RDS Encoder

PIRA32 RDS Encoder in Box

The PIRA32 RDS encoder is a result of more than 9 years experience collecting and meets requirements of most regional, local, RSL, LPFM and other medium- and small-coverage radio stations. It’s also highly suitable for service and development purposes. Fully digital concept and uniquely effective design ensures high reliability, excellent signal characteristics and gives the user many advanced features while maintaining low acquisition costs. We can say the PIRA32 brought new standard to this branch. It's not a random that couple of manufacturers around the world implement the PIRA32 in their transmission systems.

PIRA32 system features
  • Fully dynamic stand-alone RDS encoder
  • Excellent spectral purity, direct digital RDS signal synthesis, oversampled; tested for broadcast standards compliance
  • RS-232 control interface based on set of simple ASCII commands; OS independent, no driver required, especial for developers and experimental natures
  • Control software includes powerful Windows GUI application and HTML based system; remote control capability
  • Firmware updates for free
  • Addressing feature - independent or common control of up to 255 units in a network
  • Amazing text features
  • Advanced weekly scheduling
  • Bypass relay, high reliability
  • External TA and Program switch
  • Switchable MPX loopthrough
  • Internal real-time clock incl. backup battery, showing real-time also as PS
  • No special 19 kHz input needed - pilot tone carefully recovered from MPX signal
  • Digital 57 kHz phase locked loop - rock stable RDS subcarrier in all cases, the PLL will never lock to a pilot frequency outside the functional range
  • Easy and fast set-up
RDS services directly supported by the unit
  
PI Program Identification M/S  Music/Speech
PS Program Service PIN Program-Item Number
PTY Program Type ECC  Extended Country Code
TP Traffic Program RT Radiotext
AF Alternative Frequencies    TDC Transparent Data Channels
TA Traffic Announcement IH In House Applications
PTYN  Program Type Name ODA Open Data Applications
DI Decoder Identification CT Clock-Time and Date
EON Enhanced Other Networks information   LIC Language Identification Code

Click to enlarge(The RDS services are described in Support)

Total text capacity:

  • 25 kB - Equivalent to more than 3200 PS. Send text messages without any space limitations!
  • 100 text messages up to 255 characters each sent as RT, dynamic/scrolling PS or both. Manual or automatic switching.
  • Four modes for dynamic/scrolling PS transmission at selectable speed, incl. word alignment and one-by-one character scrolling.

 All features and its use are described on 47 pages of the pdf manual.

Technical specifications
  
Supply voltage: 8-20 V DC
Supply current: 70 mA
RDS/RBDS signal: Conforms to CENELEC EN50067
Output level of RDS: adjustable from 0 to 1.4 V p-p
RDS signal bandwidth: +/- 2.4 kHz (50 dBc)
Spurious suppression: >90 dB
Harmonics suppression: >80 dB
MPX leadthrough voltage gain: 1 (guaranteed from 2 Hz to 100 kHz)
TA switching: multimode software or external switch
Internal clock inaccuracy: max. +/- 0.01 %
Clock reference: pilot tone or internal generator
19 kHz pilot PLL lock bandwidth:  software switchable +/- 5 Hz or +/- 2 Hz
Pilot tone level: min. 110 mV p-p
Phase shift adjust: 0-180 degrees in 9.5 degrees steps
Signal connectors: unbalanced, BNC
Data connector: RS-232 (DTE, 9 pins), bidirectional
Noise protection: Threefold level sampling
Com. speed: software switchable 1200-19200 kbps
Com. mode: 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit
UECP protocol support: Partial
Exp. bus type: IIC
EEPROM memory capacity: 32 kB
  
How to connect the PIRA32 to a computer?

The RDS encoder can be connected to a computer via USB adapter or standard serial lap-link cable terminated by CANON D-SUB female plugs.
Use this description if you wish to make the cable yourself.

As a next step, download the Magic RDS 2 control software and you can start to use the RDS encoder at once.

The RDS encoder can be also controlled from non-Windows operating systems (Linux, MS-DOS, ...) using any RS-232 ASCII terminal. The command set is easy to learn and gives full control over the RDS stream. It's a strong tool also for developers. You can find detailed description of this advanced use in the manual.

Bidirectional interface provides all info about the RDS encoder services status even if it's installed in neighbour room, abutting building or on a transmitter site in mountains. Ethernet connection is supported by the control software as well.

For more information and set-up details download the manual.

(C) 1999-2010 Pira CZ. All rights reserved.