Will a my british TV work O.K. in Spain?

[rickshaw]

Will a TV bought in the UK (recently) work O.K. in Spain? I have heard that they will not work as the format is different, but I have also heard the converse is true and that they actually will and do work when taken out from the UK. Can anyone shed some light on this? The set I have now is a Panasonic 28" CRT and the model number is TX-28PM1. I also have a Panasonic DVD recorder and the same question applies to this also.

[dannydingbat]

My understanding is that the UK system (Pal-I) used used only here, in Hong Kong and South Africa. Europe generally uses Pal-G. It depends on whether your TV has a universal tuner to decode the signals.

[Bob A Job]

most TV's bought in Europe in the last 5 years work anywhere in Europe (voltage aside).

your DVD and TV would work fine together, the only slight problem you could have is tuning in you TV to recieve Spanish channels (I live in spain and dont rate them that much anyway)
If you want satalite Canal+ does some good deals, and if you still have a UK address you could get a skybox and you would still recieve the signal out there with a dish. (its illegal but everyone does it)

[rickshaw]

Thanks dannydingbat and Bob A Job for your answers, looks as though it would be worth taking the TV and DVD recorder with me plus my Sky decoder also.One question on the latter issue though, will it work with the existing viewing card in Spain? or do you have to buy the spanish equivalent?

[Drisgirl]

Bob a Job - I will plaque you cos we have just bought in Spain and are moving within the next year.You will be so handy to have on here - hope you dont mind the odd Q.Like rickshaw I wondered about the TV and DVD - I must admit I thought I thought we were all PAL 1 in Europe (well thats what the man in Amsterdam told us:)).We are going across in a few weeks to furnish etc so we will just get a wee telly etc just now but the one we have here is too expensive to give to the sprogs.I will try to find out most myself but if I'm stuck can I give you a shout on here?Cheers (in advance) !!!

[KebabMeister]

Bob A Job, just FYI, not all TVs bought in Europe work anywhere in Europe. UK TVs will not work in Germany (where I live) for instance. The signal and audio signals are reversed but can be cheaply rectified by a specialist (I just bought a German TV instead).

Of course, if you're receiving Sky direct then you bypass that problem.

[Bob A Job]

Sky TV should not be legally recieved outside the UK, but the satalite footprint extends as far south as morroco and egypt (you just need a slightly larger dish). Anywhere within this area you can recieve all the channels that the card allows, however as sky do not have broadcast rights you still need to let them think you are using it in the UK (hence the UK address i mentioned), and get the cards posted out to you.

PCB's (printed circuit boards that adapt TV signals) are now very cheap to produce compared to years ago, most manufacturers make their goods including all the necessary signal converters so as to be able to sell their goods all over Europe. Most TV's also include NTSC converters so they can be used outside of Europe as well. Always check out the price of electrical equipment before packing them up and sending them abroad though, i only paid �195 (�140 approx) for my 28" TV and sold my one English for �150, so i made a profit out of leaving it behind!

[Bob A Job]

Drisgirl, sure you can always post on here, I always check Travel, How it Works and Internet and Tech.
Where in 'en Espana' are you off to?

I bought a graphics with video outs for my computer, and connected it up to my TV and 5.1 system, id recomend it to anyone living outside the UK as the BBC will have most of its channels net broadcasting by the end of the year (then im sure most others will jump on the bandwagon.)

[Drisgirl]

Cheers for that Bob.Makes sense to buy across there when we get the house in the UK sold.

We're off to a place near Los Acazeres next to the Mar Menor in the Murcia region.Just 5 mins from San Xavier really.Where are you?

[Drisgirl]

That should have of course said Los Alcazeres.We bought off plan as we wont be there to keep an eye on it for a wee while and we were told that they were going to supply one dish for the complex and if you wanted Sky it would cost about 300euros to connect but only 17euros for the month.Does that sound about right - we'll take it up ourselves but you can never have too much knowledge - that way they cant try to pull the wool over your eyes.Baffled with the computer - am so not a technophobe but I'll let my man see it.Thanks for your info-I've managed to manouvere through the legal side myself and the lawyer signs on Thurs.Think I'll get a job helping others when I get out there!!