FMB80

Can I use Audemat RDS/RBDS encoders to display artist and song information on radios?
Absolutely. The FMB80, FMB10, even the cost-effective RDS Silver encoders can all display artist and title information on the receivers. The key things are communication (FMB10 and Silver have serial ports, FMB80 has TCP/IP), and configuration of the encoder and the automation system to send the data in the correct format. Please contact Audemat for the latest information and help on connecting your music playback system to your encoder.
What are the differences between the FMB10 and FMB80?
The FMB10 can perform basic RDS applications – PS and Radiotext, Alternate Frequencies, PI codes, etc and has only a serial port for communication. The FMB80 can produce all of the advanced  RDS data – Traffic information, Open data applications, etc. The FMB80 also has a microprocessor on board, an embedded website for configuration, communication via TCP/IP, FTP, SMTP, SNMP, and a built in scheduler for changing messages or other parameters based on date and time.
What are the differences between static and dynamic RDS?
Static means that AF, PI, PS, PTY, TA, TP, MS, DI, PTYN, RADIOTEXT (and FBT for RBDS) parameters stay unchanged, or change only rarely. Dynamic means that the previous parameters can be changed remotely and/or when the following features are required: IH, TDC, TMC, EWS, Paging, ODA, and data transmissions.
Is the FMB80 US RBDS compliant?
Yes, the FMB80 is 100% RBDS compliant.
I have many stations - what do I need to add RBDS/RDS services to each FM Station?
You would need one RDS/RBDS encoder per transmitter (like an FMB10 or an RDS Silver) for static RDS/RBDS services, an advanced encoder (like an FMB80) and associated data link for dynamic RDS/RBDS services.
Where is the best place to install my RDS Encoder?
Normally the encoder is connected between the stereo generator (if one is used) and the FM exciter (RF modulator). On some FM exciters, there may be a separate input for "RDS" or "SUBCARRIERS" : the encoder can also be connected there. Some Studio Transmitter Links (STLs) can carry a composite (multiplex) signal, in these cases the encoder can also be connected at the studio.
Do I need to make calibration adjustments?
No, our encoders are 100% digital therefore no calibration adjustments are needed.
If my FM station is Mono, is the Audemat's encoder able to generate the 57kHz subcarrier without a reference to the 19kHz stereo pilot?
Yes of course! Audemat's equipment switches automatically to an internal reference if  there is no valid synchronization signal present ( no signal or a signal out of the 19kHz +/- 2Hz range).
Is the FMB80 compatible with the EBU/UER protocol?
The FMB80 is EBU compatible: the exact name of the protocol is UECP (Universal Encoder Communication Protocol) for RDS.
The FMB10 encoder is also compatible with this protocol for the implemented static features.
What if my station name is more than 8 characters in length?
The PS RDS function is defined in the CENELEC standard EN50067 and also in the RBDS standard as a 8 character long string. Any name longer then 8 character will be shortened to suit that requirement (see next FAQ).
What is Scrolling PS? Can I display longer messages using PS text?
Changing, or 'Scrolling' the PS (strictly forbidden in some countries, see the CENELEC standard) allows longer messages to be displayed on many car radios. This function is available on all Audemat encoders, but check your local regulations before using this feature.
How do I configure the FMB80 RDS Encoder to broadcast Radiotext?
1. Way to configure

 You need :

  • A ASCII terminal connected to the port COM0 of the encoder (settings : 9600,N,8,1)
  • A Telnet connection to the encoder

2. Syntax

The syntax of all the ASCII command strings necessary for the configuration of the FMB80 RDS Encoder can be found in the embedded Help Menu.

  • General access to the Help Menu : type HELP
  • Specific RDS Help Menu : type HELP.DSN or HELP.RDS.ENCODER
  • Simple commands for Radiotext (depending on your software version)
    • TEXT=<text you want to display> for older software 2xxx.x
    • RT_TEXT=<text you want to display> for software 3680.x and up

3. Advanced Radiotext Configuration
3.1. To manage the DSN (Data Set Number)
The FMB80 RDS Encoder can store 6 different complete RDS configurations.
Each configuration is given a "DSN" (Data Set Number).
Each DSN includes static parameters (PSN = Program Set Number) and dynamic parameter settings.
The FMB80 RDS Encoder allows the user to work on one DSN and broadcast another DSN in the same time. If the settings of the current DSN are modified the changes are broadcast immediately.

ASCII commands
DSN Display DSN configuration for DSN 'D'

DSN=D		 Select Data Set 'D' for configuration. D=0-6. If DSN=0 : select the current DSN
DSN? Display the Data Set selected for configuration
DSN.CURR=D Select Data Set 'D' as the current Data Set to broadcast. D=1-6
DSN.CURR? Display the Current Data Set selected for broadcast


3.2. To create the Group Sequence (GS)

In order to broadcast the RDS services that feed your needs, you must configure the Group Sequence.

ASCII command
GS=g1,g2,... Set Group Sequence for DSN 'D'. g1,g2 are the RDS group

» Typical configuration to broadcast Radiotext : GS=0A,0A,0A,2A


3.3. To add a Radiotext to the DSN 'D'

ASCII commands
RT=n,t,<TEXT> For Data Set 'D', Enter radiotext after emptying buffer.
Broadcast TEXT n times, toggle A/B if t = 1 (n = 0-15,t = 0/1)
RT+=n,t,<TEXT> For Data Set 'D', add additional text. For each DSN, 6 different Radiotext lines (64 characters max / line) can be configured.
RT? Display Radiotext configuration for Data Set 'D'

» Typical configuration to broadcast 1 Radiotext (n = 0 means that this TEXT is broadcasted permanently) : RT=0,1,<TEXT>
» Typical configuration to broadcast 3 different messages in the Radiotext :
RT=10,1,<TEXT1>
RT+=10,1,<TEXT2>
RT+=10,1,<TEXT3>

By exemple :
RT=10,1,<Name of the station>
RT+=10,1,Now listenning to :
RT+=10,1,<Artist> - <Song>
n = 10 means that each TEXT is broadcasted 10 times
The Radiotext is broadcasted recurringly. After the last message has been broadcasted 10 times, the first message is send again.

How do I rebroadcast Radiotext or any other specific RDS groups extracted from a received signal?

1. Principle

At an FM re-broadcasting site, you have a FM tuner (like Audemat's RXR1) with a multiplex (MPX) signal output. This multiplex signal coming from the tuner feeds the embedded RDS decoder (RDS IN on the rear panel) of the RDS Encoder FMB80. On the other side of the RDS Encoder FMB80, an external multiplex source feeds the main multiplex input (MPX IN). The desired RDS groups are "extracted" from the multiplex signal of the tuner and added to the RDS data generated by the FMB80.

2. Way to configure

Two different ways to do:

  • A ASCII terminal connected to the port COM0 of the encoder (settings : 9600,N,8,1).
  • A Telnet connection to the encoder.


3. Syntax

The syntax of all the ASCII command strings necessary for the configuration of the RDS Encoder FMB80 can be found in the embedded Help Menu.

  • General access to the Help Menu: type HELP
  • Specific RDS Help Menu: type HELP.RDS.ENCODER


4. Configuration

4.1. To select the RDS groups to re-broadcast

In order to filter and re-broadcast the RDS groups expected, you must apply a "Group Mask" over the decoded RDS signal.

This mask is applied with the command GROUPS=i

ASCII command
GROUPS=i Set groups retransmission i = 00000000 - FFFFFFFF

To calculate the hexadecimal value of "i", apply the following rules:
Each group you want to re-broadcast needs to be identified in the mask. "1" means the group is allowed by the mask.

RDS Groups 15B 15A 14B 14A 13B 13A 12B 12A 11B 11A 10B 10A ...
Value 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/1

This gives an hexadecimal value for each stack of 4 Groups.

RDS Groups 15B 15A 14B 14A 13B 13A 12B 12A 11B 11A 10B 10A 9B 9A 8B 8A 7B 7A 6B 6A 5B 5A 4B 4A 3B 3A 2B 2A 1B 1A 0B 0A
Value 0 - F 0 - F 0 - F 0 - F 0 - F 0 - F 0 - F 0 - F

And finally a unique value for "i"

RDS Groups

15B 15A 14B 14A 13B 13A 12B 12A 11B 11A 10B 10A 9B 9A 8B 8A 7B 7A 6B 6A 5B 5A 4B 4A 3B 3A 2B 2A 1B 1A 0B 0A
Value 00000000 - FFFFFFFF


4.2. Examples

» Typical configuration to re-broadcast static parameters and Radiotext (group 0A and 2A): GROUPS=00000011
» Typical configuration to re-broadcast group 0B: GROUPS=00000002


4.3. To activate the retransmission

ASCII command
RDS.IN=i i = 0 function OFF, i = 4 function active
What are the differences between PTY in RDS and PTY in RBDS?
PTY – Program Type
This is an identification number to be transmitted with each program item and which is intended to specify the current Program Type from 31 possible choices. This code can be used for search tuning. The RDS PTY codes are set by the CENELEC standard (http://www.cenelec.org/Cenelec/CENELEC+in+action/Web+Store/Standards/default.htm), the PTY codes for the U.S version (RBDS) are defined in the NRSC 4-A standard, available at http://www.nrscstandards.org/Standards.asp. Here is the list.

PTY code RDS Program type RBDS Program type
0 No program type or undefined No program type or undefined
1 News News
2 Current affairs Information
3 Information Sports
4 Sport Talk
5 Education Rock
6 Drama Classic Rock
7 Culture Adult Hits
8 Science Soft Rock
9 Varied Top 40
10 Pop Music Country
11 Rock Music Oldies
12 M.O.R. Music Soft
13 Light classical Nostalgia
14 Serious classical Jazz
15 Other Music Classical
16 Weather Rhythm and Blues
17 Finance Soft Rhythm and Blues
18 Children’s programs Language
19 Social Affairs Religious Music
20 Religion Religious Talk
21 Phone In Personality
22 Travel Public
23 Leisure College
24 Jazz Music Unassigned
25 Country Music Unassigned
26 National Music Unassigned
27 Oldies Music Unassigned
28 Folk Music Unassigned
29 Documentary Weather
30 Alarm Test Emergency Test
31 Alarm Emergency
Can I configure special characters (à - | é ì ù ç ä ë ï ö ü £ $ ° § ....) For Program Servicename text, Program Type Name, Radiotext or alphanumeric Radio Paging on the FMB80?
The FMB80 accepts any characters transparently. RDS uses character tables (specified in RDS and RBDS standards) which are different from the ones in DOS or Windows. This means that you have to send the correct value, the encoder doesn't do any "translation".
Note that very few receivers recognize "special" characters. Instead most display " _ ", " * ", space or "?"...
Can I protect HTTP and TELNET access?
There is a way to password protect both the web server and the Telnet access.
10 users can be defined with 3 levels (N, S, R, for Normal, Super, Root). To display these settings, enter the command:
?Users

To change or to define a user, the command is user<n>=<username>,<password>, level. For example, the command user1=admin,admin,R creates an account with login "admin" and password "admin" with Root privileges.

By default, the user0 is "root" with password "root" and Root access level.

To turn on security Telnet the command is secure=on. To secure the embedded Web pages, the command is secure_cgi=on. When this parameter is activated, users can see the configuration but changes are not allowed without login and password.

Be careful: if you forget your user account parameters when security is enabled, you will not be able to reach the FMB80!
How do I change the IP address?
Connect to the unit as usual through the RS-232 port, using HyperTerminal or similar software to communicate with the FMB 80 (9600,8,N,1). Type the command:
IP? <Enter>

And the unit should respond with its current IP address (default=192.168.0.1). To change this, type the command:
IP=XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX <Enter>

The unit will respond with a +, meaning the new IP has been accepted, or a ! , meaning there was a problem with the format of the new IP address.

IMPORTANT! YOU MUST RESET THE FMB80 FOR THE NEW IP ADDRESS TO BE IN EFFECT.

Either type:
Reset <Enter>

Or turn the unit off and on again. Then type:
IP? <Enter>

And the FMB 80 should respond with its new IP address.
Why should you synchronize an RDS encoder?
The RDS encoder generates an FM subcarrier (SCA) to transport the data. The 57 kHz SCA has been chosen because:

  • a/ it is a frequency located outside the band of the multiplex (53 kHz) but inside the FM channel (100 kHz)
  • b/ it is the third harmonic of 19 kHz

When adding a new subcarrier, problems arise from the intermodulation of the F1+F2 mix. The result may generate undesirable signals in the multiplex band (where they can be heard) or outside the multiplex band (where they can interfere with an adjacent channel).

The level and frequency of this interference is dependant on the phase relationship between the signals involved. If they are independently generated, the phase relation between the signals is going to vary constantly and create large variations of levels and frequencies in the spurious signals. It may create audible and varying artifacts in the demodulated multiplex, although these byproducts are generally audible only on lightly processed (low-density audio) signals.

This is what may happen if we decide to use the internal clock of the FMB80.

To solve this issue, the 2 frequencies must have a constant phase relationship: that’s the reason why they are synchronized. We use the 19 kHz as the master and lock the internal 57 kHz oscillator to it.
What is the MTBF rate for FMB80 products?
The FMB80 has a MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) rate of 85.000 hours in normal use.
Are Audemat encoders digital?
Yes, RDS encoders and Digiplexers are all digital. Their signals are generated digitally. Which means that the signals are constructed mathematically using DSP and then converted by a D/A converter into the analog form. RDS encoders (FMB series) use predefined signal tables stored in EPROMs. The Digiplexers use DSP algorithms and FIR Filters to encode Stereo, RDS and DARC functions.

You have not found needed information? You can contact our Technical Support.