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Operation
RDS Operation
The AVR 3550 is equipped with RDS (Radio Data
System), which brings a wide range of informa-
tion 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 advan-
tage of the RDS system.
RDS Tuning
When an FM station is tuned in and it contains
RDS data, the RDS Indicator
will illuminate
and the AVR will automatically display the sta-
tion's call sign or other program service in the
Main Information Display
.
RDS Display Options
The RDS system is capable of transmitting a
wide variety of information in addition to the
initial station call sign that appears when a sta-
tion is first tuned. In normal RDS operation the
display 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.
• A "text" message (Radiotext, RT) containing
special information from the broadcast station.
Note that this message may scroll across the dis-
play 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
TEXT will flash in the Information Display
when RT is selected.
• 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 TIME will flash in the
information display when CT is selected. 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
a NO TYPE, NO TEXT or NO TIME mes-
sage after the individual time out.
In any FM mode the RDS function requires a
32 OPERATION
strong enough signal for proper operation. If
you receive a partial message, or the RDS
Indicator
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 abbrevia-
tions 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: Science
• 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
• FOLK M: Folk Music
• DOCUMENT: Documentary Programs
• TEST: Emergency Test
• ALARM: Emergency Broadcast Information
will show
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
.
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. To simply search for the next
station transmitting any RDS data, use the
Preset Up/Down button
ONLY appears in the display.
3. Press any of the Tuning Up/Down buttons
, 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. 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 accept-
able reception quality. If no such station is
found, the display will read NONE for some
seconds and the tuner will return to the last FM
station in use before the search.
NOTE: Many stations do not transmit a specific
PTY. The display will show NONE, when such a
station is selected and PTY is active.
NOTE: Some stations transmit constant traffic
information. To identify as traffic station, they
transmit a specific traffic code constantly, which
causes the TA Indicator
to light in the dis-
play. These stations can be found by selecting
TRAFFIC, the option in front of NEWS in the list.
The AVR will find the appropriate station, even if
it is not broadcasting traffic information when
the search is made.
until RDS
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