I bought a TH50PX50U just beforeI left NY for Hong Kong. I didn't realise that Panny's "consumer" models were all "NTSC-only" as opposed to the industrial models (the ones I had researched) which are "PAL+NTSC".

Now I'm stuck with a beautiful TV which will play only 50% of the DVDs that I buy here. Can anyone tell me how should I go about making this model "PAL-compatible"?

Thanks

AFAIK the consumer Panasonics are very well capable to show both NTSC and PAL. What makes you believe otherwise? Please give us some more details. Maybe your DVD player refuses to play DVDs with a region code other than US?

My DVD player is a S969 AV and it can play both PAL and NTSC discs. I'm pretty sure its the TV - the owner's manula clearly says "NTSC and ATSC" tuner only.

Of course, I am a little puzzled myself by the fact that it cannot show me a PAL HDMI signal - can't think why a digital circuit can't deal with all color systems.

Wait, the tuner is very probably only NTSC. But that doesn't mean that your display can display PAL sources coming from other sources! Try to switch DVD output to other formats. What format is your player outputting now? 576p60? That'd be bad. Try 576p50 instead. Or try analog connection. The display should really be able to show PAL, I've no doubt about that. There must be something wrong with the DVD output or with the connection.

Pardon my ignorance but how do I switch my DVD player from 576p60 to 576p50. I've already set it to "PAL" mode. The DVD display shows 720P when I switch it and the TV on.

Could the problem be with the fact that it is an HDMI connection? Yesterday, I tried playing a PAL DVD right after an NTSC one and the display just kept showing the last frame of the NTSC DVD...

I'll try and get a component video cable and try again.

Pardon my ignorance but how do I switch my DVD player from 576p60 to 576p50. I've already set it to "PAL" mode.
Sounds alright to me.

I've just checked the Panasonic homepage and strange enough the commercial units list support for PAL, while the consumer models do not.

I'd suggest to contact Panasonic customer support and ask them about it. I can't believe they removed PAL support! After all the European models support PAL and NTSC without any problems!

panzerbjorne, madshi,

Pls PM me if you get this to work via some service control access. I was about to order the 42" 8UK for this requirement.

panzerbjorne.. please keep us inform how you go about making your unit pal-compatible. I want to buy this 50U plasma and will bring it back to my home country after graduating. Unfortunately, the professional series is out of stock now.

Thank you and Good luck.

Yes - I'm planning to call Panasonic in the USA to see if they can suggest a fix (or even send me a replacement tuner!). Will keep everyone posted.

Wait, the tuner is very probably only NTSC. But that doesn't mean that your display can display PAL sources coming from other sources! Try to switch DVD output to other formats. What format is your player outputting now? 576p60? That'd be bad. Try 576p50 instead. Or try analog connection. The display should really be able to show PAL, I've no doubt about that. There must be something wrong with the DVD output or with the connection.

You are wrong. Consumer models in US never supported PAL or 50Hz. Only industrial models are multisystem.

Yes - I'm planning to call Panasonic in the USA to see if they can suggest a fix (or even send me a replacement tuner!). Will keep everyone posted.


It is not a matter of tuner. Your model will not display 50Hz or PAL. There is no fix for it. It is hardware. US consumer models do not support PAL because 95% people in US do not have a need to watch PAL.

In Europe most models support NTSC because people over there want to watch DVD's from US as most come out much earlier here than over there.

Thanks for the correction! I'm really wondering what the sense of that is, though. Does Panasonic save so much money by removing the PAL support for the US models?

Many DVD players have the ability to output an NTSC or ATSC compatible signal when playing a PAL DVD. I have a cheap Philips player that does it.

Besides DVD players with built-in PAL-NTSC converters there are standalone converters like the Tenlab series, which range from basic to very fancy.

One issue is that none of their converters have component input. Markertek sells a professional converter from Kramer Electronics that has component in and out, but it costs around $ 1.1 K.

I'm also currently in the market for a 60" plus flat panel or RPTV with multistandard capability. I have not found any multistandard LCD, DLP or LCoS sets available in the US, and the only plasmas I have found that do are the commercial Panny, Pio and NEC panels.

Multistandard support is actually one of the key features of these commercial panels that gets little mention in these forums, probably understandable given the NTSC-centric audience.

If I turn up any others I'll certainly post them here!

I had the same problem here with DVDs from Europe. If you will need the PAL feature only for DVDs, the best way is to buy a DVD player with built-in NTSC-PAL converter (take highest bit rate you can find). I purchased one and I am very happy with the quality. There are several available (most less than 300$), just google "code free DVD player" or "region free DVD player"...

On the other hand, if you plan to watch PAL TV signal, you are probably better off with a stand alone converter (which is tipically more expensive). My 0.02$

Thanks for the correction. Saved me a lot of heartache and pain...

I've also heard that a replacement for a PAL/NTSC tuner is a mulit-system DVD recorder. I guess th idea would be accept a PAL input and then have an NTSC output. Not 100% sure about this so thought I would check if any one of you has any thoughts/experience?

BTW - there is another method for PAL to NTSC conversion which I stumbled upon - use an XBOX with a PC running MCE. I will post a link to this in a while.

Is there anyone that has a Panasonic TH50PX50U and an Oppo DV971H up-scaling DVD player that is having a compatibility issue with Green Lines Flashing while up-converting to 720p?

I have tried everything except trying to replicate it on another Panny TV with the same size and same model number. I have call Oppo and they are telling me that they cant replicate the issue. But I tried another cable that the sent me, another replacement Oppo DV971H dvd player, tried the same DVD player on a Hitachi Plasma TV, bought higher quality cables, and im also running it straight to the TV not through a receiver or a switch. I also bought another brand up-scaling DVD player. And everything I tried I got the same results GREEN LINES flashing on the screen periodically. So If you have the same TV and DVD player and not having this problem please tell me how to fix the problem.

Another option is from one of the forum advertisers...DVDO. It would appear that their iScan products would work, and can be picked up from less than $1,000 if you shop around. I am thinking of using this when I move overseas.

http://www.dvdo.com/pro/pro_ishdplus.php

I have a question about my TV. I have a TH50PX50U and when I'm Watching either TV, DVD, or Tivo, the Input flashes on the screen ever so often.

Was wondering if anyone else was experiencing this problem or is it just me.

Thank You

I just bought a DVD on EBay, and "after the fact" noticed it is PAL format. The seller says he's sold many to US people and they've had no problems. Before I pay, I want to be sure I can view it.

I have a Phillips DVP5982 DVD player "multistandard" and Panny 50PX600U and 42PX60U TV's. Can I play a PAL DVD? I was going to give the DVD as a gift, but I know that person has older DVD player and tube TV.

After reading about PAL, I am confussed.

Another option is from one of the forum advertisers...DVDO. It would appear that their iScan products would work, and can be picked up from less than $1,000 if you shop around. I am thinking of using this when I move overseas.

http://www.dvdo.com/pro/pro_ishdplus.php

You guys make this solution so expensive for him... why would you buy a scaler immediately? :eek:
Why not just buy a ~$100 multi-region/region-free upconverting 1080p DVD player and output every DVD including PAL ones at 1080p?
Or, even better, just buy any HD-DVD player for a little more and get HD-DVD playback as well...
BTW this is what I do with my loads of PAL discs, despite the fact most of our TVs are multisystem. :cool:

You guys make this solution so expensive for him... why would you buy a scaler immediately? :eek:
Why not just buy a ~$100 multi-region/region-free upconverting 1080p DVD player and output every DVD including PAL ones at 1080p?
Or, even better, just buy any HD-DVD player for a little more and get HD-DVD playback as well...
BTW this is what I do with my loads of PAL discs, despite the fact most of our TVs are multisystem. :cool:

What HD-DVD players are Region free and can play PAL DVDs?

What HD-DVD players are Region free and can play PAL DVDs?
Any HD-DVD player w/ region-free AU firmware.:cool:

Any HD-DVD player w/ region-free AU firmware.:cool:

There are not so many HD-DVD players on the market - can you provide model numbers?
What's AU firmware?

There are not so many HD-DVD players on the market - can you provide model numbers?
What's AU firmware?

AU = Australia(n)

Check Toshib: www.toshibaav.com.au

Also most European (http://www.toshiba-europe.com/)ones got a region-free fw (IIRC v2.5.1)

Seems like lots of people have shipped NTSC ( American TV standard) TV to India (PAL-B system) in last few years but no one has posted the results of what they have done? Have they been successful also or not with external convertors or any other options?

I am also moving to India and has a Panasonic ( NTSC) and don't know what to do? If there is an option to make it work in India, I would prefer to ship my TV.

Would appreciate if someone can share the experience and the solution followed.

Thanks