VCR question

[AronM II]

I'm thinking about buying a $45 VCR and sending it to my in-laws in Bulgaria.  The thought is that they can watch video tapes we send over and so that  they can record things for us.  Any holes in this idea?  

[Charles]

... in response to VCR question, posted by AronM II on Dec 2, 2002

The formatting is definitely a problem since most of the FSU use PAL format that will not play most U.S. VCR's.  However, if you send a VHS format they can play a VHS VCR if they have the power adaptor.   They just won't be able to watch any of their own locally made VCR's

[AndrewinOH]

... in response to VCR question, posted by AronM II on Dec 2, 2002

The power is different I believe and for sure, the format output from the VCR will be different.

[AronM II]

... in response to Re: VCR question, posted by AndrewinOH on Dec 2, 2002

The in-laws already have a power adaptor from an earlier trip.  I'm wondering about the formatting.
 
Bulgaria's VCR formatting is the same as Russia, but if they are using an American formatted VCR, American tapes and recording from their television, theoretically, they should be able to mail those tapes to us since we're using the same system.

right?:-)

[unsure]

... in response to Re: Re: VCR question, posted by AronM II on Dec 2, 2002

The American VCR won't be able to record from their television.  Nice thought - won't work.  Even if they tried to record off the air without viewing anything it wouldn't work because the broadcast tuners are different.

They use the PAL system and we use NTSC.  You can buy a "multi-system" VCR that will convert PAL to NTSC so you can watch tapes from Russia.  Of course, your in-laws would still need to buy a VCR if they don't have one (a regular Russian PAL VCR).

You can find the multi-system VCR's on Ebay.  Be careful to make sure it will work with an NTSC TV.  Some multi-system VCR's only show PAL tapes with multi-system TV's (and they're usually the cheaper ones).  So don't assume a multi-system VCR will play on an NTSC TV because most won't and you don't want to buy another TV and VCR!  

Here's a listing of what will work with your TV:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1942871310&category=3318

I have thought about buying one also and noticed they usually sell for $325 to $350.  I haven't been watching lately, though, and you never know what you will find if you keep an eye on Ebay.

Good luck,

John

[AndrewinOH]

... in response to Nope...., posted by unsure on Dec 2, 2002

I have a Samsung Worldwide 5000 VCR. It converts from all formats to any other. Thus you can watch any tape on any TV. However, since the power in Europe is different you would need to buy the VCR there (in Europe), not necessarily Bulgaria. My unit cost around $450 two years ago.

[AronM]

... in response to Re: Nope...., posted by AndrewinOH on Dec 2, 2002

too bad:-)

[Pordzhik]

... in response to VCR question, posted by AronM II on Dec 2, 2002

what broadcast system is used in bulgaria, as systems used in North America, United kingdom, France and Eastern Europe are all different and incompatible.