Radio Data System

Development

RDS was inspired by the development of the Autofahrer-Rundfunk-Informationssystem (ARI) in Germany by the Institut für Rundfunktechnik (IRT) and the radio manufacturer Blaupunkt. ARI used a 57-kHz subcarrier to indicate the presence of traffic information in an FM radio broadcast.

The EBU Technical Committee launched a project at its 1974 Paris meeting to develop a technology with similar purposes to ARI, but which was more flexible and which would enable automated retuning of a receiver where a broadcast network transmitted the same radio programme on a number of different frequencies. The modulation system was based on that used in a Swedish paging system and the baseband coding was a new design, mainly developed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the IRT. The EBU issued the first RDS specification in 1984.

Enhancements to the alternative frequencies functionality were added to the standard and it was subsequently published as a European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) standard in 1990.

In 1992 the U.S. National Radio Systems Committee issued the North American version of the RDS standard, called the Radio Broadcast Data System. The CENELEC standard was updated in 1992 with the addition of Traffic Message Channel and in 1998 with Open Data Applications and, in 2000, RDS was published worldwide as IEC standard 62106.

RDS 2.0

The RDS-Forum (Geneva / CH) decided at its annual meeting (8-9 June 2015) in Glion/Montreux to bring the new standard RDS2 on the way. The standard will be created in close collaboration with U.S. colleagues from NRSC RBDS-Subcommittee and should offer a unified platform for FM broadcasting and data services worldwide.

Key features are

Seamless support for frequencies from 64 MHz to 108 MHz (AF, EON)

New character coding: UTF-8 (old EBU Charset remains for compatibility mode for the old 0A/2A Groups).

New ODA handling, "B" groups are assigned as signalling group to the “A” groups.

Long PS-Name, up to 32 byte with UTF-8 character set. (Indian, Chinese, Arabic, and more)

RadioText (eRT) 128 byte long with UTF-8

Increased capacity from 11.4 up to 57 "A"-groups per second. (2,109 bit/s. net capacity with the single modulation-type multiple subcarriers (SMMS) technology)

Graphical RadioText – supports HTML/CSS templates (for smartphones, car radios, computers/tablets)

Supports return channel over gRT if the receiver has IP or SMS capability.

Broadcaster's graphical logo – a maximum 4 kilobyte picture (JPEG, PNG, or GIF)

Hybrid Radio feature (partly based on Radio France development)

Content and implementation

The following information fields are normally contained in the RDS data:

AF (alternative frequencies)

This allows a receiver to re-tune to a different frequency providing the same station when the first signal becomes too weak (e.g., when moving out of range). This is often used in car stereo systems.

CT (clock time)

Can synchronize a clock in the receiver or the main clock in a car. Due to transmission vagaries, CT can only be accurate to within 100 ms of UTC.

EON (enhanced other networks)

Allows the receiver to monitor other networks or stations for traffic programmes, and automatically temporarily tune into that station.

PI (programme identification)

This is the unique code that identifies the station. Every station receives a specific code with a country prefix. In the US, PI is determined by applying a formula to the station's call sign.

PS (programme service)

This is simply an eight-character static display that represents the call letters or station identity name. Most RDS capable receivers display this information and, if the station is stored in the receiver's presets, will cache this information with the frequency and other details associated with that preset.

PTY (programme type)

This coding of up to 31 pre-defined programme types (e.g., in Europe: PTY1 News, PTY6 Drama, PTY11 Rock music) allows users to find similar programming by genre. PTY31 seems to be reserved for emergency announcements in the event of natural disasters or other major calamities.

REG (regional)

This is mainly used in countries where national broadcasters run "region-specific" programming such as regional opt-outs on some of their transmitters. This functionality allows the user to "lock-down" the set to their current region or let the radio tune into other region-specific programming as they move into the other region.

RT (radio text)

This function allows a radio station to transmit a 64-character free-form text that can be either static (such as station slogans) or in sync with the programming (such as the title and artist of the currently playing song).

TA, TP (traffic announcement, traffic programme)

The receiver can often be set to pay special attention to this flag and, for example, stop the tape/pause the CD or retune to receive a traffic bulletin. The TP flag is used to allow the user to find only those stations that regularly broadcast traffic bulletins whereas the TA flag is used to signal an actual traffic bulletin in progress, with radio units perhaps performing other actions such as stopping a cassette tape (so the radio can be heard) or raising the volume during the traffic bulletin.

TMC (traffic message channel)

Digitally encoded traffic information. Not all RDS equipment supports this, but it is often available for automotive navigation systems. In many countries only encrypted traffic data is broadcast, and so an appropriate decoder, possibly tied to a subscription service, is required to use the traffic data.

RDS support

As far as implementation is concerned, most car stereos will support at least AF, EON, REG, PS and TA/TP.

More expensive car stereos will offer TMC, RT and / or PTY, perhaps with "NEWS" override.

Home systems, especially hi-fi receivers, will mainly support functions like PS, RT and PTY.

There are a growing number of RDS implementations in portable audio and navigation devices thanks to lower-priced, small-footprint solutions.

Program types

The following table lists the RDS and RBDS program type (PTY) codes and their meanings:

The later RBDS standard made no attempt to match the original RDS plan, therefore several identical radio formats were given different numbers, including jazz, weather, sports, and rock. Other similar formats such as varied/college and phone-in/talk are also mismatched. This is mainly a problem for Americans taking portable radios out of their country.

RDS Technical Specification

The RDS standard as specified in `EUROPEAN STANDARD EN50067` is separated into these sections according to the OSI model (Excluding network and transport layer, since this is a broadcasting standard).

1. Data Channel (Physical Layer)
2. Baseband Coding (Data-Link Layer)
3. Message Format (Session And Presentation Layer)

Data Channel (Physical Layer)

The physical layer in the standard describes how the bitstream is retrieved from the radio signal. The RDS hardware first demodulates the 57kHz RDS subcarrier signal to extract a Biphase encoded signal which contains both the bitrate clock and the differentally encoded bitstream. This allows for retrieving the RDS bitstream via a differential decoder, which requires a synchronised clock and a differentally encoded bit-stream.

Baseband Coding (Data-Link Layer)

The data-link layer describes the baseband coding of which the largest element in the structure is called a "group" sized 104 bits wide. Within each group is 4 blocks sized 26bits wide. Each block contains a 16bit data word and a 10 bit checkword. In the case of the FM Tuner RDA5807M IC, it displays a group in separate 16bits blocks over four i2c registers. All group is sent most significant byte first, with no gap between groups or blocks.

Synchronisation of the baseband coding structure from the RDS bitstream

The identification of a RDS message blocks and groups is done via a 10bit offset table containing offset word: A , B , C , C' , and D (In RBDS this also includes "E" ).

Message Format (Session And Presentation Layer)

A RDS message group consist of two versions of the group structure, designated in the standard as type A, and type B.

Shared Structure

Within Block 1 and Block 2 are structures that will always be present in both group versions, for fast and responsive identifications. First block of every group, will always be the program identification code. The second block dedicates the first 4 bits for Application/Group Type

Meaning of Block 2 Bits

GTYPE : Group Type

B0 : If B0=0 then Message Group Type A else Type B

TP : Traffic Program. Indicates if this is a traffic alert radio program.

PTY : Program Type

 ???? : Rest of the bits are group type dependent

Message Version A

Message Version B

Block 3 is used for repeating program identification code.

Program Identification Code (PI Code)

This allows for quick identification of radio program type, based on country, coverage area, and program reference number. While the country code is specified by the standard, bit 11 to bit 0 is specified by each country local authorities.

Group Type

This is a short list of the full group type. Each group type may have a secondary version available

RDS Message Examples

These are non comprehensive examples that covers just the simple messages likes station name, radio text, and date time.

Group Type 0 - Version B - Station Name

As we have already described previous fields above, these dot points below show just the application specific fields.

TA : Traffic Announcement

M/S : Music/Speech

The station name and decoder identification code is sent progressively over 4 groups, where the offset is defined by bit C1 and C0.

Group Type 2 - Radio Text

As we have already described previous fields above, these dot points below show just the application specific fields.

A/B : Text A/B flag is used to detect if a screen clear is requested.

C3 to C0 : Is the text segment offset value

The station name and decoder identification code is sent progressively over 4 groups, where the offset is defined by bit C1 and C0.

Group Type 4 - Version A - Clock Time and Data

Above clock time and data field is spread across multiple payload. Once all 4 blocks are received, the time and date are packed as these:

LOS : Local Offset Sign ( 0 = + , 1 = - )

Example RDS usage

The following three images illustrate how RDS can be used on an FM radio station; the latter two were taken when the radio was tuned to Nottingham radio station Trent FM. All the images are of the display on the Sony XDR-S1 DAB/FM/MW/LW portable radio.

Other usage

In addition, RDS is being proposed as the data transmission protocol in California's "Programmable Communicating Thermostat" (PCT) program. The proposed technology would allow electricity consumers exposed to “time-based pricing” for electricity to respond to an RDS signal containing price information when their retail electricity price changed during periods of high wholesale electricity costs or abnormally high demand that threatened the stability of the electricity grid. The PCT could then automate any actions that the consumer had pre-programmed the device to take. For example, if the price of electricity went up on a hot afternoon because of extremely high demand, the consumer could preset the PCT to raise their air conditioner cooling set point by a few degrees in order to reduce their overall electricity consumption and bill.

The technology could be extended to other home electricity consuming devices such as water heaters, clothes dryers, dishwashers, swimming pool pumps, etc. allowing consumers under time-based pricing for electricity significant automatic control over their electricity consumption during periods when the price of electricity is naturally higher than normal (see load management). The goal is to give consumers a choice between paying more for high value peak electricity, or reducing their lowest value loads at those times. Such voluntary “demand response” behavior could significantly reduce the price of electricity during non-peak periods because of reduced need for infrequently used peaking power plants, and also reduce the chances of blackouts during emergency events when the electricity grid is stressed or damaged.

RDS subcarrier use for the control of peak power has been in development in Australia since early 2000. ETSA the South Australia Electricity Trust and Saab Systems Australia, a local South Australian company, pioneered the idea after Saab engineer Trent Ryan developed the idea in late 1999 and brought it to Saab for further refinement.

In Sweden, RDS PTY signalling is used to let the public service broadcaster break into commercial radio station transmissions to broadcast emergency warnings.

RDS chipsets

Companies such as ST Microelectronics, Silicon Labs in Austin, Texas and NXP Semiconductors (formerly Philips) offer single-chip solutions that are found in these devices.