Using a European LCD TV in the US?

[dying2moveback 0]

Hi!

We have a German PAL LCD TV and I wanted to know if I can use it in the US? Do I need to get any converter or anything else in order to use as a TV in the States? The TV was not cheap and so selling it before moving doesn't really make sense...

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

[YuAndDan 153]

Very soon the US will be dropping the analog TV broadcast signals all together and a converter will be needed for TV sets, and only new sets with a digital tuner will be able to receive on the air broadcasts.

You may need an NTSC to PAL converter: http://www.converters.tv/signals/ntsc_to_pal.html

[Bob-KhaHan 1]

...phew. I thought this was going to contain gay porn, so I reluctantly clicked on it with only one eye open.

Here is something I found:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=343222

It pretty much sums up my thoughts and I don't think it would be a good idea to bring it over.

[phoenixwine22 0]

Hi,

If I recall correctly, when you get to the states you need to buy an adapter to change your German TV's 220volt from Germany to the 110volt of the states

you can find these online, they are sometimes called 'transformers'.

I recall the transfomers / adapters have a place to plug you european appliances into one side, and another cord comes out of the transformer / adapter and plugs into the US power outlet no problem.

Good luck with your move!

[Bob-KhaHan 1]

*confused* why does my post quote something i didn't quote?

[desert_fox 32]

Check the back of the set to see if it has a switch to select PAL or NTSC. We use NTSC here, PAL wont play. Check to see if it has a switch to select the input voltage...we use 60 Hz 115VAC.

If it can play NTSC, then you can always use it on cable service or will need a converter if you receive via an antenna.

[Bob-KhaHan 1]

From the first link for the PAL/NTSC converter, it will only convert it using composite cables which will give you poor VHS tape quality. As for a transformer, it would have to be hefty ($80+) to be able to handle a TV.

Looking online, a proper converter would be around $270

Transformer $80

Customs (no idea, it depends on the value of the tv) $100? $200?

Shipping $100 - $300?

Possible line conditioner after the transformer to reduce noise: $200 - $300

For the price of all of that, the video will not look as good as a tv here. If you were to sell your TV and just buy a new one here, it would be a much better deal.

[milimelo 4,231]

From the first link for the PAL/NTSC converter, it will only convert it using composite cables which will give you poor VHS tape quality. As for a transformer, it would have to be hefty ($80+) to be able to handle a TV.

Looking online, a proper converter would be around $270

Transformer $80

Customs (no idea, it depends on the value of the tv) $100? $200?

Shipping $100 - $300?

Possible line conditioner after the transformer to reduce noise: $200 - $300

For the price of all of that, the video will not look as good as a tv here. If you were to sell your TV and just buy a new one here, it would be a much better deal.

I believe new immigrants do not have to pay the customs. http://help.cbp.gov/cgi-bin/customs.cfg/ph...amp;p_topview=1

Also, the cbp.gov is a very useful site - had no idea you have 10 years! to get your things in as an immigrant duty free!

Edited January 28, 2009 by milimelo

[Bob-KhaHan 1]

That is pretty cool that new immigrants do not have to pay customs.

[dying2moveback 0]

Thanks for the info (the websites for the converters and the other one website saying it's probably a bad idea to bring a PAL TV to the States, it might work but the quality might be bad....) Too bad, our 42" HD ready LCD TV was not cheap and I'll be moving my stuff anyway with a container...

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Here's some current prices in the US. I just used Best Buy. Walmart and Target would have good prices too.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id...3A%3E1900-01-01

You can decide if replacing the TV would be cheaper than special big box packing, shipping, buying converters (at the right level to support the tv) and hoping it would even give you a decent picture. At $699 you might be happier with a new TV and can sell the PAL tv for some cash toward the new one.

Walmart http://www.walmart.com/browse/TVs/_/N-2pa9...elected_items=+

Edited February 1, 2009 by Nich-Nick