What do I need to make my NTSC LCD TV work in France?

[etro04]

I am an American moving to Paris, France. I would like to take my 40" LCD TV (Samsung Model# LN40A450C1D) with me and was wondering what I would need in order to make it work in France. I purchased the TV in the US and it is NTSC.

Power Specs
110-120V
60Hz
200W

1) I realize that I would need a step down voltage converter to transform the European standard of 240V to 120V. Is there any particular model that you recommend? What specs should I look for when purchasing a transformer that will work well and handle the TV surge when it is turned on?
2) Will I be able to watch cable TV if I hook up my TV to one of the local cable boxes using HDMI cable?
3) Any other factors or issue that I need to consider?

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

 

[Harvey]

First, NTSC is dead, here, as a broadcast standard. It isn't useful for much, anymore, except for viewing your old vid tapes. If you have any old video tapes you want to preserve, you should convert them to a current video file standard ASAP.

NTSC was never compatible with France's old analog TV standard, at least without a converter, and such conversions were never perfect. France is now on its own digital standard. Here's info on it.

If the prices of TV's in France are falling the way they are here, I suspect it will be cheaper to sell your current TV in the U.S. before you go and buy a new one, there, than to ship your set and pay whatever it costs for a less than ideal conversion setup.

The one thing you may not have to buy is an AC voltage converter. Look at the manual or the back of your set. It may already work on all voltage ranges from 100 - 240 volts, 50 - 60 Hz AC.

Good luck. 🙂