Date: Sat, 5 Sep 92 21:17 PDT
From: jpp@StarConn.com (John Pettitt)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: US to UK Conversion Hints
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 686, Message 4 of 6

Guide to converting things from the US to the UK and back:

1) All things electrical will need some attention befor use in the UK.
Firstly the supply voltage is different (240v instead of 110v) this is
important.  There are two ways to fix this, if your equipment is
switchable you switch it (most computers are - Apple being a notable
exception).  If your equipment is not switchable you need a
transformer.

Low power transformers are easy to buy in `tourist' type shops.
Higher power units can be had from more specialized sources (Radio
Spares in the UK has a good range).

In addition to the voltage difference the line frequency is 50hz
instead of 60hz.  This will cause your clock radio not to work even if
you have a transformer.  Some equipment will not work on 110v 50hz
(which is what your transformer will give you) the change in frequency
has been known to melt power supplies (I have seen this it's not
pretty).

WARNING - unless you know what you are doing don't mess with 240v
supplies -- they bite.  I take no responsibility for your damaged
equipment.  This advise is worth what I charged you for it :-)

2) Your television, VCR etc are junk in the UK.  The UK uses the PAL
system (Phase Alternating Line or Pay for Additional Luxury) where the
US uses NTSC (National Television Sub Committe or Never Twice Same
Color).  Other parts of the world use different versions of PAL (the
sound sub carrier is different) or the french SECAM system.

3) Subject to power requirments your US phone will work just fine in
the UK (you will need to change the plug).  Tone dialing is available
in quite a lot of places, to find out if you have it try it.  It may
help when ordering service from BT (British Telecom) to ask for a
`digital' line.  Where I was (Ascot) there were two switches, one
system X and one older, unspecified analog type.

If you are on a newer switch (call it an exchange if you want BT to
understand you) most nowmal features (three way, memories, call
waiting etc) will be available for a price.  Call completion on the
newer BT switches is VERY fast.  You will get a ring before you have
your finger off the button from the last digit if the other party is
also on a digital switch.  International call setup is also very good
(13 seconds to California is typical).

There is no flat rate local service and calling is expensive by US
standards (although not bad compared to Germany).  The only alternate
long distance provider (mercury) requires you to dial a long code
before each call (you can get phones that will do this for you).

The bad news is that all the things that won't work cost twice as much
in the UK as the US - expect $ = Pound when looking at prices of HiFi,
TV etc (current exchange rate is $2 = 1 Pound).

In the end it comes down to how much mess (transformers etc) you are
prepared to put up with.  We transfered from the UK to the US and left
almost all of our 240v stuff in the UK because it was not worth the
hassle (and replacements are soooo much less expensive in the US).

Hope this helps.  If anybody has specific questions on moving from the
US to the UK or back please feel free to mail me (I have moved both
ways in the last six years).


Regards,

John Pettitt	jpp@starconn.com   Archer N81034  apple!starnet!jpp
Fax:   +1 415 967 8682   Voice: +1 415 967 UNIX