Displaying a test card on Freeview. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Mike Phelan · 28th Oct 2009, 9:36 am

You can display the test card on any reasonably new Freeview receiver, DTV or PVR using the following steps. Note that some older set top boxes do not fully conform with the specifications and may be unable to access this service.

1. Tune to the BBCi channel (currently ch. 250)
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 (currently ch. 250)
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 will appear.

Station X · 12th Jul 2011, 1:09 pm

The arrows on the centre line denote the edge of 4:3 (12:9), 14:9 and 16:9 pictures.

trellis · 27th Mar 2023, 8:47 pm

Does this still work?

Just tried the procedure detailed in the sticky post at the top of the forum on two devices (a Humax PVR and a Samsung TV), and at step 6, instead of a "status page" I see a menu of various numbered options. Pressing green at this point does nothing. I can pick various diagnostic tools from this menu, but none of them seems to bring up a testcard.

Station X · 28th Mar 2023, 1:38 pm

It's some years since I've been able to get this to work.

Graham G3ZVT · 28th Mar 2023, 1:46 pm

Just as aside, it was this thread that made me aware of the existence of this forum, as someone posted a link in uk.tech.digital-tv. I see I joined a few months later.

Cathovisor · 30th Mar 2023, 12:54 pm

Is MHEG even supported these days?

Tim · 30th Mar 2023, 3:12 pm

Quote:

Just tried the procedure detailed in the sticky post at the top of the forum on two devices (a Humax PVR and a Samsung TV), and at step 6, instead of a "status page" I see a menu of various numbered options. Pressing green at this point does nothing. I can pick various diagnostic tools from this menu, but none of them seems to bring up a testcard.

Ditto

vidjoman · 30th Mar 2023, 3:32 pm

Not Freeview but there is a test on any SONY Blu-ray disc.
Put the disc in the player - let it do it's startup - when the screen appears where you would normally press play etc. Press 7669 (sony) and you should get a test card.

marceljack · 31st Mar 2023, 8:53 pm

The simplest way to display a testpattern is to record one as a JPEG picture on a USB key and to read it with the mediaplayer fiunction of the Freeview receiver.

28th Oct 2009, 9:36 am	#1
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,588	Displaying a test card on Freeview. You can display the test card on any reasonably new Freeview receiver, DTV or PVR using the following steps. Note that some older set top boxes do not fully conform with the specifications and may be unable to access this service. 1. Tune to the BBCi channel (currently ch. 250) 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 (currently ch. 250) 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 will appear. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Station X; 15th Mar 2020 at 2:18 pm. Reason: Revised key sequence.

12th Jul 2011, 1:09 pm	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 20,660	Re: Displaying a test card on Freeview. The arrows on the centre line denote the edge of 4:3 (12:9), 14:9 and 16:9 pictures. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

27th Mar 2023, 8:47 pm	#3
trellis Pentode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 127	Freeview Testcard display Does this still work? Just tried the procedure detailed in the sticky post at the top of the forum on two devices (a Humax PVR and a Samsung TV), and at step 6, instead of a "status page" I see a menu of various numbered options. Pressing green at this point does nothing. I can pick various diagnostic tools from this menu, but none of them seems to bring up a testcard.

28th Mar 2023, 1:38 pm	#4
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 20,660	Re: Displaying a test card on Freeview. It's some years since I've been able to get this to work. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

28th Mar 2023, 1:46 pm	#5
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 18,586	Re: Displaying a test card on Freeview. Just as aside, it was this thread that made me aware of the existence of this forum, as someone posted a link in uk.tech.digital-tv. I see I joined a few months later. __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT

30th Mar 2023, 12:54 pm	#6
Cathovisor Banned Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 418	Re: Displaying a test card on Freeview. Is MHEG even supported these days?

30th Mar 2023, 3:32 pm	#8
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,214	Re: Displaying a test card on Freeview. Not Freeview but there is a test on any SONY Blu-ray disc. Put the disc in the player - let it do it's startup - when the screen appears where you would normally press play etc. Press 7669 (sony) and you should get a test card.

31st Mar 2023, 8:53 pm	#9
marceljack Pentode Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Paris, France. Posts: 193	Re: Displaying a test card on Freeview. The simplest way to display a testpattern is to record one as a JPEG picture on a USB key and to read it with the mediaplayer fiunction of the Freeview receiver.