A few days ago someone posted info on finding the BBC Test Card (sorry,
deleted OP).

Would have been handy a couple of weeks earlier, when I was discussing with
a retailer the fact that my new Toshiba recorder had lousy definition and
distortion. Resolved satisfactorily once I got to an engineer ("Yeah,
software problem, we get loads back") rather than a salesman ("No, Sir, they
never go wrong").

Question - why on earth is it so difficult to find this "hidden" test card?
Much discussion around my learned friends at the Rat and Gynaecologist
(local pub, we thought the original name was silly) came up with the rather
weak possibility that punters with TV sets might be tempted to fiddle with
settings and do damage, thus leaving the BBC open to lawsuits. Surely not?
Any better ideas?

GMac

Geoff Mackenzie wrote:
A few days ago someone posted info on finding the BBC Test Card (sorry,
deleted OP).

Would have been handy a couple of weeks earlier, when I was discussing
with a retailer the fact that my new Toshiba recorder had lousy
definition and distortion. Resolved satisfactorily once I got to an
engineer ("Yeah, software problem, we get loads back") rather than a
salesman ("No, Sir, they never go wrong").

Question - why on earth is it so difficult to find this "hidden" test
card? Much discussion around my learned friends at the Rat and
Gynaecologist (local pub, we thought the original name was silly) came
up with the rather weak possibility that punters with TV sets might be
tempted to fiddle with settings and do damage, thus leaving the BBC open
to lawsuits. Surely not? Any better ideas?

GMac

Easy. If everybody could watch it, nobody would bother with any of the
real programmes. For production values, plot, dialogue, action it has
them all well beaten.

d

Don Pearce wrote:

Geoff Mackenzie wrote:
A few days ago someone posted info on finding the BBC Test Card (sorry,
deleted OP).

Would have been handy a couple of weeks earlier, when I was discussing
with a retailer the fact that my new Toshiba recorder had lousy
definition and distortion. Resolved satisfactorily once I got to an
engineer ("Yeah, software problem, we get loads back") rather than a
salesman ("No, Sir, they never go wrong").

Question - why on earth is it so difficult to find this "hidden" test
card? Much discussion around my learned friends at the Rat and
Gynaecologist (local pub, we thought the original name was silly) came
up with the rather weak possibility that punters with TV sets might be
tempted to fiddle with settings and do damage, thus leaving the BBC open
to lawsuits. Surely not? Any better ideas?

Easy. If everybody could watch it, nobody would bother with any of the
real programmes. For production values, plot, dialogue, action it has
them all well beaten.

Hardly difficult when ''competing' with Eastenders.

Graham

"Geoff Mackenzie" wrote in message
...


Question - why on earth is it so difficult to find this "hidden" test
card? Much discussion around my learned friends at the Rat and
Gynaecologist (local pub, we thought the original name was silly) came up
with the rather weak possibility that punters with TV sets might be
tempted to fiddle with settings and do damage, thus leaving the BBC open
to lawsuits. Surely not? Any better ideas?

Unlikely, since for decades the Test-Card was transmitted for several hours
a day on the main network where anyone could see it. Of course that was in
the days when daytime TV was worth watching.

I've made up a number of DVDs with a selection of test-cards on them, each
accompanied by original test-card music appropriate to that card. Since the
cards have no movement it is possible to push the video bit-rate down as far
as it will go without loss of picture quality, so even with a high audio
bit-rate the playing time is long. They make a pleasing alternative to 21st
C daytime TV.

David.

"Geoff Mackenzie" wrote in message
...
A few days ago someone posted info on finding the BBC Test Card (sorry,
deleted OP).

Would have been handy a couple of weeks earlier, when I was discussing
with a retailer the fact that my new Toshiba recorder had lousy definition
and distortion. Resolved satisfactorily once I got to an engineer ("Yeah,
software problem, we get loads back") rather than a salesman ("No, Sir,
they never go wrong").

Question - why on earth is it so difficult to find this "hidden" test
card? Much discussion around my learned friends at the Rat and
Gynaecologist (local pub, we thought the original name was silly) came up
with the rather weak possibility that punters with TV sets might be
tempted to fiddle with settings and do damage, thus leaving the BBC open
to lawsuits. Surely not? Any better ideas?

GMac
Hardly, as Carole Hersee's face has appeared for more hours on real
television
than anyone elses.

Cut and pasted ftom the TV forum site where I first saw it
1) Tune to BBCi on 105
2) When BBCi background appears press Yellow, within 30 seconds
3) Tune to another channel
4) Go back to 105
5) When BBCi background appears press Green, within 30 seconds
6) The word secret should appear on the top right and then the Status page
should appear.
7) Enter 3, 3, 5, 8, 2, Red, Green, Yellow, Blue
8 ) Wait between 30 seconds and a couple of minutes and TCW should appear



--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%