Clear Channel format changes?

[comptx]

93.7 The Arrow is broadcasting a new call through RDS. KEQI. Any reason they'd change it from KKRW? Waiting for the TOH to see if that's changed too. My phone is also reporting 94.5 The Buzz as KAXJ. Interesting. Sunny is broadcasting KBZY. Wonder if it's a fluke or something's coming.

 

[mr.ric]

Probably nothing. System error.

 

[ChuckTiller]

Out of the three listed, only KBZY exists. It's AM1490 in Salem Oregon. Obviously, they have adopted the internet and phone apps to get the station into the new millennium. A stand alone AM is destined for it's demise.

http://www.kbzy.com/Home_Page.php

Streaming 'live' at:

http://p.freestreams.com/?pid=455&t=1353492399527

 

[Kent]

KAXJ is a default callsign on one of the RDS systems. I'd guess the others are, too.

 

[Doctor_Technical]

Comptx et al, forgive a wandering explanation...

RDS has several pre-defined fields, one of which is named PI (Program Identification). It's my understanding that the original concept for PI some 25+ years ago was similar to the old VCR+ system, such that you would enter the PI code for a program you would want to hear and your radio would flag (tune, record, etc.) that program.

Fine for older networks based on a TV model, not-so-great for single-format stations, but the darn PI takes up a full 25% of the RDS datastream, with the rest allocated among various housekeeping duties such as tuning and timing, as well as that percentage given to PS (Program Service, the RDS "song-title" display normally seen on car radios) and other types of display.

More recently, standards for the North American flavor of RDS were changed to a more-useful concept such such that the four hexadecimal digits of the PI would reflect the call letters of the hosting station via an agreed-upon formula and table. Some radios, including at least the Microsoft Zunes, Sony Ericsson phones (which I'm guessing you have) and our alerting receivers will decode and display those call letters according to the NRSC standard.

What you are likely seeing is the result of a choice by CC to deploy a non-standard usage of the PI code. If you indeed saw a recent *change* on the the same phone, perhaps CC HOU did some tinkering with their RDS encoders.

So... what phone model are you using?

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

Comptx et al, forgive a wandering explanation...

RDS has several pre-defined fields, one of which is named PI (Program Identification). It's my understanding that the original concept for PI some 25+ years ago was similar to the old VCR+ system, such that you would enter the PI code for a program you would want to hear and your radio would flag (tune, record, etc.) that program.

Fine for older networks based on a TV model, not-so-great for single-format stations, but the darn PI takes up a full 25% of the RDS datastream, with the rest allocated among various housekeeping duties such as tuning and timing, as well as that percentage given to PS (Program Service, the RDS "song-title" display normally seen on car radios) and other types of display.

More recently, standards for the North American flavor of RDS were changed to a more-useful concept such such that the four hexadecimal digits of the PI would reflect the call letters of the hosting station via an agreed-upon formula and table. Some radios, including at least the Microsoft Zunes, Sony Ericsson phones (which I'm guessing you have) and our alerting receivers will decode and display those call letters according to the NRSC standard.

What you are likely seeing is the result of a choice by CC to deploy a non-standard usage of the PI code. If you indeed saw a recent *change* on the the same phone, perhaps CC HOU did some tinkering with their RDS encoders.

So... what phone model are you using?

Most awesome post ever.