Text Source - Add Loop Options

[livewireaus]

Hi Jan

Currently you can define a duration before moving on to the next item via the "Go to next after [seconds]" option.

Could we have a Loop option?

Set Loop Wait Duration [seconds]
Set Loop Count Total [Number]

Setting these would void the "Go to next after [seconds]" option. (Greyed out when a loop is defined?)

Example:

Set Loop Wait Duration [seconds]  5
Set Loop Count Total [Number]     6
"Go to next after [seconds]" option (greyed out or ignored)

This function would be executed: wait 5 seconds, then restart, incrementing the count until the counter defined is reached.

We have a playout system delivering text info on what is playing.  Ideally, we want to add other items to the RDS stream (time, weather, news, traffic).  Having a defined loop break option would allow this to happen with some flexibility on timing.

I hope that makes sense!

Regards

Ross

[Jan]

I'm afraid that intervals under ~15 seconds are too short for the RDS texts. It means the behavior may be undefined especially in areas where the reception is not perfect.

The Magic RDS 4 currently incorporates three parameters for the text sources sequence control. These are:

• Go to next after
• Keep in cache for
• Expires after

The first parameter defines fixed rhytm of the sources in the sequence. While a particular source is active, it continues watching for the text changes and the text is updated immediately.

The next two parameters define exclusions from the above behavior:

Keep in cache for [seconds] - The source is not watched for potential text change. Instead of this, a cached text is used until the cache period elapses. This can be used for several purposes, incl. avoiding text update just a few moments before going to next source in the sequence.

Expires after [seconds] - After elapsing the period specified, the source is temporarily removed from the sequence until the source text changes.

[Jan]

For creating the desired effect, set a low value for the 'Go to next after' parameter and insert the Source several times to the Output Sequence.

For example 'Go to next after' set to 20 seconds, 'Keep in cache for' set to 20 seconds, Output Sequence:

Source 1
Source 1
Source 2
Source 2
Source 2
Source 2