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Portable TV with video out? (or how to make)

I'm going on a world-trip in a few months, and in that respect I'm curious as to what each country is showing on TV. In addition it would be great to actually record some of it to videotape (my camcorder has video/audio in connectors).

A handheld TV would be ideal for this, but the question is if there are any around which has a video out jack? It seems that at least the Casio models I've checked out only have video IN, so as to let you view video etc. on the TV screen.

Alternatively, could an old VCR unit be modified for this use, taking out the tuner part, making it battery-driven etc.)? I actually have a damaged (the mechanics that is) VCR, but although it seems like a good idea I wouldn't know how to handle the actual tuning as it's based on the remote control and not a simple knob.

Could a portable TV be easily modified for getting a video out jack?

As I'm in Europe (and most of the Asian countries I'm visiting, with the exception of Japan) uses PAL, the tuner or TV has to be PAL as well. (I guess it's not possible to get hold of a tuner which handles NTSC as well as PAL, or a converter which allows NTSC singals to be converted to PAL, for recording with my video camera?).

Hallvard

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Notator/Creator SL :
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Hallvard Tangeraas
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Note that there are about half a dozen variations on "PAL", mostly being differences in things like sound carrier frequency... Do not assume that a PAL tuner will work correctly everywhere.

Regards, Dan.

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dmills

  1. PAL is a video standard...it has no direct connection with broadcast frequencies (channels) world-wide. Any given hand-held TV receiver you buy locally may or may not receive both picture and sound in the various countries you intend to visit because, PAL or not, the local stations may broadcast on frequencies your receiver cannot receive...and with sound mixed with picture in ways your receiver cannot decode.
  2. I have an early Casio portable (4" screen)...don't keep it here so I don't remember the model. It has an "AV" socket through which video can be input and output with the special cable the came with the unit. So they do (did?) exist.
  3. Although nothing is impossible, modifying a table-top VCR tuner (and the associated demodulating circuitry) to handle different signal standards (PAL, SECAM, NTSC) and different channel assignments (frequencies) and different audio modulation schemes...is not going to be easy.
  4. There are (search the www) standards-converting boxes (SVGA-PAL-SECAM-NTSC) out there. Your camcorder may or (more likely) may not record any video standard with which it is presented at line levels, so you will need a standards converter if it does not. My converter cost about US0 from a Hong Kong business, and runs on 12 volts DC. It works about the same as my Samsung all-standards table-top VHS VCR...except that it converts to-from computer SVGA also. (The Samsung does not).

webpa

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WEBPA

Yes, I know about the different audio formats of PAL, such as the greater part of Europe vs. Hong Kong/UK, but I believe that some systems have switches which allow you to use the same TV in those different countries.

Hallvard

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Atari Launchpad    : 
Notator/Creator SL :
Reply to
Hallvard Tangeraas

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