[AndyCob]

Originally Posted by tinpanalley

What exactly is the downfall or worst-case scenario of the Atlona converter? Skipping jumping video? Delayed audio? Will it burn up from overheating trying to convert frequency from PAL to NTSC for long periods of time? Some other problem?

Primarily the drawbacks are from the conversion of a local 50Hz source to 60Hz to feed the US TV resulting in a certain amount of juderring and jaggies from the conversion, some people don't notice it but others find it a major issue, audiosink will probably be ok but could be an issue, it's impossible to say for sure without direct experience of the specific converter. Plus the lack of any locally compatible tuners in the US TV of course.

The real drawback is the video converter, step down trasnformer and external tuner(s) you would have to buy and add to the US TV to replicate the functionality of a local TV are probably going to cost you more than the local TV would and still not function as well or as easily plus the local TV wouldn't have any of the issues the import setup would.

The import setup will work as I have always said just not as well or as easily or probably as cheaply as buying a local TV.

[winston2010]

Originally Posted by TIG80

When you get a stepdown transformer, if you buy it from the UK, it would be worth asking if they can supply it with a schuko plug instead of the UK 13amp plug as that would save you either having to use a UK to schuko adaptor or replacing the UK plug with a schuko.

France does not use standard schuko plugs so that is not a good idea. You could ask if they could supply it with a French plug though.

[winston2010]

DTT boxes bought in France can usually be set to output NTSC/60Hz. They work OK but horizontal movement can be jerky.

[TIG80]

Yes thats a good point Winston2010, although a stepdown converter is likely to be fitted with a moulded schuko plug and that will most likely be the hybrid type, ie it will have the hole for the grounding pin that french schuko sockets have fitted and an earthing strip on the top and bottom. If the plug is changed from a uk type to schuko then you have 2 options:

1) use a hybrid schuko plug - which will have a grounding hole and 2 earthing strips (1 on the top the other on the bottom).

2) use a france/belgium only schuko plug.

Either of the 2 schuko plugs I mentioned should be readily available in france (there is no danger in using a hybrid schuko plug in france), or from a company such as Farnell: Farnell United Kingdom | Electronic Components | Electronic Parts

[TIG80]

Also on the subject of the french schuko, I think most electrical goods in france are supplied with a universal schuko plug, ie it will fit both the french and german schuko type socket - simply because the french schuko sockets are not that widely used outside of france and belgium compared with the german schuko socket that a lot of countries use.

I would imagine its just extension cords and wall sockets that are of the french schuko type, as unlike the german schuko outlets they are polarised outlets - ie the plug will only go in 1 way unlike the german schuko which can go in 2 ways round.

[tinpanalley]

Originally Posted by AndyCob

The real drawback is the video converter, step down trasnformer and external tuner(s) you would have to buy and add to the US TV to replicate the functionality of a local TV are probably going to cost you more than the local TV would and still not function as well or as easily plus the local TV wouldn't have any of the issues the import setup would.

I've already calculated all this...

1. Getting a multi-system TV from the retailer here in IL that sells them:
$600 for the cheapest Plasma
$120 shipping to me in NY (where I live)
20% VAT because it's new (I'd be moving this summer)
TOTAL: $840

2. Buying a new TV in France: Cheapest TV I'd be willing to own at Darty was still about 640 euros with tax included.

3. Keeping the CRT-HD (already own, no cost) - $350 with all converters needed.

I just don't see how any of these options are cheaper than keeping my TV and buying appropriate converters which serve me well in other applications as well? Do you see where I'm coming from?

[AndyCob]

I think you are very much underestimating the potential costs of the extra bits, not saying you defeinitely can't do it that cheap but just as an example depending on the wattage of your TV and the type of transformer you could easily spend $350 on that alone, same for the video processor. It depends on make qulaity etc.

Step down transformer $100-300 depending on type and wattage

Video processor $150-400+ depending on type and functionality

Set top box (local tuner) $50-100

Local 32 inch HD ready TV of equivalent spec to your CRT $300-800

So it depends heavily which end of the price band you buy in, you could easily spend $700 on the bits but only $200 on the TV though you could also do the reverse but with different quality results, it's your choice as I've always said.

[tinpanalley]

Hey Andy,
Thanks for the continued input. This is what I used to calculate the AC-DC-AC conversion. A 220v euro to 12v DC and an inverter back to 120v AC at 60hz.

1. Step-down transformer: Step Down Transformers - Step down - 240/120V - 500VA 2 sockets (5476/2w) 19-1043 - euronetwork.co.uk
$106.71

2. A 24v PSU capable of 240W of 24v. It's one of their higher end models with a fan and active PFC.
SP-240-24, Mean Well SP-240-24
$51.71

3. A pure sine wave inverter for the tv to convert the dc back into AC at the proper frequency.
TS-200-124A, Mean Well TS-200-124A
$137.25

4. PAL - NTSC Atlona converter
$165.00
------------------

Total Cost: $460.71

What's my problem with starting fresh in France with a new TV?
- The smallest plasmas I can get are 40-42". And even the worst models go for 400 euros. That's $495.00 USD. The ones I'd be most likely to buy would be more like $600-700 USD.
- Then, I'm buying all new cables. But there are cables involved in all the transformers. Sure. So lets just eliminate the cable argument altogether. It'll be a negligible difference.
- I automatically lose my 360, Wii and all games. Because even if the systems will work, the games won't work on a PAL TV because they're NTSC games.
- I've contacted the stores in France, there is NO guarantee despite common accepted knowledge in forums that when you want a multi-format TV, that you can get one. It can mean waiting for the right model for months. It's not the cut and dry, "here's you multi-format TV" market people think it is. At the risk of people ridiculing me, I also lose my laserdiscs which are all classic films that have no DVD version. I'm a filmmaker, this matters to me. I'm not gonna get into why classic films matter on LD.

All of that factored in, in addition to the fact that we're on a budget, can you see my confusion with wondering why people seem insistent on thinking I'm nuts? Don't the numbers clearly add up? Look, I'm not an idiot. Please help me if you think I'm missing something. I just find that for the most part people just wanna say that because THEY think it's crazy, that I'm ridiculous for doing this. Not a good reason, don't you agree? Anyway, I'm totally open to your input guys, if it's constructive. Thank you for your time!

[AndyCob]

Originally Posted by tinpanalley

- I automatically lose my 360, Wii and all games. Because even if the systems will work, the games won't work on a PAL TV because they're NTSC games.

Not True, so long as you are connecting by HDMI and only HDMI, they will work (and on any Euro TV with a HDMI input) no need for a special multiformat one unless you are planning on using a different connection and even then almost all Euro sets will accept NTSC as a feed even if they don't bother to mention it anyway as standard though care is required as it is not 100% for non HDMI connections.

ALL Euro TVs should accept NTSC resolution and refresh by HDMI it was a legal requirement of the spec here.

I said you weren't crazy I have 3 bits of US kit, one Japanese, in front of me as I type but they are all things for which there was no local equivalent for the TV there is. You are also cheating slightly by upgrading the TV, you have what a 32 CRT, so saying you won't accept anything less than a 42 plasma biases the argument. You can pick up a 32 HD ready (or even full HD) LCD TV for as little as $300 if you really shop around these days and thats less than the bits.

Actually just realised something else important, your moving to France? yes, not sure now but wouldn't that mean you nead to allow for SECAM rather than PAL or both.

[tinpanalley]

SECAM would only be for standard def. It's being phased out. It's all PAL now in the digital realm.

[tinpanalley]

Also, the CRT is HD. It's widescreen, 16:9. I don't need bigger. Truth be told, I'd rather not have bigger. Plasma's just aren't made any smaller than 109 cm. So, I'm not cheating, because I don't want to have one as big as 42 to being with, I just have no other choice in Plasma.

[AndyCob]

Yes and you can get a 32 inch widescreen full HD TV for under £200 so approximately less than $300 if you shop around in the UK so France should be similar or even cheaper. Plasma ins't the only option. I was implying you could get a TV equivalent to your current CRT in size/features for less than the cost of the bits to make the current one work, I wasn't allowing for adding another 10-12 inches to the screen size as well.

[Frozencat]

Yes, you can take the TV and your xbox and playstation to france. It will play with step down transformers easily.

In, fact, I'd be very surprised if your TV doesn't have a built in transformer like laptops and computers. And step down transformers are not that expensive, I've been using them since I was kid for my American electronics. I'm an American who lived in the Middle East cuz my dads work, and then back to US now in London for work(been 7 years!).

Been playing sega saturns, ps2s, etc, etc, all over the world with a powerful yet cheap transformer, and no issues.

Just don't know how much it will be worth it to lug around a TV, when you could just get a cheap used one, and then sell it off before you leave. I'm sure not going to take any of my electronics back, other than my games consoles and laptop. That is when I leave back to the US. And going back to the US I will eventually, cuz man, nothing works in this country.