Will an English TV work in France?

cacique

I am moving to France in the next few weeks and someone has told me that my flat screen TV won't work there - for Sky or French channels -and I'll have to buy a new one.

I've also read that an English set will be OK for Sky but will only get French channels if you use a scart lead - it didn't say where the lead would be connected!

Can anyone tell me which of these is true?

Many thanks

Conor_3

Yes it will definitely work if you use a set top box. I think one with built in Freeview should work as well but I've only used digital terrestrial with my laptop USB DVB-T tuner. But in short, you can plug it in and turn it on and it'll light up but you won't be able to get analogue channels as the French use SECAM whereas we use PAL.

Badger_Lady

Presumably you need a mains adaptor - that couldn't be what your mate was thinking of?? Or has he got his eye on it!

DCFC79

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Presumably you need a mains adaptor - that couldn't be what your mate was thinking of?? Or has he got his eye on it!

You can get an adpater though if he hasnt thought of it

PeteMc

Having just returned from a few years in France and used Sky over there it's pretty straight forward.

If your TV is a relatively recent one (since 2000-ish most TV's are multi and that includes SECAM, check your manual) then the aerial connection should just give you the French terrestrial channels. Plug a UK Sky box in the way you would in the UK, make sure the dish is at least 60cm and pointing the right way and voila.

You can buy a French set top box and that should work OK. I believe (not tested) that a UK freeview box won't pick up the French freeview channels. It certainly won't pick up the UK ones unless you are in Calais and the wind is blowing the right way.

Either cut the plug off the TV and wire a French one on or use a cheapo travel adapter.

BexTech

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Presumably you need a mains adaptor - that couldn't be what your mate was thinking of?? Or has he got his eye on it!

Not really a mains adapter, just a socket changer.

The TV will be rated at 230V.

We are all classed as 230V countries, though in reality the UK is still around 240v and other parts of Europe 220v, equipment is made to work within these ranges.

Many TVs are dual or triple standard for analogue.

For digital it might not get all channels unless it has MPEG4 encoding (which is highly unlikely) though it's the subscription channels that are MPEG4, the free channels are MPEG2.

With a satellite box, you'll have no problem as long as the dish is big enough.

cacique

Thanks very much for all the helpful information everyone! :T