NTSC AND PAL- GLOSSARY AND EXPLANATION OF
VIDEO FORMATS FOR ELECTRONICS
VIDEO FORMATS FOR ELECTRONICS
So you've just tried to pair your NTSC spy surveillance camera with a PAL DVR system and found
that your high-tech, top of the range spy camera gives you nothing but a blank screen.
Don't worry, you're in good company. The PAL/NTSC/SECAM systems have caused electricians,
security specialists and consumers a great deal of consternation ever since the color NTSC
transmission system was first put into use in 1953, where it was first dubbed Never Twice The
Same Color(NTSC) due to variances in the colors transmitted.
Don't know the difference between PAL and NTSC?
Don't know why mixing PAL and NTSC components can create a problem for one system but not
another?
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
PAL/NTSC cameras/receivers will work anywhere as long as they are paired with
cameras/receivers that use the same format.
NTSC is common in North America and parts of South America
PAL is common in Europe, Oceania, Parts of South America and Parts of Africa
When a NTSC receiver is used to pick up PAL color transmissions people might see a 'rolling
screen' or a blank screen.
When a PAL receiver is used to pick up NTSC transmissions it can cause more problems, with the
potential visual effects being a black and white picture, 'rolling' screen, a 'tearing' screen, or blank
screen.
Spy surveillance equipment is another area that could cause you a number of problems if you
decided to mix and match PAL with NTSC surveillance equipment.
It doesn't matter if a camera is wireless or wired the same considerations come into play when
you try to put an NTSC camera with a predominantly PAL system or a PAL camera with a NTSC
monitor or DVR device.
Some car DVD players also can cause problems if you're using them to receive television
programs.
The car DVD players may only receive one color format which may or may not be compatible with
the country that you're operating in so it best to check product specifications very carefully before
buying, or recommending a particular automotive DVD player for one geographical market.
Otherwise you, or your customer, could be sorely disappointed.
People plugging backing cameras into their car DVD players will be happy to know that it
irregardless of the format any backing camera will work with any car DVD player it is plugged into
as it goes through an AV/camera in port which effectively works as a converter in its own
Analog TVs can be hugely affected by NTSC/PAL and should be paired with a device that works with
a similar format.
Wireless and wired spy cameras need to be paired with receivers which are the same format.
Car DVDs which are being used to watch television will need to have a multizone color format
system, or operate in the same NTSC/PAL format as the country's television signal.
A PAL reversing camera with a NTSC car DVD player will usually work
Glossary:
NTSC
The analog video color format used to broadcast television signals through North America, half of
South America and parts of Asia. It operates on a 60Hz power grid, displays 30 picture frames per
second and 525 lines of information per picture.
PAL
The analog video color format used to broadcast television signals through much of Europe, Asia,
Oceania, half of South America and parts of Africa. It operates on a 50Hz power grid, displays 25
picture frames per second and ties in 625 lines of information with every frame.
SECAM
The analog video color format used in France, parts of Africa and much of Eastern Europe (in
conjunction with PAL transmissions).
Format
The way information is arranged to allow it to be sent to, and understood by, different devices
Transmitter
Device that sends out electronic signals to other devices(receivers). In this case a camera is an
example of a transmitter.
Receiver
A device that receives and uses electronic signals from transmitters. In this case a TV is an
example of a receiver.
Signal
A message sent electrically by variations of voltage current or both
Hertz (Hz)
Hertz or cycles per second. Something that repeats a cycle once each second moves at a rate of 1
Hz.
Frequency
Frequency is the measurement of the number of occurrences of a repeated event per unit of time,
It is measured in Hertz.
Analog
Continuously variable signals or data.
Digital
Data characters coded in discrete, separate pulses or signal levels
Rolling Screen
The potential effect of running a PAL transmitter with a NTSC receiver. The picture on the screen
doesn't stay still and looks like it is constantly moving from the bottom of the screen to the top (or
the top to the bottom depending on your perspective).
Tearing Picture
The potential effect of grouping a PAL transmitter with a NTSC receiver. The picture will break up in
horizontal lines, effectively making the picture look like it is being torn.
that your high-tech, top of the range spy camera gives you nothing but a blank screen.
Don't worry, you're in good company. The PAL/NTSC/SECAM systems have caused electricians,
security specialists and consumers a great deal of consternation ever since the color NTSC
transmission system was first put into use in 1953, where it was first dubbed Never Twice The
Same Color(NTSC) due to variances in the colors transmitted.
Don't know the difference between PAL and NTSC?
Don't know why mixing PAL and NTSC components can create a problem for one system but not
another?
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
PAL/NTSC cameras/receivers will work anywhere as long as they are paired with
cameras/receivers that use the same format.
NTSC is common in North America and parts of South America
PAL is common in Europe, Oceania, Parts of South America and Parts of Africa
When a NTSC receiver is used to pick up PAL color transmissions people might see a 'rolling
screen' or a blank screen.
When a PAL receiver is used to pick up NTSC transmissions it can cause more problems, with the
potential visual effects being a black and white picture, 'rolling' screen, a 'tearing' screen, or blank
screen.
Spy surveillance equipment is another area that could cause you a number of problems if you
decided to mix and match PAL with NTSC surveillance equipment.
It doesn't matter if a camera is wireless or wired the same considerations come into play when
you try to put an NTSC camera with a predominantly PAL system or a PAL camera with a NTSC
monitor or DVR device.
Some car DVD players also can cause problems if you're using them to receive television
programs.
The car DVD players may only receive one color format which may or may not be compatible with
the country that you're operating in so it best to check product specifications very carefully before
buying, or recommending a particular automotive DVD player for one geographical market.
Otherwise you, or your customer, could be sorely disappointed.
People plugging backing cameras into their car DVD players will be happy to know that it
irregardless of the format any backing camera will work with any car DVD player it is plugged into
as it goes through an AV/camera in port which effectively works as a converter in its own
Analog TVs can be hugely affected by NTSC/PAL and should be paired with a device that works with
a similar format.
Wireless and wired spy cameras need to be paired with receivers which are the same format.
Car DVDs which are being used to watch television will need to have a multizone color format
system, or operate in the same NTSC/PAL format as the country's television signal.
A PAL reversing camera with a NTSC car DVD player will usually work
Glossary:
NTSC
The analog video color format used to broadcast television signals through North America, half of
South America and parts of Asia. It operates on a 60Hz power grid, displays 30 picture frames per
second and 525 lines of information per picture.
PAL
The analog video color format used to broadcast television signals through much of Europe, Asia,
Oceania, half of South America and parts of Africa. It operates on a 50Hz power grid, displays 25
picture frames per second and ties in 625 lines of information with every frame.
SECAM
The analog video color format used in France, parts of Africa and much of Eastern Europe (in
conjunction with PAL transmissions).
Format
The way information is arranged to allow it to be sent to, and understood by, different devices
Transmitter
Device that sends out electronic signals to other devices(receivers). In this case a camera is an
example of a transmitter.
Receiver
A device that receives and uses electronic signals from transmitters. In this case a TV is an
example of a receiver.
Signal
A message sent electrically by variations of voltage current or both
Hertz (Hz)
Hertz or cycles per second. Something that repeats a cycle once each second moves at a rate of 1
Hz.
Frequency
Frequency is the measurement of the number of occurrences of a repeated event per unit of time,
It is measured in Hertz.
Analog
Continuously variable signals or data.
Digital
Data characters coded in discrete, separate pulses or signal levels
Rolling Screen
The potential effect of running a PAL transmitter with a NTSC receiver. The picture on the screen
doesn't stay still and looks like it is constantly moving from the bottom of the screen to the top (or
the top to the bottom depending on your perspective).
Tearing Picture
The potential effect of grouping a PAL transmitter with a NTSC receiver. The picture will break up in
horizontal lines, effectively making the picture look like it is being torn.
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| Rear View Camera |
| ROLLING SCREEN |
| ANALOG TV |
| DIGITAL TV |