This is the TV bit that Mike Lee, an electronics metrologist, included in an email that he kindly sent me from South Africa. Thanks Mike.
"I can clear up the TV issue.
You comment that your TV does not work in Australia. UK and South Africa use PAL I, Australia uses PAL B/G. The difference is that the sound in PAL I is 6 MHz above the picture carrier frequency
. PAL B/G is 5.5 MHz above the picture carrier. The TV receives the signal at UHF or VHF and converts it to a lower frequency where it easier to manage, 36 MHz (lower cost to amplify), then the picture should be visible but the audio is 6MHz higher or in Oz 5.5 MHz higher. All modern, from 5 to 10 years ago depending on price, have built in for all standards so there is an onscreen menu to change to the other systems. TVs previous to this had fixed crystal filters set to 6 MHz or 5.5 MHz. They can be replaced at a TV shop.I can confirm these facts as a friend converted his many years ago by modifying crystals. My brother in Queensland has a modern 5 years old Samsung and was able to reconfigure the set."
Since your 4 year old, £750 TV will probably only fetch
£200 if you sell it second hand, and an equivalent replacement will set you back something like $1,500 to $2,000 or more, it may well be worth taking a chance on what Mike says. Ditto your VCR. You could also check that it has this menu and supports PAL B/G.If anybody else can add to this, please send an
email.(Close the window to return)