US Gamecube on UK TV

[Indigo]

I will be visiting my brother over in the UK in a few weeks, and want to bring my gamecube so we can play the games I have. His TV is PAL only, but I have heard there are VCRs over there that have a NTSC to PAL conversion option? Will this work at all? I want to avoid having to bring my own TV over there, but I will do that if it's the only way we can play.

The other thing is the power conversion. Would I be able to buy a UK gamecube power adapter and would it work on my Gamecube? Or do I have to buy a power converter that steps the voltage down to 120Volts and then use my power adapter instead? The concern I have about this is the electricity over there is 50hz and not 60hz like the US power companies have. Not sure the gamecube would like 120volts 50hz power.

I know you guys have lots of experience with this stuff so I am hoping someone can help me out with this. Thanks

[wod]

things you'll need is an rgb cable for ntsc gamecube and a stepdown converter or if your brother has a gamecube pal one , then you can use his power lead as they work on an ntsc machine.

[Indigo]

things you'll need is an rgb cable for ntsc gamecube and a stepdown converter or if your brother has a gamecube pal one , then you can use his power lead as they work on an ntsc machine.

Ok, thanks, I know there is stuff in the FAQ on this site, but I specifically need to know if his TV is PAL only, and he has a VCR that takes composite inputs, and I bring my composite cable over there, will it work? I do not want to get over there and find out we can't play because it won't work on his TV. Then again I don't want to haul my TV all the way over there through the airports and baggage claims just to find out it was unnecessary.

[wod]

cant you just plug the rgb cable into the scart socket on the tv ?. as i dont think it will work through the vcr, anyway the rgb cable bypasses the whole ntsc and display it in colour on the pal tv

[Papercut]

... as long as his tv supports 60Hz. If its modern-ish, it probably does.

as wod says, you want to connect directly, not through his vcr.

the vcrs you're thinking of can play ntsc tapes, they don't convert any old ntsc source to pal.

[Indigo]

Ok, thanks guys. He said his TV is an old 80s kind, so I doubt it supports 60hz. It doesn't have any composite inputs either. So, it looks like he's either going to have to see if he can get a TV with composite inputs, or I am going to have to bring one over there.

[Lyris]

That'd be more trouble than it's worth really - anyone on here have any experience of using imported TVs?

[Salsa Party Animal]

Can you brother afford to buy a new TV as it is an old TV. 350 quids can buy a decent 28 inches widescreen TV.

[Indigo]

Can you brother afford to buy a new TV as it is an old TV. 350 quids can buy a decent 28 inches widescreen TV.

Actually right now he is looking into borrowing his friend's new 30" one, which does have composite inputs. Considering it is new, and it has the inputs, it WILL work with the US gamecube, right?

[Papercut]

probably.

it will say so in the manual somewhere.

[Lyris]

Almost definitely, for sure if it's one of the higher-end brands - the same ones you'll be used to in the US, Panasonic, JVC, Sony etc...

[Halo]

Why don't you just buy a PAL GC instead? They are cheap enough, and less hassle in this case.

[Indigo]

Why don't you just buy a PAL GC instead? They are cheap enough, and less hassle in this case.

That is the backup plan. However, there are some concerns with going that route. One is the incompatibility of my US games. I know you can get a freeloader, but I have heard there are some bugs with them and that some games will not work correctly (such as Mario Kart DD). Also, there is the memory card issue where saved games are not read by a foreign system/game correctly. Unless this information I have heard is not correct.