[vickibunni]

Is the format on the VCR's and DVD's different in Guatemala? We are trying to make a video for our foster mom, but want to make sure that she can see it before we spend too much time on it.

Thanks,
Vicki

[kerrib]

I don't know about video but there is more than one standard for dvd's. generally ones that are made for the US cannot be used overseas. I'm not sure if this applies to DVD's made at home.

[tinaedmond]

A VCR tape is a VCR tape. We have sent tapes to our foster family too and they are able to view.

A DVD purchased in the United States will not work on a DVD player purchased in Guatemala.

Tina

[jay_clark]

Most DVD software will write a region 0 to the disk which allows it to be played in any region. You may want to check the settings of the software you use to verify that there isn't a specific region being used. (You will probably be fine however for the movies you create at home.) Buying a DVD movie here in the states though will have a problem with the Region as any movie that is purchased here will have a Region of 1 while players in Central America use Region 4.

As a previous poster also suggested, VCR tapes do not have a region issue and could also be a good alternative.

[dac_cincy]

Oh no- I just sent 2 DVDs (Winnie the Pooh) down for my son. I was so excited because they had a spanish language track and they took up less room in a gallon zip lock bag.

Well heck!!!

[DPline]

Originally Posted by jay_clark

As a previous poster also suggested, VCR tapes do not have a region issue and could also be a good alternative.

When we lived in England, the VCR tapes we brought with us did not work on the VCR there, and the tapes we bought there could not be used here. No idea if that is true for Central America though.

[DPline]

Originally Posted by jay_clark

As a previous poster also suggested, VCR tapes do not have a region issue and could also be a good alternative.

When we lived in England, the VCR tapes we brought with us did not work on the VCR there, and the tapes we bought there could not be used here. No idea if that is true for Central America though, or if it would apply to those you would use in a video camera.

[JennSch]

VCR Tapes will work fine. The reason the English onces dont work in the States, is that most of Europe uses a different TV standard (PAL). Guatemala however should use the same standard than the US (NTSC). So VCR tapes WILL work!

DVD is a different story. DVDs have a country specific code (region code) and will only play in a DVD player for that specific region unless you have a so called codefree DVD player. A homemade DVD will usually be codefree (region 0) and therefore will work in Guatemala, but a purchased DVD movie will not.

[DPline]

Thanks for the clarification JennSch! I just well remember the trauma of my two-year-old not being able to watch ANY of the Thomas videos we had brought with us, and then having to leave all the ones we bought there behind when we came home!