RDS

Description

The RDS Controller is used for triggering RDS (Radio Data System) data over a serial port to one of the supported chipsets. It also can be used to trigger some data to be posted to a url as a query parameter. That could be an RDS controller that supports web requests, or any other endpoint that may or may not be an RDS controller. It is used in combination with the RDS Effect that passes the text through to this controller at a specified time.

Setup

There is minimal setup for this controller if your RDS device has one of the supported chipsets. Just add it to your controller list and ensure it is enabled. Select the proper chipset for your RDS controller. The supported chipsets are MRDS192, MRDS1322, or V-FMT212R. The later being the once popular VAST transmitter. Select your COM port in the drop down box. There are options for bidirectional and slow which may help with certain serial port setups.

If you are using it for an HTTP controller, or some alternative device that accepts HTTP requests, select that option. You will enter the url in the URL text box. The text paramter from the effect will be used as a query string where you place the {text} macro. The following example calls an endpoint on localhost port 8080 with two query string parameters. The update_rt value will be set to the text from the RDS effect.

http://127.0.0.1:8080/?action=update_rt&update_rt={text}

The following shows an example of an HTTP setup without authentication.

You only need one ouput which is the default.

Patching

A single Element is normally directly patched to this controller. There should be no color breakdown or dimming handlers in the path. It should resemble the following. This example shows the Launcher controller, but the RDS controller will look the same.

Testing

On the controller setup page at the bottom is a text text box. Entering some text there and hitting send will simulate what will occur if an effect passed the same text value. Your test text will be sent out as it is configured in order to validate your configuration works.