Test and Measurement News

Prism Sound Tests RDS Functionality In Vehicle And Domestic Radio Systems

Cambridge, UK - April 2006: FM radio set manufacturers, particularly those making car stereos, can now test Radio Data System (RDS) using a FREE downloadable script that has been developed for Prism Sound's dScope III audio analyzer.

FM radios equipped with RDS are sometimes called 'smart radios' because they allow listeners to pre-select the operation of their radio and scan for particular types of programming - for example current affairs, science or popular music - without having to manipulate the tuning dial. A listener who is travelling or commuting by car can arrange for special traffic bulletins to automatically break into programmes, even when a different station is broadcasting the information. In fringe areas, where reception of a particular station is marginal, RDS allows the receiver to automatically tune to a stronger station if it is running the same programme at the same time.

An RDS receiver can also be set to display brief text messages from broadcasters, and to periodically re-set the car clock to show the exact time.

Prism Sound's dScope III audio analyzer has long been a test and measurement tool of choice with car stereo manufacturers. In addition to the already feature-rich software within dScope for testing analogue and digital audio devices, this RDS test script has been designed specifically to add RDS testing to other standard audio tests, including, CD transport quality and multi-tone frequency response tests. The script enables test engineers to send RDS data via an FM transmitter to the device under test, and verify the result on the devices RDS display.