DRC-FM RDS Info

[CTkent]

Now that the station is sounding great, how about improving the RDS info on DRC-FM. Currently all you get is "DRC-FM" ... no song titles and artists, and no slogans like "Hartford's Home for Good Time Rock & Roll". While travelling, some stations are very creative with their RDS info. They have stuff like request phone numbers and the names of the on air talent. WEEI-FM even displays the score during Red Sox games!

 

[RadioMan203]

My first guess would be that DRC-FM's automation system (a Smartcaster, I believe) may be too old to support RDS without some sort of modification.

I know the automation I used when I started my webstream 7 years ago, the Digital Jukebox, didn't have any functionality for RDS, let alone being compliant with webcasting. Older automation systems may have been developed before RDS ever came to light so it's quite possible that there may not be any provision for supporting it.

The Smartcaster may require an external or interface hardware to work with any RDS equipment, if it can even be modified after the fact.

 

[CHJ1950]

If they won't spend for a live web stream, updated RDS equipment would be a total joke!

 

[DJ Jim Wayne]

Everyone please consider this . . . .

Sit back and relax and enjoy the clean robust signal of DRC-FM.
Fasten your seat belt, keep your eyes on the road and don't worry about the silly RDS. I'll bet they'll address it when they're ready to.

 

[Tom_Ray]

Gang:

You're right - the Smartcaster does not have the ability at all to output title & artist data. But the FM isn't using a Smartcaster (they are on the HD2). They're using a Scott's Studios/Google system (which, by the way, uses uncompressed WAV files), which DOES have the ability to output the data. Stay tuned.

In regards to streaming, it is extremely expensive, to the point of being prohibitively expensive, to stream music in the current cliamate. Maybe some day in the future, but not now.

Tom Ray
VP/Engineering
Buckley Radio

 

[marshall miles]

Bill:

The new Digital Jukebox is now capable of artist andsong info for RDS!

Marshall

 

[Turntable]

I'm listening on a 1959 Harmon/Kardon TA-224 Receiver.... 12 watts per channel of Stereo Hollow State Goodness! Who needs RDS?

 

[RadioMan203]

The new Digital Jukebox is now capable of artist andsong info for RDS!

The big question is: Does anybody with one iota of intelligence even use the Digital Jukebox anymore? The lack of support and the wealth of bugs made me wake up fast, especially after the Windows version ruined a year's worth of prep work. The last line of my Radio World review of the StationPlaylist automation suite sums up my feeling about the Digital Junkbox ... oops, Jukebox.

 

[marshall miles]

Well Bill:

I do think I have at least one iota of intelligence, maybe not to many more because I have been a broadcaster for over 37 years, but at least one!

I have used the Windows version for over 5 years now. I converted all my old DOS version DJB files without any problem. I have had the following stations running without a missed beat with the system..

The 24 hour a day background for a billboard on one of our access channels

robinhoodradio.com has been running 24/7 for over two years

WHDD AM 1020 has been running for over a year and a half

All without problems.

The only time any of these properties has been off air is if one of our generators failed to kick in during a power failure.

Whenever I have a question about a new feature, its always answered quickly.

I realize the system is not perfect for everyone, but, it has worked flawlessly for us in three diferent applications.

 

[RadioMan203]

Marshall,

Consider yourself most fortunate. I started to discover the dark side of the Digital Jukebox after I wrote my review in Radio World in 2002. I started getting nasty email from folks who told me about their problems with the system in addition to issues with support, sales and money issues. It was difficult to ignore these issues when I saw the software literally destroy my hard work - something I had never seen any other automation system do.

If it works for you and your stations consider yourself lucky. I consider myself most fortunate that I discovered a system that was less expensive, extremely stable and sporting support doesn't leave the user hanging high and dry.

Back to the happenings at DRC-FM, while it may be nice to see something on the RDS I just wonder what the true saturation of RDS-equipped receivers are in the state. It honestly may not be worth the effort.

 

[4dude]

I think its SAD THEY HAVE "BIG D 103" ON ONE OF THIER SUB CHANNELS BUT THEY DONT STREAM IT

 

[RadioMan203]

I think its SAD THEY HAVE "BIG D 103" ON ONE OF THIER SUB CHANNELS BUT THEY DONT STREAM IT

While all the streaming royalty rates are still in limbo I doubt many stations will stream until the climate gets better. As much as the idiots at the RIAA won't admit it, they are successfully killing streaming opportunities for stations

 

[CTListener]

I think its SAD THEY HAVE "BIG D 103" ON ONE OF THIER SUB CHANNELS BUT THEY DONT STREAM IT

While all the streaming royalty rates are still in limbo I doubt many stations will stream until the climate gets better. As much as the idiots at the RIAA won't admit it, they are successfully killing streaming opportunities for stations

I thought the reason DRC stopped streaming (in April 2001) was that it didn't want to pay extra to AFTRA and SAG, which had lawyered their way into getting the right to demand additional fees for ads featuring unionized voice talent that went out over the Internet as well as the airwaves. This particular money grab predated the RIAA money grab by several years and knocked a lot of stations off the Internet. Many of them came back eventually, some with the unionized-talent ads scrubbed from the streams. Others, like DRC, never did.