The PAL-NTSC converter allows you to use a PAL PS2 with an NTSC standard television. It will not work for a PAL TV and NTSC PS2.
It should also allow you to play most PAL games on an NTSC PS2 but we haven't tested sufficiently yet, so no guarantees. (Let us know if you have a PAL game that does NOT work with the converter: email sales@chipzone.com. Thanks!)
The input on the PAL-NTSC converter only fits Playstations. It plugs into the video out port of the Playstation.
The converter has two outputs: Composite video and RF video. The Composite output consists of three RCA jacks on the side labeled R, L, and V--for Right audio, Left audio, and Video. The jacks have the standard Composite color coding: red for right, white for left, and yellow for video. If your television has Composite input you should use this output from the converter. You will get higher quality than with the RF output. You will need three male-male RCA cables. You can get them at any Radio Shack.
NOTE: Don't confuse Composite input on your TV with Component input! Component input has three separate video inputs labeled R, G, B (for red, gree, and blue) rather than one video input like Composite. Both Component and Composite video inputs use RCA jacks so it can be confusing. If you plug the converter into Component jacks you may damage either your TV or the converter, so be careful. Most TVs with Component video input also have Composite, so just keep looking for the right jacks.
If your television doesn't have Composite input, use the RF output of the Converter. This is the single RCA jack at the end labeled RF. A cable is supplied with a male RCA plug on one end and a coaxial plug at the other end. The coaxial plug should fit the antenna input on your TV. You may have to adjust the impedence on your antenna input from 300 ohms to 75 ohms. If your television is very old and only has twin screws for the antenna input you will need an adapter. (Back to Radio Shack!)
This is an analog converter which translates the PAL color signal to NTSC color. It does not adjust for the difference in AC frequency. Most televisions won't have trouble with this. In our experience, about ten percent of US televisions DO have trouble. If yours is one of these you can easily compensate by adjusting the vertical hold on the set. If your set does not have a vertical hold adjustment, try another TV. If you don't have another TV, exchange this analog converter for a digital converter. Note that the digital version of the converter is more expensive; you may prefer just to buy an NTSC console for your NTSC TV.
For more information on video quality please click here.