DAC1811 Posted October 6, 2004 Posted October 6, 2004 I used to work on TVs years ago and a test pattern was very handy. Now the only way to check out a STB and TV combination is if someone transmits a test pattern. I am suspicious of the luninance linearity / gamma on my TEAC 420 in component mode only. Does anyone know if an off air test pattern is transmitted or some way of achieving the same thing ? Surely this is something FTV could put on one of the 4x channels. DAC
gclark8 Posted October 6, 2004 Posted October 6, 2004 (edited) There is a possibility of one on Sat aftrernoon on LCN23 before the election broadcast, there was last year before the Vic election broadcast... EDIT: Update from ABC spy, "sorry no Test Patten this year". I guess we will have to lobby them for its return.... There are some on the forum who do have a copy on DVD. Edited October 6, 2004 by gclark8
ritesh Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 I used to work on TVs years ago and a test pattern was very handy. Now the only way to check out a STB and TV combination is if someone transmits a test pattern. I am suspicious of the luninance linearity / gamma on my TEAC 420 in component mode only. Does anyone know if an off air test pattern is transmitted or some way of achieving the same thing ? Surely this is something FTV could put on one of the 4x channels. DAC <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Someone mentioned a while back that at the end of some EPGs there are some test patterns.... I haven't looked at EPGs myself so can't confirm.... but you might wanna check it out... cheers, Ritesh
ijd Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 DAC1811, When I asked this question here a few months back, some insiders pointed out that the DTV legislation prohibited all stations (even the ABC) from broadcasting a test pattern any more. The ABC had a few good ones early last year, including an audio sweep from 20-20kHz with one alignment pattern.
EvanOnTheGC Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 Surely it would be considered a datacast service. Evan :->
laurie Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 I've seen one on the ABC HD channel one morning I think it was a Phillips test pattern 16:9 at about 3am someone one at MCR was having fun! $hit for brains here did not record it on my hard drive cheers laurie
Vermin Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 Do you have a Toppy Laurie? There is a test patterns TAP. Not sure where I got it from (no address in the readme.txt) pm me if you want me to email you a copy. V.
tonymy01 Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 The TAP is on my page, the author couldn't host it anywhere (it is in the "other authors" folder in my TAPs folder). Regards
Vermin Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 Thanks for that Tony, I thought it would be on your site but did not have time to check (bloody shaped ADSL has me on 56k download speed for the next 6 days). V.
wgong Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 ... some insiders pointed out that the DTV legislation prohibited all stations (even the ABC) from broadcasting a test pattern any more. What raving looney thought up that restriction?!? Why? I have seen a couple of accidental test patterns from SBS (in the middle of showing a regular program a test pattern suddenly appeared for about 5 seconds).
ijd Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 ... some insiders pointed out that the DTV legislation prohibited all stations (even the ABC) from broadcasting a test pattern any more. What raving looney thought up that restriction?!? Why? No doubt the same nutter that decreed 576p as "High Definition". On a digital display (LCD or Plasma), 576p is exactly the same resolution as 576i. Like you, I can see no difference whatsoever between a static logo surrounded by some wavy lines (ABC HD) and a static logo surrounded by a static test pattern. Maybe some 'insiders' can help us here?
cyril Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 This reminds me of years ago when I worked for the old BCNZ here in NZ. We were commisioning a new Tx for the new TV2 service (guess that dates it). In the absence of a PPG (Philips pattern gen) we had an old B&W camera monted in a rack pointing at the floor of the rack. About half way down the rack was a light box where you could place a pic for transmission. We had chosen a fresh young face in the lattest Penthouse and placed a card anouncing the Site/Ch test transmission etc so to cover from just below the neck down. All us techs packed up and left around 5pm, but there were still Riggers up the stick doing what riggers do. About 6pm they come down for the night, see the pic, and out of curiosity remove the card, and left it off all night, needless to say a more appropriate picture was chosen for further test transmissions, and riggers told to leave things alone that dont concern them! Cheers Cyril
pneu Posted October 8, 2004 Posted October 8, 2004 I too am waiting for a test pattern so I can calibrate my TV properly. Unfortunately the only one available seems to be Digital Video Essentials for around $30. I'm waiting for some cheap copies to pop up on eBay
Santa1503559644 Posted October 8, 2004 Posted October 8, 2004 1) Well, I say replace the sad station promos with test patterns! Forget the painfully lame "cutesy" ribbon-shyte on the ABC, and if you want to mess with a scene, put a test pattern in the background, rather than putting dopey ribbons/snowflakes/etc all over the screen! Blech!!! 2) Anyone lucky or sensible enough to have recorded the final (award-nominated!?!?!) Double The Fist got a copy of an ABC test pattern (the old-style one, complete with little duck in the central picture portion). I've used this baby to setup my displays from the Strong STB/PVR (and use DVE from the DVD). I suppose if the series is ever repeated, remember to record at least the last few minutes of the last episode! (NB: Actually, there were two patterns, from memory, I only caught a split second of the first - colour bars; but got the whole Duck-In-PAL-Test-Pattern) PS: No, since I dont have a Toppy, I cant download, and distribute, I'm afraid! (If anyone who does saved this episode, then they may be persuaded to share it around!)
kootaberra Posted October 8, 2004 Posted October 8, 2004 1) Well, I say replace the sad station promos with test patterns!Forget the painfully lame "cutesy" ribbon-shyte on the ABC, and if you want to mess with a scene, put a test pattern in the background, rather than putting dopey ribbons/snowflakes/etc all over the screen! Blech!!! 2) Anyone lucky or sensible enough to have recorded the final (award-nominated!?!?!) Double The Fist got a copy of an ABC test pattern (the old-style one, complete with little duck in the central picture portion). I've used this baby to setup my displays from the Strong STB/PVR (and use DVE from the DVD). I suppose if the series is ever repeated, remember to record at least the last few minutes of the last episode! (NB: Actually, there were two patterns, from memory, I only caught a split second of the first - colour bars; but got the whole Duck-In-PAL-Test-Pattern) PS: No, since I dont have a Toppy, I cant download, and distribute, I'm afraid! (If anyone who does saved this episode, then they may be persuaded to share it around!) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Stay tuned to this site. I'll let you know if the techo's in MCR of ABC "play" with a test pattern late one night next week. If they do it will on HD, but will be an up-conversion of an SD pattern.
laurie Posted October 8, 2004 Posted October 8, 2004 Stay tuned to this site. I'll let you know if the techo's in MCR of ABC "play" with a test pattern late one night next week. If they do it will on HD, but will be an up-conversion of an SD pattern. :ph34r: Do you have a Toppy Laurie? There is a test patterns TAP V No a Toshi but if gpem comes through it will be on my hard drive for sure! cheers laurie
kootaberra Posted October 11, 2004 Posted October 11, 2004 Stay tuned to this site. I'll let you know if the techo's in MCR of ABC "play" with a test pattern late one night next week. If they do it will on HD, but will be an up-conversion of an SD pattern. :ph34r: Do you have a Toppy Laurie? There is a test patterns TAP V No a Toshi but if gpem comes through it will be on my hard drive for sure! cheers laurie <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Tune in around 1am Wed night Thurs morning. Hopefully there will be about 5 mins of test pattern on Ch. 20. MCR have to check some off air monitoring. This will be a SD signal up converted to HD. So sadly its not a full HD test pattern.
ijd Posted October 11, 2004 Posted October 11, 2004 This will be a SD signal up converted to HD. So sadly its not a full HD test pattern. Keeeewl - just in time for my new toy! Thanks for 'arranging' this, gepm. And I'm sure your MCR* guys will do a very careful job of upconverting it. At least an upconverted ABC HD feed is twice as good as any other channel would give us (even when they claim 'native' HD for their quotas)! Cheers, Ian * Whatsa 'MCR'?
kootaberra Posted October 11, 2004 Posted October 11, 2004 * Whatsa 'MCR'? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> MCR = Master Control Room.
datvman Posted October 11, 2004 Posted October 11, 2004 will someone please post a pic of the abc test pattern when it comes on wednesday night also, heres a channel nine test pattern from QTQ here in brisbane http://www.geocities.com/mix973fan/testpattern.htm
DAC1811 Posted October 11, 2004 Author Posted October 11, 2004 Thanks everyone for the comments so far. The problem i have is that to test a regular SD-STB, the test pattern has to transmitted live. A recording is fine for testing a display but to check the STB itself, it needs to be decoding a signal off air. I have seen what looks like incorrect reference level or white compression on the component output of the Teac 420, but without a stable known pattern i can't get a handle on it. Also there seems to be significant overshoot on some black/ white edges, but this could be the source material - so again the need for a TP. It would be really great if we could at least get an objective quality measure on the anaolgue parts of the STBs rather than relying on people opinions of different program material. Can someone convince the powers that be to give us regular 10 minutes a week on a real channel or a permanent one on 4x. I'm sure it would get better ratings than Danoz. DAC
RodN Posted October 11, 2004 Posted October 11, 2004 There are test patterns on Teletext around channel 695. There's no pluge but they can help a little in the absence of nothing at all.
Recommended Posts