Will my Sony KDL46X2000U work if bought over to NZ when i emmigrate?

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smiler

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Wannabe Geek

Topic # 13900 3-Jun-2007 22:41

I have various pieces of AV kit that I would love to keep and bring with me.
Will they be compatible?

Main concern is the TV a Sony KDL46X2000U only 6 months old.

If it doesn't work straight off can it be converted?

All advice gratefully received.

Many thanks.

lbishop

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Geek

Reply # 73347 3-Jun-2007 23:06

Asuming you're in the UK from your avatar, i did the same 3 years ago so hopefully can offer some help. Over here they have VHF and UHF frequencies so the UK tv i had only support VHF (i think - or the other). Terrestial channels available in VHF are TVOne, TVTwo, TVThree, C4 and UHF are Prime and Maori TV. But if you go for a pay-per-view option (Sky or Cable) then you won't have to worry.

As far as power cables are concerned you can just change plugs. Been here over 3 years now and still have UK plugs connected in various adapters and hacked-about power-boards!

HTH,

Lewis.

rscole86

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Reply # 73348 3-Jun-2007 23:09

The one thing emmigrants always forget are powerboards!

If you are bringing serveral of your UK devices, I suggest you bring acouple of UK power boards.

Soo many times Ive seen people saying they need 6 or 7 adapters, as they didnt think about it.

cyril7

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Reply # 73350 3-Jun-2007 23:12

Hi there is no reason why that sony will not work here. Only issues surround the tuners. The analog tuner will need to support sound carriers at 5.5MHz which most sonys will do, and if it has a built in DVB-T decoder then that will not work here. Other than that the display will work just as well as any other. If you must use analog services and the tuner will not support 5.5MHz then a cheap VCR will fix that problem.

Essentially FTA digital broadcasting in NZ has only just started to happen, you can receive FTA digital broadasts via satellite (DVB-S) anywhere in the country or in early 2008 terrestially (DVB-T) in most major centres. I see that this model has a built in DVB-T tuner, however this will not work in NZ as the FTA DVB-T (terrestial service) will use mpeg4 as the coding method unlike the UK system that uses the older mpeg2 method. As such the DVB-T service in NZ will support both HD and SD resolutions. The satellite service only supports SD mpeg2 transmissions.

If you want paytv then SkyNZ operate a very similar satellite based service to SkyUK (albeit smaller) using similar kit. The HD service via satellite is due to launch in late 2007 early 2008. Currently SkyNZ have both standard and PVR (MySky ala Sky+) STB's with both SCARTed composite, S-Video, RGB or Component video outputs.

So once again as long as the TV has spare component video and HDMI inputs then it will work.

Cyril

PS as rscole86 points out, you will need to change the plugs or bring a power board to support UK power plugs. NZ uses 230V, however this is not a problem to UK appliances. just need to change the plugs to NZ/Aus ones or bring UK power boards and change the lead to that.

smiler

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 73354 3-Jun-2007 23:52

Thanks for all the advice.
How easy is it to change MPEG2 to MPEG4.

Also is the Digital decoder DVB-T ever likely to work or is best to just use an external set top box?

cyril7

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Reply # 73361 4-Jun-2007 07:54

The MPEG2 DVB-T decoder thats built is only good to help keep the set held to the floor.

Mpeg4 is a massively more complex beast althogether with lots of complex strategic methods that decoder itself must on the fly implement. Mpeg2 medium profile (as used in DVD and DVB) on the other hand is a significantly asymetric coder with the encoder doing all the work and the decoder being essentially a dumb pixel mapper. The mpeg2 decoder in the TV like viturally every STB decoder is a hardwired type of decoder, it cannot ever be made to decode mpeg4. Mpeg4 as it will be implemented in the NZ FreeView DVB-T system will be both SD and HD capable from day one.

You will always need an external decoder with this set in NZ.

Cyril

smiler

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 73363 4-Jun-2007 08:47

Thanks Cyril, answers my queries. Certainly beats selling it and buying a new one.

cyril7

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Reply # 73366 4-Jun-2007 08:52

Yeah definitely bring it with you, we get stung for high end kit compared to UK prices.

Cyril