# PAL vs. VHS - Compatible or no? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 23, 2000, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pal-vs-vhs-compatible-or-no/20298 "2000-05-23T18:12:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gooti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@gooti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gooti)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2000, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pal-vs-vhs-compatible-or-no/20298/1 "2000-05-23T18:12:58Z")
I’m hoping that someone here will be able to help me with this. I’ve been looking for Neil Gaiman’s **Neverwhere** on video for quite some time now and the only places I’ve been able to find it are through British companies in PAL format. Is this compatible with a VHS player? Thanks for any help y’all can provide. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pal-vs-vhs-compatible-or-no/20298/2 "2000-05-23T18:22:11Z")
If I recall correctly, the answer is no. A friend is heading to Germany soo to see some family, and was complaining that he has to get the videotape he took converted into a PAL format so that his family can see it. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2000, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pal-vs-vhs-compatible-or-no/20298/3 "2000-05-23T18:34:24Z")
You can’t play PAL tapes on a VHS machine. You would have to get it converted - last time I looked into this it cost about $35.00, but it might be lower now. Check the Yellow Pages under Audio/Visual services or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout_Mask_Replica)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2000, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pal-vs-vhs-compatible-or-no/20298/4 "2000-05-23T18:52:36Z")
Check out your local Indian grocery. A lot of them (at least in my area) can do PAL-to-VHS conversions. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2000, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pal-vs-vhs-compatible-or-no/20298/5 "2000-05-23T18:53:47Z")
The question is phrased incorrectly. It’s PAL (the European TV format) vs. NTSC (the american TV format.) You can find companies that will convert a videotape for you from PAL to NTSC (for a fee.) Alternatively, you can buy a VCR that plays tapes in both formats. As an example, where I live (the greater LA area) there are stores that specialize in selling electronic equipment to people from India. India has the PAL system, so they sell VCRs that can play both types of cassettes. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2000, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pal-vs-vhs-compatible-or-no/20298/6 "2000-05-23T20:02:25Z")
Arnold Winkelried is right. The rest of you are confusing velocity with being horny. Marjorie, search the net for “multisystem vcr” and you will see. for instance: [http://www.aiwa.com/Catalog99/models/HV-MX100.asp](http://www.aiwa.com/Catalog99/models/HV-MX100.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2000, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pal-vs-vhs-compatible-or-no/20298/7 "2000-05-23T20:19:51Z")
to expand on Arnold’s answer, VHS stands for Video Home System. NTSC and PAL are both standards that can be put on VHS tape.