PAL (Phase Alternate Line)

This is one of several composite video systems. The phase of the color carrier is alternated from line to line. It takes four full pictures for the color to horizontal phase relationship to return to the reference point. This alternation helps cancel out phase errors, the reason the hue control is not needed on PAL TV sets. PAL, in its many forms is used extensively in Western Europe. PAL is often known as "Peace At Last" because of the many compromises made in the evolution of the system and the fact that there are many form of PAL.

A 625 line 50 interlaced fields per second analog broadcast standard used in many parts of the world but not the U.S.A. So named because the chroma is phase reversed on every other scan line to reduce picture artifacts. (NTSC is that way also.) Programs are not interchangeable with NTSC even though they may occupy the same broadcast channels or be recorded on videocassettes of the same size and shape. Programs can be played back on SECAM equipment where they come out as black and white. There exist VCR's and TV sets that will play all three formats but they are not common in the U.S.A.

This is one of several composite video systems. The name describes something of how it works. The phase of the color carrier is alternated from line to line. It takes four full pictures for the color to horizontal phase relationship to return to the reference point. This alternation helps cancel out phase errors, the reason the hue control is not needed on PAL TV sets. PAL, in its many forms is used extensively in Western Europe. PAL is often known as "Peace At Last" because of the many compromises made in the evolution of the system and the fact that there are many form of PAL.