Proper NTSC-->Pal Conversion?

[paulspiteri]

Hi
On my sigmadesigns hollywood+ mpeg2 decoder card I can play a R1 dvd on my TV and get it to output in true PAL mode. Am I right in thinking most SO CALLED 'multiregion' DVD players simply put the TV in (the pathetic) PAL60 mode.

Are there any which do what I require? (PAL60 on my TV looks AWFUL, 28" wide toshiba...very vertically STRETCHED looking).

Thanks
Paul Spiteri

[Tony Keats]

Pal 60 certainly shouldn't look 'Awful'. it will be slightly inferior to Pal on most set-ups (lower resolution), but I've never heard of it causing stretching or similar effects. Your Toshiba must be fairly intolerant of 60hz material because Pal 60 should have perfectly normal proportions. Visible scan-lines can be a real pain though (also evident with pure NTSC), but they can be eliminated by either 1) Progressive Scan output, or 2) Pal 50 output.

Pal 50 is the most relible way of displaying an NTSC source on a Pal-only TV and is as close to true Pal as you're going to get. There are loads of players that offer this output (most of the LG, Samsung and JVC range for starters) although the Pal 50 conversion means that 5 frames are dropped every second (displaying 25 instead of the original 30). This can cause jerkiness which is arguably just as objectionable as scan-lines, but it's up to the individual really. I prefer Pal 50 myself as I can't stand scan-lines and the jerky pans just remind me that I'm watching a digital source.

I'd personally recommend the LG3000E because it's a cheap, impressive performer which does an admirable job with the Pal conversion (allowing back-ups to Pal VHS also).

[paulspiteri]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I'm aware of the jerkyness, however on my hollywood+ theres an option to change the refresh rate! Basically I have eliminated the jerk although i think it only works on my tv up to about 56hz. better though, almost unnoticable.