Ultimate PAL/NTSC question

[leandrodafontoura]

Im desperate for an answer to the questions bellow. I alredy read a lot of stuff, but i havent get a 100 percenf satisfactory answer. I hope i do now and that this may help anyone who reads this topic.

First let me say i have a NTSC only HDTV, with HDMI input. I need to wacth region 2 (PAL) movies on my ntsc HDTV. I acept any sugestion on how i do that. Below there are questions that i still dont know the answer:

Is it true that with HDMI, both HD-DVD and Blue-ray players are able to read a PAL disc and send a NTSC signal to a HDTV without the use of a video converter?

If I buy a regular DVD player with a built in video converter, how will the device affect image quality?

Are there any region free blueray players in the USA? Uk players may be hacked to become region free with the use of codes inputed by the remote control. Amazon.co.uk has an explanation for it.

Thanks to anyone who reply to this topic.

[leandrodafontoura]

In DVD, Brasil and Australia are in the same region, USA, Brasil, Japan are in diferent regions each. In BD, Brasil and Australia are in diferent regions, and USA, Brasil and Japan in the same.

I wonder how the DVD playback will work with HD-DVD and Blue ray...will a Blue ray player in USa able to play DVDs from region 4 (Brasil/Australia)? If so, that means a BD player can play Ausralian DVDs but not BDs? How wicked is that? It has lawsuit writen all over it.

I welcome any comments on the fact from people who actually know what they are talking about. I know I dont. God bless all the rich countrys for creating the wonders of technology. And Brasil sucks.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by leandrodafontoura

First let me say i have a NTSC only HDTV, with HDMI input. I need to wacth region 2 (PAL) movies on my ntsc HDTV. I acept any sugestion on how i do that. Below there are questions that i still dont know the answer:

Is it true that with HDMI, both HD-DVD and Blue-ray players are able to read a PAL disc and send a NTSC signal to a HDTV without the use of a video converter?

Not true. HDMI is a way to funnel audio video data to where ever you want to go. The players must read them before that can happen.

Therefore a player must be able to read the PAL disc and either convert it to NTSC or upconvert it to 720p or 1080i before delivering it to a HDTV either via component or HDMI.

Some players can't do that. Some players can read PAL and NTSC discs so long as they are not region coded. Some players can read PAL/NTSC discs no matter what region they are from. All of these players must be able to upconvert the signal over component or HDMI for you to get them on your HDTV.

If I buy a regular DVD player with a built in video converter, how will the device affect image quality?

It depends on the video converter in the player. Some good, some passable.

Are there any region free blueray players in the USA?

Not that I know of. At this rate, if you want to get a Blu-ray player (or just the PS3), just let that player play BD movies only. Keep your existing DVD player (region-free, I assume) for your UK DVDs. Note that BD movies also have their own region restrictions.


fuad

[Deciazulado]

Don't know if this might be a solution to what you're looking for?

[Blue]

With that question the only answer possible is 42. There is NO such thing as and NTSC only HDTV. Either it isn't NTSC or it isn't HD. Having a HDMI input I suspect it's not NTSC. DVD was designed to be able to play PAL and NTSC on the same player, they then dumbed it down by dividing the world up into multiple regions and blocking the playback of mismatching regions. All DVD players still do this today only there is a special region that is all, and that is what the DVD players are currently set to.
No Blu Ray player is DVD region free at this point in time. As for firmware hacks - if blu ray activate it, they can "kill" players that have been firmware hacked. If they do or not is another question and how effective it is only time will tell.

HDMI is a transport standard. It's a digital standard, so it can't convey NTSC or PAL (these are both analogue) natively across the cable, they will need to be in some digital format.

Video converter, I assume you are talking about an upscaler. The more expensive upscalers are good (your TV most probably has an upscaler in it), however falls short of a blu ray quality.

As for HD-DVD being region free take a couple of disks in question and try it. Last I heard HD-DVD was not yet available in most (if not all) European countries. HD-DVD is a superset of the DVD standards, so technically can't be region free. If that is the case it won't take blu ray companies long to do the same.

[Deciazulado]

Leandro, what you may have heard is that European HDTV displays can take BOTH a 50 Hz signal and a 60 Hz signal as HDTV in Europe is broadcast in 50Hz (or 50i) while HDTV in America is 60 Hz (or 60i), and all BD players have the capability of output film based disc (24p) as 60 Hz.

Most recent European displays, HDTV or normal TV, I'm told by Dr. Who, are 50i/60i devices.

If you're thinking about players or discs being region free or not, first, Blu-ray is divided in 3 Regions, A, B, C, but apparently for now the majority of BD releases are region free, and it's only movies from Disney and Fox (and new movies by Sony) that are enforcing the regions.

[Deciazulado]

Multiple threads merged.

Leandro, please don't create several threads in different forums asking the same or similar questions, just create one . Obrigado

[leandrodafontoura]

I found out that the Neodigits and the Oppo players have built in video converters. Im not sure if they have a good playback since they cost only US$ 200. Denon, for example, has players sellin for US$ 3000...

I also found modified players (even a blue ray player!) online:

http://www.110220volts.com/Merchant2..._Code=BluRayHD

http://www.regioncodefreedvd.com/511.html

http://www.regioncodefreedvd.com/denon3910.html

http://www.regioncodefreedvd.com/denon2930.html

I wonder wich player has better video/sound quality...and if the converters affect video quality...Anyone wanna comment on that?

[Blue]

Region free DVD players have been standard in Australia (out of the box) from all companies for many years. As for the blu ray playerI'm very suspicous Blu ray region D,E & F!!!!! They don't exist. If that is wrong, what else is wrong? Just becase it's advertised on the net doesn't make it accurate. Then again it could be true, but beware as blu ray has a "feature" to lock out modified firmware.

[leandrodafontoura]

Lol, I know, they must have messed up that ad.

Please, note that being region free is not enough, it has to be able to convert PAL to NTSC. I live in Brasil (Same region as Australia) And mine local DVD players cant convert....BRASIL SUCKS. Can the Australian convert?

Plus, if Blue ray ever get realesed in Brasil, it will play australina dvds, but not australian blueray discs...strange right?

When will the world be unified?

Oppo seems to be loved online, but i loved the Neodigits helios design..i liked also the cambridge audio player....all three can convert....anyone knows wich ones the best?

[Blue]

Originally Posted by leandrodafontoura

. Can the Australian convert?

I have 3 DVD players of various ages / generations all can convert an NTSC disc to PAL (and vice versa). None have region encoding enabled (that's how they came in the box).

Originally Posted by leandrodafontoura

Plus, if Blue ray ever get released in Brazil, it will play Australian dvds, but not Australian blueray discs...strange right?

BD regions are
A for all the American Continent (including Brazil), Japan and much of SE Asia
B for Europe Aussie land and NZ - the land of the long white cloud where men are men and the sheep are nervous.
C China, India and the rest of the world (there are a few exceptions above)
http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Section-1...006/Index.html

Australia is region 4 so the BD players here are B 4
In the USA BD players are A 1
So in Brazil the players will be A 4

Originally Posted by leandrodafontoura

When will the world be unified?

When there is peace on earth and goodwill to mankind, or to put another way when Hell freezes over.

Originally Posted by leandrodafontoura

Oppo seems to be loved online, but i loved the Neodigits helios design..i liked also the cambridge audio player....all three can convert....anyone knows wich ones the best?

Don't know.

[leandrodafontoura]

Big question now: Can a PAL-M TV display a PAL signal?

[Blue]

NO PAL M is out on it's own. In fact can only be found in Brazil - Congratulations, or should that be commiserations.
http://www.videointerchange.com/pal_...rsions.htm#PAL
For PAL related questions can I suggest a PAL related forum would be of more help or Google

[britmex]

Hi guys
i have an american Plasma screen but I now live in the UK.
I also have a british ps3.

I can play games from my ps3 on the plasma but not DVD's
Would you guys know if Brit blue rays would be able to play through the plasma or do I have to get a conveter? if so is there a HDMI one out there.

Also is HD broadcasting standardised like NTSC and PAL

thanks

B

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by britmex

Hi guys
i have an american Plasma screen but I now live in the UK.
I also have a british ps3.

I can play games from my ps3 on the plasma but not DVD's
Would you guys know if Brit blue rays would be able to play through the plasma or do I have to get a conveter? if so is there a HDMI one out there.

Also is HD broadcasting standardised like NTSC and PAL

thanks

B

I believe your last questions answer is NTSC and PAL neither exist anymore for HD broadcasts. It's either MPEG2 or maybe MPEG4/AVC. Depending on which channels you have which broadcast HD content.

Only thing that's NTSC or PAL anymore with any Blu-ray disc is more often then not SD resolution extras. If you have a display button on your remote for your Blu-ray disc player, which I'm sure you will, push it and look to see whether or not the signal being displayed is MPEG2, AVC or VC-1 and what resolution it's in. 480i/p is NTSC and 576i/p is PAL. Now the little "i" denotes interlaced and the little "p" denotes progressive.
Actually what it comes down to is how the overall intended look of the film, looks as it's hard encoded to the disc whilst broadcast HD is "bitstreaming" over the carrier you have. As such the bitstreaming HD will of course have more artifacting and moiring, generally, compared to hard encoded discs.
Here's hoping the previous paragraphs were of assistance.

[Deciazulado]

Well British broadcasts and DVDs would be in 50Hz (50i) so you have to check if your Plasma is 50Hz compatible, britmex. Also, your UK PS3 is Region B/2, so if you try to play Region A locked BDs or Region 1 locked DVDs they wouldn't play.

[OrlandoEastwood]

I have a Sansui 19 inch HDTV and an Insignia Blu-ray player hooked up via RGB cables. With the regular Yellow, Red, and White standard def cables, the player wasn't able to display PAL video. However with the Red, Green, and Blue cables for high definition, it played PAL video back perfectly with no problems. Some of my Thai DVDs are Region All and PAL formatted. The Insignia player doesn't play Region 2 DVDs which sucks since I have a collection of German DVDs. The only one that plays on it is Takashi Miike's Audition which was oddly made Region All by the German studio.

Also, Sansui is a cheap ass brand because my HDTV doesn't even have an HDMI port on it. But it's a good tv for $150.

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

Well British broadcasts and DVDs would be in 50Hz (50i) so you have to check if your Plasma is 50Hz compatible, britmex. Also, your UK PS3 is Region B/2, so if you try to play Region A locked BDs or Region 1 locked DVDs they wouldn't play.

Well, I think the obvious answer is that if you are able to power up your plasma in the UK, then it is 50Hz compatible. The electrical power in the UK is 220 volts, 50Hz (cycles), while in the US it's 110v, 60Hz.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by The Duke

Well, I think the obvious answer is that if you are able to power up your plasma in the UK, then it is 50Hz compatible. The electrical power in the UK is 220 volts, 50Hz (cycles), while in the US it's 110v, 60Hz.

Not necessarily true, especially if the TV has an "active PFC" power supply (generally required for electronics sold in the EU, though I'm not 100% sure about TVs). Power supplies take the input voltage (which for active-PFC supplies may be from 100V to 240V at either 50 or 60 Hz) and automatically convert it to appropriate DC voltages; refresh rates today are controlled by the TV's own circuits, usually by a chip using a quartz crystal for reference. Thus, AC hertz does *not* constrain TV refresh rates today as it did at the dawn of television (which is why PAL & NTSC refresh rates are different).

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

British broadcasts and DVDs would be in 50Hz (50i) so you have to check if your Plasma is 50Hz compatible

Yes I meant the 50Hz (50i) rate of the video signal.