Colour Test Card Generator

Introduction and specification

Introduction

Optional vertical interval test signals (pulse and bar) and line 23 wide-screen signalling are incorporated; these may be configured using the supplied software. The PAL colour encoding is mathematical (meaning the colour subcarrier frequency has exactly the correct relationship to the synchronising pulses) thus minimising subcarrier visibility and guaranteeing compatibility with all 625-line PAL equipment.

The generator is supplied with a 'plug top' 230 Volt AC mains adaptor, or may alternatively be powered from a 9-12 Volt regulated DC supply. To program the generator a 9-way D-type serial extension cable (male-female) is required; this is not supplied. Suitable cables are Maplin order code VD73Q or CPC order codes CSLEAD76 (2m length) and CS9115 (5m length).

Specification

Dimensions (excluding connectors)	Approximately 130x65x25 mm
Weight	Approximately 150 grams
Power requirements	+9 Volts to +12 Volts at approximately 150 mA
Power connector	Concentric, 2.1 mm (centre +ve)
Video output	Baseband composite PAL, NTSC or monochrome.
Video level	1 Volt pk-pk ±10% into 75 ohms
Output impedance	75 ohms ±10%
Line standard	180, 405, 441, 625 or 819 lines, 25 Hz; 525 lines 29.97 Hz.
Video connector	75 ohm BNC socket
Storage format	12 MHz sampling, 8-bits linear coding
Storage capacity	One still frame (8-field PAL sequence)
Programming connector	9-pole D-type socket (female)

Video standards

	180 lines	405 lines	441 lines	525 lines	625 lines	819 lines
Field frequency	25 Hz	50 Hz	50 Hz	59.94.. Hz	50 Hz	50 Hz
Frame frequency	25 Hz	25 Hz	25 Hz	29.97.. Hz	25 Hz	25 Hz
Interlace	1:1	2:1	2:1	2:1	2:1	2:1
Active picture	169 lines	375 lines	383 lines	485 lines	575 lines	737 lines
Field blanking	11 lines	15 lines	29 lines	20 lines	25 lines	41 lines
No. of broad pulses	1 per frame	8 per field	8 per field	6 per field	5 per field	1 per field
Broad pulse width	200 µs	41.2 µs	36.3 µs	27.1 µs	27.3 µs	20.0 µs
Line frequency	4500 Hz	10125 Hz	11025 Hz	15734.3 Hz	15625 Hz	20475 Hz
Front porch	2.2 µs	1.7 µs	1.0 µs	1.5 µs	1.6 µs	0.5 µs
Line sync	20.0 µs	9.0 µs	9.0 µs	4.7 µs	4.7 µs	2.5 µs
Back porch	2.2 µs	7.8 µs	6.3 µs	4.5 µs	5.7 µs	5.0 µs
Active line time	197.8 µs	80.3 µs	74.3 µs	52.9 µs	52.0 µs	40.8 µs
Video/syncs ratio	75/25	70/30	70/30	100/40	70/30	75/25
Colour subcarrier (MHz)		2.65781250 (NTSC)		3.57954545 (NTSC), 3.57561189 (PAL-M) or 4.43361638 (NTSC 4.43)	4.43361875 (PAL) or 3.58205625 (PAL-N)

Programming software

The programming software is supplied with the generator on floppy disk (or on CD-ROM to special order), or can be downloaded from the R.T.Russell web site.

Once installed, the programming software can be run in a number of ways:

• Select it from the Start Menu (usually Start ... Programs ... Test Card Generator).

• Double-click on its desktop icon.

• Double-click on TCGEN.EXE (usually in C:\Program Files\Test Card Generator).

• At a command prompt issue the command TCGEN (assuming that TCGEN.EXE is in the current directory, or is on the PATH).

Minimum system requirements

• IBM-compatible PC with 80386DX or later processor.

• 8 Megabytes or more of Random Access Memory.

• 800x600 or greater display, 24-bit or 32-bit True Color.

• 6 Megabytes or more of free hard disk space.

• Microsoft Windows™ 98, Me, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 8.1.

Sample images

Colour Bars 100		100% full-frame colour bars.
EBU bars*		Plain colour bars as specified by the European Broadcasting Union.
Frequency sweep		A luminance (0-6 MHz) and chrominance (0-3 MHz) frequency sweep, with markers.
Grille*		A regular grid of lines for checking linearity and convergence.
Old Test Card		A facsimile of the electronic test card published by the BATC in the ATV Handbook of 1981.
Pluge		The pattern produced by the BBC's Picture Line Up Generator Equipment.
Pulse and Bar		A full-frame 2T luminance pulse, composite chrominance pulses and luminance bar.
RTR Test Card		The default test card which is programmed into the generator as supplied.
Safe Area 4x3*		An image showing the safe area to which important information like captions should be restricted.
Sawtooth*		A luminance ramp, for testing linearity and quantising distortion.
SMPTE bars*		A pattern specified by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
Tartan bars*		A pattern of coloured blocks for checking saturation.
Test Card C		The famous monochrome test card, digitally remastered.
Test Card D		Another famous black and white Test Card.
Test Card F*		Possibly the best-known test card of them all. ©BBC, Ofcom & Intellect 1967.
Wols 4x3 Test Card*		A 4x3 colour test card designed by Peter Vince.
Wols 16x9 Test Card*		A 16x9 colour test card designed by Peter Vince.

The images marked ^* are not actually supplied with the Test Card Generator, but are automatically downloaded from the internet as required. If you use a 'dial-up' internet service you will be prompted to make a connection.

Notices

The Colour Test Card Generator, its programming software and the incorporated test card image are the Copyright © 2003-2005 of R. T. Russell.

Test Card F is the Copyright © 1967 of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Office of Communications (formerly the Independent Television Commission) and Intellect (formerly the British Radio Equipment Manufacturers' Association). It may not be reproduced for any other purpose.

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