Two testcards, which generators? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

3CX15000A7 · 26th Feb 2021, 10:46 am

Hi all,

As child I always was facinated by the testcards. It was something magic, with all the colors, lines, flickering. I always wanted to understand it.

Living in the Netherlands, we watched channels from our own country but also from Belgium because we share the languague.

Both countries broadcasted in the 90s a 16:9 testcard, but slightly different.

Broadcasts from the Netherlands had this one:
https://in05.hostcontrol.com/resourc...a9faca9fd.JPEG

Broadcast from Belgium used this one:
https://www.radio-tv-nederland.nl/rb...pal%20plus.jpg

I know there's the known PM5644 generator that makes probably at least one of those.

Does someone know if they are from the same PM5644 generator?

For nostalgic reasons I am looking for a generator of the belgium version (if there are any left at least . .)

chriswood1900 · 26th Feb 2021, 1:29 pm

There is some useful info on Wikipedia here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philips_PM5544 and they both look fairly standard versions with just the channel idents different.
I suspect the 5644 is now a rare item and whilst the cheaper signal generators can give a poor version very few match it.
An alternative would be to down load the YouTube video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekthcIHDt3I&t=32s
with an online downloader burn it to a DVD and you will have pretty good but not perfect rendition.
Another good route is to use Mikey' excellent DVD http://www.oldtechnology.net/TestCar..._Christmas.iso from the sticky thread above.
You would need editing software to add the idents in both the above routes.

26th Feb 2021, 10:46 am	#1
3CX15000A7 Tetrode Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands Posts: 65	Two testcards, which generators? Hi all, As child I always was facinated by the testcards. It was something magic, with all the colors, lines, flickering. I always wanted to understand it. Living in the Netherlands, we watched channels from our own country but also from Belgium because we share the languague. Both countries broadcasted in the 90s a 16:9 testcard, but slightly different. Broadcasts from the Netherlands had this one: https://in05.hostcontrol.com/resourc...a9faca9fd.JPEG Broadcast from Belgium used this one: https://www.radio-tv-nederland.nl/rb...pal%20plus.jpg I know there's the known PM5644 generator that makes probably at least one of those. Does someone know if they are from the same PM5644 generator? For nostalgic reasons I am looking for a generator of the belgium version (if there are any left at least . .)

26th Feb 2021, 1:29 pm	#2
chriswood1900 Octode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dorridge, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,486	Re: Two testcards, which generators? There is some useful info on Wikipedia here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philips_PM5544 and they both look fairly standard versions with just the channel idents different. I suspect the 5644 is now a rare item and whilst the cheaper signal generators can give a poor version very few match it. An alternative would be to down load the YouTube video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekthcIHDt3I&t=32s with an online downloader burn it to a DVD and you will have pretty good but not perfect rendition. Another good route is to use Mikey' excellent DVD http://www.oldtechnology.net/TestCar..._Christmas.iso from the sticky thread above. You would need editing software to add the idents in both the above routes. __________________ Chris Wood BVWS Member