Confused About Tv's Please Help!

[cwkid]

I was hoping that there might be a TV expert on here that could answer my question?

I am moving to Thailand in a few weeks time and I am totally confused about TV's.

The UK and Thailand both use PAL however there are different types of PAL and I'm not sure if a UK TV would work in Thailand ? Or if a Thai TV would work in the UK ?

I have two options I either buy this TV in England and take it with me or I could buy a similar TV in Bangkok, however the model numbers are different over there. I've emailed Samsung about the model numbers in Thailand but no reply as yet.

If I bought a TV in Thailand, I would like to bring it home with me when we return to the UK, so would want it to work in the UK as well?

I read this on Thai Visa else where but not sure if it is accurate?

TV's in Thailand work on a PAL G system while UK sets use PAL I. The difference is in the sound frequencies and this is usually just a software change that can be done by any competent television engineer, the picture is the same system. The other big difference though is that Thai TV is transmitted on both the VHF and UHF frequencies (dual band) while the UK only uses UHF. A few sets sold in the UK are dual band sets and if yours is one of them it will work in Thailand with just the software change. If it's just a 'UHF' set however the cost of converting it would probably be too much to make it viable. If you intend having satellite here in Thailand your set will work connecting it to the satellite receiver via the scart socket. Electricity voltages are the same in Thailand and the UK. The cost of a TV set in Thailand is similar to UK prices.

Does anyone know the answer?

Cheers.

Edit: Just found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL

It says:

Countries and territories using PAL

Over 120 countries and territories use or once used the terrestrial PAL system. Many of these are currently converting terrestrial PAL to DVB-T (PAL still often used via cable TV).

PAL B, G, D, K or I

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg" class="image" title="Flag of the United Kingdom">United Kingdom (UHF only), PAL broadcast to be abandoned by 2012, simulcast in DVB-T

Thailand

Which doesn't really help me?

[regedit]

might not help you much but i'm using a UK tv in thailand but i only use it for watching satellite broadcasts (ie. not using to receive thai stuff through the rf areal).

[cwkid]

might not help you much but i'm using a UK tv in thailand but i only use it for watching satellite broadcasts (ie. not using to receive thai stuff through the rf areal).

Hi

Yes I expect that would work as the Cable or Sat box connects to the TV with HDMI or S-Video etc.

I'm really wanting to know about Over the air aerial signals. The main thing i'd like to know is if I buy a TV in Thailand when I bring it home to the UK would it work on the aerial for Freeview etc ?

Cheers.

[Crossy]

might not help you much but i'm using a UK tv in thailand but i only use it for watching satellite broadcasts (ie. not using to receive thai stuff through the rf areal).

Hi

Yes I expect that would work as the Cable or Sat box connects to the TV with HDMI or S-Video etc.

I'm really wanting to know about Over the air aerial signals. The main thing i'd like to know is if I buy a TV in Thailand when I bring it home to the UK would it work on the aerial for Freeview etc ?

Cheers.

Freeview is a UK only option so a TV bought in Thailand will NOT receive Freeview without a set-top box.

The chances are a modern UK TV (particularly an LCD or plasma) will have a multi-standard tuner and will work fine in Thailand. That said, lugging it halfway round the world is probably not worth the hassle, TVs are not exactly expensive in Thailand unless you're looking at 50" whoppers.

Personally, I wouldn't bother the risk of it getting bounced is too high, buy here.

[cwkid]

might not help you much but i'm using a UK tv in thailand but i only use it for watching satellite broadcasts (ie. not using to receive thai stuff through the rf areal).

Hi

Yes I expect that would work as the Cable or Sat box connects to the TV with HDMI or S-Video etc.

I'm really wanting to know about Over the air aerial signals. The main thing i'd like to know is if I buy a TV in Thailand when I bring it home to the UK would it work on the aerial for Freeview etc ?

Cheers.

Freeview is a UK only option so a TV bought in Thailand will NOT receive Freeview without a set-top box.

The chances are a modern UK TV (particularly an LCD or plasma) will have a multi-standard tuner and will work fine in Thailand. That said, lugging it halfway round the world is probably not worth the hassle, TVs are not exactly expensive in Thailand unless you're looking at 50" whoppers.

Personally, I wouldn't bother the risk of it getting bounced is too high, buy here.

Yeah I was worried about bringing a TV with me to be honest I'm already bring my XBOX 360.

I only want a small 19" - 23" Samsung for our bedroom however not sure if I could take that on as hand luggage lol.

I planned to use the TV for the following in Thailand:

Connect to roof aerial so wife can watch Thai TV.

Connect to my XBOX 360 via component (Got to play GTA IV)

Connect to our Vista Media Center laptop via VGA

The other option here might be to buy a USB TV Tuner stick that would work with Thai terrestrial TV. I could then just buy a computer monitor with integrated speakers and not a TV, but that would tie the laptop up for TV watching, which is not ideal if the misses wants to watch TV and I want to sit in the garden with the laptop.

Edited May 12, 2008 by cwkid

[cwkid]

I think this is the answer: For UK TV in Thailand.

"Thailand uses PAL B/G with the sound carried at 5.5Mhz above the video signal, the UK uses PAL I with the sound at 6.0Mhz above. Check the specifications of the TV that you are buying that it can work with PAL B/G, otherwise you'll get no sound. Many - but not all - TVs sold in Europe support all PAL formats, but check first to be sure."

PAL Variations

Here's another question we're constantly asked.......

Pal-B, G, H, I and D as far as the actual video is concerned, are all the same format. That is: they are all PAL. There is no difference.... All use the 625/50 line/field rate..... scan at 15,625 h-lines/sec and use a 4.433618 color subcarrier frequency & PAL color processing. The only difference is in how the signal is modulated by the TV Station transmitter for broadcast. Thus the B, G, H, I & D variants, designate the broadcast frequency carriers used, as opposed to any variation of the video format itself... PAL-I for example, has been allocated a wider transmitter bandwidth than PAL-B, necessitating that the sound carrier resides 6Mhz above the picture instead of 5.5 MHz above the picture carrier. Thus a PAL-I TV (the United Kingdom for example) will receive no sound if taken to the Netherlands (PAL- if all the TV's tuner is able to decode is PAL-I. (Fortunately, most European tuners support most of the broadcast variations ).

This is why for example, you won't find a standards converter that will convert a video from PAL-B to PAL-I. There's simply nothing to convert..... They are already the same PAL format. Put another way; the B, G, H, I & D variants specify the broadcast frequencies used to broadcast the PAL video & audio by your local/national TV stations, and thus the necessary supported capability of the TV Tuner of your receiver to properly receive it. There are major differences between PAL-M and PAL-N however, as they specify not how the audio and video are broadcast, but rather specify variants of the format itself. Thus Pal-M & N would require conversion, as the line/field rate and color subcarrier frequencies are different from standard PAL..... Again, put another way: PAL-N & M are actually different variants of the PAL format itself & not related to how the audio and video are broadcast....

So I need to find out if these Samsung's have multi band tuners?

[cwkid]

It seems most Samsung's are listed as PAL Multi, which presumable means multi band tuners and will work in both countries.

This model is very similar to the one I have seen in the UK and is available in Thailand, its got a

few less features than the UK one I saw here however.

Think I will buy the LA-19R71B one in BKK if I can find it.

Cheers.

[LivinLOS]

I would be very surprised if a modern LCD TV wasnt multi..

But that much electronics through airports ??? Well its a big risk in checked in luggage and if its in its protective boxes may well incur import taxes at airports.

I would just buy one locally.. Saw a 32 inch cheapo no name for <20k the other day.. I presume that size is going to be under 10k for a cheap brand, possibly 15ish for a samsung / name brand.

[cwkid]

I would be very surprised if a modern LCD TV wasnt multi..

But that much electronics through airports ??? Well its a big risk in checked in luggage and if its in its protective boxes may well incur import taxes at airports.

I would just buy one locally.. Saw a 32 inch cheapo no name for <20k the other day.. I presume that size is going to be under 10k for a cheap brand, possibly 15ish for a samsung / name brand.

Yeah I'm pretty sure I can get a similar small Samsung LCD TV in Bangkok like the ones I have seen in the shops in the UK.

So not going to be taking one with me now from the UK.

I already have a laptop bag full of electronic gadgets and my XBOX 360 to carry though the airport as it is.

Where's the best place to buy branded TV 's in Bangkok? MBK, Pantip ?

Cheers

Edited May 13, 2008 by cwkid

[Crossy]

Where's the best place to buy branded TV 's in Bangkok? MBK, Pantip ?

Tesco are always worth a look for offers on electronics, otherwise shop around, Homepro, Pantip, Fortune (at Pa-ram 9 metro, less frenetic than Pantip).