RDS Options

To access RDS options, select the "RDS Options" item in the navigation tree, located at the left side of the display. On this page, you can specify whether crWebBB sends Text (RT) data, Dynamic PS (PS) data or both, depending on whether the selected encoder supports the option. You can enable crWebBB's internal software "block mode", prepend a standard ID to message and limit sent messages to music only.

Text Send Options

Most current-generation encoders support dynamic PS Text as well as the standard Radio Text. If you have selected an encoder that supports this feature, you can choose whether to send the text information to the Radio Text field only, the Dynamic PS field only, or both fields. Those encoders that do not support Dynamic PS text are set to the Text Only option.

Software Block Mode

This set of options provides the means to force crWebBB to break up RDS messages into blocks of 8-character words and send the word blocks in rotation at the interval specified by the user, in seconds. The word blocks are centered and are sent in a circular fashion - the first block, followed by the second block after the Interval (in seconds) has elapsed, and so on, until the block containing that last text of the message is sent. Then, the first block is sent again and cycle is repeated until either a new RDS message is posted or the elapsed time from the start of sending blocks for a message exceeds the length of the audio with which the message is associated (a time-out). If a time-out occurs, the Station ID, if any is assigned, is sent to ensure that what appears on an RDS receiver is not old information.

RDS Message Options

You can choose to insert a fixed set of text in front of a standard song title and artist RDS message with this set of options. For instance, it may be desirable to ensure your station’s slug line appears consistently in either the PS or RT fields on receivers.

Enable this feature by checking the "Prepend Station ID to Standard Messages" checkbox. The "Station ID" field is where your station call letters or slug line is entered – you may enter a maximum of 16 characters, but be aware the width limit for most RDS encoders’ PS field content is 8 characters.

If your RDS encoder does not support dynamic (scrolling) PS or if you are not using the application software block mode, only the first 8 characters of the Station ID field will appear in the PS display on the receiver.

Be aware that this text counts towards the 64-character limit of the Radio Text field. If you use the maximum number of characters in the Station ID field, it’s more probable that when it is combined with a long song title and artist, the Radio Text 64-character limit is exceeded.

The "Station ID" field contents is also used if you have Software Block Mode enabled and a time-out occurs - the length of time crWebBB has been sending blocks of a message exceeds the length of the audio.

If enabled, the Station ID text is pre-pended to standard music (song title and artist) messages only. This setting does not affect alternate messages that may be sent to the encoder.

If you want to limit information sent to the encoder to include only music data (as defined in your music category), check the item "Post Music Category Only". This setting applies only to RDS messages - to limit text billboard messages to music content only, refer to the Text Billboard Posting topic.