Manual
Chapter 11 - Glossary
11-4 Redbox User Handbook
and transmitter status monitoring and logging equipment (or the
transmitter itself !) are stored here with limited access.
RDS Radio Data System.
Reverb An echo (in very basic terms).
RF Radio Frequency.
RJ-45 A connection standard used in computer networking.
S/PDIF Sony/Phillips Digital Interface. Domestic digital audio interface standard
using phono connectors or optically using fibre-optic connectors.
SPL Sound Pressure Level.
TA Traffic Announcement (flag) - a means of signalling to a radio with FM
RDS indicating that traffic/travel news is being broadcast.
T/B Talk-back (and reverse talk-back). This is the ability for two or more
studios to communicate with each other off-air.
TBU See Telephone Balance Unit
TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. Computer
interconnection methodology used on the internet and LANs.
Telephone Balance Unit (TBU) or Hybrid Telephone hybrids provide the interface
between professional audio equipment and the public telephone
network. They provide protection for your equipment and the public
telephone lines, allowing for varying line signals and line conditions.
Automatically cancelling out the unwanted signal they also facilitate
two-way communication down a single telephone line. In most
European countries, including the UK, the TBU must be approved for
connection to telephone company lines. Sonifex TBU's carry British
Telecom and pan European approval.
THD The Total Harmonic Distortion is the percentage presence of signals
outside the measured reference frequency.
TMC (RDS) Traffic Message Channel.
TP Traffic Programme (flag) - a means of indicating to an RDS radio that a
station will carry traffic announcements.
U A height measurement for rack-mount equipment:
1U = 1.75 inches
2U = 3.5 inches
3U = 5.25 inches
4U = 7 inches
UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply. A device which maintains power to
equipment when the electricity supply fails.
VHF Very High Frequency - frequencies between 30MHz and 300MHz.
VP Vertical Polarisation i.e. of FM radio transmission.
VSWR Voltage Standing Wave Radio
VU Voltage units
WAP Wireless Application Protocol - a system for delivering mini-web pages
to mobile phones from the Internet.
X21 A data communications protocol used in synchronous connections.
XLR Professional, robust lockable audio connector - sometimes known as a
'Cannon' after one of the earlier manufacturers.