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This section identifies the information and equipment you need to optimise connectivity of electrical, telecommunications and television equipment in different countries. Particularly important if you are considering use if equipment outside the country in which it was purchased.

Electricity

All countries use alternating current at 50Hz or 60Hz. Much modern domestic equipment will run on either, although clocks or equipment incorporating clocks may only work on one frequency. The single phase domestic supplies tend to be between 100 and 127V (110V nominal) or between 200 and 250V (220V nominal). Electrical equipment can generally tolerate a slightly different voltage within each of those two bands. Some equipment may be able to switch between 110V and 220V, automatically or with a switch.

Check any equipment and manual to confirm whether it can tolerate a different frequency or voltage. It is possible to use a transformer to step up or down between voltages. It is not likely to be economic to purchase an inverter or alternator to convert 50Hz to 60Hz or vice versa, for domestic use.

There is an even wider range of plug sockets used in different countries. These can be cheaply purchased and changed, on moving to new countries. If you are looking for travel multi adaptors or transformers then look through Magellan's country database to get the correct equipment. The table below indicates voltage and frequency by country.

Telecommunications

Telephones can be used on different systems, but they may require different plus & sockets. Over 20 different socket types are in use worldwide. You can purchase adaptors singly or in sets from Magellan's that can convert the plugs, particularly useful for travellers with PC modems to connect. The table below indicates the telephone dialing codes for each country, consult the Magellan's country database for information on socket type.

Television

This is one of the most complex and expensive of issues to consider when moving from one country to another. To begin with you will have to confirm whether the equipment can work with the electricity supply available. Then you have to consider the picture standard: NTSC (from USA), PAL (from UK) and SECAM (from France). Equipment or tapes designed for one, will not work on another. Also you have to consider the signal itself, not just VHF or UHF, but how the signal is used and how the sound is encoded. The table below shows the signal group for each country, as well as the picture standard. For equipment to be compatible the signal group and picture standard have to be the same.Multi standard equipment is available from specialist dealers such as Planet Omni.

The only issue to consider with VHS video tapes is the picture standard (PAL, SECAM or NTSC), where the recording standard must be the same as the equipment on which is is played back.

Country Connections Table

This table lists the electrical and TV standards in each country, along with telephone dialing codes. The National dial code is the digit which is normally the first digit of the telephone number, which is replaced by the inward dial code if phoning from outside the country. In this table the letter "p" indicates a need to pause to waiting for dial tone.

This information can change from time to time, if you have new updates please contact us.