IEC 62106:2015

IEC 62106 ®
Edition 3.0 2015-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Specification of the radio data system (RDS) for VHF/FM sound broadcasting in
the frequency range from 87,5 MHz to 108,0 MHz

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IEC 62106 ®
Edition 3.0 2015-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Specification of the radio data system (RDS) for VHF/FM sound broadcasting in

the frequency range from 87,5 MHz to 108,0 MHz

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.160.40 ISBN 978-2-8322-2544-8

– 2 – IEC 62106:2015 © IEC 2015

CONTENTS
FOREWORD. 9

INTRODUCTION . 11

1 Scope . 12

2 Normative references. 12

3 Abbreviations . 12

4 Modulation characteristics of the data channel (physical layer) . 13

4.1 General . 13

4.2 Subcarrier frequency . 14
4.3 Subcarrier phase . 15
4.4 Subcarrier level . 15
4.5 Method of modulation . 15
4.6 Clock-frequency and data-rate . 15
4.7 Differential coding . 16
4.8 Data-channel spectrum shaping . 16
5 Baseband coding (data-link layer) . 19
5.1 Baseband coding structure . 19
5.2 Order of bit transmission . 20
5.3 Error protection . 21
5.4 Synchronisation of blocks and groups . 21
6 Message format (session and presentation layers) . 22
6.1 Addressing . 22
6.1.1 Design principles . 22
6.1.2 Principal features . 22
6.1.3 Group types . 23
6.1.4 Open data channel/Applications Identification . 25
6.1.5 Coding of the group types . 27
6.2 Coding of information . 44
6.2.1 General . 44
6.2.2 Coding of information for control . 44
6.2.3 Coding and use of information for display . 54
6.2.4 Coding of clock time and date (CT) . 54
6.2.5 Coding of information for Transparent Data Channels (TDC) . 55

6.2.6 Coding of information for in house applications (IH) . 55
6.2.7 Coding of Radio Paging (RP) . 55
6.2.8 Coding of Emergency Warning Systems (EWS) . 56
7 Description of features . 57
7.1 Alternative frequencies list (AF) . 57
7.2 Clock Time and date (CT) . 57
7.3 Decoder Identification (DI) and dynamic PTY Indicator (PTYI) . 57
7.4 Extended Country Code (ECC) . 57
7.5 Enhanced Other Networks information (EON) . 57
7.6 Emergency Warning System (EWS) . 57
7.7 In House application (IH) . 57
7.8 Music Speech switch (MS) . 58
7.9 Open Data Applications (ODA) . 58
7.10 Programme Identification (PI) . 58

7.11 Programme Item Number (PIN) . 59

7.12 Programme Service name (PS) . 59

7.13 Programme Type (PTY) . 59

7.14 Programme Type Name (PTYN) . 59

7.15 Radio Paging (RP) . 59

7.16 RadioText (RT) . 59

7.17 Enhanced RadioText (eRT) . 59

7.18 RadioText Plus (RT+) . 60

7.19 Traffic Announcement identification (TA) . 60

7.20 Transparent Data Channels (TDC) . 60

7.21 Traffic Message Channel (TMC) . 60
7.22 Traffic Programme identification (TP) . 60
8 Marking . 60
Annex A (normative) Offset words to be used for group and block synchronisation . 62
Annex B (informative) Theory and implementation of the modified shortened cyclic
code . 63
B.1 General . 63
B.2 Encoding procedure . 63
B.2.1 Theory . 63
B.2.2 Shift-register implementation of the encoder . 65
B.3 Decoding procedure . 65
B.3.1 Theory . 65
B.3.2 Implementation of the decoder . 67
Annex C (informative) Implementation of group and block synchronisation using the
modified shortened cyclic code . 69
C.1 Theory . 69
C.1.1 Acquisition of group and block synchronisation . 69
C.1.2 Detection of loss of synchronisation . 69
C.2 Shift register arrangement for deriving group and block synchronisation
information . 69
Annex D (normative) Programme identification codes and extended country codes . 72
D.1 General . 72
D.2 PI structure . 72
D.3 Extended country codes . 72
D.4 Country codes: ‘Nibble 1’ . 73

D.5 Programme in terms of area coverage (codes for fixed location transmitters
only): ‘Nibble 2’ . 76
D.6 Programme reference number: ‘Nibbles 3 and 4’ . 76
D.7 PI codes for low-power short range transmitting devices . 77
Annex E (normative) Basic and extended RDS character sets . 78
Annex F (normative) Programme type codes . 98
Annex G (informative) Conversion between time and date conventions . 101
Annex H (informative) ARI (Autofahrer-Rundfunk-Information) system –
Discontinuation . 103
Annex J (normative) Language identification . 104
Annex K (informative) RDS logo . 106
Annex L (informative) Open data registration . 107
Annex M (normative) Coding of Radio Paging (RP) . 110

– 4 – IEC 62106:2015 © IEC 2015

M.1 General . 110

M.2 Basic paging protocol . 110

M.2.1 Coding characteristics for paging . 110

M.2.2 Transmitter network group designation . 111

M.2.3 Locking to a channel . 113

M.2.4 Loss of synchronization . 113

M.2.5 Group type 7A message format . 113

M.3 Enhanced paging . 119

M.3.1 General . 119

M.3.2 Multi-operator/area paging . 119

M.3.3 Extension of paging addressing mode . 126
M.3.4 Battery saving mode . 126
M.3.5 Group type 7A message format . 129
M.3.6 Address notification bit versus pager individual address . 138
M.4 Examples of the traffic handling capacity of the specified radio paging
system . 139
Annex N (normative) Country codes and extended country codes for countries outside
the European Broadcasting Area . 142
N.1 African Broadcasting Area . 142
N.2 Allocations of symbols for countries in ITU Region 2 . 144
N.3 Allocations of symbols for countries in ITU Region 3 . 146
Annex P (normative) Coding of RadioText Plus information (RT+) . 148
P.1 General . 148
P.2 Definitions . 148
P.3 RT+ tag . 149
P.4 RT+ information elements and data model . 150
P.4.1 General . 150
P.4.2 List of RT/eRT content types . 150
P.4.3 Structures of RT+ messages . 151
P.4.4 Receiver data model . 152
P.5 Coding RT+ in ODA groups . 153
P.5.1 General . 153
P.5.2 RT+ identification (Group type 3A) . 154
P.5.3 Coding of the RT+ tag . 155
P.5.4 Clearing of RT+ messages . 156

P.6 Broadcasting conventions . 159
P.7 Receiving conventions . 159
P.8 Marking . 160
Annex Q (normative) Coding of enhanced RadioText (eRT) . 161
Q.1 General . 161
Q.2 Coding eRT in ODA groups . 161
Q.2.1 General . 161
Q.2.2 eRT identification (Group type 3A) . 161
Q.2.3 Coding of the eRT text string . 162
Q.3 Broadcasting conventions . 164
Q.4 Receiving conventions . 165
Q.5 Marking . 165
Annex R (informative) RBDS in the USA . 166
Annex S (normative) List of RDS specific abbreviations . 167

Bibliography . 168

Figure 1 – Block diagram of radio-data equipment at the transmitter . 14

Figure 2 – Block diagram of a typical radio-data receiver/decoder . 15

Figure 3 – Amplitude response of the specified transmitter or receiver data-shaping

filter 17
Figure 4 – Amplitude response of the combined transmitter and receiver data-shaping
filters . 18

Figure 5 – Spectrum of biphase coded radio-data signals . 18

Figure 6 – Time-function of a single biphase symbol . 19
Figure 7 – 57 kHz radio-data signals . 19
Figure 8 – Structure of the baseband coding . 20
Figure 9 – Message format and addressing . 20
Figure 10 – ODA version A groups . 26
Figure 11 – ODA version B groups . 27
Figure 12 – Basic tuning and switching information – Type 0A group . 27
Figure 13 – Basic tuning and switching information – Type 0B group . 27
Figure 14 – Programme item number and slow labelling codes – Type 1A group . 29
Figure 15 – Programme Item Number – Type 1B group . 30
Figure 16 – RadioText – Type 2A group . 30
Figure 17 – RadioText – Type 2B group . 31
Figure 18 – Application identification for open data – Type 3A group . 32
Figure 19 – Open data – Type 3B group . 33
Figure 20 – Clock-time and date transmission – Type 4A group . 34
Figure 21 – Open data – Type 4B group . 34
Figure 22 – Transparent data channels – Type 5A group . 35
Figure 23 – Transparent data channels – Type 5B group . 35
Figure 24 – In-house applications – Type 6A and 6B group . 36
Figure 25 – Radio paging – Type 7A group . 36
Figure 26 – Type 7B group . 37
Figure 27 – Traffic message channel – Type 8A group . 37
Figure 28 – Open data – Type 8B group . 37
Figure 29 – Allocation of EWS message bits – Type 9A group . 38
Figure 30 – Open data – Type 9B group . 38
Figure 31 – Programme type name PTYN – Type 10A group . 39
Figure 32 – Open data – Type 10B group . 39
Figure 33 – Open data – Type 11A and 11B groups . 40
Figure 34 – Open data – Type 12A and 12B groups . 40
Figure 35 – Enhanced paging information – Type 13A group . 41
Figure 36 – Open data – Type 13B group . 42
Figure 37 – Enhanced other networks information – Type 14A groups . 42
Figure 38 – Enhanced Other Networks information – Type 14B groups. 43
Figure 39 – Open data – Type 15A group . 43
Figure 40 – Fast basic tuning and switching information – Type 15B group . 44

– 6 – IEC 62106:2015 © IEC 2015

Figure 41 – Structure of Block 3 of Type 1A groups . 52

Figure 42 – Structure of variant 12 of block 3 of type 14A groups (linkage information)

– National link . 53

Figure 43 – Structure of variant 12 of block 3 of type 14A groups (linkage information)

– International link . 53

Figure 44 – Structure of Variant 7 of Block 3 of type 1A groups for Identification of a

programme carrying EWS information . 56

Figure B.1 – Generator matrix of the basic shortened cyclic code in binary notation . 64

Figure B.2 – Shift-register implementation of the encoder . 65

Figure B.3 – Parity-check matrix of the basic shortened cyclic code . 66
Figure B.4 – Shift-register implementation of the decoder . 67
Figure C.1 – Group and block synchronisation detection circuit . 70
Figure D.1 – PI structure . 72
Figure D.2 – Structure of Variant 0 of Block 3 of type 1A groups (ECC) . 73
Figure D.3 – European Broadcasting Area – Correspondence between geographical
locations and the symbols used . 74
Figure G.1 – Conversion routes between Modified Julian Date (MJD) and Coordinated
Universal Time (UTC) . 101
Figure J.1 – Language identification code allocation . 104
Figure M.1 – Group type 7A message format for radio paging . 113
Figure M.2 – Group type 7A paging without an additional message . 114
Figure M.3 – Group type 7A paging with an additional 10 digit message . 115
Figure M.4 – Group type 7A paging with an additional 18 digit message . 115
Figure M.5 – Group type 7A paging with an additional alphanumeric message . 116
Figure M.6 – Group type 7A paging with an additional international 15 digit message . 117
Figure M.7 – Functions message in international paging . 118
Figure M.8 – Variant 0 of 1A group with PIN . 120
Figure M.9 – Variant 2 of 1A group with PIN . 121
Figure M.10 – Variants of 1A group without PIN . 122
Figure M.11 – Group type 13A . 128
Figure M.12 – Group type 7A paging with tone-only message . 130
Figure M.13 – First 7A group of a variable-length message . 131

Figure M.14 – Group type 7A national paging with additional alphanumeric message . 132
Figure M.15 – Group type 7A national paging with additional variable-length numeric
message . 134
Figure M.16 – Group type 7A national paging with additional variable-length functions
message . 135
Figure M.17 – The two first 7A groups of an international alphanumeric message . 136
Figure M.18 – The two first 7A groups of an international variable-length numeric
message . 137
Figure M.19 – The two first 7A groups of an international variable-length functions
message . 137
Figure M.20 – Traffic handling capacity, busy hour, call rate = 0,10 calls/pager/hour . 140
Figure M.21 – Traffic handling capacity, busy hour, call rate = 0,067 calls/pager/hour . 141
Figure M.22 – Traffic handling capacity, busy hour, call rate = 0,05 calls/pager/hour . 141

Figure P.1 – RT+ information of the category ‘Item’ (see Table P.2) will be attached to

the programme elements Item 1 and Item 2 . 153

Figure P.2 – RT+ information of the category ‘Item’ will be attached to the programme

elements Item 1 and Item 2, but not to the programme element News . 153

Figure P.3 – RT+ information of the category ‘Item’ will be attached only to the
programme element Item 1, but not to the programme element Talk . 153

Figure P.4 – Bit allocation for group 3A (message bits and AID) . 154

Figure P.5 – Coding of the message bits of the application group . 155

Figure Q.1 – Bit allocation for group 3A (message bits and AID) . 162

Figure Q.2 – Coding of the message bits of the application group . 163

Table 1 – Encoding rules . 16
Table 2 – Decoding rules . 16
Table 3 – Group types . 23
Table 4 – Main feature repetition rates . 24
Table 5 – Group repetition rates . 25
Table 6 – ODA group availability signalled in type 3A groups . 26
Table 7 – STY codes . 41
Table 8 – Codes for TP and TA . 45
Table 9 – Bit d to d meanings . 45
0 3
Table 10 – VHF code table . 46
Table 11 – Special meanings code table . 46
Table 12 – Code tables according to ITU regions; LF/MF code table – For ITU regions
1 and 3 (9 kHz spacing) . 46
Table 13 – Code tables according to ITU regions; MF code table – For ITU region 2
(10 kHz spacing) . 47
Table A.1 – Offset word codes . 62
Table B.1 – Offset word syndromes using matrix of Figure B.3 . 67
Table C.1 – Offset word syndromes for group and block synchronisation . 71
Table D.1 – PI code structure . 72
Table D.2 – European Broadcasting Area – Symbols used for ECC and PI country
codes . 75
Table D.3 – Area coverage codes . 76

Table D.4 – Programme reference number codes . 76
Table D.5 – PI codes for short range transmitting devices . 77
Table E.1 – Basic RDS character set . 78
Table E.2 – Non-transmitted UCS-2 equivalents (1 of 7) . 79
Table E.3 – Extended RDS character set, for eRT only (1 of 13) . 85
Table F.1 – Programme type codes and corresponding terms for display . 98
Table G.1 – Symbols used . 101
Table J.1 – Language identification codes . 104
Table M.1 – Pager group codes . 111
Table M.2 – Codes for additional message content . 114
Table M.3 – Paging segment address codes for 10 and 18 digit messages . 115
Table M.4 – Paging segment address codes for alphanumeric messages . 116

– 8 – IEC 62106:2015 © IEC 2015

Table M.5 – Paging segment address codes for international 15 digit messages . 117

Table M.6 – Paging segment address codes for functions message . 118

Table M.7 – Sub-usage codes . 122

Table M.8 – Group designation codes . 126

Table M.9 – Cycle selection codes . 127

Table M.10 – Message sorting codes . 128

Table M.11 – Codes for message types . 130

Table M.12 – Description of the control byte . 131

Table M.13 – Use of paging call repetition flag . 132
Table M.14 – Paging segment address codes for alphanumeric message . 133
Table M.15 – Paging segment address codes for variable length numeric message . 134
Table M.16 – Paging segment address codes for national paging with variable-length
functions message . 135
Table M.17 – Address notification (50 bit) . 138
Table M.18 – Address notification (25 bit) . 139
Table M.19 – Z3 parity relationship . 139
Table P.1 – RT+ information elements . 148
Table P.2 – Code list and ‘RT+ class’ description of ‘RT/eRT content types (1 of 3) . 157
Table Q.1 – eRT information elements . 161

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
SPECIFICATION OF THE RADIO DATA SYSTEM (RDS)

FOR VHF/FM SOUND BROADCASTING IN THE FREQUENCY

RANGE FROM 87,5 MHz TO 108,0 MHz

FOREWORD
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International Standard IEC 62106 has been prepared by technical area 1: Terminals for audio,
video and data services and contents, of IEC technical committee 100: Audio, video and
multimedia systems and equipment.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition, published in 2009 and constitutes
a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
• for the RDS feature EON and the use of group types 14A and 14B some additional
explanations were added;
• in Annex E, containing the character code tables to be used in RDS, the explanation for
Table E.1 and Table E.2 was extended;
• several small typing errors were corrected;
• to Enhanced RadioText in Annex Q an additional explanation was added.

– 10 – IEC 62106:2015 © IEC 2015

The text of this standard is based on the following documents:

CDV Report on voting
100/2122A/CDV 100/2418/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on

voting indicated in the above table.

This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

_______________
For technical reasons equations and some figures had to be left unchanged and are not in accordance with the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2:2011.

INTRODUCTION
IEC 62106:2000 (first edition) and IEC 62106:2009 (second edition) have the same main text

and annex structure. However, the main text of this edition is slightly restructured to more

closely conform to ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2:2011. Nevertheless, cross-referencing between

this edition and the previous editions remains possible. To find the corresponding subclause

quickly between this edition and the first edition, it is basically sufficient to subtract 3 clauses.

Example: see 3.1.5.1 in the first edition, published in 2000 becomes, see 6.1.5.1.

– 12 – IEC 62106:2015 © IEC 2015

SPECIFICATION OF THE RADIO DATA SYSTEM (RDS)

FOR VHF/FM SOUND BROADCASTING IN THE FREQUENCY

RANGE FROM 87,5 MHz TO 108,0 MHz

1 Scope
This International Standard describes the Radio Data System, RDS, 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 (as stated in ITU-R
Recommendation BS 450-3 and ITU-R Recommendation BS.643-3). The main objectives of
RDS are to enable improved functionality 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 6.1.5.1), and it is not optional unlike man
...