US -> Europe hardware compatibility

[LilY0da]

Hey y'all. Had a question for you TV-savvy people
I may have to move from the US to Europe soon, and was wondering what I could take with me

I saw voltage adapters (up to 7500 watts) for a decent price, so I suppose that ain't an issue. I saw SCART to S-video adapters, so at least connector wise, I'd be able to plug a Euro satellite TV box into a TV or my PVR-500, for exemple.

However, what I don't know is wether a S-video or composite output is still using NTSC/PAL codings, or if that's only for antenna/cable reception over coax cable
So, does anyone know if I can reuse my TV, MVP or Hauppauge capture cards in Europe?

[betlit]

I saw voltage adapters (up to 7500 watts) for a decent price, so I suppose that ain't an issue.

nope. no problem here. european standard is 230 volt at 50 Hz. meaning you just need a transformer 'powering down' to 115 volt. modern power supply units (e.g. laptop psus) work in europe and usa.
be sure to bring a err... 'travel adaptor' with you (or buy one when your are here). you wont be able to plug in american-style plugs anywhere. and: almost every country in europe has its own plug-system. *g*

However, what I don't know is wether a S-video or composite output is still using NTSC/PAL codings, or if that's only for antenna/cable reception over coax cable

"compsoite" or "s-video" are not 'transmission standards' like NTSC or PAL. just how a PAL or NTSC signal is transmitted over the wire (i hope you understand what i try to tell.. *g*).
so through a composite line, you still send a NTSC/PAL signal.

however: most modern tvs are capable of recieving PAL and NTSC signal at their inputs.

i am no expert when it comes to satelites... i think i read somwhere that even satelite signals are PAL/NTSC encoded (don't know for sure)... meaning you wont be able to tune in your 'american' satelite receiver to e.g. astra...

and: if you move to france then you will have to deal with 'SECAM' (sequential couleur avec mémoire)... the third (completely different) television broadcast standard *gg*

[LilY0da]

so through a composite line, you still send a NTSC/PAL signal.

however: most modern tvs are capable of recieving PAL and NTSC signal at their inputs.

Argh. problem is that I think my current US bought TV can't recceive PAL input. I'll have to look more into it, but I wouldn't be surprised if it can't... And my Hauppauge cards probably can't either. Looks like the whole PVR is going to end on EBay :-(

and: if you move to france then you will have to deal with 'SECAM' (sequential couleur avec mémoire)... the third (completely different) television broadcast standard *gg*

I thought that their satellite decoders could output in SECAM and PAL... Been a while since I lived there, so I'm not sure... But anyway, since I think my TV can't input PAL either, I'm guess still screwed :-|

[sub]

Your TV will most likely be NTSC only. Your Hauppauge card tuner will have an NTSC tuner, so you wont be able to use the tuner over there, but you'd still be able to use the card to capture PAL from the composite or sivdeo inputs.

For a while I used an USA PVR250 here in New Zealand via the composite connection for recording our PAL broadcasts.