# Playing DVD-Rs overseas

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-dvd-rs-overseas/340282>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 16, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-dvd-rs-overseas/340282 "2006-01-16T23:59:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![goransmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f07891/32.png) [@goransmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goransmom)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-dvd-rs-overseas/340282/1 "2006-01-16T23:59:59Z")

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I was on a game show earlier this year which a friend kindly recorded on his DVR here in the states. I would like to share my performance with family back in the old country (UK). I am aware that commercially produced DVDs work only in certain zones, but is this true of “home made” DVDs?

Thanks

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-dvd-rs-overseas/340282/2 "2006-01-17T00:17:38Z")

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If it was made on a standalone recorder, then it is very likely to be region coded (in this case, R2). You should be able to watch it on your computer.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-dvd-rs-overseas/340282/3 "2006-01-17T00:22:36Z")

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> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#):
>
> If it was made on a standalone recorder, then it is very likely to be region coded (in this case, R2). You should be able to watch it on your computer.

:smack:

I mis-read your post, but substitute R1 for R2 and my answer stands.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-dvd-rs-overseas/340282/4 "2006-01-17T00:45:02Z")

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Oh yeah, there’s also the PAL/NTSC thing.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-dvd-rs-overseas/340282/5 "2006-01-17T09:18:15Z")

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As I understand it, it’s statistically more likely that a USA-centric DVD (region 1, NTSC) will work on a UK DVD player than the other way around; most DVD players sold in the UK now are multi-region and if the NTSC\>PAL conversion isn’t handled by the DVD player, it will probably output it as PAL-60, (PAL-encoded signal, at 60 fps instead of the normal 50), that most TVs will handle OK.

It is my understanding that the reverse situation - being able to play a UK-centric DVD (region 2, PAL) - is less common on typical USA setups.