Editing PAL (section)

== Home devices ==

=== Multisystem TVs ===
PAL television receivers manufactured since the 1990s can typically decode all of the PAL variants except, in some cases PAL-M and PAL-N. Many such receivers can also receive Eastern European and Middle Eastern SECAM, though rarely French-broadcast SECAM (because France used a quasi-unique positive video modulation, system L) unless they are manufactured for the French market. They will correctly display plain (non-broadcast) [[Composite video|CVBS]] or [[S-Video|S-video]] SECAM signals. Many can also accept [[baseband]] NTSC-M, such as from a VCR or game console, and RF modulated NTSC with a PAL standard audio subcarrier (i.e., from a modulator), though not usually broadcast NTSC (as its 4.5&nbsp;MHz audio subcarrier is not supported). Many sets also support NTSC with a 4.43&nbsp;MHz color subcarrier (see PAL 60 on the next section).

=== VHS and DVD players ===
[[VHS]] tapes recorded from a PAL-N or a PAL-B/G, D/K, H, or I broadcast are indistinguishable because the downconverted subcarrier on the tape is the same. A VHS recorded off TV (or released) in Europe will play in colour on any PAL-N VCR and PAL-N TV in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Likewise, any tape recorded in Argentina, Paraguay or Uruguay off a PAL-N TV broadcast can be sent to anyone in European countries that use PAL (and Australia/New Zealand, etc.) and it will display in colour. This will also play back successfully in Russia and other SECAM countries, as the USSR mandated PAL compatibility in 1985—this has proved to be very convenient for video collectors.

People in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay usually own TV sets that also display NTSC-M, in addition to PAL-N. [[DirecTV]] also conveniently broadcasts in NTSC-M for North, Central, and South America. Most [[DVD]] players sold in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay also play PAL discs—however, this is usually output in the European variant (colour subcarrier frequency 4.433618&nbsp;MHz), so people who own a TV set which only works in PAL-N (plus NTSC-M in most cases) will have to watch those PAL DVD imports in black and white (unless the TV supports RGB [[SCART]]) as the colour subcarrier frequency in the TV set is the PAL-N variation, 3.582056&nbsp;MHz.

In the case that a VHS or DVD player works in PAL (and not in PAL-N) and the TV set works in PAL-N (and not in PAL), there are two options:
* images can be seen in black and white, or
* an inexpensive [[Transcoding|transcoder]] (PAL -> PAL-N) can be purchased in order to see the colours

Some DVD players (usually lesser known brands) include an internal transcoder and the signal can be output in NTSC-M, with some video quality loss due to the [[Television standards conversion|standard conversion]] from a 625/50 PAL DVD to the NTSC-M 525/60 output format. A few DVD players sold in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay also allow a signal output of NTSC-M, PAL, or PAL-N. In that case, a PAL disc (imported from Europe) can be played back on a PAL-N TV because there are no field/line conversions, quality is generally excellent.

Some special VHS video recorders are available which can allow viewers the flexibility of enjoying PAL-N recordings using a standard PAL (625/50&nbsp;Hz) colour TV, or even through multi-system TV sets. Video recorders like Panasonic NV-W1E (AG-W1 for the US), AG-W2, AG-W3, NV-J700AM, Aiwa HV-M110S, HV-M1U, Samsung SV-4000W and SV-7000W feature a digital TV system conversion circuitry.

=== PAL 60 === 
Many 1990s-onwards [[videocassette recorder]]s sold in Europe can play back NTSC tapes. When operating in this mode most of them do not output a true (625/50) PAL signal, but rather a hybrid consisting of the original NTSC line standard (525/60), with colour converted to PAL 4.43&nbsp;MHz (instead of 3.58 as with NTSC and [[PAL-M]]) — this is known as '''"PAL 60"''' (also ''"quasi-PAL"'' or ''"pseudo-PAL"'') with "60" standing for 60&nbsp;Hz (for 525/30), instead of 50&nbsp;Hz (for 625/25).

Some video game consoles also output a signal in this mode. The [[Dreamcast]] pioneered PAL 60 with most of its games being able to play games at full speed like NTSC and without borders. [[Xbox]] and [[GameCube]] also support PAL 60 unlike PlayStation 2.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/04/talking_point_the_virtual_consoles_pal_problem |title=The Virtual Console's PAL Problem |date=15 April 2010 |access-date=27 July 2021 |archive-date=27 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727164622/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/04/talking_point_the_virtual_consoles_pal_problem |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[PlayStation 2]] did not actually offer a true PAL 60 mode; while many PlayStation 2 games did offer a "PAL 60" mode as an option, the console would in fact generate an NTSC signal during 60&nbsp;Hz operation.

Most newer television sets can display a "PAL 60" signal correctly, but some will only do so (if at all) in black and white and/or with flickering/foldover at the bottom of the picture, or picture rolling (however, many old TV sets can display the picture properly by means of adjusting the V-Hold and V-Height knobs—assuming they have them). Some TV tuner cards or video capture cards will support this mode (although software/driver modification can be required and the manufacturers' specs may be unclear).

Some DVD players offer a choice of PAL vs NTSC output for NTSC discs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amigaforever.com/kb/16-111 |title=Playback of NTSC Videos on PAL Equipment |access-date=29 June 2019 |archive-date=6 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006175837/https://www.amigaforever.com/kb/16-111 |url-status=live}}</ref>