We are NTSC, not PAL. If I am not mistaken, NTSC is based on a 60 cycle reference, while PAL is based on a 50 cycle reference.

While both can be recorded to VHS (or Beta, or 8mm, etc.) tape, it requires a PAL capable VCR to play PAL tapes. These are very uncommon in the US, just as NTSC is very uncommon in Europe.

Yes, you can convert PAL to NTSC, with a dual mode VCR (costly) or through a service, also costly.

Jim Follis