RDS

Yes, 3 seconds is maybe to fast if you use the default repetition settings in Airomate.
I’ve done a comparison of repetition rates between Airomate, stereotool and two national radio stations in the Netherlands.
A little explaination about the group types:
Group type 0 is used for PS names
Group type 2 is used for RadioText
Group type 4 is used for time which will only broadcasted once per minute.
All other group type are used for EON, TMC etc.

The results:

Airomate, with default repetition rate settings:
Group type 0: 36.7%
Group type 1: 9.9%
Group type 2: 48.3%
Group type 4: 0.1%
Group type 10: 4.9%

StereoTool:
Group type 0: 83.3% !!!
Group type 2: 16.4%
Group type 4: 0.1%

Radio 1:
Group type 0: 39.7%
Group type 1: 1.4%
Group type 2: 30.4%
Group type 3: 2.9%
Group type 4: 0.1%
Group type 8: 16.4%
Group type 14: 8.7%

Radio 538:
Group type 0: 36.6%
Group type 2: 36.6%
Group type 3: 9.1%
Group type 4: 0.2%
Group type 8: 17.3%

As you can see StereoTool has a very high repetition rate for group type 0.
With a repetition rate of 83% for group type 0, it won’t be a problem to broadcast every second a different PS name.
If you want to use the same repetition rates in Airomate as StereoTool then you need to set the repetition rates in Airomate as follow:
Group type 0: A:83 B:83
Group type 1: disabled
Group type 2: A:16 B:16
Group type 4: 0
Group type 10: disabled

Now try to add PS messages with a repetition time of 2 seconds.

GREAT explanation! Exactly the kind I like 🙂.

Thank you, Arjen.

///Leif

I’m having a ”phase drift” problem when using the RDS from Stereotool. Its 55 degrees.
Whe i’m using Airomat it is 2 degrees. Anyone else this ”problem” ??

Sorry for my bad English…

very very very usefull topic!!
well done !!

i had the sasme problem and it was becuse of the 2 seconds RT text change
with these settings everything ok!!

I hope that the new version of Airomate will solve

1) this compatibility problem with the characters
2) the filtering of the RDS signal..

Arjen you are a genius !
BUT………….i ve got . 3 questions for u ! 🙂

1st question……..

Group type 0: A:83 B:83 ok
Group type 1: disabled ok
Group type 2: A:16 B:16 why only 16? what does group type 2 ?
Group type 4: 0 why 0 ? what does group type 0?
Group type 10: disabled

2nd question ,..
have all the groups make 100% all together or not? can i make 150 % ?

3nd question….
Is it worth to put the RDS level to more than 4 % in order to achieve better recieption on car radios?
is it OK to put the RDS levels to 14 % ? ( some mobile phones recievers with rds radio need more % ! )

I try all day and in my station works fine, but:

The text are only an example:

– THIS IS
– MY
– STATION (doesn’t show)
– AND
– I’M
– TESTING (doesn’t show)
– THE NEW
– CONFIG
– OF RDS

It’s only an example, the "doesn’t show" is random.

I have 5% for RDS, metered in BBP. I need more level?

Thanks Arjen for the info! 🙂

Okay, this solution which was giving by Arjen, solved mine problem with Airomate.
Thank you again Arjen! Great work! 😀 😉

@didac:
I don’t have an explanation why it still doesn’t work.
Maybe you’re using a cracked version of Airomate 😛 Just kidding.
Try to disable the RadioText. If the RadioText is disabled then the remaining repetition rate will be used by the PS name.
Also check if you don’t have any custom data groups enabled.

@camclone
[quote author=”camclone”]Group type 2: A:16 B:16 why only 16? what does group type 2 ?[/quote]Group type 2 is used for broadcasting RadioText.
If you want the same results as StereoTool then you should use the value of 16.
[quote author=”camclone”]Group type 4: 0 why 0 ? what does group type 0?[/quote]0 because the clock time will be broadcasted automatically every minute.
Group type 0 is used for broadcasting the PS name.
[quote author=”camclone”]have all the groups make 100% all together or not? can i make 150 % ?[/quote]These values are not percentages. They are more like ratios but not exactly. It’s a little bit difficult to explain but if all values add up makes 100 or above then the values are ratios. Below 100 it does something else.
Maybe I will make it only ratios in the next version.
[quote author=”camclone”]Is it worth to put the RDS level to more than 4 % in order to achieve better recieption on car radios?
is it OK to put the RDS levels to 14 % ? ( some mobile phones recievers with rds radio need more % ! )[/quote]The deviation of the FM carrier due to the unmodulated subcarrier is from +/-1.0 kHz to +/- 7.5 kHz. The recommended best compromise is +/-2.0 kHz.
I don’t know what your deviation will be if you put the RDS level to 14%. But it seems to be a little bit too high. I think 10% should be the max.

@all Airomate users
The default repetition rates in Airomate are the recommended rates by the offical RDS specifications
but my recommended values are (if you don’t use too fast PS name changing):
Group type 0: A:68 B:68 (Programme Service name)
Group type 1: A:2 B:2 (Extended Country Codes, language codes and Programme Item Number)
Group type 2: A:25 B:25 (RadioText)
Group type 4: A:0 (Clock time (will be broadcasted automatically every minute))
Group type 10: A:5 (Programme Type Name)

excellent posts ! excellent topic !!!
with the last recommented values all of my compatibility problems where solved!

now my radio station is compatible with all the FM recievers on car stereos and mobile phone fm recievers!

thanks !