Hidden test card on freeview

Is it still possible to get the test card w on freeview, as some people don't have channel 105. If it's still possible, how can it be done?

And is it possible to get it on Sky digital?

Just tried it, this trick still works but not on Freeview channel 105 as that isn't there any more.

BBC Red Button Freeview channel 200 is what you need.

May depend on the box (some older ones can't do this) but:

Freeview Channel 200, press Yellow when the holding page comes up, tune away and back again, press Green when the holding page appears to show the status screen. Type in the sequence 33582. In the original sequence one had to press Red, Green, Yellow and Blue in that sequnce. I've only had to press Red and Green to reveal Test Card W as opposed to all four colours.

There probably was (and still is) a really good reason why Test Card W (albeit a MHEG "mash-up" for want for a better word) is there. Quite what it is I probably have read somewhere and forgotten.

This, as far as I'm aware, is unique to Freeview only and can't be reproduced on any other platform.

What was the thing that used to appear when you typed TENNIS into freeview?

Same experience here. I would typically keep pressing the Green until TCW appeared, as a result of it seeming to take a while to actually show up here... I don't know how this may vary between boxes though, if at all.


I wouldn't mind someone stating the reason for it these days... Even if it's the obvious, still considered worth keeping for engineers to gauge set output and ensure colour tones are accurate?

Yes, you used to have to type "TENNIS", but that isn't required any more.

I think, way back, TENNIS brought up something Wimbledon-related instead.

I don't believe its used for any professional purposes, as the image is quite blocky and there are small variations in how each box/TV position the image.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think it's anything more than an easter egg that they put in because they can. The folks at Future Media do like their nostalgia.

... agreed, It does seem to have little use as an aid.

Much of the "credits" page is well out of date now (as I knew a couple of that team) so I think it's a bit of a legacy thing now. I have trouble bringing it up on my more recent Freeview boxes which supports that idea...

I'm not sure if there's maybe a more appropriate thread in which to mention that I saw a slightly less hidden test card on the front of the Broadcast Centre today.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8287261101_9ba9290637_z.jpg

(The outside wall of Red Bee's apparatus room has had a similar treatment)

The exterior treatment is hiding the windows to Fuel (the BC Café) whilst they refurbish it to improve its capacity to cope with the closure of the White City Canteen. (Or at least to try to...)

Yup. And the BBC Club are taking over the contract from Aramark. Which is good news.

Amazing! They do some amazing food in TVC and I feared it would be lost in March. I'm sad that White City canteen is closing though, no more calzone.