RF NTSC to PAL and SECAM to PAL conversions

From: George Kourvaras <voyager_at_hol.gr>
Date: Thu Sep 5 09:21:00 2002

Thanks for your answer. I have found NTSC video to PAL video or PAL-RF
converters for Playstations, for less than $10each. Unfortunatelly, they do
not support RF input, but only Composite input. I am not sure, but I suspect
that I might be able to hack the PS/PS2 connector and replace it with a
standard female RCA connector, and use it as the NTSC input port.

I had found quite a long time ago, a generic device, that was used for the
conversions, for far less than E100 (~$100), but I had no need for it at
the time.

My problem is that I have some micros, like the Ti99/4a or Commodore MAX,
that use NTSC only standard output and I have is RF. Using a custom cable, I
could bypass the Ti99/4a modulator, and use the composite video (in NTSC
format) as the modulator is an external device.

But for the USA version of the ZX80, I need to hack the motherboard, to get
the video signal, unmodulated. And I do not want to alter or modify a
"museum" item.

I also do not want to use 3 different TV sets. It's very silly to do so. I
have a SONY VCR that can playback NTSC video tapes, but it's not capable of
translating the NTSC to PAL, and output it on PAL TVs.

I know that there is professional equipment, and it's very complicated to
convert the SECAM to PAL, as well as the NTSC to PAL. But I recall a small
do-it-yourself kit (From Vellerman?) many many years ago that was supporting
this function costing only a few Euros.



>
> What you are in need of is a video standards converter, and these are
> usually found under broadcast equipment. Input composite video is
> decoded into its constituent parts (luminance and either chrominance or
> component information), stored digitally, and regenerated with the
> encoding needed.
>
> PAL is an enhanced but incompatible version of NTSC, and SECAM is a
> wholy different encoding system, and I don't have the time or space to
> go into detail here. I do know of multistandard VCRs that will play
> back different system's tapes; whether that would work as a standards
> converter is unknown. For what you are seeking, you are looking at a
> substantial investment, probably far in excess of what a separate TV for
> each system would cost.
>
> Also, as you've found out, the horizontal and vertical scan rates vary.
> I do know that a black and white NTSC monitor will after a fashion
> display PAL video, albeit without color.
>
> My Amigas are set up for either 525/60 or 625/50 scan outputs, but they
> are also RGB separate outputs, and the encoding method becomes a moot
> point there.
>
> I'd say just keep a television set that is multistandard, or have
> separate NTSC/PAL/SECAM sets compatible with the computers you have, and
> the RF frequencies each needs. One television set that does it all is
> probably available, but more costly than the previous solution.
>
> Gary Hildebrand
> St. Joseph, MO
Received on Thu Sep 05 2002 - 09:21:00 BST