If you move around the world or have access to video tapes from other countries Multi-system equipment is a must. Buying new equipment every time you move can be expensive. Also the expense and time involved in having a video store transfer tape from one system to another quickly justifies owning multi-system equipment.
Multi-system equipment can work with three types of colour information Pals, Secam and N.T.S.C.
Secam can be broken down further to include Mesecam.
N.T.S.C. can be either 3.58, or 4.43. We use N.T.S.C. 3.58 in North America.
There are of course some draw backs to the equipment. The equipment is made all over the world and methods of tuning change often (you may have to learn a new type of tuning every time you attempt to tune the equipment.) Many tuners only have enough spaces for 29 channels or may only tune up to channel 23 (J) or 36 (W) in the VHF frequency. Not every TV shop can repair them. The voltage has to be able to vary from 100 volts AC to 240 volts AC and there must be a circuit to change from 50 to 60 Hertz. The tuners also need to be able to adjust to the different systems so they are more intricate than single band equipment.
If you have trouble tuning multi-system Vcr's and Tv's this report will guide you through the problem areas. Knowing the symbols and what the buttons do is very important so a diagram of commonly used symbols has been included. In North America the NTSC 3.58 system is used so it is important to set the TV to use that system before you start the tuning process. From here on the tuning principles that will be discussed apply.
I have found it better to set the tuner to NTSC 3.58 while tuning rather than use the Auto System setting.
The tuning on Multi-System TV's and VCR's is a little more complicated than the straightforward NTSC single band equipment. This report will assist you in the tuning of Multi-system TV's and VCR's in the 3.58 NTSC mode and will give you some background information on related topics.
We will start off with the symbols used to simplify the process. Next on the agenda will be auto programming because if that works properly you can set aside this paper. If the auto programming does not work (most cases) manual fine tuning is the only option. VCR tuning will also be covered to include the differences.
You will also find a brief description of Pals, Secam and NTSC.
Information on Vcr's with UHF output will be included as well
Understanding the symbols will be very helpful. These TV's and VCR's are designed to be used by many different nationalities so symbols have been used rather than words. The following diagrams will introduce the symbols that will help in most cases.
Usually it easier to manually fine tune the TV and VCR. The reasons are listed below. Once in a while the function works so...
If there is an AutoProgram button give it a push. When the Autoprogramming is complete, if all the channels are there and in the right place. You need not go any further. If not, here are some examples of the things that go wrong.
Some International VCR's use a UHF output. On most the output is variable and is approximately UHF channel 34. Unless you use Video outputs from the VCR you will have to tune a channel on the TV to the UHF frequency.
These VCR's have a test pattern that can be turned on by a switch on the back labelled "Test". Once the test pattern is on you can locate an empty channel on the TV to use for the VCR (usually channel location 0 or 1).
Adjust it in the UHF frequency range until you see the test pattern.
Do not forget to turn off the test pattern when done.
Now it would be a good time to tune the VCR. This can be done by following either the Auto-Programming or Manual Tuning instructions that we have already gone over. Unfortunately the VCR will most likely use a different tuning method than the TV.
Start off by locating the Preset or Tuning Switch. Give it a push. By using the channel button, run through the channel locations and see if there are enough spots to adjust in the channels you need to receive. Start at location 2 and adjust in the channel using the tuning up or down buttons to locate the right channel (in our case that would be CFRN). On some equipment one push on the search button is enough to start the fine tuning which will lock in automatically when it finds the next channel.
Sometimes you must hold the tuning button on until you get the right channel in the right place. When the channel is adjusted properly (if the option is available) label it with the corresponding number(s) and push preset again or the memory button. This will lock the channel into memory. Now press preset a second time and the channel button again and fine tune the next channel in, repeating the steps.If there is a memory button you may only have to press preset one time and then remember to push memory each time you have set a channel properly. When you have set all the channels in the right place push preset for the second time and run through what you have done to ensure accuracy.
Here is a tip: When you get to location 7 the next channel on the tuner is A-2 then A-1 and finally channel 14 (see previous page). If you skip to location 14 you will save time. When you have adjusted up to channel 22 skip back to location 7 (as it is next on the tuner) and adjust to channel 13. From there skip to location 23 and adjust in the rest.
NTSC 3.58
Symbols
Auto-programming
Manual Tuning
System Frequency and Channel Number Multisystem NTSC I Low 54 to 88 MHz 2 ,3 ,4 ,5 ,6 II FM Band 88 to 108 MHz FM Channels III Mid Band 108 to 174 MHz A-2(98) A-1(99) A(14) B(15) C(16) D(17) E(18) F(19) G(20) H(21) I(22) High Band 174 to 216 MHz 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Super Band 216 to 300 MHz J(23) K(24) L(25) M(26) N(27) O(28) P(29) Q(30) R(31) S(32) T(33) U(34) V(35) W(36) Hyper Band 300 to 456 MHz AA(37) to ZZ(62) 456 to 780 MHz 63 to 125 ...and on to 185 (OOOOO, W+83) *Channels are shown in the order they appear on the tuner