The return of Testcard J

Sam the Aerialman

According to several sources RBS tests will carried out in the small hours of 12 or 13 January. This will only be a partial test and we may not get to see the testcard in Northern Ireland which is disappointing.

The analogue transmitters are set up so that if they lose their feed of BBC One or BBC Two, they automatically switch to a mode where they pick up the signal being broadcast by the next nearest transmitter, clean it up a bit and rebroadcast it. In these tests, the BBC pull the plugs on the network distribution, leaving only Crystal Palace being fed with the Testcard. Across the country, BBC One falls off air. Transmitters nearest CP go into rebroadcast mode, then the next transmitters and so-on. The signal gets rebroadcast right up the country. By looking at the quality of the card as it gets passed on engineers can establish if there are any weak links in the chain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-iW5fy55Tk

watty

I thought last year was the last one?

Peter Henderson

What's the difference between J and test card F Sam ?:

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mediacollege.com/video/test-patterns/television/bbc-f1997.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mediacollege.com/video/test-patterns/television/bbc.html&h=480&w=640&sz=58&tbnid=LiEnmmMPfLkXDM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtest%2Bcard%2Bf&zoom=1&q=test+card+f&hl=en&usg=__2RLGJwnDTSGocEQsHxmT0XPiQTg=&sa=X&ei=JDEnTe3jLcyLhQfut7WhAg&ved=0CBwQ9QEwAQ


Didn't RTE use PM5544 ? Don't think the BBC ever used that one although I'm sure ITV may have done.

lawhec

Testcard J, if my memory serves me correctly, is an updated version of Testcard F. Testcard W is a 16:9 version of J and Testcard X is a HD testcard you might occasionally see on the BBC HD channel in the mornings and afternoons.

There was a BBC analogue RBS test in July last year, but I think it was restricted to English transmitters only. It didn't appear in Northern Ireland definitely, and I don't think in Scotland either, presumably because with the Border ITV region being the first to switch off, a link from Chatton in NE England to Craigkelly or Black Hill in Central Scotland isn't deemed satisfactory. A similar RBS test this time last year was cancelled because of weather conditions.

With the Central and Anglia regions due to switch off analogue starting from 31st March and ending in the Autumn, this Summer coming might be the last time the RBS test is done.

Sam the Aerialman

watty wrote: »

I thought last year was the last one?

So did i, it was my understanding that last years partial test was it. I'm waiting to see if any detailed information around times appears. There won't be anything seen in Northern Ireland, Divis is DSAT fed for both BBC analogues plus the microwave link from Sandale through Cambret Hill is confined to history.

Sam the Aerialman

lawhec wrote: »

There was a BBC analogue RBS test in July last year, but I think it was restricted to English transmitters only. It didn't appear in Northern Ireland definitely, and I don't think in Scotland either, presumably because with the Border ITV region being the first to switch off, a link from Chatton in NE England to Craigkelly or Black Hill in Central Scotland isn't deemed satisfactory. A similar RBS test this time last year was cancelled because of weather conditions.

You're absolutely right it didn't appear in Northern Ireland and Scotland have provision to opt out, they conduct a new form of the automated standby test. The link went from Pontop - Chatton - Dunslair Heights - Black Hill.
Because Divis is DSAT fed all we will see is is normal playback it won't insert the testcard as it would under normal RBS conditions.

Sam the Aerialman

RBS Tests have been confirmed for (Tomorrow) Monday night January 17th between 02:00 - 04:00. We won't see the test in Northern Ireland and all the welsh transmitters are post DOS so goodbye Testcard J.

Peter Henderson

Peter Henderson wrote: »

What's the difference between J and test card F Sam ?:

Everything you ever needed to know about the BBC test cards:

http://www.barney-wol.net/video/video.html

watty

Karsini wrote: »

Everything you ever needed to know about the BBC test cards:

http://www.barney-wol.net/video/video.html

That's the puppy! I couldn't remember that URL. Thanks