Posted by
Noodlesz
18 yrs ago
Hi,
I know this has been covered in pieces but I haven't found a sufficient answer other than go to Sham Shiu Po.
I'm trying to watch local HK tv. My bldg has the wall outlet but since my TVs are from the US, I don't have the same antenna input.
I have two TVs...one has an RF input which I can plug in, but I believe because the signal is PAL I don't get audio and the channels are grey and aspect ratio thrown off.
My other tv I can't even plug in because it only has SVideo, Component, Composite, and HDMI. No RF input, and I can't find a tv antenna that outputs to component.
Anyone know of a way to watch on both or either of these TVs? I can't seem to find a PAL ---> NTSC Converter anywhere.
Will plugging the local antenna into a DVD player work if I output it using composite, SVideo, or component cables? I'm afraid it'll still come out PAL. If it'll work, I'll buy a cheap dvd player at Broadway or Fortress. Thanks everyone!
I can see Now TV but it doesn't broadcast local channels.
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What kind of TV do you have? If it's a non "HDTV" CRT, the physical resolution of your TV is ill equipped to handle PAL signals.
I don't know about the conversions, but you could call PCCW/NOW and tell them you need cable TV, as in with a decoder unit. This gives you HDMI or composite depending on service. Still not sure if that would help since the outputs are HDTV and PAL respectively.
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I have LCD HDTVs, both. Well, I have NowTV which works fine. I thought they would provide the local channels like cable services do in the states, but they don't. So basically i gotta figure out a way to view them using an antena or the bldg one.
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Indeed they don't as you have noticed. I didn't really think about that since I am glued to Discovery and such anyway. ;)
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Hey Noodlesz,
I have an NTSC TV i'm bringing from Taiwan, and i want to know if i can view Now TV on it - are you saying this works for you, you just plug it in with the component cables and no problem? I read somewhere else the signal was PAL and wouldnt work...
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I did not have any problems w now Tv on my tv. I have tried each of the cable inputs without issue.
For the regular channels I bought a DVDR and have it going through that...the DVDR I bought allows NTSC output. If I choose PAL output occasionally I will get a line or two of interference, but it's still viewable by all means.
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"I read somewhere else the signal was PAL and wouldnt work..."
HD signals are neither PAL nor NTSC. So if you get a Now HD box you should be fine (assuming you have HDMI inputs). Now are now rolling out HD boxes in some areas.
Not sure about the component cables. BTW have you checked if your TV supports PAL? Many modern sets support both.
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Now isnt offering HD in my area yet...so i will need to plug it with the component cable. If Noodlesz confirms it works for him, then i think i will be ok. I can also do the DVDR method for regular TV... hey Noodlesz, what brand is yours? Is it easy to get one with NTSC output?
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I got the Philips DVDR3600 which is basically the cheapest one out there of a major brand. The specs said video recording supported NTSC so I was pretty sure it would work. The menu system is a little archaic and sometimes slow but it's the best I could find for around 1100 HKD.
So if I want to switch between regular TV and NovTV I just change the input but it takes a sec or two to change between, not that quick as compared w the TV.
BTW...just as a side note, I think NowTV really sucks. I'd much prefer setting up a Slingbox from North America and try to watch TV that way. Then you can get more HD channels too. I have the sports package w NovTV and it's quite expensive along w the regular channels and it's not HD. I'm cxling after my contract ends, I just didn't know before I started watching it that the cable in HK sucks. TV guide is mad slow too.
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