— 5 —
Section I
INTRODUCTION
MODEL 730 ENCODER PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The “Radio
Data System”
The Radio Data System allows the FM broadcaster to transmit
certain digital data along with his regular audio programming.
Packets of data transmitted on a low-level subcarrier identify
the station and its particular broadcasting ‘format,’ allow for
transmission of song information, date and time of day, adver-
tising and other text messages, and perform additional ID, con-
trol and housekeeping functions.
General
The 730 Encoder is Inovonics’ top-of-the-line, full-function
dy-
namic
RadioData encoder capable of scrolling song titles and
other information on the RDS radio faceplate. All of the im-
portant static IDs, traffic and other ‘flags’ are supported, as
well as specialized ‘in-house’ applications.
The front-panel LCD screen, built-in diagnostics and safeguards
offered by the 730 Encoder allow for near-foolproof RDS im-
plementation at any FM radio station. Every step has been tak-
en to guarantee simple, straightforward and safe operation.
Features
Leading features of the Inovonics 730 include:
•
Conforms to European UECP standards and supports
“RT+” applications and song ‘tagging.’
•
Works with virtually any broadcast playout (automation)
system. A unique “No Headers” mode supports unfor-
matted satellite-streamed text feeds.
•
Offers USB, RS-232 Serial and TCP/IP-UDP/IP network
connectivity.
•
The front-panel LCD screen and jog wheel enable local,
menu-driven data entry without need for a computer.
•
Internal firmware and software diagnostics guarantee
fast network setup and foolproof encoder operation.
•
Easily set up to transmit song titles, contests, billboard
updates, scrolling advertisements, etc. Operates with
third-party hardware and software for increased functio-
nality. Scrolling messages are automatically ‘parsed,’ or
broken into 8-character word groups for transmission, or
can be ‘safe-scrolled one character at a time.
•
A built-in Scheduler can automatically transmit pre-
programmed scrolling messages or RDS commands based
on day, date and time.
•
Convenient loop-through or failsafe ‘sidechain’ operation
with any exciter/stereo generator combination.