Tech: DVD tracking in Ireland and UK

Subject: Tech: DVD tracking in Ireland and UK
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 11:36 AM

If I sent a DVD to Ireland, the UK, or Europe, would it play the same as it does in the US or would I run into an NTSC/PAL problem as you can with VHS tapes?

Subject: RE: Tech: DVD tracking in Ireland and UK
From: GUEST,Geoff the Duck
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 01:36 PM

Pal and NTSC are different systems for the display on a television screen. They are something to do with the number of lines displayed.
Because of this, there was a problem playing American VHS tapes on English equipment as it was trying to play a different signal which the equipment wasn't designed to decode.
When DVD players first appeared, ones sold in the UK were all PAL output. There was also the problem caused by commercial recordings being deliberately coded to play only in equipment sold in specific countries. Region 1 being USA and Canada. Region 1 DVDs would not play on UK players.

Since then, various player manufacturers hav sold models which solve some of these problems. Some players are Multi-Region, so will play US discs as well as UK ones. Some players have the capability to output both PAL and NTSC.
What I am not sure is how many do and how many do not.

In other words, Rapaire, I think that the DVDs may play perfectly well if the recipient has a compatible set of equipment, but there is no guarantee that their set-up WILL be one which works. It could be down to luck and could also be dependent on the coding of the DVD.

Then again, somebody may be more up to date on technology than I am, and tell you that I am giving an assessment of the situation that is no longer accurate.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Tech: DVD tracking in Ireland and UK
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 01:53 PM

Most DVD players over here seem to be easy enough to adjust so that they can play American DVDs, or even come set up to play both I don't know whether that works the other way round, in North America.

I imagine casting around via google would thrown up all the gen on that kind of thing. But there are probably people on the Mudcat who can supply the info more intelligibly.

Subject: RE: Tech: DVD tracking in Ireland and UK
From: nickp
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 01:54 PM

Should be fine - as Geoff says the main issue is the Region code - US is 1, UK is 2 and the players tend to be restricted unless you get a 'crack' for the code. Home produced ones are almost certainly region 0 and so should be fine. Nick

Subject: RE: Tech: DVD tracking in Ireland and UK
From: Rapparee
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 02:14 PM

Good, 'cause we want to send a DVD of my FIL's funeral to the family in Ireland. It was recorded off the master tape and the DVD duped by friends here.

Subject: RE: Tech: DVD tracking in Ireland and UK
From: nickp
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 02:56 PM

Sounds like it should be no problem at all. Such a sad reason to try it out. Best wishes, N

Subject: RE: Tech: DVD tracking in Ireland and UK
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 10:31 PM

The Region Coding as already mentioned is the worst headache - DVDs are recorded using a system that is different from, and thus bypasses the PAL/NTSC game.

Interestingly, some types of Commercial DVDs such as Documentaries are normally coded Region 0 - because of the lower total expected market.

Subject: RE: Tech: DVD tracking in Ireland and UK
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jun 07 - 10:52 PM

There is a program called DVD Region & CSS Free that will let you view the DVD without changing the orientation of your DVD drive in your computer. After the computer's DVD player region has been set for the fifth time (first time is when it is set in your computer to play in your region) you have to live with it or get a new DVD player. This program eliminates the region problems without tampering with the hardware. It costs $40 after a 90 day free preview--I need to go ahead and buy it but the page for buying it seems to be down right now. You can use it with other software like DVD Shrink that will let you make a personal copy and set the zone (or set no zone).

I use this because there are some films that I don't think will ever be released in the U.S., or not in the version I want, that I've bought via places like Amazon and over eBay. The only way to view them is on the computer with this program, but if you break the region code with this program and make a copy for your system in the correct code, you can then use a television to watch the DVD you legally purchased and own. It's a pain in the butt, but it's the only way I found to do it, unless you can get your hands on a player that plays all zones.

SRS