RDS(Radio Data System)

[Andy]

Hey everyone,
here is a stupid question, but it would reallly help if someone could answer it. Why do no radios in the U.S. support RDS which is widely used in Europe. I think it would be good here too with all the translators we have and so on, because RDS Radios show the name of the station you are listening to and they change the frequency automaticaly for the clearest and best signal they have.
I hope someone can help me.
Thanks,
Andy

[James W Anderson]

Yes that would be good if they did.

KBAQ in Phoenix has a main on 89.5 and translators first-adgacent on 89.3 and 89.7. They said on their website that there were some digital car stereo tuners that would change to the stronger frequency in these areas.

They gave no further details on what the equipment was.

[x]

I wasn't aware that there were any radios using the Europe network feature. I do know that there are radios (generally in cars) that use RDS. Unfortunately, very few stations do anything with it other than replacing the frequency with their call sign or slogan.

[Michaeljwyo]

As a matter of fact, there ARE some radios here in the US that do support RDS. Some of your higher end home bookshelf stereo systems support it. And many of the higher end auto radios have it as well....for instance...my wife's 2001 Chevy Impala. Hers is RDS capable. Now then....do STATIONS use it? A few. When we were in Denver I think I counted 5 or 6 of them that had RDS on their signal and it generated something on the display. KBCO in particular displayed "KBCO" with the "info" indicator lit on the display. You hit the info button and it scrolled something like "Colorado's best rock. KBCO Boulder-Denver" or something like that. Jammin 92.5 uses it. Also there was on down in the public band....like 89.5 or something and it said "Jazz 89" on the display. Here in Utah, only one station at present. Checked today. KUBL--K-Bull 93. On the display it reads "THE BULL". Seems about a year ago, KBER was using it as well and it said "KBER". Also KVFX was using it as well....I remember seeing "KVFX" on the display. Here in Wyoming, 92.1 in Green River uses it. It displays "KFRZ" on the display.
So yeah, there's a few. There's SO much that can be done with it.....from giving you news and traffic info to displaying the station's name and song names and so forth.....the possibilities are endless. Kinda like AM Stereo. It just never really "took off". I understand an RDS generator is not expensive at all for a radio station to buy and implement. Too bad it just never really caught on. But you can find some RDS radios out there. Just gotta look for them.

Michael n WYO

[Doh]

I understand back when 106.9 (KRAR) was KSOS they had it as well, many Los Angeles stations use it as well, KTWV, KYSR, ect.

[David]

Andy said:

Hey everyone,
here is a stupid question, but it would reallly help if someone could answer it. Why do no radios in the U.S. support RDS which is widely used in Europe. I think it would be good here too with all the translators we have and so on, because RDS Radios show the name of the station you are listening to and they change the frequency automaticaly for the clearest and best signal they have.
I hope someone can help me.
Thanks,
Andy

Radio Shack was closing out their DX-398 AM/FM/shortwave receiver which features RDS just a few months ago for around $100.00. The DX-398 is the same radio as the Sangean ATS-909, and I believe the Sangean is still available. The radio in my 2000 Chevy Impala also has the RDS feature, and it is VERY sensitive to RDS signals. K-BULL 93, KKAT, and KSOP are three of the local radio stations I know of which use RDS. KBER 101 was using it for awhile, but the station dropped RDS a few months ago. Unfortunately, when RDS is used, usually the only information "broadcast" is the station's call letters or slogan.

Part of the reason RDS may not have caught on in the US is because of a rumor that transmitting an RDS signal with the station's audio signal reduces the range of the station. This rumor may or may not be true, but as with most broadcasting "urban legends," rumors are hard to kill once they are started.