My parents live in South West France and have been using my old UK MX5000 that I bought new many years ago but it has now died leaving them without. They use it only for UK TV via a Sky digibox (digital satellite receiver) and scart cable (Péritel in French) and I'd like to source a replacement TV located in France that will work with the Digibox.

What I don't understand is the UK Pal & French Secam issues. As mentioned they only want it for satellite via a sky digibox & scart. Does anyone know if a normal French TV be it CRT or LCD will work when connected to the Digibox via scart?  

Many thanks,

Steve

The fundimental difference between UK PAL I and the French SECAM transmissions relates to colour and sound.

In most of Europe the transmitted sound sub-carrier is 5.5 Mhz and in the UK it is 6Mhz. However as you are using a STB (Digibox) you don't need to concern yourself about that because the decoded audio is on the SCART connector.

The same is basically true for the picture information depending on what type of TV you are using. Because the STB is doing the decoding it produces RGB plus sync pulses via the composite video signal. All of which are provided via the SCART cable. Provided you purchase a french TV which accepts RGB via the SCART (not all do) then it should work.

However if you intend to use a PAL video tape with the French TV via the aerial, then you will just get a Black & White picture and no sound.

So, the bottomline is the differences between PAL and SECAM really only relate to the decode of the transmitted signal. As your digital satellite receiver does the decoding and therefore bypasses the french TV's Secam decoding. you will not have a problem. Just ensure the french TV has RGB input on the SCART.

Thanks Keith, that's a great help. So now I'll have to ask Beoworld's french members how to look out for and ask for "RGB input on the scart"

Mon Francais est terrible!

Steve

Perhaps something like

Pouvez vous montrez-moi s'il vous plaît que télévisions ont la contribution RGB sur leur connecteur SCART

Good evening Steve and Keith,

You should not have any problem to find a TV which will work with your skybox, as nearly all TVs sold in France support both PAL and Secam.

The french satellite boxes are also in PAL system.

Provided that you have a PAL/Secam TV, the Scart connection will work as it send the video signal both in Composite (least quality) and RGB (best quality).

Don't buy a second-hand TV, as Analogue TV broadcast will end in 3 years, when France will be 100% turned to DTV.

By the law and since March, only DTV enabled TVs can be sold in France (which is very bad for BV8 sales!!!).

Yann.

Hi Yann,

Thanks for that. 

You say don't buy a second-hand TV because Anologue will be turned off in 3 years but my parents only would watch UK TV via sat and therefore will be unaffected?? This also could lead on for better deals in France for non DTV tv's hopefully. I was hoping to get them a BV3 32 or late Avant or even an LCD.

Steve

Hi Steve,

In that case, a second hand TV will be adapted to your parent's needs.

All B&O TVs sold in France are Pal compatible, and support RGB signals on at least one of their scarts.

Best buy would be a DVD Avant, then BV3.

This french website has a second-hand sales section (down arrow of the Beo4): http://lgenevet.club.fr/bomain.htm

Yann.

Brilliant.

Thanks Yann