Magic Rds + BW Broadcast

[Joris]

Thank you. It seems you've selected Generic UECP as the encoder model. Correct setting for your device is the Readbest.

By the way, your device contains old encoder firmware version. New version 1.5 has been already offered to BW but they haven't updated it yet in their product line.

Code: [Select]

  What's new in version 1.5
============================

  New features:

- real-time output monitoring by RDS Spy via any communication port
- UECP MEC 13, 14 now automatically inserts filler if required
- UECP MEC 24 @ buffer config 0x00 is now ignored if the group is not included in the group sequence

  Bugfixes:

- UECP MEC 0A now toggles RT type bit according to the specification
- UECP MEC 0A now clears entire RT prior to filling by new text
- UECP MEC 17 now works also with DSN parameter set to 0
- UECP MEC 18 now returns sequence counter as well
- UECP MEC 34 fixed
- unwanted sequence counter reset fixed
- EON variant code 13 now includes TA

Whouw! That is the sollution. I used UECP because it's mentioned in the TX-300 V3 manual.

Many thanks!

[Joris]

Hmmmmm, it worked for a while. After a few ours the connections was lost. Connection Status: Connecting.  Rebooting the transmitter has no effect. Power the transmitter off and on helps for a few hours. Then the same problem. I think it is a BW Broadcast problem.

[Jan]

This has been already mentioned by somebody, it seems to be a bug of the new BW product line. It is not an RDS issue, I think they have something wrong in the product's TCP stack. You should report that.

[Joris]

Thanks. I'll report it to BW Broadcast

[Joris]

We will definitely use direct TCP connection rather than HTTP protocol.

For you information it working now ! BW Broadcast support help me.

Configuration working is with 3.6 Version or earlier (not with 3.7 or 3.:
- Tcp/ip > direct ip of fm sender
- Uncheck bidirectionnal + Autodetect port speed

With this config, i can send all rds information but not receive.

Thank you

Where can i download magic RDS 3.6? With magic RDS 3.8 I have no connection issues with my transmitter. But the refresh of the data is een problem. Maybe it works with version 3.6 as described earlier?

[Jan]

The version 3.6 is nine years old so this procedure doesn't make sense to me. But why not to try it? You can find it here
https://pira.cz/rds/magicrds/MagicRDS_3_6_Setup.exe

[nealuk]

I have to support a BW TX300 V3 and am able to use Magic RDS 3 communicating Bidirectional with no difficulties. I can Read and Send / Test without any problems, via IP and/or RS232.

The RDS Ethernet 1 is configured to port 1000 by default, but you may need to turn it On in the web interface - there is no need to do any "logging in" prior to RDS communication.

The RDS board does not have the full range of commands supported so you may occasionally see !Ready

Some information about the BW transmitters on different firmware versions with RDS performance and system RDS commands is available online at http://www.nealuk.com/bwtxv3.html

Regards,


Neal

[Jan]

The Magic RDS 3 is obsolete. You should use the Magic RDS 4 and select the READBEST model of RDS encoder. It supports entire command set and the use is almost completely ^*) free of charge for this device if bidirectional communication is established.

^{*) Excl. explicit call of UECP command for RT}

[nealuk]

Thank you Jan, that explains so much about this BW product line! Your work is appreciated.

[DaveS]

Some time ago I had the same questions about how to send dynamic data to a BW DSPX processor which uses the Pira library.  I was sent a PDF file by BW with instructions.  Of course BW is dead as a company now but  I would be happy to pass on the PDF if anyone wants it.  Their instructions were for Magic RDS V3.7a

On the BW unit, set Ethernet 1 to ON and chose port 1000.  In Magic RDS Preferences, set you IP address and Port to 1000.  Set Bidirectional to OFF.

There is a lot more detail in PDF.

[Jan]

DaveS: I would like to add some information. Such instructions provided in the BW manuals are outdated and potentially incorrect. The BW products contained two different RDS encoders: the PIRA32 chip (older products) and the READBEST library v. 1.4 (most of the latest products). However in some cases they did not update the manuals according to the latest software or the encoder model implemented.
Now all models are covered by the Magic RDS 4. There should be no need to turn off the bidirectional mode, by the way.

[DaveS]

I was referring to the later products with the READBEST library.  In my case it was the DSPX Mini Encore processor.  The BW manual had no useful information in it but they sent me the instructions in May last year which must have been just before they closed.

Does the READBEST encoder have any RT+ support?

[Jan]

The READBEST supports most of the UECP commands so it is easy to enable the RT+. In the Magic RDS 4, go to Overview - Extensions and enable the RT+ encoding.

[DaveS]

Thanks.  In the BW GUI there is nothing that specifically enables UECP.  Is that a problem?  The only settings are for port number and TCP/UDP.

[Jan]

This encoder is UECP based so it accepts UECP instantly.