IEC 62106:2000

Specification of the radio data system (RDS) for VHF/FM sound broadcasting in the frequency range from 87,5 to 108,0 MHz

The Radio Data System (RDS) applies to VHF/FM sound broadcasts, which may carry stereophonic or monophonic programmes. RDS improves functionality of receivers by implementing features such as Programme Identification, Programme Service and automatic tuning.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 26-Jan-2000
• ICS: 33.060.20 - Receiving and transmitting equipment
• ICS: 33.170 - Television and radio broadcasting
• ICS: 35.240.99 - IT applications in other fields
• Technical Committee: TC 100 - Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Completion Date: 30-Jul-2009

Relations

• Revised: IEC 62106:2009 - Specification of the Radio Data System (RDS) for VHF/FM sound broadcasting in the frequency range from 87,5 MHz to 108,0 MHz
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
First edition
2000-01
Specification of the radio data system (RDS)
for VHF/FM sound broadcasting
in the frequency range
from 87,5 to 108,0 MHz
Reference number
Numbering
As from 1 January 1997 all IEC publications are issued with a designation in the
60000 series.
Consolidated publications
Consolidated versions of some IEC publications including amendments are

available. For example, edition numbers 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 refer, respectively, to the
base publication, the base publication incorporating amendment 1 and the base

publication incorporating amendments 1 and 2.

Validity of this publication
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC,
thus ensuring that the content reflects current technology.
Information relating to the date of the reconfirmation of the publication is available
in the IEC catalogue.
Information on the subjects under consideration and work in progress undertaken
by the technical committee which has prepared this publication, as well as the list
of publications issued, is to be found at the following IEC sources:
• IEC web site*
• Catalogue of IEC publications
Published yearly with regular updates
(On-line catalogue)*
• IEC Bulletin
Available both at the IEC web site* and as a printed periodical
Terminology, graphical and letter symbols
For general terminology, readers are referred to IEC 60050: International
Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV).
For graphical symbols, and letter symbols and signs approved by the IEC for
general use, readers are referred to publications IEC 60027: Letter symbols to be
used in electrical technology, IEC 60417: Graphical symbols for use on equipment.
Index, survey and compilation of the single sheets and IEC 60617: Graphical symbols
for diagrams.
* See web site address on title page.

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
First edition
2000-01
Specification of the radio data system (RDS)
for VHF/FM sound broadcasting
in the frequency range
from 87,5 to 108,0 MHz
 IEC 2000  Copyright - all rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Electrotechnical Commission 3, rue de Varembé Geneva, Switzerland
Telefax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] IEC web site http://www.iec.ch
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
PRICE CODE
XF
International Electrotechnical Commission
For price, see current catalogue

62106 © IEC:2000 - 2 -
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

SPECIFICATION OF THE RADIO DATA SYSTEM (RDS) FOR VHF/FM SOUND

BROADCASTING IN THE FREQUENCY RANGE FROM 87,5 TO 108,0 MHZ

FOREWORD
1) The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising all national electrotechnical
committees (IEC National Committees). The object of the IEC is to promote international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization
in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and in addition to other activities, the IEC publishes International Standards. Their preparation
is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work.
International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. The IEC collaborates
closely with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two
organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of the IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international consensus of opinion on the
relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all interested National Committees.
3) The documents produced have the form of recommendations for international use and are published in the form of standards, technical
specifications, technical reports or guides and they are accepted by the National Committees in that sense.
4) In order to promote international unification, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC International Standards transparently to the
maximum extent possible in their national and regional standards. Any divergence between the IEC Standard and the corresponding national or
regional standard shall be clearly indicated in the latter.
5) The IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any equipment declared to be in conformity
with one of its standards.
This International Standard IEC 62106 has been prepared by the IEC Subcommittee 100A: Multimedia end-user equipment,
of the Technical Committee 100: Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment.
This standard is based on the European CENELEC Standard EN 50067:1998 prepared by the RDS Forum, using an earlier
specification [8] that was originally developed within the European Broadcasting Union. It was submitted to the National
Committees for voting under the Fast Track Procedure as the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
100A/134A/FDIS 100A/139/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report indicated in the above table.
Attention is drawn to the fact that there may be Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in relation to certain provisions of this

standard. IPR holders should notify the IEC of their claims.
This publication has not been drafted in complete accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
Annexes B, C, G, H, K, L and Q are for information only.
Annexes A, D, E, F, J, M, N, and P form an integral part of this standard.

- 3 - 62106 © IEC:2000
CONTENTS
page
0 S cope . 6

1 Modulation characteristics of the data channel (physical layer) . 6

1.1 Subcarrier frequency . 6

1.2 Subcarrier phase . 6

1.3 Subcarrier level . 8

1.4 Method of modulation . 8

1.5 Clock-frequency and data-rate . 8
1.6 Differential coding . 8
1.7 Data-channel spectrum shaping . 9
2 Baseband coding (data-link layer) . 12
2.1 Baseband coding structure . 12
2.2 Order of bit transmission . 12
2.3 Error protection . 13
2.4 Synchronization of blocks and groups . 14
3 Message format (session and presentation layers) . 15
3.1 Addressing . 15
3.1.1 Design principles . 15
3.1.2 Principal features . 15
3.1.3 Group types . 17
3.1.4 Open data channel / Applications Identification . 19
3.1.4.1 Use of Open data applications . 19
3.1.4.2 Open data applications - Group structure . 20
3.1.5 Coding of the Group types . 21
3.1.5.1  Type 0 groups: Basic tuning and switching information . 21
3.1.5.2  Type 1 groups: Programme-item number and slow labelling codes . 23
3.1.5.3  Type 2 groups: RadioText . 25
3.1.5.4  Type 3A groups: Applications Identification for Open Data . 27
3.1.5.5  Type 3B groups: Open data application . 28
3.1.5.6  Type 4A groups: Clock-time and date . 28
3.1.5.7  Type 4B groups: Open data application . 29
3.1.5.8  Type 5 groups : Transparent data channels or ODA . 29
3.1.5.9  Type 6 groups : In house applications or ODA . 30
3.1.5.10 Type 7A groups: Radio paging or ODA . 31
3.1.5.11 Type 7B groups : Open data application . 31
3.1.5.12 Type 8 groups: Traffic Message Channel or ODA . 32
3.1.5.13 Type 9 groups: Emergency warning systems or ODA . 33
3.1.5.14 Type 10 groups: Programme Type Name (Group type 10A) and Open data
(Group type 10B)  . 34
3.1.5.15 Type 11 groups: Open data application . 35
3.1.5.16 Type 12 groups: Open data application . 36
3.1.5.17 Type 13A groups: Enhanced Radio paging or ODA . 36
3.1.5.18 Type 13B groups : Open data application . 37
3.1.5.19 Type 14 groups: Enhanced Other Networks information . 38
3.1.5.20 Type 15A groups . 39
3.1.5.21 Type 15B groups: Fast tuning and switching information . 39

62106 © IEC:2000 - 4 -
page
3.2 Coding of information . 40

3.2.1 Coding of information for control . 40

3.2.1.1 Programme Identification (PI) codes and Extended Country Codes (ECC) . 40
3.2.1.2 Programme-type (PTY) codes . 40
3.2.1.3 Traffic-programme (TP) and traffic-announcement (TA) codes . 40
3.2.1.4 Music Speech (MS) switch code . 40

3.2.1.5 Decoder Identification (DI) and Dynamic PTY Indicator (PTYI) codes . 41

3.2.1.6 Coding of Alternative Frequencies (AFs) in type 0A groups . 41

3.2.1.7 Programme-item number (PIN) codes . 46

3.2.1.8 Coding of Enhanced Other Networks information (EON) . 46

3.2.2 Coding and use of information for display . 50

3.2.3 Coding of clock-time and date (CT) . 50
3.2.4 Coding of information for Transparent data channels (TDC) . 50
3.2.5 Coding of information for In House applications (IH) . 50
3.2.6 Coding of Radio paging (RP) . 51
3.2.6.1 Introduction . 51
3.2.6.2 Identification of paging networks . 52
3.2.7 Coding of Emergency Warning Systems (EWS) . 53
44 D es cription of f eatures . 54
5 M arking . 57

- 5 - 62106 © IEC:2000
ANNEXES
page
Annex A (normative) - Offset words to be used for group and block synchronization . 59

Annex B (informative) - Theory and implementation of the modified shortened cyclic code . 60

Annex C (informative) - Implementation of group and block synchronization using the modified shortened

cyclic code . 66

Anne x D (normative) - Programme identification codes and Extended country codes . 69

Annex E (normative) - Character definition for Programme Service name, Programme Type Name,

RadioText and alphanumeric Radio paging . 73
Annex F (normative) - Programme Type codes . 77
Annex G (informative) - Conversion between time and date conventions . 81
Annex H (informative) - Specification of the ARI system . 83
Annex J (normative) - Language identification . 84
Annex K (informative) - RDS logo . 86
Annex L (informative) - Open data registration . 87
Annex M (normative) - Coding of Radio Paging . 90
Annex N (normative) - Country codes and Extended country codes for countries outside the
European Broadcasting Area . 126
Annex P (normative) - Index of abbreviations . 131
Annex Q (informative) - Bibliography . 132

62106 © IEC:2000 - 6 -
0  Scope
The Radio Data System, RDS, is intended for application to VHF/FM sound broadcasts in the range 87.5 MHz

to 108.0 MHz which may carry either stereophonic (pilot-tone system) or monophonic programmes. The main objectives

of RDS are to enable improved funtionality for FM receivers and to make them more user-friendly by using features such

as Programme Identification, Programme Service name display and where applicable, automatic tuning for portable and

car radios, in particular. The relevant basic tuning and switching information therefore has to be implemented by the type

0 group (see 3.1.5.1), and it is not optional unlike many of the other possible features in RDS.

1 Modulation characteristics of the data channel (physical layer)
The Radio Data System is intended for application to VHF/FM sound broadcasting transmitters in the range 87.5
to 108.0 MHz, which carry stereophonic (pilot-tone
...