Special Functions on FM

RDS (Radio Data System)

RDS is a digital information system, the signals of which are broadcasted in addition to the FM radio programme. Your radio is equipped for operation with this information system. It evaluates the codes for programme identification (PI), programme service (PS), and alternative frequencies (AF).

It is thus possible for the radio to indicate the name of the programme chain (stations broadcasting the same programme) and to compare the different stations of the same programme chain.

To ensure a correct decoding of the RDS signals, certain demands are made on the reception quality of RDS broadcasts. This is especially true when the telescopic aerial is used for reception. The first condition for correct RDS reception is a sufficient signal strength. This means that the TUNING (field strength) indication should reach its maximum deflection. A further condition is the indication of the RDS sign. If these two conditions are met, the name of the programme chain will be indicated within 10 seconds. If this should not be the case, decoding of the RDS signal is probably impaired by multipath reception (reflections). In most cases, this distortion is not signalled through an unstable TUNING (field strength) indication. At the most, the RDS indication might be unstable. In technical jargon, this effect is called

The RDS reception quality is insufficient.

A special function of your unit enables the indication of the RDS reception quality.

Pressing the LSB/USB button © switches the eight-position alphanumeric indication to the RDS quality indication:

Q ...........

Try to improve the RDS reception quality by changing the position of the telescopic aerial (tilt and/or rotate). This means that as many segments as possible should be indicated. The figure shows the maximum possible number of 16 sensitivity grades (vertical bars).

This indication corresponds to 100 % RDS reception quality (respectively 0 % error rate).

Especially when operating the radio inside a building, the location of the radio can be of great importance for the RDS reception quality. If necessary, try to install the radio at a location giving better results.

The RDS-Q special function remains effective for approx. 1 minute and then automatically switches to the indication of the programme chain name. It is also possible to switch the RDS-Q indication to the programme chain name indication by pressing the LSB/USB button once again.

Please note:

The indication of the programme chain name is only effected if the RDS reception quality is sufficient, and the indication of the RDS quality is only possible if the RDS sign is indicated too.

Calling Up Alternative Frequencies (AF)

If the RDS sign and the programme chain name are both indicated, you can call up the alternative frequencies of this programme chain.

Pressing the FM/RDS-AF button starts scanning of t broadcasted alternative frequencies.

During this function, the indication AF appears in the display

(4) .

The individual frequencies are then checked for their field strength (worthy of reception or not). If the field strength suffices for correct RDS reception, scanning is aborted. The respective frequency is indicated and the unit switches off the muting function which has been activated at the beginning of the scan (call-up) function. If none of the alternative frequencies is worthy of reception the radio tunes to the initial frequency again.

Hint

Short pressure on the FM/RDS-AF button =

the alternative frequencies are indicated in increasing order.

Long pressure on the FM/RDS-AF button =

the alternative frequencies are indicated in decreasing order