Radio Data System (RDS)

[dxer2_2000]

another video of the 2TVR RDS

[crankymedia]

@ozbark

In case the technician at 2TVR or someone connected with this station is reading this.
DO NOT use Dynamic PS. It’s considered a sin in the broadcast industry.
Most receivers only handle a 8 character PS. Having a scrolling PS is considered a distraction for drivers & most people consider it annoying.
PLEASE keep the PS for the name of the station (static & limited to 8 characters) & use the RT field for various text messages - that’s how RDS was primarily designed & mainly used here & elsewhere. Yes one can do dynamic, but please don’t! It’s discouraged.

Thanks @dxnerd for bringing this classroom example (of what not to do re establishing RDS for a station) to our attention.

@ozbark You might want to let them know at Bay FM Redlands:

@tamago_otoko

Bay FM Redlands seem to have changed their RDS to have the rotating station name. I think it now flicks through ‘BAY FM, More, Than, Just, Great, Music’ or something to that effeft

…Of course, it would simply be better for all if they dropped the advertising in the radio text and put their slogan here instead, and just kept the station name static, but of course curmudgeonly old me would say that

[Radiohead]

@crankymedia

You might want to let them know at Bay FM Redlands:

Though at least that is alternating text than scrolling text. Tank FM Kempsey is another one that uses alternate text, something like

TANK FM
103.1
KEMPSEY
Time

[crankymedia]

@Radiohead

Though at least that is alternating text than scrolling text

They’re all terrible to me. TANK is a source of a great amusement when driving on the freeway between the cities.

[Radiohead]

Agree.

Even the Aunty is not immune.

ABC
Classic
FM

In Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra.

[InsideTheRadio]

@Radiohead

Even the Aunty is not immune.

ABC
Classic
FM

In Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra.

Saw this on a drive back from Melbourne last week, vile.

[matt86]

Yes PS should always be static. Imo even the scrolling text should be clutter free. Eg song title or positioner only, no ads etc

[tamago_otoko]

Travelling in Northern NSW and the dearth of stations using RDS is very evident here, there is nothing between Dubbo and Goondiwindi/Tenterfield which has it

Noticed also that Breeze 102.5 Tenterfield does not have RDS while Rebel 93.7 does, I thought they both did previously??

And also the Hit/MMM relays in Stanthorpe are equipped with it now, as were the Rebel/Breeze and TEN FM stations (they have for a little while now). Only leaves the 4WK/4AK repeaters to catch up and all services here are covered - what are you doing @gordo92

[NRN11]

Both Breeze stations had it in November and I’m sure they had AF as well.

[tamago_otoko]

That’s what I thought too, though the radio in this car doesn’t do AF so couldn’t tell that anyway. A fault at Mt Mackenzie in recent times maybe? Don’t think it was receiver error as Rebel and Ten FM both had it clearly working

[TV.Cynic]

I have previously received RDS from 102.5

[dxnerd]

Sometimes car radios have trouble reading the RDS for whatever reason. I found that with Hit Wagga the other day; it did eventually decode though.

[tamago_otoko]

Funny you mention that, I drove around Wagga territory twice in the past two weeks and never got 93.1 to decode RDS either, I just presumed I didn’t have enough signal or it wasn’t there. By contrast, 105.9 Orange and 99.7 Griffith both decodes quite well.

I do drive a Lancer, so maybe I have this Mitsubishi issue I’ve heard talked about?

[dxnerd]

Maybe the injection levels are set really low? The signal absolutely blasts in to Cabramurra where I was receiving it; you even get the 10 watt 2AAA repeater on 107.9 there.

[gordo92]

@tamago_otoko

Only leaves the 4WK/4AK repeaters to catch up and all services here are covered - what are you doing @gordo92

Meh I will get there eventually been suggesting the idea of RDS for all the FM stations to make them more identifiable on the FM dial for sometime, but other tasks get in the way sadly.
I don’t think it would take much to buy some cheap little RDS encoders and inject some RDS into the Crown TX on the mountain in Stanthorpe

[Radiohead]

@gordo92

been suggesting the idea of RDS for all the FM stations to make them more identifiable on the FM dial for sometime,

I agree, I think it would be great for Super Rsdio Network to have this. And to be honest, it’s probably not a great look for them to not have it when most of their competitors do.

[crankymedia]

@gordo92

been suggesting the idea of RDS for all the FM stations to make them more identifiable on the FM dial for sometime, but other tasks get in the way sadly.

I’m sure you will get there eventually. Plenty has happened since you’ve begun there.

[tamago_otoko]

Interestingly, I tried again today and it came in just fine, exactly as you captured previously. Don’t know what happened yesterday…

[radioengineer]

it could also be … too MUCH injection… seen this before

[Radiohead]

Triple M Sydney RDS subtext currently stuck on

Legs - ZZ Top

As I think that was the last song on “Rock Song Dedications” tonight, which was about 30 mins ago.