Rohde and Schwarz SMBB-B5 - Stereo/RDS Coder Option SMB100B (Requires SMBB-K720)

FM stereo is still a major audio broadcasting medium - especially in the automotive sector where millions of car radios are produced every year. For testing FM stereo receivers, audio test signals are modulated onto an RF carrier and measured after demodulation by the DUT. Test signals are also needed for the radio data system (RDS) that has been established in many countries for a long time.

Optional stereo/RDS coder

The optional stereo/RDS coder (R&S SMBB-B5) meets all the above requirements. Built into the R&S SMB100B, the solution is based on equipment that features an excellent price/performance ratio as well as top-class specifications and fully covers the required frequency range.

Automatic synchronization of measurement results.

The stereo/RDS coder also works with external signals applied to its analog (left and right) or digital (S/P DIF) modulation inputs. Combining the R&S SMB100B signal generator with the R&S UPV or R&S UPP audio analyzer creates a general-purpose test system for FM receivers. The great advantage is the automatic synchronization of measurement results. As in other audio measurements, the test signals are produced in the generator section of the audio analyzer, routed to the DUT through the R&S SMB100B as a modulator and measured in the analyzer section of the R&S UPV or R&S UPP. Since generation and analysis are optimally timed, measurement times are considerably shorter than with separately operating instruments.

Up to five different RDS sequences

The R&S SMB100B with the R&S SMBB‑B5 option generates stereo multiplex signals, including ARI and RDS information, and outputs the signals at the RF output. It is possible to choose between traffic announcement identification and standardized area identification A to F. The RDS traffic program and RDS traffic announcement can be switched on and off. Up to five different RDS sequences can be loaded. With a length of up to 64 000 characters per sequence, longer RDS applications such as radio text can also be tested.

Typical production test setup to measure FM car radios with eight audio channels

The R&S®UPP800 audio analyzer generates all required audio test signals and transfers them to the R&S®SMB100B, which adds the ARI and RDS test signals and modulates the entire test signal onto the RF carrier. The DUT demodulates the received test signal and outputs the audio signals on all amplifier channels. Measuring these signals with the R&S®UPP800 closes the loop and makes it possible to analyze the overall sound quality of the car radio under test.

Back panel overview

1. ​Remote control via LAN (GPIB and USB with R&S®SMBB-B86 option)
2. Input for external pulse modulation signal (R&S®SMBB-K22 option)
3. Variable LF output (R&S®SMBB-K24 option)
4. Variable reference input/output from 1 MHz to 100 MHz (R&S®SMBB-K704 option)
5. 1 GHz reference input/output (R&S®SMBB-B3 option)
6. FM stereo connectors (R&S®SMBB-B5 option)