Timed Messages in Stand-Alone Mode?

[daveobieone]

I've been requested to have our RDS units show certain messages, at certain times, which sync with the programs currently on the air.  We would like our P132 unit to do this in stand-alone mode if possible.

For example...
From 11:00 till 14:00, Monday through Friday, they would like our RDS to read...
"Rush Now on NewsTalk KZRG"

In the next block of 3 hours, we would like it to read something slightly different, but similar.  Weekends, we need it to read differently also as the programs are different then.

Can someone explain to me in plain English how to do this?  I've read through the manual, and the programming language it seems to be written in goes WAY over my simple head.  Using "Magic RDS", I can see the "Messages" section, and the "Task Scheduler", but how to implement this is not clear to me.  I've programmed a few Pira units to do some Radio Text and Dynamic PS1 messages that look really good on the radios.  I've not done any timed events like this however.

Is it possible to program a stand-alone P132 Encoder to do timed messages like this for both the "Radio Text" and the "Dynamic PS1"?

Thanks!
Dave O.

[Jan]

It is possible if course. Follow the instructions from the guide:

http://pira.cz/rds/show.asp?art=guide_scheduling_2

This works with P132, P232, P332 and PIRA32.

Please note the difference between Task scheduler and Internal RDS scheduler. The first is a part of the Magic RDS application whilst the second effectively operates inside the RDS encoder.

[Jan]

The P132 and P332 RDS encoders also contain a stand-alone HTTP client so the RDS content can be driven by external PHP or ASP file.

Here's an example for scheduling RT1 text messages:

1) Save this file on any HTTP server with PHP support:

Code: [Select]

<?php

function time_str() {

    $dow = date('D'); 
    $hm = (int)date("Gi");    // Time in HHMM format

    if ($dow == 'Sat' || $dow == 'Sun') {
    
    // weekend

        return 'Lorem ipsum 1';

    } else {
    
    // Monday to Friday

    if ($hm >=    0 && $hm <  800) return 'Lorem ipsum 2'; //0:00 to 8:00 etc...
    if ($hm >=  800 && $hm < 1100) return 'Lorem ipsum 3';
    if ($hm >= 1100 && $hm < 1400) return 'Rush Now on NewsTalk KZRG';
    if ($hm >= 1400 && $hm < 2130) return 'Lorem ipsum 4';
    if ($hm >= 2130 && $hm < 2359) return 'Lorem ipsum 5';
    
    }
}

echo 'RT1=' . time_str();

?>
2) In the Magic RDS, select Tools - Show command console, or in the embedded website, select Tools - Terminal

3) Type on separate lines:

Code: [Select]

READWEB=60,,http://yourserver.com/thefile.php
*READWEB
(Replace the file path and file name by real details)

This is a complete "set-up and forget" procedure. From now the RDS encoder checks for actual text each 60 seconds.