IEC 62106-2:2021

Radio data system (RDS) - VHF/FM sound broadcasting in the frequency range from 64,0 MHz to 108,0 MHz - Part 2: Message format: coding and definition of RDS features

IEC 62106-8:2021 defines the coding and definition of features for the Radio Data System (RDS). IEC 62106-8:2021 cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2018. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to IEC 62106‑2:2018:
a) Subclause 4.2.4 has been added;
b) Tables 1 and 13 have been modified;
c) The new function RDS2 file transfer has been added and it is detailed in Annex C; this uses a CRC-16, which is specified in Annex D.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 21-Feb-2021
• ICS: 33.160.40 - Video systems
• Technical Committee: TA 1 - Terminals for audio, video and data services and content
• Drafting Committee: MT 62106-2 - TC 100/TA 1/MT 62106-2
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 08-Mar-2021
• Completion Date: 22-Feb-2021

Relations

• Revises: IEC 62106-2:2018 - Radio data system (RDS) - VHF/FM sound broadcasting in the frequency range from 64,0 MHz to 108,0 MHz - Part 2: Message format: Coding and definition of RDS features
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 62106-2 ®
Edition 2.0 2021-02
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Radio data system (RDS) – VHF/FM sound broadcasting in the frequency range
from 64,0 MHz to 108,0 MHz –
Part 2: Message format: coding and definitions of RDS features
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, 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
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

IEC Central Office Tel.: [phone]
3, rue de Varembé [e-mail]
CH-1211 Geneva 20 www.iec.ch
Switzerland
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.

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need further assistance, please contact the Customer Service
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IEC 62106-2 ®
Edition 2.0 2021-02
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Radio data system (RDS) – VHF/FM sound broadcasting in the frequency range

from 64,0 MHz to 108,0 MHz –
Part 2: Message format: coding and definitions of RDS features

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.160.40 ISBN 978-2-8322-9426-0

– 2 – IEC 62106-2:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 6
INTRODUCTION . 8
1 Scope . 9
2 Normative references . 9
3 Terms, definitions, abbreviated terms and conventions . 9
3.1 Terms and definitions . 9
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 9
3.3 Notation and conventions . 11
4 Message format . 11
4.1 Design principles . 11
4.2 Group structure . 12
4.2.1 Group type A structure . 12
4.2.2 Group type B structure . 13
4.2.3 Group type C structure . 13
4.2.4 RFT ODA pipe/channel . 14
4.3 Group type A and B usage . 15
4.4 Group type C usage . 16
4.4.1 Transmitting legacy data using data-streams 1, 2 and 3. 16
4.4.2 Transmitting group type C ODA data . 16
4.4.3 AID and channel number assignment for group type C ODAs. 17
5 Description of the RDS features. 18
5.1 Alternative Frequencies list (AFs) . 18
5.2 Clock Time and date (CT) . 18
5.3 Dynamic PTY Indicator (PTYI) using DI . 18
5.4 Extended Country Code (ECC) . 18
5.5 Enhanced Other Networks information (EON) . 18
5.6 Linkage information . 19
5.7 Open Data Applications (ODAs) . 19
5.8 Programme Identification (PI). 19
5.9 Programme Service name – (PS) . 20
5.10 Long Programme Service name – (LPS) . 20
5.11 Programme Type (PTY) . 20
5.12 Programme Type Name (PTYN) . 20
5.13 RadioText (RT) . 21
5.14 enhanced RadioText (eRT) . 21
5.15 RadioText Plus (RT+ and eRT+) . 21
5.16 Traffic Programme identification (TP) . 21
5.17 Traffic Announcement identification (TA) . 21
5.18 Traffic Message Channel (TMC) . 22
6 Coding of the group types . 22
6.1 Groups of type 0A and 0B: Basic tuning and switching information with PS
name . 22
6.2 Group type 1A: Slow labelling codes . 23
6.3 Group type 2A and 2B: RadioText . 24
6.4 Group type 3A: Application identification for any specific ODA using groups
of type A or B . 25

6.5 Group type 4A: Clock-Time and date. 25
6.6 Group type 10A: Programme Type Name PTYN . 26
6.7 Group type 14A and B: Enhanced Other Networks information (EON) . 27
6.8 Group type 15A: Long Programme Service name – 32 bytes with UTF-8
coding . 27
6.9 Group type 15B: Fast basic tuning and switching information . 28
7 Coding of RDS features for control . 29
7.1 Programme Identification (PI) codes and Extended Country Codes (ECC) . 29
7.1.1 PI structure . 29
7.1.2 Country Identifier (CI) codes: 'Nibble 1' . 29
7.1.3 Extended Country Codes (ECC) . 29
7.1.4 Programme service in terms of area coverage (codes for fixed location
transmitters only): 'Nibble 2' . 30
7.1.5 Programme reference number: 'Nibbles 3 and 4' . 30
7.1.6 PI codes for low-power short range transmitting devices . 30
7.2 Programme Type (PTY) codes . 31
7.3 Traffic Programme (TP) and Traffic Announcement (TA) codes . 31
7.4 Decoder Identification (DI) and dynamic PTY Indicator (PTYI) codes . 31
7.5 Coding of Alternative Frequencies (AFs) . 32
7.5.1 AF code tables . 32
7.5.2 Use of Alternative Frequencies in group type 0A. 34
7.5.3 Use of AF codes in group type 14A . 36
7.6 Coding of Enhanced Other Networks information (EON) . 37
7.6.1 General . 37
7.6.2 Coding of frequencies for cross-referenced programme services in EON . 38
7.6.3 Use of the TP and TA features with EON . 38
7.6.4 Use of PTY with EON . 38
8 Required main RDS feature repetition rates on data-stream 0 . 39
Annex A (normative) Method for linking RDS programme services – Linkage
information – Group type 1A and 14A . 44
A.1 General . 44
A.2 LA – Linkage Actuator . 45
A.3 EG – Extended Generic indicator . 45
A.4 ILS – International Linkage Set indicator . 45
A.5 LSN – Linkage Set Number . 45
Annex B (informative) Conversion between time and date conventions . 47
Annex C (normative) RDS2 File Transfer protocol RFT for files up to 163 kB . 49
C.1 Group coding of the ODA-AID assignment groups . 49
C.1.1 General principles . 49
C.1.2 Variant 0 . 49
C.1.3 Variant 1 . 50
C.1.4 Variants 2 to 15 . 51
C.2 Coding of the RFT data group used to carry the file data bytes . 51
Annex D (informative) CRC-16 ITU-T/CCITT checkword calculation . 53
D.1 General . 53
D.2 PASCAL listing of CRC-16-calculation routine . 53
D.3 C listing of the CRC-16 calculation routine . 53
D.4 Fictitious example . 54
Bibliography . 55

– 4 – IEC 62106-2:2021 © IEC 2021

Figure 1 – Group type A structure . 12
Figure 2 – Group type B structure . 13
Figure 3 – Group type C structure . 13
Figure 4 – Tunnelling structure for group types A and B . 16
Figure 5 – Basic tuning and switching information – Group type 0A . 22
...

IEC 62106-2 ®
Edition 2.0 2021-02
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Radio data system (RDS) – VHF/FM sound broadcasting in the frequency range
from 64,0 MHz to 108,0 MHz –
Part 2: Message format: coding and definitions of RDS features

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, 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
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

IEC Central Office Tel.: [phone]
3, rue de Varembé [e-mail]
CH-1211 Geneva 20 www.iec.ch
Switzerland
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.

IEC publications search - webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform IEC online collection - oc.iec.ch
The advanced search enables to find IEC publications by a Discover our powerful search engine and read freely all the
variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical publications previews. With a subscription you will always
committee, …). It also gives information on projects, replaced have access to up to date content tailored to your needs.
and withdrawn publications.
Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
The world's leading online dictionary on electrotechnology,
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published
containing more than 22 000 terminological entries in English
details all new publications released. Available online and
and French, with equivalent terms in 18 additional languages.
once a month by email.
Also known as the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary

(IEV) online.
IEC Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc

If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or
need further assistance, please contact the Customer Service
Centre: [e-mail].
IEC 62106-2 ®
Edition 2.0 2021-02
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Radio data system (RDS) – VHF/FM sound broadcasting in the frequency range

from 64,0 MHz to 108,0 MHz –
Part 2: Message format: coding and definitions of RDS features

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.160.40 ISBN 978-2-8322-9484-0

– 2 – IEC 62106-2:2021 RLV © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 6
INTRODUCTION . 2
1 Scope . 10
2 Normative references . 10
3 Terms, definitions, abbreviated terms and conventions . 10
3.1 Terms and definitions . 10
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 10
3.3 Notation and conventions . 12
4 Message format . 12
4.1 Design principles . 12
4.2 Group structure . 13
4.2.1 Group type A structure . 13
4.2.2 Group type B structure . 14
4.2.3 Group type C structure . 14
4.2.4 RFT ODA pipe/channel . 15
4.3 Group type A and B usage . 16
4.4 Group type C usage . 17
4.4.1 Transmitting legacy data using data-streams 1, 2 and 3. 17
4.4.2 Transmitting group type C ODA data . 17
4.4.3 AID and channel number assignment for group type C ODAs. 18
5 Description of the RDS features. 19
5.1 Alternative Frequencies list (AFs) . 19
5.2 Clock Time and date (CT) . 19
5.3 Dynamic PTY Indicator (PTYI) using DI . 19
5.4 Extended Country Code (ECC) . 19
5.5 Enhanced Other Networks information (EON) . 19
5.6 Linkage information . 20
5.7 Open Data Applications (ODAs) . 20
5.8 Programme Identification (PI). 20
5.9 Programme Service name – (PS) . 21
5.10 Long Programme Service name – (LPS) . 21
5.11 Programme Type (PTY) . 21
5.12 Programme Type Name (PTYN) . 21
5.13 RadioText (RT) . 22
5.14 enhanced RadioText (eRT) . 22
5.15 RadioText Plus (RT+ and eRT+) . 22
5.16 Traffic Programme identification (TP) . 22
5.17 Traffic Announcement identification (TA) . 22
5.18 Traffic Message Channel (TMC) . 23
6 Coding of the group types . 23
6.1 Groups of type 0A and 0B: Basic tuning and switching information with PS
name . 23
6.2 Group type 1A: Slow labelling codes . 24
6.3 Group type 2A and 2B: RadioText . 25
6.4 Group type 3A: Application identification for any specific ODA using groups
of type A or B . 26

6.5 Group type 4A: Clock-Time and date. 26
6.6 Group type 10A: Programme Type Name PTYN . 27
6.7 Group type 14A and B: Enhanced Other Networks information (EON) . 28
6.8 Group type 15A: Long Programme Service name – 32 bytes with UTF-8
coding . 28
6.9 Group type 15B: Fast basic tuning and switching information . 29
7 Coding of RDS features for control . 30
7.1 Programme Identification (PI) codes and Extended Country Codes (ECC) . 30
7.1.1 PI structure . 30
7.1.2 Country Identifier (CI) codes: 'Nibble 1' . 30
7.1.3 Extended Country Codes (ECC) . 30
7.1.4 Programme service in terms of area coverage (codes for fixed location
transmitters only): 'Nibble 2' . 31
7.1.5 Programme reference number: 'Nibbles 3 and 4' . 31
7.1.6 PI codes for low-power short range transmitting devices . 31
7.2 Programme Type (PTY) codes . 32
7.3 Traffic Programme (TP) and Traffic Announcement (TA) codes . 32
7.4 Decoder Identification (DI) and dynamic PTY Indicator (PTYI) codes . 32
7.5 Coding of Alternative Frequencies (AFs) . 33
7.5.1 AF code tables . 33
7.5.2 Use of Alternative Frequencies in group type 0A. 35
7.5.3 Use of AF codes in group type 14A . 37
7.6 Coding of Enhanced Other Networks information (EON) . 38
7.6.1 General . 38
7.6.2 Coding of frequencies for cross-referenced programme services in EON . 39
7.6.3 Use of the TP and TA features with EON . 39
7.6.4 Use of PTY with EON . 40
8 Required main RDS feature repetition rates on data-stream 0 . 40
Annex A (normative) Method for linking RDS programme services – Linkage
information – Group type 1A and 14A . 45
A.1 General . 45
A.2 LA – Linkage Actuator . 46
A.3 EG – Extended Generic indicator . 46
A.4 ILS – International Linkage Set indicator . 46
A.5 LSN – Linkage Set Number . 46
Annex B (informative) Conversion between time and date conventions . 48
Annex C (normative) RDS2 File Transfer protocol RFT for files up to 163 kB . 50
C.1 Group coding of the ODA-AID assignment groups . 50
C.1.1 General principles . 50
C.1.2 Variant 0 . 50
C.1.3 Variant 1 . 51
C.1.4 Variants 2 to 15 . 52
C.2 Coding of the RFT data group used to carry the file data bytes . 52
Annex D (informative) CRC-16 ITU-T/CCITT checkword calculation . 54
D.1 General . 54
D.2 PASCAL listing of CRC-16-calculation routine . 54
D.3 C listing of the CRC-16 calculation routine . 54
D.4 Fictitious example . 55
Bibliography . 56

– 4 – IEC 62106-2:2021 RLV © IEC 2021

Figure 1 – Group type A structure . 13
Figure 2 – Group type B structure . 14
Figure 3 – Group type C structure . 14
Figure 4 – Tunnelling structure for group types A and B . 17
Figure 5 – Basic tuning and switching
...