Independent testing

Farncombe has a long association with the provision of consumer equipment for television reception, dating back to the specification and procurement of receivers for the UK’s DBS service in 1987. Since then our testing and certification practice has undertaken a considerable amount of specification work in support of the DVB project, and managed the specification, provision and testing of consumer receivers for the world’s first DVB-S system (Australis, 1995) as well as the world’s first DVB-T system (ONdigital, 1998).

More recently, as technical advisors to eaga, the green support services company tasked with delivering the Digital Switchover Help Scheme (DSHS) on behalf of the BBC, we have been testing and assessing the usability of digital TV equipment on behalf of the Help Scheme’s target customers in line with the Core Receiver Requirements laid down by government for this purpose. We have also carried out testing for SeeSaw, the new online TV service for UK consumers.

Critically, our testing and certification practice is part of an independent consulting group, farncombe, which has no financial interest in, or affiliation to, manufacturers or other industry participants. Indeed, farncombe’s business and reputation is founded upon its acknowledged impartiality when advising its clients on issues such as vendor and product selection, and for this reason we are frequently sought out for our services in this area.

Core competencies include:

• Test Strategy
• Test Management
• Test Specification
• Testing Services
• Field Trials