Notes:
This tutorial applies to UECP based RDS encoders (without X-Command support).
Make sure your RDS encoder really supports UECP communication protocol.
Initial setup of the RDS encoder must be made before using it with the Magic RDS 4 and before applying this tutorial. The RDS encoder must be fully operational and must provide a connection port. Use the instructions supplied with the RDS encoder or contact the manufacturer's support line.
Before applying this tutorial, configure the External Text Sources (ETS) for getting, processing and sending the text. That configuration is common to all RDS encoder models and thus it is not described in this quick tutorial.It is recommended, before going on-air, to test the text transmission on the DEMO Encoder which is a software component built in the Magic RDS 4. Follow the help file readbest.pdf, section DEMO Encoder.
(The DEMO Encoder is UECP based as well but has also the support for the RDS Spy real time analysis which is well known from the PIRA RDS encoders.)
- Start by adding a new connection, model Generic UECP
- In Overview - Extensions, go to RT+ Encoder and enable it (set the Status to ON). Note the RT+ ODA group.
- In RDS Content - System - Group Sequence, make sure that these three groups are included: 2A, 3A and the RT+ ODA group from step 2.
Click on the Test button to load current setup to the encoder if necessary. - That's all, your listeners should see the RT+ now!
To see the UECP data going to the RDS encoder, turn on the Communication Monitor in Overview. You will see three types of message:
1) MEC 0A (Radiotext), sent any time the text changes
2) MEC 24 (ODA AID group 3A with application code 4BD7), sent periodically each 2 sec.
3) MEC 24 (RT+ ODA, group type according to the step 2), sent periodically each 2 sec.
The Magic RDS 4 encodes the RT+ using UECP MEC 24 (Free-format group) so the operation is instant and it's independent of the ODA setup in the RDS encoder.
Make sure the MEC 24 is enabled in the Encoder access rights - use the software supplied with the RDS encoder or type this command in the Terminal: EAR 00:24=1
