Do Digital TV's use an International Standard, avoiding the old PAL / SECAM problems?

Question

Old analogue tv's used different systems in different European countries, like PAL and SECAM, so a multi-system tv was required when travelling around Europe in a motorhome.

Do portable digital tv's suffer from a problem like this, or is there an international standard for digital tv reception?

Specifically, if I bought a 12 V portable digital tv in France, would it work in England too? (I know an older analogue tv definitely wouldn't work)

Answer 1

The European Union (EU), through various regulatory and standards organizations (EBU, ETSI, etc.,) has widely adopted a digital video broadcasting standard known as DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial) for terrestrial broadcasting throughout Europe and other parts of the world. DVB is as close as we have come to a truly universal international digital television standard that offers greatly improved access to video content worldwide.



Aside from multi-standard analog support make sure that any portable digital television that you’re considering purchasing is fully compliant with the DVB standard, i.e., DVB-T, DVB-H tuners, and supports a variety of over-the-air digital television services such as Freeview (UK), Télévision Numérique Terrestre (France), etc., which provide free access to non-encrypted DTV channels. By the way when it comes to portable DTV (or PCTV) it is extremely likely that you will need to purchase a separate outdoor antenna or a low-noise amplified indoor antenna for your portable DTV device in order to boost the weaker digital TV signals and guarantee good reception.



If you own a notebook PC you also have another alternative to purchasing a turnkey portable digital TV and that is to purchase a (diversity) analog/DVB-T receiver/tuner* (typically in the form of a USB device. Please see the resources below if you would like more information.)



One final point worth noting: due to the fact the DVB—and digital television in general—has not yet fully matured, especially when it comes to some of the more non-traditional means of distributing and receiving digital television and radio (in your case portable/mobile DTV,) you should expect to encounter a few minor issues here and there along the way.



######################## RESOURCES ########################



DVB - Digital Video Broadcasting - DVB Worldwide

http://www.dvb.org/about_dvb/dvb_worldwide/



Digital TV Status

Comparison of Worldwide Digital Terrestrial Television Systems

http://en.dtvstatus.net



[PDF] Mobile TV standards: DVB-T vs. DVB-H

http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_2008-Q4_DiBcom.pdf



Wiki: Freeview

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeview_(UK)

Wiki: Télévision Numérique Terrestre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision_Num%C3%A9rique_Terrestre



August International Portable Digital Freeview & Analogue TVs

http://www.augustint.com/products/tv.htm

What is Freeview TV

http://www.augustint.com/information/what_is_freeview_tv.htm

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*Examples of DVB receiver/tuners for portable PCs:



MSI DIGIVOX mini III

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&prod_no=1477&maincat_no=132



Freecom DVB-T & Analog TV USB Stick (Hybrid)

http://www.freecom.com/ecproduct_detail.asp?ID=2823



Pinnacle PCTV Products

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/uk/Products/Consumer+Products/PCTV/PCTV/

 

Answer 2

Basically standards were set at different times with different starting points, mains freqs etc and attempting to improve on previous standards. PAL is technically better than NTSC, SECAM better than PAL. There are subsets within standards. For instance PAL has versions with the sound subcarrier in different places. Some Governments set odd standards so their citizens couldnt watch other countries TV channels. What passes for a joke with us engineering geeks: NTSC = Never Twice the Same Colour PAL = Pale And Lurid SECAM (Invented by the French) = Something Essentially Contrary to the American Method. ps. You would expect a Professional Electronics engineer to know that locking frame rate to mains frequency would have a bearing on setting a TV standard more than 60 years ago.

Answer 3

Digital and Analogue is on RECEIVED SIGNALS RF parts. nothing to do with TV standard systems. World 3 systems difference total in colour decode circuit and scanning line. NTSC 525 line.PAL 625 line. secam 825 line. and the colour decode systems cannot be change. and all this systems will go forever,even all country use DVB .digital video broadcast.* you small digital tv from France should be secam only, because main for there own country use, and World Multi or world 21 systems tv cost much more ! even USA and Japan are NTSC , colour decode is the same, but sound frequency is difference between 3.43 and 4.33, and PAL systems there is small difference in some country,eg,PAL B /PAL G , so there is World Multi systems model from those World wide Brand, OEM brand is main for one country, there never market Multi Systems. from the brand name, you know you small tv systems ? also Multi tv will be Auto voltage like laptop work from AC 100 V - 240 V 50/60 HZ. .** Last if you tv is secam , digital or analogue tuner will be the same , it will not work in UK PAL systems .reception standard is the same, but colour decode is total difference.*

Answer 4

Yes it most likely would but just ask before you buy it.

I've had this argument before with another YA user but the fact is that digital tv's are nearly all multi standard now. ( you just need to run through the set up menu to see it will allow you to change system)

In any case, Most of Europe if not all, is PAL or phase alternate line.

The difference between PALl, PalG etc refers to the frequency the sound is broadcast on. So it is common to get no sound but pic, or sound/no pic! You'll find all modern sets will allow you to choose.