RDS Operation
The AVR 8500 is equipped with RDS (Radio Data System), which brings a wide range of information to FM radio. Now in use in many countries, RDS is a system for transmitting station call signs or network information, a description of station program type, text messages about the station or specifics of a musical selection, and the correct time.
As more FM stations become equipped with RDS capabilities, the AVR will serve as an easy-to-use center for both information and entertainment.
This section will help you take maximum advantage of the RDS system.
RDS Tuning
When an FM station is tuned in and it contains RDS data, the RDS Indicator Gwill illuminate, after some time also the indicators for all other RDS services received (see below), and the AVR will automatically display the station’s call sign or other program service in the Main Information Display ˆ.
RDS Display Options
The RDS system is capable of transmitting a wide variety of information in addition to the ini- tial station call sign that appears when a station is first tuned. In normal RDS operation the dis- play will indicate the station name, broadcast network or call letters. Pressing the RDS button
^enables you to cycle through the various data types in the following sequence:
•The station’s call letters (with some private stations other information too).
•The station’s frequency.
•The Program Type (PTY) as shown in the list below. The PTY Indicator Pwill illuminate when this data is being received.
NOTE: Many stations do not transmit a specific PTY. The display will show NONE, when such a station is selected and PTY is active.
•A “text” message (Radiotext, RT) containing special information from the broadcast station. Note that this message may scroll across the display to permit messages longer than the eight positions in the display. Depending on signal quality, it may take up to 30 seconds for the text message to appear; in that time, the word TEXTwill flash in the Information Display when RT is selected. The RT Indicator Nwill illuminate when text data is being received and ready to be displayed.
•The current time of day (CT). Note that it may take up to two minutes for the time to appear, in that time the word TIMEwill flash in the information display when CT is selected. The CT Indicator O will illuminate when time data is being received. Please note that the
accuracy of the time data is dependent on the radio station, not the AVR.
Some RDS stations may not include some of these additional features. If the data required for the selected mode is not being transmitted, the Main Information Display ˆ will show a NO TYPE, NO TEXTor NO TIME message after the individual time out.
In any FM mode the RDS function requires a strong enough signal for proper operation. If you receive a partial message, or any of the RDS, PTY, CT or RT Indicators QPON going on and off, try slowly adjusting the antenna or tune to another stronger RDS station.
Program Search (PTY)
An important feature of RDS is its capability of encoding broadcasts with Program Type (PTY) codes that indicate the type of material being broadcast. The following list shows the abbreviations used to indicate each PTY, along with an explanation of the PTY:
•(RDS ONLY)
•(TRAFFIC)
•NEWS: News
•AFFAIRS: Current Affairs
•INFO: Infomation
•SPORT: Sports
•EDUCATE: Educational
•DRAMA: Drama
•CULTURE: Culture
•SCIENCE: Sciencek
•VARIED: Varied Speech Programs
•POPM: Popular Music
•ROCKM: Rock Music
•M.O.R.M.: Middle-of-the-Road Music
•LIGHTM: Classical Music
•CLASSICS: Serious Classical Music
•OTHERM: Other Music
•WEATHER: Weather Information
•FINANCE: Financial Programs
•CHILDREN: Children’s Programs
•SOCIAL A: Social Affairs Programs
•RELIGION: Religious Broadcasts
•PHONE IN: Phone-In Programs
•TRAVEL: Travel and Touring
•LEISURE: Leisure and Hobby
•JAZZ: Jazz Music
•COUNTRY: Country Music
•NATIONAL: National Music
•OLDIES: Oldies Music
•FOLKM: Folk Music
•DOCUMENT: Documentary Programs
•TEST: Emergency Test
•ALARM: Emergency Broadcast Information
You may search for a specific Program Type (PTY) by following these steps:
1. Press the RDS button ^ | until the cur- |
rent PTY is shown in the Main Information |
Display ˆ. | | |
2. While the PTY is shown, press the Preset |
Up/Down button # | or hold them pressed |
to scroll through the list of available PTY types, as shown above starting with the PTY currently received. To simply search for the next station transmitting any RDS data, use the Preset Up/Down button # until RDS ONLY appears in the display.
3.Press any of the Tuning Up/Down buttons )K, the tuner begins to scan the FM band upwards or downwards for the first station that has RDS data that matches the desired selec- tion, and acceptable signal strength for quality reception.
4.While the PTY Indicator P flashes in the display, the tuner will make up to one complete scan of the entire FM band for the next station that matches the desired PTY type and has acceptable reception quality. If no such station is found, the display will read NONEfor some seconds and the tuner will return to the last FM station in use before the search.
NOTE: Some stations transmit constant traffic information. To identify as traffic station, they transmit a specific traffic code constantly, which causes the TA Indicator Mto light in the dis- play. These stations can be found by selecting TRAFFIC, the option in front of NEWSin the list. The AVR RDS will find the next appropri- ate station, even if it is not broadcasting traffic information when the search is made.
