Question about UK tapes *sorry*

I really dont understand the pal thing.. so here is what my vcr supports..are any of these that format? equipped with SQVB it plays VHS T-30 T-60 T-90 T-120 (ST-120) T-160 (ST-160) TC-20 (st-C20) TC-30 (ST-C30) TC-40 (ST-C40)

~Act

Activia wrote in message ...

This is a video tape compatibility list. For instance, an ST-C30 is a professional quality SVHS 30 min camcorder cassette made by Fuji. This list merely tells you what length cassettes you can use. This is the same for every video recorder across the globe that uses the VHS system.

There are two prominent methods of encoding video signals for recording or transmission, and these are the NTSC system and the PAL system. They are not interchangeable. Both can be used on the same type of VHS cassette. The US uses the NTSC system. The rest of the world (mostly) uses the PAL system. PAL video recorders can play NTSC tapes, to allow Europeans to take advantage of cheaper US tapes. The US has no need to play PAL tapes (except for Friends), so NTSC video recorders do not have PAL playback capability. Your only options for pre-recorded Friends is to buy a region-free DVD player in the US, and buy DVDs from the UK, or to buy a PAL video recorder and TV from the UK, and VHS tapes from the UK.

Here's some more.

All six friends are much too promiscuous.

Rachel is a mean-spirited, vindictive and entirely selfish person who deserves to be alone. Forever. I have yet to see her do anything which makes me think she's *really* capable of loving anybody but herself on a longterm scale.

Monica is mean to Chandler.

Ross badly needs therapy.

So does Phoebe.

I don't think Janine did anything wrong in choosing to dislike Chandler and Monica. Furthermore, I think a lot of what she said was right.

I am surprised that Joey hasn't had a better career in modeling.

Monica was more appealing when she dated Richard.

Each of the six friends (except maybe Chandler) appears to be turning into their same-sex parent.

At this point I'd almost be more interested in seeing a Chandler and Joey spinoff than another year of Friends.

YES! Somebody who isn't afraid to speak out and - tell - it - like - it - is...

claire abraham wrote in message news:[email]...

Particularly Pheobe (although not so much since she had the babies, it would seem.)

"...it's *just* a job??" To me that was the end of her for me. The one person you're supposed to be with, who has as many if not more important things in his life (professorship, child, FGS), makes time to be with you, but you can't reciprocate it because of *your* job...? Something's definitely wrong with her... I'd say she was turning in to her father.

Far cry from Monica in seasons 1 & 2, though (now officially known as 'Old Monica). Monica transmogryfied into the shrieking animal she is now sometime after Pete.

And an HIV test...

Exactly, and what two couples spend every night of the week hanging out exclusively with each other. I mean, didn't she have any friends?

Yeah, but that was Old Monica.

Very good idea!

Wow Ian, you seem to know a lot about VCRs! Would you mind answering a tiny little question? Where is the Mesecam system used? My VCR plays and records Secam (French system), Pal (European system) and Mesecam. There's no mention of NTSC. Since NTSC is the short for "not twice same color", are there any chances that Mesecam might the proper name of the American system? Thanks in advance if you understand anything of the above ;-)

Adeline.

===== "Your timing couldn't be better, I'm puttin' out fires all over the place." ~Joey Tribbianni, "Friends"

"I'm right! I'm right! Am...I...right??" ~Chandler Bing, "Friends"

I don't know if Mesecam is French for NTSC, but "Never Twice the Same Color" is a little joke, it's "National Television Standards Committee".

Tennant

If a 100 monkeys each could get their own show (alt.tv.friends), perhaps one day (Thu, 27 Apr 2000 02:48:19 BST) a chimp (Tennant Stuart ) might say:

Depending on who you ask it's Standards/Systems...

speaking of acronyms.. hmm WENUS <g> would you say it's Weekly Estimated Net Usage *Statistics* or *Systems* Tennant?

sesameslang - "Because I'm worth it!"

In article , [email] (Sesame Slang) wrote:

It's 'Statistics'. Mr.Perry said the wrong word in the best take.

Tennant

If a 100 monkeys each could get their own show (alt.tv.friends), perhaps one day (Thu, 27 Apr 2000 22:11:57 BST) a chimp (Tennant Stuart ) might say:

Good, someone's been reading their trivia books :))

(but they left it in because of the audience's reaction, right?)

sesameslang - "Because I'm worth it!"

In article , [email] (Sesame Slang) wrote:

Well, *actually* it's in the FAQ - if people read this before posting then we wouldn't keep having the same questions over & over again...

Tennant

If a 100 monkeys each could get their own show (alt.tv.friends), perhaps one day (Fri, 28 Apr 2000 18:19:46 BST) a chimp (Tennant Stuart ) might say:

I wasn't asking you, I knew, I was just testing ya :)

sesameslang - "Because I'm worth it!"

In article , [email] (Sesame Slang) wrote:

Lol! Did I pass? What if I hadn't said that? :)

I was taught to ride a motorcycle by the police, and at the end of the course I took a test that was much tougher than the ministry one.

At one point I was told to proceed down a street and take any action that seemed necessary - as I approached a large van I could see a big pair of hobnail boots waiting to jump out at me. Even though this was an emergency stop test, I thought it was funny, so I slowed down, looked around the van, and greeted the policeman waiting for me.

The smile was wiped off my face by the look he gave me as he waved me on, and I was just thinking I had blown it when another cop jumped out from *nowhere* and I had to brake hard to avoid hitting him. It turned out in the end that if you do *two* emergency stops then you fail the test...

Tennant

If a 100 monkeys each could get their own show (alt.tv.friends), perhaps one day (Thu, 27 Apr 2000 02:09:07 +0200) a chimp ("Rom1" ) might say:

(NTSC actually stands for National Television System Committee, but i suppose it could also stand for Not Twice Same Colour.. whichever's easier to remember. But the American's system proper name is NTSC.)

Mesecam is for Asia and the Middle East - the ME part is "Middle East" so it's Middle East SEquential Couleur Avec Memoire (SECAM's the French system)

And for anyone still reading, PAL stands for Phase Alternating Line. It uses a wider channel bandwidth so you get better picture quality than NTSC.

sesameslang - "zzzZZZZzzzz"

Hellooooo!!! After getting drunk in Vegas, Sesame Slang doodled cat whiskers on his/her face and miaowed this little lot at a statue...

I thought it was Never The Same Colour Twice? :)

Tina (zzzzzz...)

If a 100 monkeys each could get their own show (alt.tv.friends), perhaps one day (Thu, 27 Apr 2000 11:56:13 +0100) a chimp (Tina ) might say:

But that would make it NTSCT <g>.. My dad (who should know these things) told me it was Never The Same Colour, but I proved him wrong :)

sesameslang - "Because I'm worth it!"

In article , [email] (Sesame Slang) wrote:

And by alternating between two orientations of the phase diagram for the chrominance/luminance vectors, distortions in transmission are seen as small changes in brightness rather than colour.

Tennant

<singsong voice> nyaaa nyaaa PAL is better than NTSC!! <g> </singsong voice>

Shaz (I only notice a difference between the two when I watch videos that have been recorded off tv. NTSC Pre-recorded, store bought videos are much better) I couldn't afford a cool signature, so I just got this one. http://zap.to/ERweb (ER Multimedia) http://members.xoom.com/shaz915/ERcreative/FAQ http://members.xoom.com/shaz915/GellerBing http://members.xoom.com/FriendsQuote

Mesecam is used in the Middle East, according to the sticker on my VCR.

Nope. I doubt that it would support PAL format. If it's not obvious, then assume it doesn't.

I can't remember the technical differences between PAL and NTSC, but what's important is thatthe standard format for TV's and VCR's in the United States is NTSC.

The standard in the UK, Australia, etc etc is PAL, and we seem to be luckier because VCR's that can handle both formats are readily available. I helped a friend in the US look for a VCR there that could handle both, but we weren't very successful.

Hope this helps!

Shaz "Turkey's burnt, potatoes are ruined, potatoes are ruined, potatoes are ruined." http://zap.to/ERweb (ER Multimedia) http://members.xoom.com/shaz915/ERcreative/FAQ http://members.xoom.com/shaz915/GellerBing http://members.xoom.com/FriendsQuote

OH NO..did you find any whatsoever?

~Act

not for the basic home user. Only commercial ones that cost a LOT!

:((( what's your suggestion then?

~Act

what is the reason you want a PAL compatible VCR? So you can buy Friends tapes from overseas???

If that's the case, I suggest you dilligently record the syndicated episodes off tv... and if you don't have cable, it would be cheaper to GET it than it would to try to get a PAL VCR from overseas.

ahh you missed my posts why I said this would not be easy and its much better to buy them. Due to the fact that they play them out of order cut things off and mess it up sometimes also. Plus, my mom tapes other shows and would inevitably get taped on my friends tapes because Iam at work during the transition. She is trying to stop my "dedication" so I am delibrating no longer showing it in front of her. Using my dad's address to get that DVD player when I get all that extra money this summer. I happen to have a TV upstairs but no cable to it. SO I can hide the DVD player up there with the tapes. *ahh I revealed my master sneaky plan #201200200020222*

and if you don't have cable, it would be cheaper to GET it than it

I do have cable :o)

~Act

In article , Activia wrote:

You do know that DVDs are discs, not tapes, don't you?

DVD players will also play CDs, so if you disguise the "DVD" logo on the front with a suitable label or something, you can pretend that it's just a cheap CD player, and that you've forsaken Friends for a boy band...

I'm thinking of someone else on ATF, if she recognises herself. :)

Tennant

If a 100 monkeys each could get their own show (alt.tv.friends), perhaps one day (Sat, 29 Apr 2000 16:17:28 BST) a chimp (Tennant Stuart ) might say:

Heehee, exactly what I was thinking Tennant.

Naming no names, of course :)

Of course I'd like to see you pretend that the DVD player's a CD player.. "Where's the speakers?" "There aren't any!" "How do you hear it?" "Um, through the TV.." "Well that's just stupid!"

That's what the conversation would be like in my house, 'cept we already got 2 DVD players so it's not likely to happen.

"Hey, what's that CD player doing in the TV cabinet?" - a friend of mine after visiting my house :)

sesameslang - ME LIKE HOCKEY!

In article , [email] (Sesame Slang) wrote:

No, naming no names.

But that's just it, you DO connect your DVD player to your speakers (via an amplifier), for decent sound for movies as well as music.

But Activia is in a different situation.

Activia won't put the DVD player in the TV cabinet, but above her audio cassette player, with a sneaky little video lead snaking it's way round the back to the TV set. If she plays network TV sound over the speakers then this lead will explain itself. It is important that the 'CD player' is proudly displayed and not hidden away. It's a matter of fulfilling people's expectations of what they think they will see.

Tennant, (who got away with blue murder as a small boy and misses all the intrigue now he has his own house)

Yeah, trying to hide things from yourself just doesn't really work (although I've *mislaid* plenty of stuff, I always manage to remember where the KitKats are, sadly...)

Jac

In article , "Jacqui" wrote:

The trick is to mislay whole aisles at the supermarket...

Tennant :):)

If a 100 monkeys each could get their own show (alt.tv.friends), perhaps one day (Sun, 30 Apr 2000 02:21:59 BST) a chimp (Tennant Stuart ) might say:

well, i suppose that's true. but did Act ever say that she has a stereo in the same room?

ahh, hiding it in plain sight

heh, now we know! you are a guy :) [is that thread going on still or am i late, again]

sesameslang - ME LIKE HOCKEY!

In article , [email] (Sesame Slang) wrote:

Strangely enough, you know NO such thing... :)

Tennant

If a 100 monkeys each could get their own show (alt.tv.friends), perhaps one day (26 Apr 2000 13:00:22 GMT) a chimp ([email] (TOW Shaz)) might say:

NTSC has an output of 60Hz, with 525 lines onscreen, PAL has an output of 50Hz, with 625 lines onscreen,

If you ever try to copy an NTSC tape [into PAL] using a regular [PAL] VCR you'll end up with either a dodgy black and white picture, or fairly normal picture (depends on how desperate you are <g>) but with 4 flickering lines across the screen (it's the extra 10Hz trying to escape <g>) My [newest] VCR downstairs will copy into NTSC, but it'll only copy like for like (NTSC to NTSC, PAL to PAL, etc.), and it has to be from a 'pure' NTSC signal, which it *will* output (if you have 2 of 'em you're home free!), but most UK VCRs actually dont play 'pure' NTSC, it's a kinda fake NTSC, at 50Hz so PAL TVs here can understand 'em (I think, sommat like that).

* Slang watches the newsgroup fall asleep at her boring ramblings on stuff only she seems to be interested in :)

errrrm, i spend too much time bootlegging live BNL performances... erm, did *I* say that out loud??

sesameslang - "Because I'm worth it!"

How much are UK vcrs and could I order a bottom of the line one??

~Act

In the previous post, the mostly harmless Activia claimed:

How desperate can one be ;-)

Besides the different recording format, most European countries use 230volts instead of the US 110Volts. Plus the power outlets have a different layout. So you also need a converter for that; I don't know if they exist.

Bram

hmmmmmmm...there has to be a way!!!!!!!!! What do you suggest?

~Act

Bram wrote...

230volts

Such converters *do* exist =) .

Adeline.

===== "Your timing couldn't be better, I'm puttin' out fires all over the place." ~Joey Tribbianni, "Friends"

"I'm right! I'm right! Am...I...right??" ~Chandler Bing, "Friends"

WHere? and where can I get these vcr's..could you help me?

~Act

Activia wrote...

exist.

I don't know, sorry... But wasn't the father using one in Home Alone ?

Dunno either. You can certainly find some on the net but I don't have URLs.

Adeline.

===== "Your timing couldn't be better, I'm puttin' out fires all over the place." ~Joey Tribbianni, "Friends"

"I'm right! I'm right! Am...I...right??" ~Chandler Bing, "Friends"

In article , Activia wrote:

The Bush VCR807 retails for �80 (but you might find it for less) and plays both PAL & NTSC. It also has a Scart socket, Index Search, and Long Play.

The worry is that it outputs PAL & NTSC as PAL, and you need a VCR that outputs PAL & NTSC as NTSC, or a TV that accepts PAL. This is hard to comment on as modern British TVs accept both PAL & NTSC.

Tennant

OH no! Is there any Pal VCR that would support a VHS tv?

~Act