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WHAT PRODUCTS CAN BE USED IN EUROPE? |
| In a previous FAQ, I discussed using Smarthome products in Europe. The first part of this series can be accessed here: |
Using Smarthome Products Overseas
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| In this FAQ, I'll discuss the last few important issues that you might face when using our products outside of North America. |
| | | Wireless Products | |
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Some of our products use radio frequencies to operate. These wireless products are convenient since the user does not need to be near the receiver in order to enjoy the products benefits. We have all seen the "Wireless Revolution" in mobile phones over the last few years. In the home automation industry, we have had wireless products since the very beginning. As soon as some cool product comes out, there are attempts to make it more convenient by eliminating the wires. The issue is finding a radio frequency that does not interfere with existing wireless radio services. |
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In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, is a federal government agency in charge of allocating and regulating any wireless device that sends signals over the air. They are responsible for allocating frequencies for specific purposes. While there are similarities for some allocated frequencies between countries thanks to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) treaty, there are differences. Thankfully, the important ones like airline and maritime frequencies are the same. The frequency range of your car stereo is pretty much the same (with a few exceptions) as car radios in other countries. Visitors driving from Mexico to Canada can enjoy radio broadcasts in their car without interruption.
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Beside the frequencies listed above, and some others, most countries have different allocations for everything else. It is possible that a wireless motion sensor designed for the North American market may interfere with radios used by the fire department in your country. Your country's regulating authority may be very concerned by your use of an un-authorized transmitter in your home.
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 | Some manufactures make multiple versions of their products, each on a different frequency. The 73911 Wireless Pet-Immune Wireless Motion Sensor we sell for our Smarthome SecureLinc II Voice Response Wireless Security System comes working on a fixed frequency of 315MHz. The product is also sold for other parts of the world on frequencies of 404, 418, 433.92 or 868 depending on local requirements. If that same motion sensor were produced in 418MHz for the United States, it could interfere with aeronautical navigation! You can check out the frequency allocation chart for the United States by clicking on the chart below.
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The regulating authority in your country could take a dim view of your use of an unauthorized radio device. Even if you feel that that a wireless device that only transmits a few hundred meters is too small to be of concern to the government, would you want to be the one responsible because the emergency medical personnel were unable to contact a hospital during your neighbor's heart attack? |
| | | Video & Television Formats | |
Differences in video equipment between countries may also prevent the use of cameras, time-laps VCRs, and video surveillance products in your country. While we all may have televisions for watching our favorite programs, those sets may not be able to accept signals from equipment designed for other regions.
|  | The two major video formats in use around the world are NTSC and PAL. NTSC, which stands for National Television Standards Committee, is responsible for setting television and video standards in the United States. The PAL or Phase Alternating Line system is commonly used in Europe. NTSC video signals are made up of 525 lines of resolution delivered at a refresh rate of 60 half-frames (interlaced) per second. The PAL video signal is made up of 625 lines delivered at a refresh rate of at 50 half-frames (interlaced) per second.
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A black and white NTSC camera connected to a PAL monitor would produce a scrunched up image. When color signals are involved, the whole picture is washed out due to further differences in the composition of a color video signal.
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| The modulators we offer continue to compound the compatibility issue. They are expecting an NTSC video signal to modulate. A color PAL signal would result in an un-watchable picture. The frequency produced by the modulator would not match what your television is expecting. Once again, the frequency sent by the modulator may not match what is normally used in your country. Even with today's ultra-modern televisions with phase-lock-loop tuning, it's asking too much of a PAL television to receive images from an NTSC modulator. |
| There are several countries that are compatible with the North American NTSC system. In these countries, a video camera connected directly to the video input of a television would produce a great picture, assuming you get around the voltage issues and it's not wireless! |
| | | Why Are There Multiple Systems | |
| Early television engineers decided to use the electricity's AC frequency as a means to synchronize the pictures or frame rate. Doing so reduced the likelihood of rolling hum bars and screen flicker. The two most common electricity frequencies are 50Hz and 60Hz. This immediately divided the worlds TV systems into 2 systems, the 25 frames per second camp for 50Hz countries, and the 30 frames per second camp for countries with 60Hz electricity. Additional technical issues have come along the way. Color broadcasting, stereo sound, and subtitling systems have all produced different standards between countries. |
| | | Devices Supported by the Products | |
| Some of our products are just not designed to work outside of North America. It's not that they don't enjoy living in France or love the humidity of the Philippines; it's just that there are going to be issues with what they work with. |  | Our pre-programmed remote controls come ready to work with audio and video devices primarily marketed in North America. In a previous FAQ I discussed:
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How can I know if a new universal remote will work
with my audio and video equipment?
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At that time, I did not explain that pre-learned remote controls may not support all the TVs, VCRs, or stereos ever made.
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Inside each remote control, there is a finite amount of memory space to hold all the set-up codes. If a remote control is designed for the North American market, the engineer may remove any un-need setup codes. For example, here in the US, we don't see many Elbe, Kneissel, or Schneider televisions. But these brands are common in Europe, so why include those set-up codes when the engineer could use that memory space for DVD players or satellite receivers?
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This issue becomes cloudier once you involve the Japanese. Those clever folks market products for all the continents and they tend to re-use the same engineering for all models. The same remote control setup codes used for Sony televisions are commonly used on all their TVs shipped worldwide! They tend to reuse the same codes year after year in the models they produce. If you own a 10-year old Sony, try that remote control on the new ones being displayed by your local retailers. Odds are you will be able to control most of the sets functions, like power, volume, and channel changing.
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With learning remote controls, like our Pronto, there will be no compatibility problems since these units learn the signals from your existing remote control.
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Products that attach to your home's water supply may be incompatible with North American products. It's not that the water is different; thankfully, we all use the same H2O! The attachment device that connects a garden hose to Scarecrow Water Spraying Animal Repeller, the WaterDog, or Automatic Swimming Pool Water Level Control will be different because the US isn't on the metric system. Our WaterCop Wireless Leak Detection System require cutting into pipes to operate. There could be size differences in your home's metric pipes and those that come with these products.
|  | | We also have some products that receive special signals, courtesy of the US and Canadian governments. The weather service will transmit a special signal followed by official information before a dangerous weather condition approaches an area. The weather radios on our web site's Weather Products page will have little use outside the US and Canada. We also have Radio Controlled Self-Setting Clocks that receives radio signals from the US Navel Observatory. |
| | | Foreign Shipments | |
Smarthome has many products that will work overseas. We send dozens of packages to all corners of the world every day from our shipping dock. Before placing an order with us, please check our shipping procedures here:
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Here are some products that are compatible no matter where you live:
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Products that plug into electricity with a wall adapter or power plug can be used with a locally obtained AC to DC adapter (see Part 1 for more info).
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| As always, if you have a question about compatibility, please e-mail our Technical Support team. |
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updated 6/28/05
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