What is PAL

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PAL SYSTEMS

In addition to the incompatibilities of 50 and 60Hz systems, and the different Color systems, there is a further barrier to compatibility. Fortunately, video recordings themselves are not affected by this, only the TV signal reception equipment. For various reasons of number of stations and terrain, TV pictures can be transmitted in any of three main frequency ranges, VHF, UHF and Microwave (Satellite Direct Broadcasting). Equipment designed to receive signals in only one of these bands cannot receive transmissions in any of the other bands.

Further, there are differences between the encoding of the sound between countries using the same frequency bands. Within 50Hz PAL UHF transmissions, audio signals can be at 5.5Mhz offset (system G), or at 6MHz offset (system I). Similar differences exist between the Middle Eastern versions of SECAM (MESECAM) and the Eastern Bloc (OIRT) version.

In addition to standard combinations of Scan Rate, Color System and transmission frequencies, there are further complications when it comes to additional features like Stereo Sound, Sub-titling and information services. Fortunately, such differences do not effect the basic operation of equipment conforming to the same broadcast standard, but they can restrict the use of various features.

In the cases of both stereo sound and additional textural information carried in the top few lines of the picture, there are three competing systems of varying technical merit. The oldest still operational of the stereo sound systems is the American MTS system based on NTSC transmissions, only slightly more recent is the twin channel FM-FM system used in Germany, Austria, Australia, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The most recent system, NICAM 728, was designed by the BBC in the late 1980s using digital audio technology.

The oldest of the subtitling systems is almost definitely the BBC and IBA designed TeleText system which has been is use in the UK since the mid 1970s. It is also the most widespread and the most flexible of the systems in widespread use. The US Closed Captioning mechanism came about through political pressure from the Deaf organizations in the USA and has not been developed beyond the simple job of producing subtitles for the Deaf. The French developed a subtitling and information system called Antiope which has not found favour elsewhere, largely due to the existing widespread use of the BBC developed TeleText system. A few US stations have now adopted the BBC-style Teletext and a few manufacturers, most notably Zenith, fit the decoders to their sets.

PAL PRODUCTS COME WITH EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONALLY HONORED WARRANTEES, BUT THESE WARRANTEES ARE NOT HONORED IN THE U.S.A.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO KNOW IF THE PRODUCT YOU PURCHASE WILL WORK IN THE COUNTRY WHICH YOU INTEND TO USE IT.

MOST LIKELY, You will NOT find these PAL System products on their Manufacturers respective WebSites but you may try contacting the manufacturer to get information about them.

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