PAL Video Question

[RfB]

I know that it has been stated here that PAL is the format for video in Russia, but I also continue to see on many other technical sites that SECAM is the standard with no mention of PAL even starting to make inroads in the country. I am confused !! I am sending my Mother in Law home in a couple of weeks, and I'd like to send her the videos of her granddaughter in a format that she can use in St Petersburg. If you can tell me definitely which one is proper, I'd like to hear.

[T P Cornholio]

... in response to PAL Video Question, posted by RfB on Jul 20, 2004

With the newer TV's -- when you change channels you will see PAL or SECAM or even NTSC diplayed on the screen based upon the input.  We've always sent the in-laws standard NTSC home movie video tapes and they play just fine.  I even recorded from my NTSC video cam onto their VCR, it worked fine.  Such multi-standard equipment is common there.

[RfB]

... in response to PAL Video Question, posted by RfB on Jul 20, 2004

OK,, I've settled on buying a multi-region DVD player to send back with her. The price isn't really that much depending on the model ($60-$100), BUT, is there a different standard for the television itself? The sites I look at state that it will play any region DVD (or any other video or audio format), on any TV anywhere, but if Russia is SECAM , is there such thing as a SECAM television , or is that just a standard for tape and DVD's. I see that there are NTSC and PAL televisions, and don't want to send a player that won't work with her TV set.

[RfB]

... in response to TV format?, posted by RfB on Jul 20, 2004

PAL and SECAM share the same scanning format, so discs are the same for both systems. The only difference is that SECAM players output the color signal in the format required by SECAM TVs. Note that modern TVs in most SECAM countries can also read PAL signals, so you can use a player that only has PAL output. The only case in which you need a player with SECAM output is for older SECAM-only TVs (and you'll probably need a SECAM RF connection).

[jrm]

... in response to PAL Video Question, posted by RfB on Jul 20, 2004

plus it has been my experience that the newer models will play both, but only record in one.

[tim360z]

... in response to PAL Video Question, posted by RfB on Jul 20, 2004

Should be SECAM. Unless she has a PAL vcr.  PAL is prevelant in western europe