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NotTaR of Television Sets : Variations on a 'standard' - the PAL sys..  
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Variations on a 'standard' - the PAL system

In the U.S., when PAL is mentioned, it is usually assumed to be 625 line/50 Hz as used in the UK and man other places. However, there are several variations on the PAL system.

(The following from: Ed Ellers I can think of five major groups right off:

PAL B/G/H - 625-line 50 Hz systems used in most European countries and many countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

PAL I - Again 625 lines at 50 Hz, but with a different sound carrier frequency. Used in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong, South Africa and a few other places I've forgotten.

PAL D/K - Yet another 625-line system with a different sound carrier. Used in some former Warsaw Pact countries as well as mainland China; this may become more popular as PAL/SECAM receivers become common in the CIS republics and other former Soviet bloc countries, since those countries now use SECAM D/K.

PAL M - This one's 525 lines at 59.94 Hz; it's just like NTSC except for PAL-type color encoding. It's used mainly in Brazil.

PAL N - A real oddity, with 625-line 50 Hz video but a LOWER sound carrier and a lower color subcarrier than the B/G/H, I and D/K varieties. It's used in Argentina and a few other places.