AVR 200 (serv.man7) - Harman Kardon Audio User Guide / Operation Manual. Page 24

OPERATION  23

The AVR 200RDS is equipped with RDS (Radio
Data System), which brings a wide range of
information to FM radio. Now in use in many
countries, RDS is a system for transmitting sta-
tion call signs or network information, a
description of station program type, text mes-
sages about the station or specifics of a musical
selection and the correct time.

As more FM stations become equipped with
RDS capabilities, the AVR 200RDS will serve as
an easy-to-use centre for both information and
entertainment. This section will help you take
maximum advantage of the RDS system.

RDS Tuning
When an FM station is tuned in and it contains
RDS data, the AVR 200RDS will automatically
display the station's call sign and the RDS indi-
cator will light in the Information Display as
well as indicators for the RDS services program
type (PTY), Clock Time (CT) and radiotext (RT) if
transmitted by the station.

RDS Display Options
The RDS system is capable of transmitting a
wide variety of information in addition to the
initial station call sign that appears when a sta-
tion is first tuned. In normal RDS operation the
display will indicate the station name, broadcast
network or call letters. Pressing the RDS Dis-
play button 

on the remote enables you to

cycle through the various data types in the
following sequence:

• The Station name (with some private stations
other informations, too).

• The stations apostrof frequency.

• The Program Type (PTY) as shown in the fol-
lowing list on the next page.

• A “text” message containing special informa-
tion from the broadcast station. Note that this
message may scroll across the display to permit
messages longer than the eight positions in the
display. Depending on signal quality it may take
up to 30 seconds for the text message to
appear, in the meantime the word TEXT will
flash in the display.

• The current time as transmitted by the station.
It may take up to two minutes for the time to
appear, in the meantime the word TIME will
flash in the display. Note that the accuracy of
the time message is set by the radio station, not
the AVR 200RDS.

• Some RDS stations may not choose to include
some of these additional features. If the data
required for the selected mode is not being
transmitted, the Information Display 35 will
show a NO PTY, NO TEXT or NO
TIME

message.

• In any FM mode the RDS function requires a
strong enough signal for proper operation. If
you receive a partial message or any of the RDS,
PTY, CT or RT indicators go on and off, try slowly
adjusting the antenna to improve the signal
strength or tune to another, stronger RDS sta-
tion.
Note that no RDS service can be displayed with
stations not strong enough to turn on the
TUNED indicator in the display.