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Thread ID: 125162 2012-06-10 10:32:00 Does Freeview Terrestrial have a testcard option? Billy T (70) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1280961 2012-06-10 10:32:00 Browsing a UK forum to which I belong, I came across a post about accessing a Freeview test card, and being a proprietary service, it makes sense that this feature should be available here as well.

The steps were as follows:

1. Tune to the BBCi channel (currently ch. 105)
2. When the BBCi background appears, press Yellow (within 30 secs)
3. Tune away to a different channel
4. Tune back to the BBCi channel
5. When the BBCi background appears, press Green (within 30 secs)
The word 'Secret' will appear in the top right hand corner
6. Wait until the status page appears
7. Press green and wait for the testcard to appear.

Anybody out there know if a version of this system is operative in NZ?


Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
1280962 2012-06-10 10:43:00 Ive never seen it on FV terrestrial Speedy Gonzales (78)
1280963 2012-06-10 12:12:00 Ive never seen it on FV terrestrial

You'd have to know the right code sequence to produce it though Speedy, something similar to that above. I've just remembered I have a mate in the TV industry who is well up on this stuff so I'll ask him. Test patterns are nowhere near as important as they once were, but they still have their uses.

Many years ago I went to Great Barrier Island for a weekend to do a number of TV service and aerial jobs, but the Test Pattern didn't start until 2pm. I phoned up Waiatarua and had a chat to the duty tech and he turned on the TV1 transmitter and test card for me. Those were the days when human beings ran things instead of computers!

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
1280964 2012-06-10 23:12:00 One nz site says since its digital, all you'll get is static Speedy Gonzales (78)
1280965 2012-06-11 06:31:00 One nz site says since its digital, all you'll get is static

If a test pattern image was inserted as a digital 'channel' signal into the composite digital signal that carries all the channels, it would appear when that channel was selected, just like the BBC TP does. The attached image was captured from a UK Freeview TV.

I have yet to ask my colleague whether or not there is an NZ equivalent

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
1280966 2012-06-11 06:37:00 If a test pattern image was inserted as a digital 'channel' signal into the composite digital signal that carries all the channels, it would appear when that channel was selected, just like the BBC TP does. The attached image was captured from a UK Freeview TV.

I have yet to ask my colleague whether or not there is an NZ equivalent

Cheers

Billy 8-{)

They have been using that image for as long as I can remember must be at least 40 years or more
gary67 (56)
1280967 2012-06-11 06:45:00 They have been using that image for as long as I can remember must be at least 40 years or more
If it aint broke why fix it.
mikebartnz (21)
1280968 2012-06-11 06:51:00 If it aint broke why fix it.

Guess so they were using it in the Black and White days too
gary67 (56)
1280969 2012-06-11 07:08:00 Guess so they were using it in the Black and White days too

So when did Aunty Beeb stop using Test Card "C" (Monochrome) then?

Bluenose.
bluenose (14548)
1280970 2012-06-11 08:39:00 TVNZ used that test pattern too if my memory serves me right, but with TV1 where BBC is.
:)
Trev (427)
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