FAQ’S:
Multisystems
What are NTSC, PAL and SECAM?
NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) is a standard
used in North America and Japan. It has the ability to display up to 525 lines
of resolution. PAL (Phase Alternating Line), a standard used almost everywhere
else in the world, has the ability to display 625 lines of resolution. SECAM
(Sequential Color Memory) is used sparingly around the world and can be found
in France, parts of Greece, Eastern Europe, Russia, Africa and a few other
parts of the world. However, any SECAM country can display PAL tapes in full
color, but not all PAL countries can display all SECAM tapes in color. Only if
they are true SECAM and not MESECAM can those VCR's display SECAM.
What video standard does my country use?
If you're in North America, Japan, Korea, the Philippines
and parts of South America, you use NTSC. Most other areas of the world use PAL
or SECAM. Half of Brazil uses NTSC while the other half uses PAL-M. Argentina,
Uruguay and Paraguay use PAL-N. The rest of the world uses mainly PAL. If
you're unsure what your video standard is, contact your local cable or
broadcast company. Also, on the back of most videotape is indicating what video
standard the tape is. This is a good representation of what your video standard
is.
Do I need special types of videotapes to
record in different video standards?
No, videotapes are blank. You can get a blank tape and
record any video standard onto it.
How do I watch overseas videotapes?
Videotapes come in variety standards, each incompatible with
the other. To watch videotapes from overseas that are not the same video
standard as your own, you'll need what is called a multisystem VCR and a
multisystem TV, or a Digital Video Standards Converter and VCR, or a VCR with a
built-in Converter.
What is a multisystem VCR?
Different areas of the world use different video standards.
North America uses NTSC, Europe uses PAL and SECAM, and South America uses
PAL-M, PAL-N, PAL and NTSC. Almost every area of the world has a mixture of
video standards. Unfortunately, none of these standards are compatible with
each other. A multisystem VCR has the ability to play videotapes of different
video standards.
|
Country |
Voltage |
Frequency |
TV System |
|
Afghanistan |
220V |
50Hz |
B/PAL B/SECAM |
|
Albania |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Algeria |
127/220V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Argentina |
220V |
50Hz |
N/PAL |
|
Australia |
240V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Austria |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Bangladesh |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Belgium |
220V |
50Hz |
B.H/PAL |
|
Bolivia |
110/220V |
50/60Hz |
N/PAL |
|
Brazil |
110/127/220V |
60Hz |
M/PAL |
|
Brunei |
240V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Bulgaria |
220V |
50Hz |
D.K/SECAM |
|
Canada |
120/230V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Canary Islands |
110/220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Chile |
220V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
China |
220V |
50Hz |
D/PAL |
|
Columbia |
110/120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Congo (P. R.) |
220V |
50Hz |
D/SECAM |
|
Costa Rica |
120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Cyprus |
240V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Czechoslovakia |
220V |
50Hz |
D.K/SECAM |
|
Denmark |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Dominican Republic |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Ecuador |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Egypt |
110/220V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
El Salvador |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Fiji |
240V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Finland |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
France |
127/220V |
50Hz |
E.L/SECAM |
|
Germany |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/SECAM/PAL |
|
Gibraltar |
240V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Greece |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/SECAM |
|
Guam |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Guatemala |
110/120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Honduras |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Hong Kong |
200V |
50Hz |
I/PAL |
|
Hungary |
220V |
50Hz |
D.K/SECAM |
|
India |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Indonesia |
127/220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Iran |
220V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Iraq |
220V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Ireland |
220V |
50Hz |
AI/PAL |
|
Israel |
230V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Italy |
125/220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Jamaica |
110/220V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Jordan |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Kenya |
240V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Korea (D. P. R.) |
220V |
50Hz |
D/SECAM |
|
Korea (Rep.) |
100/200V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Kuwait |
240V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Lebanon |
110/190V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Liberia |
120V |
60Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Libya |
127/230V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Luxembourg |
120/220V |
50Hz |
C/PAL, GL/SECAM |
|
Macao |
110/220V |
50Hz |
I/PAL |
|
Malaysia |
240V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Mexico |
110/220V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Monaco |
220V |
50Hz |
C/PAL, GL/SECAM |
|
Mongolia |
220V |
50Hz |
D/SECAM |
|
Morocco |
115/220V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Myanmar |
230V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Netherlands |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
New Caledonia |
220V |
50Hz |
K1/SECAM |
|
New Zealand |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Nicaragua |
120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Niger |
220V |
50Hz |
K1/SECAM |
|
Nigeria |
230V |
50Hz |
BG/PAL |
|
Norway |
230V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Oman |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Pakistan |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Panama |
110/120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Paraguay |
220V |
50Hz |
N/PAL |
|
Peru |
220V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Philippines |
110/220V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Poland |
220V |
50Hz |
D.K/SECAM |
|
Portugal |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Puerto Rico |
120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Qatar |
240V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Rumania |
220V |
50Hz |
D.K/PAL |
|
Saudi Arabia |
127/220V |
50/60Hz |
B.G/SECAM, PAL |
|
Singapore |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
South Africa |
220/230V |
50Hz |
I/PAL |
|
Spain |
127/220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Sri Lanka |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Sweden |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Switzerland |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Syria |
115/200V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Taiwan |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Thailand |
220V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Turkey |
220V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
United Arab Emirates |
220V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
United Kingdom |
240V |
50Hz |
I/PAL |
|
Uruguay |
220V |
50Hz |
N/PAL |
|
USA |
120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
C. I. S. |
127/220V |
50Hz |
D.K/SECAM |
|
Venezuela |
120V |
50/60Hz |
N/NTSC |
|
Vietnam |
120/220V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC, D/SECAM |
|
Yemen |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Yugoslavia |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Country |
Voltage |
Frequency |
TV System |
|
Afghanistan |
220V |
50Hz |
B/PAL B/SECAM |
|
Albania |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Algeria |
127/220V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Argentina |
220V |
50Hz |
N/PAL |
|
Australia |
240V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Austria |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Bangladesh |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Belgium |
220V |
50Hz |
B.H/PAL |
|
Bolivia |
110/220V |
50/60Hz |
N/PAL |
|
Brazil |
110/127/220V |
60Hz |
M/PAL |
|
Brunei |
240V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Bulgaria |
220V |
50Hz |
D.K/SECAM |
|
Canada |
120/230V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Canary Islands |
110/220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Chile |
220V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
China |
220V |
50Hz |
D/PAL |
|
Columbia |
110/120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Congo (P. R.) |
220V |
50Hz |
D/SECAM |
|
Costa Rica |
120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Cyprus |
240V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Czechoslovakia |
220V |
50Hz |
D.K/SECAM |
|
Denmark |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Dominican Republic |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Ecuador |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Egypt |
110/220V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
El Salvador |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Fiji |
240V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Finland |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
France |
127/220V |
50Hz |
E.L/SECAM |
|
Germany |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/SECAM/PAL |
|
Gibraltar |
240V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Greece |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/SECAM |
|
Guam |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Guatemala |
110/120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Honduras |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Hong Kong |
200V |
50Hz |
I/PAL |
|
Hungary |
220V |
50Hz |
D.K/SECAM |
|
India |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Indonesia |
127/220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Iran |
220V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Iraq |
220V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Ireland |
220V |
50Hz |
AI/PAL |
|
Israel |
230V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Italy |
125/220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Jamaica |
110/220V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Jordan |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Kenya |
240V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Korea (D. P. R.) |
220V |
50Hz |
D/SECAM |
|
Korea (Rep.) |
100/200V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Kuwait |
240V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Lebanon |
110/190V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Liberia |
120V |
60Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Libya |
127/230V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Luxembourg |
120/220V |
50Hz |
C/PAL, GL/SECAM |
|
Macao |
110/220V |
50Hz |
I/PAL |
|
Malaysia |
240V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Mexico |
110/220V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Monaco |
220V |
50Hz |
C/PAL, GL/SECAM |
|
Mongolia |
220V |
50Hz |
D/SECAM |
|
Morocco |
115/220V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Myanmar |
230V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Netherlands |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
New Caledonia |
220V |
50Hz |
K1/SECAM |
|
New Zealand |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Nicaragua |
120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Niger |
220V |
50Hz |
K1/SECAM |
|
Nigeria |
230V |
50Hz |
BG/PAL |
|
Norway |
230V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Oman |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Pakistan |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Panama |
110/120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Paraguay |
220V |
50Hz |
N/PAL |
|
Peru |
220V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Philippines |
110/220V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Poland |
220V |
50Hz |
D.K/SECAM |
|
Portugal |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Puerto Rico |
120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Qatar |
240V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Rumania |
220V |
50Hz |
D.K/PAL |
|
Saudi Arabia |
127/220V |
50/60Hz |
B.G/SECAM, PAL |
|
Singapore |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
South Africa |
220/230V |
50Hz |
I/PAL |
|
Spain |
127/220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Sri Lanka |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Sweden |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Switzerland |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |
|
Syria |
115/200V |
50Hz |
B/SECAM |
|
Taiwan |
110V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
Thailand |
220V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Turkey |
220V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
United Arab Emirates |
220V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
United Kingdom |
240V |
50Hz |
I/PAL |
|
Uruguay |
220V |
50Hz |
N/PAL |
|
USA |
120V |
60Hz |
M/NTSC |
|
C. I. S. |
127/220V |
50Hz |
D.K/SECAM |
|
Venezuela |
120V |
50/60Hz |
N/NTSC |
|
Vietnam |
120/220V |
50Hz |
M/NTSC, D/SECAM |
|
Yemen |
230V |
50Hz |
B/PAL |
|
Yugoslavia |
220V |
50Hz |
B.G/PAL |