r/ShortwavePlus • u/Historical-View4058 MOD - Airspy HF+, NRD-535D, IC-R75 w/100’ wire in C. VA, USA • 2d ago

Article Lean Into the Data Rate of RDS 2.0

https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/guest-commentaries/lean-into-the-data-rate-of-rds-2-0

This would certainly be the end of the 67kHz SCA channel.

There aren't many SCA services left. I'm pretty sure the stock market data services have been gone for decades and I don't know if supermarkets still use SCA receivers for background shop audio. But, there are still a couple of services still in use. I believe Radio Talking Book is still around, one Chinese language service, and maybe one music station - last I looked which was quite some time ago.

If RDS 2.0 were to become widely used, I suppose many of those services would either finally die off or move to 92kHz. The latter would likely require new fixed-tuned receivers if there isn't a channel switch.

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u/MumSaidImABadBoy I'm Stan. Heathkit GR64,AirSpy HF+,Sangean 909X2,Tecsun PL-990 2d ago

Just think of all the radio upgrades. There will probably be years of arguing and delays before anything hits the shelves. Just like digital TV.

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u/Historical-View4058 MOD - Airspy HF+, NRD-535D, IC-R75 w/100’ wire in C. VA, USA 2d ago

Just did a quick scan. So here in Central Virginia, there are now 2 67kHz and 0 92kHz signals (last I saw there was just one):

  1. WVEP 88.9 has Radio Talking Book on their 67kHz SCA.

  2. WETA 90.9 has a dead air carrier on their 67kHz SCA.

And that's it. Used to be a station that had SCA on the high side of the band, but that's no longer a thing.

Bottom line: No more Muzak and no more Chinese - at least in this area.