Channel 3 test pattern mystery

[fmdxer1]

OK, this is an old mystery to me....the date was June 26, 2003 and between 11:30 and noon EDT I recieved this strange-looking test pattern on channel 3. I had no digital camera at the time so I drew the test pattern in my log and "enhanced" it with a black pen. I saw no other signals that day on TV or FM. Hope someone can help before it's "too late".

[cd637299]

Looks like u drew a reasonable facsimile of the ICRT test pattern in Cuba. I refer you to Danny Oglethorpe's site, www.tvdxexpo.com , then click the "Identifying Latin American TV" link, then go to "Cuba" & look at the test patterns. The one attributed to my name (Christopher Dunne) who snapped the image from about 2004 looks kinda like it.....PLMK if that's the one in question.

[fmdxer1]

Thanks, cd637299! Can't believe I've had Cuba all this time and never knew it!. . .I'm not sure but I think I had Cuba on July 29th of this year on FM.

[cd637299]

Ya know what? The odds are just as good, maybe better, of somebody in TN getting Cuba on FM via Es, as it is from my home in south FL on Tr! Really....

That photo was taken from the FL Keys, where of course it's easier to monitor Cuba. And, TV is easier than FM from my home, but of course in the Keys it's a better bet.

[cd637299]

One mo thing....according to Danny's site, that test pattern is being phased out in favor of color bars....and I believe it's true....I don't think i have seen that TP in quite some time....

Tip for DXers....If you see/hear a test pattern in any time of day other than late nights/overnights/early-early morning, it's a good chance it's Cuba.....just about every other country in this hemisphere has either 24-hour TV, or, certainly a good chunk of programming to fill the day.

[Danny]

One mo thing....according to Danny's site, that test pattern is being phased out in favor of color bars....and I believe it's true....I don't think i have seen that TP in quite some time....

Tip for DXers....If you see/hear a test pattern in any time of day other than late nights/overnights/early-early morning, it's a good chance it's Cuba.....just about every other country in this hemisphere has either 24-hour TV, or, certainly a good chunk of programming to fill the day.


That is good advice about the daytime TPs.

Jeff Kadet told me (in an email) a while back that he hadn't seen any TP from Cuba except for color bars during the last couple of years. Neither have I.

No doubt about where Tim's TP was from. Tim, you did a good job of drawing that TP.

Danny
Shreveport, LA