# Radio Data System (RDS) **URL:** \ **Category:** General Radio and Digital\ **Created:** [December 28, 2015, 7:43am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237 "2015-12-28T07:43:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 57
**Author:** ![tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/tvcl/32/9549_2.png) [@tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/tvcl)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 5:31am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1133 "2019-05-09T05:31:15Z")
> [@TV.Cynic](#): > > The biggest failing of the CRA system is surely that it only allows for one station to fit the recommended PI code per frequency. So what happens with 2AAY and 2MMM or 2ROC Canberra and 2CLR Grafton and as two examples of _commercial_ stations on the same frequency and state (not to mention countless clashes for commercial and community stations). I found the CRA PI code guidelines and they actually use 2AAY, 2MMM, etc. as an example for when there are multiple stations in the same state on the same frequency. Basically, the last digit gets replaced with A, B, C, etc. > **[CRA-ENG-BN072%20v0.99b%20-%20FM%20PI%20and%20DAB%20SId%20codes.pdf](https://codes.dra.com.au/attachments/CRA-ENG-BN072%20v0.99b%20-%20FM%20PI%20and%20DAB%20SId%20codes.pdf)** > > 266.68 KB ---
**Author:** ![crankymedia](https://forums.mediaspy.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@crankymedia](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/crankymedia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 5:35am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1134 "2019-05-09T05:35:58Z")
> [@tvcl](#): > > Triple M Central West h Is that Orange? Do have clients beyond Orange in the fortuitous coverage with a name like that? Most I heard in January were for Orange clients. ---
**Author:** ![tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/tvcl/32/9549_2.png) [@tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/tvcl)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 5:38am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1135 "2019-05-09T05:38:50Z")
> [@crankymedia](#): > > Is that Orange? Yes, it is Orange. In terms of fortuitous coverage, I’ve found that on my car radio, it’s pretty much permanent in the higher up spots of my suburb (in Sydney). ---
**Author:** ![tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/tvcl/32/9549_2.png) [@tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/tvcl)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 5:47am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1136 "2019-05-09T05:47:25Z")
Heard back from 2VOX also. They said they “may” change their PI code “in due course”. Is the PI code something that’s difficult to change? ---
**Author:** ![tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/tvcl/32/9549_2.png) [@tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/tvcl)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 6:06am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1137 "2019-05-09T06:06:20Z")
So it looks like there already is a central database of PI codes that radio stations can access (see screenshot). The site also provides guidance on recommended PI codes according to the CRA guidelines. ![image-20181102104015-1](https://mediaspy-org-s3.s3.dualstack.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/2/f/2fbade7f8a543561bb4fab8287cd9d61adcc3dfa.png) ---
**Author:** ![Radiohead](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/radiohead/32/21429_2.png) [@Radiohead](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/Radiohead)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 6:17am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1138 "2019-05-09T06:17:06Z")
Due to the elevation of Mt Canobolas (about 1400 m ASL?), Triple M Orange/ Central West 105.1 gets out very well, even with only 5kw. I have heard it easily in the car in Parkes, Dubbo and Bathurst. ---
**Author:** ![tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/tvcl/32/9549_2.png) [@tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/tvcl)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 9:10am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1139 "2019-05-09T09:10:29Z")
Some more success - Hit 105.9 has now changed its PI code to 2059. ---
**Author:** ![tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/tvcl/32/9549_2.png) [@tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/tvcl)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 9:54am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1140 "2019-05-09T09:54:08Z")
Just checked on the Mitsubishi car radio and can now pick up RDS on 105.9 in Sydney from some 200km away - that’s some range on the Mount Canobolas transmitters. ---
**Author:** ![tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/tvcl/32/9549_2.png) [@tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/tvcl)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 11:32am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1141 "2019-05-09T11:32:35Z")
Here’s a photo. 105.1/105.9 are now the furthest permanent RDS signals I can get in Sydney. Anyone else able to pick up their RDS in Sydney? ![1059](https://mediaspy-org-s3.s3.dualstack.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/4/9/4988f1dc91cfeb1678edd147cbcc275caacf5283.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![TV-Expert](https://forums.mediaspy.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@TV-Expert](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/TV-Expert)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 11:40am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1142 "2019-05-09T11:40:06Z")
> [@tvcl](#): > > Anyone else able to pick up their RDS in Sydney? I could get it on my parents’ (then new) Forester at the front of their house near Campbelltown back in 2015, when Triple M Central West was 2GZ. ---
**Author:** ![tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/tvcl/32/9549_2.png) [@tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/tvcl)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 11:44am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1143 "2019-05-09T11:44:28Z")
> [@TV-Expert](#): > > I could get it on my parents’ (then new) Forester at the front of their house near Campbelltown back in 2015 Quite impressive for a 5 kW station from 200 km away. ---
**Author:** ![matt86](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/matt86/32/60448_2.png) [@matt86](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/matt86)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 3:08am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1144 "2019-05-11T03:08:17Z")
Great detective work with PI codes. Australia is a late adopter of RDS and its not regulated here. The CRA suggestion isn’t perfect but it’s the closest we have to an organised system. The same code reused on the same frequency shouldnt matter, the problem would arise when there’s identical PIs used in the same area on separate frequencies. FYI that did happen a while back when 2SER started using RDS with the code FFFF which SWR was already using. AF enabled radios went bezerk. ---
**Author:** ![tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/tvcl/32/9549_2.png) [@tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/tvcl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2019, 10:35am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1145 "2019-05-12T10:35:13Z")
2UUU’s RDS on its three frequencies as received at Kiama/Saddleback Mountain: ![20190511_153845](https://mediaspy-org-s3.s3.dualstack.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/6/f/6f7fcfc0a875e75b3cd0eb277dce91aa4560a714.jpeg) ![20190511_145547](https://mediaspy-org-s3.s3.dualstack.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/b/5/b5fa57fde63a40322c712f87625f19d9ab7f71c2.jpeg) ![20190511_145740](https://mediaspy-org-s3.s3.dualstack.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/d/2/d249d3b41634c38bd731b8fce7a6d06daf9b91b1.jpeg) “Live Feed [N]” was what was coming up on the RT. 2EEE on 104.3, 150km away, was also receivable, but RDS didn’t decode. ---
**Author:** ![Ricketycricket](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/ricketycricket/32/11034_2.png) [@Ricketycricket](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/Ricketycricket)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1146 "2019-05-14T00:10:56Z")
Driving in to work this morning, ABC NewsRadio was coming up on my radio as 2XX-FM. I’m in Bathurst. No text to go along with it, and no other ABC radio station had RDS. Testing for a future launch maybe? ---
**Author:** ![littlegezzybear](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/littlegezzybear/32/219836_2.png) [@littlegezzybear](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/littlegezzybear)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 12:50am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1147 "2019-05-14T00:50:17Z")
ABC NewsRadio Bathurst and 2XX-FM Canberra are both on 98.3 FM. It seems like you picked up the RDS from Canberra? ---
**Author:** ![Ricketycricket](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/ricketycricket/32/11034_2.png) [@Ricketycricket](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/Ricketycricket)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1148 "2019-05-14T01:07:46Z")
That’s interesting, and I think you’re right. Can’t say I’ve seen that before, there was no audio interference on NewsRadio either. Thanks for the info! ---
**Author:** ![Radiohead](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/radiohead/32/21429_2.png) [@Radiohead](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/Radiohead)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 2:22am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1149 "2019-05-14T02:22:17Z")
That is MOST unusual, I would have thought the audio would have to be present for RDS to be received? ---
**Author:** ![Ricketycricket](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/ricketycricket/32/11034_2.png) [@Ricketycricket](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/Ricketycricket)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 2:38am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1150 "2019-05-14T02:38:46Z")
Yeah, it was definitely unusual. Is RDS subject to the same weather considerations as AM radio signals at night? It was cold and foggy here this morning, but that was the only unusual factor I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![Radiohead](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/radiohead/32/21429_2.png) [@Radiohead](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/Radiohead)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 3:06am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1151 "2019-05-14T03:06:24Z")
No, FM signals don’t bounce off the ionosphere at night like AM signals do. FM has its most unusual behaviour during summer when troposheric ducts are formed, which are more frequent and intense on the coast. ---
**Author:** ![tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/tvcl/32/9549_2.png) [@tvcl](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/tvcl)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 10:34am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237/1152 "2019-05-14T10:34:43Z")
> [@Radiohead](#): > > That is MOST unusual, I would have thought the audio would have to be present for RDS to be received? Some radios scan frequencies in the background to build a station list and to gather alternate frequencies for stations. It’s possible that the radio got 2XX’s RDS signal in the background prior to him tuning in to listen to that frequency. [Previous page](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237.md?page=56) [Next page](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/radio-data-system-rds/237.md?page=58)