There’s bound to be a simple answer to this, but I’ve had zero luck with Google!
I have an American VCR and am trying to connect it to my British portable TV. The TV only has a coaxial socket.
My problem is that the coaxial cable that came with the VCR is of a different width and has a different type of plug than the British plug. I tried splicing the cable with no joy - the fitting seemed tight enough but I couldn’t get a signal.
Is there something that makes my simple approach impossible? For instance, I could buy a connector and use existing cable and plugs that I know work independently, but I don’t know if the problem would remain.
Can anybody tell me if I’m just wasting my time and should get a new TV with a scart socket?!? (money!)
There’s not one but two problems here. The first, and most important, is that the signal types between the two devices are incompatible. US VCRs use the NTSC standard, while European TVs use the PAL system. Although you can still see an image if you conected one directly to the other, the color will be messed up and the image will jitter. The other problem is the connector type. The US VCR uses F-type connectors while the European TV uses PAL-type connectors.
What you’ll need is an NTSC-to-PAL convertor. The converter gets connected between the VCR and the TV. They go for about $50US.
Thanks for this. No problem with the signal on my bigger TV as it has auto adjustment for NTSC signal. Could account for problems with the portable though.
This had crossed my mind, but rather than getting the kind of jumbled signal you get with NTSC (here) there was none at all.
I think it is the F-type problem - and I didn’t know what they were called. A search for F-type to PAL might yield results.
You can buy them at Maplin for just over a quid. From the Product Menu (left side) go to Sound & Vision, then Aerials & Amplifiers. You will see Coax to F converters listed.
(money!)