Setting up the Built-in RDS Generator (Web UI Only)

Omnia XII provides Radio Data System (RDS) generator controls as part of the standard MPX configuration features.

RDS data is routed through Omnia XII composite output. Supported features include station ID, traffic, and program details.

You can set these controls in the web UI only. These configuration controls are not included in the front panel touchscreen.

Navigating to the RDS Dashboard and RDS Menu Tabs

The RDS dashboard gives you access to settings for various RDS functions via menu tabs in the top right corner of the page. Each menu page provides the same four menu tabs to easily navigate between the pages and to return to the dashboard.

The dashboard also provides display panels of RDS information, as configured in the other RDS menu pages.

To display the RDS Dashboard and RDS menu tabs:

1. From the FM / HD Processing page, click the MPX tab.

   This provides a view of header meters, two scope meters (MPX Spectrum and MPX Scope) in the next panel, Monitor controls and a block diagram with menu tabs in the middle panel, and respective menu controls in the bottom panel.

2. Click the RDS Gen tab in the block diagram.

   The RDS Dashboard page opens. It includes menu tabs for RDS Dashboard, Basic RDS, Metadata, and Settings.

Configuring RDS Settings

Before you configure basic RDS settings, you must first configure a collection of standard RDS settings.

To configure RDS settings:

1. Navigate to the RDS dashboard.
   See Navigating to the RDS Dashboard and RDS Menu Tabs.

2. Click the Settings tab.

3. In the Base Config panel, click the Country drop-down menu and select your country and the ITU region your country belongs to.
   This preconfigured settings that are regulated by ITU for your region, like the first character of the PI code (except for USA) and ECC code.

4. (Optional) Check the Override ITU Standard box if you want to set your PI code and ECC manually.
   Generally, this not recommended.

5. (Optional) Check Enable EON (Enhanced Other Networks) if you want to let your radio station broadcast data, alternative frequencies, and traffic announcements for linked or sister radio networks.

6. In the History Length box, set how many RDS changes you want to display on the RDS Dashboard page.
   The minimum is one.

7. (Optional) In the Remote section, configure settings to externally control basic RDS functions.
   See Configuring Remote Control of Basic RDS Settings, and then Configuring Basic RDS Settings to set up the functions.

8. Click SAVE SETTINGS to save the settings.

Configuring Basic RDS Settings

Basic RDS settings include your station ID, traffic information, program details, AF (Alternative Frequencies), and other RDS options.

Some of the settings configured in Basic RDS (such as program ID, type and details) display on the RDS Dashboard page.

To access Basic RDS settings:

1. Navigate to the RDS dashboard.
   See Navigating to the RDS Dashboard and RDS Menu Tabs.

2. Click the Basic RDS tab.  

To configure Station Identification:

1. In the Station ID section, type your program identification number in the PI (Program ID) field.

2. In the PS Mode drop-down menu, select the desired mode.

   • Static: Displays a static PS (Program Service) name, as entered in the PS field.

   • Dynamic Mode 0: Scrolls by eight characters the text entered in the DPS (Scrolling Program Service name).

   • Dynamic Mode 1: Scrolls by one character the text entered in the DPS (Scrolling Program Service name).

   • Dynamic Mode 2: Scrolls by one word at a time the text entered in the DPS (Scrolling Program Service name).

3. If Static was selected, type in the desired PS (Program Service) name.

4. If a Dynamic Mode was selected, edit the DPS (Scrolling Program Service name) and Speed (sec) fields.

   The Current PS box displays the current program service name to the right of Default PS.

   1. In the DPS (Scrolling Program Service name) field, type in the text that should scroll as a program service name.

   2. Set the Speed (sec); the interval in seconds for PS to be updated,

      For example, with a setting of 5, the PS updates every fifth second, and for a setting of 10, the PS updates every tenth second.

      Warning: Setting the speed under 5 seconds is not recommended. The RDS standard program service name was designed to be static. PS does not have an A/B flag like RT (Radio text) has (an A/B flag tells the receiver when the text has changed, receivers also store RT text in two different buffers for faster updates). PS has no such functions. This means that a fast update of PS can result in no PS being displayed at all, which is more common on newer receivers.

5. In the RT (Radio Text) field, type in the desired text.

6. Click SAVE RDS to save the settings.

To configure Traffic Settings:

1. (Optional) Enable TP (Traffic Program).

   This enables a static flag, indicating that the station regularly broadcasts traffic reports, allowing car radios in Traffic Search mode to tune in.

2. (Optional) Enable TA (Traffic Announcement).

   Enable this setting when broadcasting a traffic announcement. This sets the TA flag so compatible receivers temporarily interrupt the current audio source and switch to your station for the duration of the announcement.

3. If TA (Traffic Announcement) is enabled, set the TA Time-out.

   This is a failsafe safety timer (in seconds) that automatically clears/turns off the active TA flag if the announcer or automation forgets to reset it, preventing car stereos from getting permanently stuck in traffic-interruption mode. A setting of 0 = no timeout.

4. Click SAVE RDS to save the settings.

To configure Program Details:

Note: These settings provide the text description of your current program and define how they are transmitted.

1. In the PTY (Programme Type) drop-down menu, select a type: 0 — No programme type defined, 1 — News, 2— Current affairs, 3 — Information.

2. Select how your station transmits the text description by enabling Use RT (Radio Text), Use CT, or Dynamic PTY, as desired.

3. If Dynamic PTY is selected, type in a program type name in the PTYN field, up to eight characters.

4. Click SAVE RDS to save the settings.

To configure AF (Alternate Frequencies):

1. In the AF (Alternate Frequencies) section, click the ADD AF button.

2. In the Add AF dialog, set the radio station Frequency (such as 87.5) and a Title (such as your transmitter location).

3. Click SAVE.

To enable optional Other RDS Options:

1. In the Other RDS Options section, click the Outdated RDS Options reveal triangle.

2. Enable any RDS features as needed.

   These include RDS features that the Omnia XII can still generate even though they are no longer supported by the standard (IEC 62106-2-2018) and newer receivers may not respond to the fields when enabled.

   Here are the fields that can be enabled:

   • Stereo

   • Artificial Head

   • Compressed

   • Music

   These RDS features have been marked obsolete and are no longer supported by the standard (IEC 62106-2-2018:

   • MS (Groups, 0A, 0B, 15B)

   • Selected DI codes (mono/stereo, artificial head, compression)

   • Language Code

3. Click SAVE RDS to save the settings.

Configuring Remote Control of Basic RDS Settings

Basic RDS functions can be controlled via text commands over TCP or UDP, or RestAPI. See Configuring Basic RDS Settings to set up the functions to be remotely controlled.

For a full list of command functions, see TCP and UDP Commands. If using Rest API, see RestAPI Endpoints.

To set up Omnia XII to remotely control basic RDS functions:

1. Navigate to the RDS dashboard.
   See Navigating to the RDS Dashboard and RDS Menu Tabs.

2. Click the Settings tab.

3. Check TCP to control basic RDS functions via text commands over TCP.

4. Check UDP to control basic RDS functions via text commands over UDP.

5. Set API.

   1. Check Rest API to control basic RDS functions via RestAPI.

   2. Check Use Token to secure the RestAPI call with a header token.

   3. Type in the token name in the API Token box.

      For more information, see RestAPI Endpoints.

6. Click SAVE SETTINGS to save the settings.

7. Set ports for TCP and UDP in Docker/Portainer.

   • TCP default port: 9001

   • UPD default port: 9002

   • RestAPI default port: 80 (which is the same default port for the webpage).

RDS Remote Control Reference Material

After RDS remote control has been configured, you can control the RDS generator by using either TCP/UDP commands or RestAPI.

TCP and UDP Commands

*PS cannot be set if Dynamic PS (DPS) is active.

RestAPI Endpoints

OmniaRDS has two endpoint for the API.

• http://omniards-ip/api/v1/nowplaying

  This endpoint sends metadata to Omnia RDS via a POST command; a GET command reads the data.

• http://omniards-ip/api/v1/basicrds

  This endpoint updates RDS info on Omnia RDA via a POST command; a GET command reads the data.

Both endpoints can be protected via a token to be included in the header of the API call.

Populating RDS Fields Using a Template

The METADATA page lets you create multiple metadata templates with different RDS data. You can then select which template you want to enable for use.

For example, a playout system can send Artist, Title, and Category information to Omnia XII. A metadata template can automatically populate RDS RadioText with content such as:

Now Playing: Mamma Mia – ABBA

Note: All fields in RDS have a limited number of characters.

Creating a Metadata Template

To create an RDS metadata template:

1. Navigate to the RDS dashboard.
   See Navigating to the RDS Dashboard and RDS Menu Tabs.

2. Click the Metadata tab.

3. In the New Metadata Template dialog, configure template settings.

   1. Check the Enabled box to make template settings editable.

   2. Type in a Title (such as an operator label) if desired and a Playout Category (such as song, ad, or news).

   3. Type in the PS (Program Service name) or leave the field blank to keep the default.

   4. In the PTY Code drop-down menu, select Keep Default PTY or 0 — No programme type defined, 1 — News, 2— Current affairs, 3 — Information.

   5. In the DSP (Dynamic Program Service and RT (Radio Text) fields, click the respective plus (+) sign and then add text or tags.

   6. To use RT+, check the RT+ box, click the Art Tag drop-down menu to add an Item.Artist, and then click the Title Tag drop-down menu to add an Item.Title.

4. Click SAVE.