Vintage KFMB-TV Test Pattern

Following on our program about TV sign-ons and sign-offs, our good friend and listener Rick Bosscher, RF Systems Manager for the KFMB Stations, kindly donated an original test pattern slide that was used at KFMB-TV Channel 8 in San Diego.  Above is an image of the slide.  Smitty comments that he remembers this test pattern being used on the air, early mornings prior to sign-on as late as the early 80s.  These patterns are almost never seen today in the age of all-night infomercials and overnight news services.  We thank Rick Bosscher for his kindness in sharing this neat slide with us.  In case you missed this episode of Galaxy Moonbeam Night Site, just go to our podcast library and listen to show 99!

TV Station Sign-Ons (Program 99)

On Program 99, we remember the days when TV stations would shut down late at night, and then start broadcasting again very early the next morning.  This was known as the Sign-On and Sign-Off.  Something that is very rarely seen today in the era of all-night infomercials and overnight news programs.  The Galaxy Gang recall their memories of getting up early in the morning to see the station transmitting a test pattern, such as the ones we show here, and then listening to the National Anthem, and perhaps a devotional film, prior to beginning the day's programs.  The test patterns were designed to be able to allow station engineers to align their transmitting equipment, and owners of TV sets at home to align their sets.

Test patterns such as these began to be phased out as color television became the standard.  For color TV adjustments, a color bar pattern was created to help technicians determine if a color set was reproducing an accurate picture. 

Although we don't see these interesting patterns on our TVs any more, it's fun to look back and remember those days.  Join us on program 99 for our recollections of these early TV memories!