I'm moving from the U.S. to Austria and I need to know whether my flat
screen LCD digital TV set will work there. I'm familiar with the
differences between NTSC and PAL (Austria is PAL, my TV is NTSC), but
I'm unclear about how digitial signals and HDTV fit into the picture.
My TV is a Syntax Olevia LT26HVE
http://www.syntaxgroups.com/products/26inch_productd.html
My satellite provider will be (I think) ASTRA
http://www.ses-astra.com/products/broadcast/index.shtml.
(I'm open to using any satellite provider, though--especially one that
may have more English-language programming and/or HDTV content)
I'd also like to be able to watch both European and US purchased DVDs
through the TV.
My specific questions, then, are:
1) Can I use my TV in Austria?
2) If so, what equipment do I need in order to watch broadcast
(satellite or cable?) content?
3) What equipment do I need to watch Austrian-purchased DVDs?
4) What additional equip, if any, do I need to watch US purchased DVDs there?
I'd also like to know if there is any one satellite provider that may
be better suited to my needs than any other, but that's probably
outside the scope of this subject.
Anyway, thanks for any help in clarifying what for me is very, very confusing!

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Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 22 Jul 2005 09:52 PDT

This is not an attempt to answer the question, only an additional
remark: Have you considered the different electricity systems, too?
Austria uses 230 V /50 Hz, while US equipment is designed for 110 V /
60 Hz.

Scriptor

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Clarification of Question by sdchap-ga on 22 Jul 2005 10:59 PDT

I forgot to mention that the TV operates on 100~240 VAC / 50-60 Hz.

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Clarification of Question by sdchap-ga on 22 Jul 2005 13:26 PDT

I suppose it goes without saying, but nevertheless: I'm looking for
the best possible picture quality from the various input sources: DVD,
satellite and/or cable.

Here's a quick answer to questions 3 and 4, concerning DVD's.

DVD's sold in the U.S. are coded Region 1, and DVD's sold in Europe
are coded Region 2.  Many of the DVD players sold in the U.S. are
"Region 1", meaning they will only play DVD's coded for Region 1. 
However, you can purchase (for less than $100) an "All Region" DVD
player, in which the Region coding has been defeated.  This player
will play DVD's sold in all 6 regions of the world.

"The DVD Region Coding system is part of the DVD specification. It was
added towards the end of the development of DVD at the request of the
major Hollywood studios. In essence, Region coding is designed to
prevent a disc purchased in one Region of the world playing on a
player purchased in another Region."

Also, a note of clarification concerning NTSC and PAL encoding.  NTSC
and PAL are encoding standards which apply to TERRESTIAL broadcasts or
cable delivery of STANDARD-DEVINITION TV only.  These two encoding
standards are NOT used (and are therefore irrelevant to) HDTV
delivered by any means.  Nor is NTSC or PAL encoding used for any kind
of satelite TV signal, either HDTV or standard-definition.

The best way to conceptualize your "NTSC digital LCD TV", would be as
a "Digital LCD TV set" with an NTSC tuner built-in.  Your future cable
or satellite provider, in Europe, will supply the decoder box to
connect to your digital LCD TV, so I would ask them if their decoder
box will work with your specific model of digital LCD TV.

I will try to be quick and on the point.

1) Can I use my TV in Austria?
Your TV is NTSC, so there is no way to watch a PAL transmission. (The
TV Tuner contained inside the TV Set is NTSC)

2) If so, what equipment do I need in order to watch broadcast
(satellite or cable?) content?
If you choose to carry your TV in Austria, then you may need a tuner
and a PAL to NTSC converter. (Tuner can be a VCR or a DVD recorder).
Alternatively you may choose a new multi-standard TV set. (PAL and
NTSC)

3) What equipment do I need to watch Austrian-purchased DVDs?
A multi region DVD player. 50 - 150 Euros. This will add the
flexibility to re-produce mp3, jpg,vcd and dvd among others.

4) What additional equip, if any, do I need to watch US purchased DVDs there?
Answered above.

I'd also like to know if there is any one satellite provider that may
be better suited to my needs than any other, but that's probably
outside the scope of this subject.
You may need a subscription with BSkyB. English speaking and a lot of
programmes but the subscription can only be purchased in UK.

best rgds
www.tv-sw.com

There are REGION FREE CONVERTING DVD players and multisystem vcrs that
will allow you to watch ANY DVD and ANY VIDEO tapes from any country
on any TV on earth.
www.mindlogic.com has these for sale for example.
They also have PAL-SECAM-NTSC TVs such as plasma, LCD, DLP and lots of
other things in 110-220 volts. JD