Using a US HDTV in the UK (advice needed)

[Sam Jenkins]

Hello,

I have just moved back to the UK from the US with my Sony Bravia KDL-V40XBR1 TV and am trying to work out my connection options for Freeview.

I believe Freeview boxes come with either, some of or all of: SCART, S-Video & HDMI so I would like advice on which connections would work.

I don't think I can use SCART as the TV does not have a SCART socket and it does not understand PAL anyway.

Does the same argument apply to S-video? It has an S-video input I just need to make sure the right information is being carried. I assume a SCART to S-video is not going to work, but what about a Freeview box that has an S-video output? Is this an international media standard or just a cable?

Finally (and most expensively), I could get a Freeview box with HDMI output. I assume this is an international digital connectivity standard and that this will work.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

Sam

[directhex]

I've only ever seen freeview boxes with SCART connections on.

[directhex]

Actually, it looks like Panasonic make DVD recorders with built-in Freeview and an HDMI output

[directhex]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DM.../dp/B000JC9DWU
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DM.../dp/B000IH9QRI
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DM.../dp/B000G2Y56M

[Sam Jenkins]

Thanks for the links. So you think HDMI would work.

Freeview boxes with S-Video are generally cheaper. Does any one know if these would work?

(Sorry can't post link to them because I am too new!)

[Steve]

SCART can carry s-video, so provided the freeview box carries s-video or an s-video SCART socket, you should be able to attach it to the s-video input on the telly.

Only problem is it'll still be PAL... so check that you can set the freeview box to NTSC output. In fact, it'll probably cope with PAL anyway, unless American TVs are daft; my HDTV can cope with either.

Of course, if you want HDMI, then that should work fine, as HD resolutions transcend the PAL/NTSC specs anyway.

[Sam Jenkins]

Thanks Steve, that was exactly the sort of information I was after.

My TV does not seem to understand PAL, I tried it with a standard aerial and it found five channels but the picture was all screwed up - rolling, B&W and snowy. (I had verified reception on an old UK TV).

I am suspicious though, as it supports 240v and (as a member of the electronics industry) I know the likes of Sony somethimes sell the same thing with different asthetics for different prices in different places. They (the industry) even sell the same thing with bits knobbled for the 'low cost' market!

Anyway, HDMI looks safest.

[Bob Crabtree]

Sam.

If your set has S-video, but not Scart, then you can use a Scart adaptor that has female sockets for S-video and L/R audio - looks just like a Scart plug but has three sockets at the back.

You can also get leads that have Scart one end and S-video, composite video and L/R audio at the other.

Clearly, using that (or, indeed, a Scart>S-video adaptor), you need to ensure that the signal is going in the direction you want ie out of the Scart and into the S-video.

[Sam Jenkins]

Thanks to everyone who replied - however it is not going well.

After taking some additional advice at a Sony centre (confirming the above) I forked out ~300 pounds on a multi-region Sony RDR-HXD860 (freeview, DVD-RW, HDD combo + upscaling & HDMI socket) and attached it to my Sony KDL-V40XBR (from the USA).

It still does not work.

The picture rolls (rather suspiciously) at about 10Hz, just like when you select an unsupported video mode for a PC monitor. What is slightly odd is that it will play a region 1 (US) DVD with an execellent picture but not a UK DVD - you get the roll, with freeview you also get the roll. None of this happens if I plug the RDR-HXD860 via scart into an old UK CRT TV. i.e. it plays US, UK, freeview all fine so I know it is OK.

I have a multi-region Samsung DVD-HD860 from the USA which plays both UK & USA DVDs just fine on the KDL-V40XBR.

I am starting to suspect that HDMI is not as standard as one would think. It appears there is a refresh rate difference between the USA & UK. I don't know if anyone could confirm that.

I am not sure what I can do now. I suspect the issue is in software as the KDL-V40XBR supports many programmable PC video modes with many different refresh rates - it just does not expect it over HDMI. Alternatively, the RDR-HXD860 seems to be able to output at both rates but I do not have a way of selecting which one (that I can find).

My plan now is to call Sony and hope I do not have to buy a new TV!

[directhex]

60Hz is standard in NTSC countries, 50Hz is standard in PAL countries. i'm surprised that your TV seems incapable of playing 50Hz content - all tvs sold in .uk will do both

[Sam Jenkins]

Just in case anyone ever has to go through this too:

I finally solved the problem by purchasing an AT-LINE-PRO (Atlona video scaler with HDMI output, $479.99) which converts and upscales just about anything to just about any HDMI resolution and frequency.

I got it from lenexpo-electronics who are based in California and have been excellent in terms of customer service (and a little technical support because the manual was not great on the usage model but the guy on the end of the phone knew what he was doing).

Cheers

Sam

PS I am too new to post URL's but for those interested just stick a www infront and a .com after the company name above.

[Sam Jenkins]

http://www.lenexpo-electronics.com/

That was my 5th post!