA will be in NTSC format, jokingly referred to as Never The Same Colour, this is due to the fact that the US tv system is made up of a less definied system than PAL, this is the system used in the UK and stands for Phase Alternating Line system, consequently our VHS videos play differnetly to theirs, although you can get NTSC/PAL output VCR's, But as someone else has said they are very outmoded now, and you would be better off getting the video transcoded onto a dvd in non-regional format so that you can play it on your dvd, it will also last longer.
2006-11-01 14:26:10 · answer #1 · answered by a1ways_de1_lorri_2004 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you fail to mention what country you're in. i'm in the US. I can play VHS tapes recorded in the USA.
However, I'm going to guess that maybe you're in Europe. VHS tapes in the US are recorded using the NTSC format where as Europe (except France) uses the PAL system. The two are totally incompatible with each other..the video format and refresh rates are totally differnet.
in order to play a USA tape in another country..you either need to have USA equipment modified to work with your countries power, or you need to purchase a VCR that has the conversion hardware in it. most don't, some are expensive, and none are made anymore.
2006-11-01 20:00:47 · answer #2 · answered by Jay Moore 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I see from another question you asked that you are located in Ireland. Given that location, your VHS tapes are encoded with a PAL format while the US and most of North America use the NTSC format. PAL is considered better in quality, so be thankful. But it is difficult to watch NTSC formatted videos in a PAL formatted player. The simplest answer to your question would be to buy a NTSC formatted VCR (whether there or through mail-order/online order) and use it to watch whatever you have in NTSC format.
2006-11-02 01:39:01 · answer #3 · answered by kjjackal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both VCR's I bought a few years ago are multi-region and play both NTSC and Pal video tapes. These players were widely available a few years ago in the UK {if that's where you are from}, but the VCR format is practically obsolete now and investing in a new one is a waste of money, but you can probably find hundreds on eBay for next to nothing.
2006-11-01 20:14:26 · answer #4 · answered by Albert Hall 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most modern decent videos in uk will play nstc tapes
2006-11-04 17:03:25 · answer #5 · answered by paulrb8 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that depends where 'here' is.
2006-11-01 19:59:54 · answer #6 · answered by angus1745 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋