How popular is RDS among viewers?

[Jrd]

How popular do you think RDS really is among your viewers?(%?) I've seen a lot of talk about RDS and I'm wondering if it's really worth all the hassles, and extra expense.

[dirknerkle]

Two-part personal opinion here...

A. I think it's cool technology.

B. I think it may cause the viewer to look at the radio instead of the display. I think they know what tune is playing -- maybe not the performers, but certainly the song itself.

[jrock64]

I got one of the first RDS's in the group buy when they came out.

A cute story... http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?5998-Successful-proposal-via-RDS....she-said-YES&highlight=proposal

That being said, you want people to look at your lights.
Why would you want their heads down inside the car trying to look at the radio.

JOel

[budude]

I completely agree with Dirk - it's definitely neat - but really - what's the point? I'd rather get proper voiceovers done...

[Jrd]

I agree with you three, but would like to hear some opinions from both sides, hopefully some more people will come by.

RDS is cool but I don't own an RDS radio and I don't know that any of my friends do either.

Now I could see RDS being useful to draw people to your display in case they happen to be scanning the radio within range of your house but your station would probably have to be pretty strong for that to happen and there are a lot of variables in the whole thing.

[dmcole]

OK, what percentage of your viewers are in cars? Mine hovers somewhere around 99 percent (the people across the street from me pulled the blinds after the second night last year, but that may have been because the show was too bright).

The best percentage of age of cars I could find was from 2001, but I'm sure current figures are off only a small percent one way or another:

*38.3 percent are older than 10 years -- no RDS in those cars.

*22.3 percent are between seven and 10 years old. No RDS in these either.

*25.8 percent are between three and six years old. There is some RDS here.

*13.5 percent are two years old or younger. All have RDS.

I think RDS became commonplace in car radios in about 2006-2007, so let's halve that 25.8 percent of the three-to-six and call the entire universe of RDS-capable 25.5 percent.

So, because this is all back-of-the-envelope analysis, if I were to say that a quarter of all the cars that visit your display had RDS, who would be able to dispute me?

\dmc

[LabRat]

At the risk of hi-jacking the thread...

I agree that it's a cute/geeky think to have as part of the "package" that is offered. However the DIY in me says I can't buy the PIRA transmitter. I will be trying to build my own for next season...

[Andy.wpg]

I'm not sure if ANYONE except my friends, relatives and neighbors stopped to watch my show last year (first year - quite small).

That being said, I'm going to have RDS on my signal - 'cause I'm basically doing the whole thing for me - at least so far. For the challenge and the learning.

[Aurbo99]

LabRat,

Send me a pm, I'll ship you the files for a working transmitter that meets Ottawa's rules for us under RS-210.

[Jrd]

Well for me personally 100% of my viewers are people I invite because of my display location and all of them get out of their cars right now so for me RDS would not be a great use of money but I want to get other peoples opinions on why to have RDS.

For most people RDS can probably be worth it according to DMC's stats, unless of course you don't want your viewers looking at there radio.

[Skunberg]

I thought RDS was something you add-on to your show when your running out of things to solder?

Brian

[CaptKirk]

I have a 2011 Honda purchased earlier this year that the website said had RDS but the radio definitely does NOT so there goes the "RDS is standard in new cars" theory...

[Jrd]

I thought RDS was something you add-on to your show when your running out of things to solder?

Brian

Well that works if you can afford it. ;)

I have a 2011 Honda purchased earlier this year that the website said had RDS but the radio definitely does NOT so there goes the "RDS is standard in new cars" theory...

:o False advertising!

[Blackbeard]

I've got a 2005 Bonnie that does have RDS. I've got a 2008 Corolla that does not have RDS. Guess it depends on how much you like music in your car. I know that when I buy a new car, I usually get the better sound system installed, which I'm guessing more than likely, has RDS. My Corolla was a packaged-deal car, sold by the dealer as a loss-leader to compete with a local Ford dealer selling a similar under-priced model in their line, which is why I don't have the better sound system in it. It was hard to pass on the price he was selling the Corolla for.

[IdunBenhad]

Hi:
As much as I like technology, transmitters and receivers, controllers, computers and all that good stuff, I think RDS is a waste of time, money and resources.

I agree with those that have said they want their viewers looking at the display and not the radio. It is a lot less expensive to make voice-overs, if that's your thing, rather than implement RDS.

Besides, voice-overs in your own voice is a lot more personal than RDS. Even though many viewers will not know you, your voice says a lot more about your display than a few words on a small radio screen.

Starting about 2 hours before "show-time", I turn on the FM transmitter and start playing Christmas music, interspersed with announcements about the display, where it is located, when it starts and run time. Don't know if it helps or not, but it's not very expensive, either. My hillbilly accent probably makes people laugh and come by to see what I've done!

[Jrd]

Besides, voice-overs in your own voice is a lot more personal than RDS. Even though many viewers will not know you, your voice says a lot more about your display than a few words on a small radio screen.

Starting about 2 hours before "show-time", I turn on the FM transmitter and start playing Christmas music, interspersed with announcements about the display, where it is located, when it starts and run time. Don't know if it helps or not, but it's not very expensive, either. My hillbilly accent probably makes people laugh and come by to see what I've done!

Sounds like a good strategy.