You’ve really got to try this out – it’s ace! It might be common knowledge in some circles but it was news to me, and I love it.
You know how it is. It’s late evening and BBC1 has a film you’ve already seen or don’t want to see again. BBC2 is running News 24, but you’ve already seen Newsnight and so have no real need to watch it. ITV1 has Bingo Live of which the less said the better. Channel 4 may well be showing B*g B*****r – I don’t know, we’re in a 13 week period when I feel duty bound to avoid the “4” button on my remote (or 104 on Sky). And Five is in that period between their decent programming ending and the start of their baseball coverage. Multi-channel’s obviously not worth a dime, so what to watch?
Well thanks to some information from Steve Roberts, one of the people who works on the Doctor Who Restoration Team and contributes to their excellent forum, you can watch the test card any time you like!
Specifically, it’s the widescreen Test Card W (yes – it really does have its own Wikipedia page). And most importantly, you need a Freeview box. But you’ve got to try this right now – it’s wonderful!
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 (currently ch. 105)
5. When the BBCi background appears, press Green (within 30 secs)
The word ‘Secret’ will appear in the top right hand corner [Note: I didn’t get this I jumped straight to the status page]
6. Wait until the status page appears
7. Enter 3, 3, 5, 8, 2, Red, Green, Yellow, Blue
(note “33582” spells out the word “DELTA” on a mobile phone keypad)
8. Wait approximately 30 seconds [Note: this was instantaneous on my box]
Test card will appear
And it works. You’re now watching something significantly better than most fare on television most of the time.
Indeed why not put on some test card music or listen to the radio – it’s much better.
What To Watch When There’s Nothing On
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8 responses to “What To Watch When There’s Nothing On”
Hello can’t get past the Staus page on tx in Edinburgh for the Test Card.”bring it back” and the “potters wheel”.
Regards.
Chas Holloway
Film/video editor
It’s bonkers, avarcher for the cup.
105???
Does it work on Freeview channel 305?
Nope!
You can also watch the testcard by visiting Havens Hospices charity electronics shop in Southend’s Alexandra Street, where they have Testcard F and Testcard W on display with original music as their main daytime in-store television demonstration service… It’s really cool! From, A. Pewty
Found Test Card W via this page from a mention in the FrequencyCast podcast (http://www.frequencycast.co.uk). Good to hear a mention for this blog
Hello to visitors from FrequencyCast!
I’ve subscribed to your podcast.
And if I’m ever in Southend, I’ll definitely visit the Havens Hospices charity electronics shop.
Right – back to the Radiophonics Workshop CDs.
Definately won’t work in Edinburgh. Staus page remains.