Stereo/DVD: - HELP! Info Required

FredGraham · May 9th, 2019, 12:50

Hi All,
Driving my daughter to college this morning, radio/DVD switched off. All of a sudden a short blast of Drake from the radio and the display shows the word ALARM. Stayed on briefly and then disappeared, just the once. No dashboard messages displayed. Has anyone experienced similar or the same and are able to tell me what it meant. My "on call service required" message comes up on the dash but that is something I need to get upgrades for, could it be linked? Any help appreciated.

AndyJudge · May 9th, 2019, 22:29

Nothing to worry about, the Alarm signal is when a radio station accidentally broadcasts the National Emergency signal.

With mine it's happened twice & it was Classic FM that the radio switched to in order to received the emergency broadcast (It wasn't)

It's covered somewhere in the depths of the handbook & IIRC was discussed on here not long ago.

AndyJudge · May 9th, 2019, 22:31

Found the Thread https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...t=alarm+signal

SwissXC90 · May 10th, 2019, 05:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyJudge

Nothing to worry about, the Alarm signal is when a radio station accidentally broadcasts the National Emergency signal.

..or intentionally! Ignore ALARMs at your peril

The older FM RDS System has had an Alarm functionality built in since inception in the 19702, so the ALARM function has been around for around 40 to 45 years, and thus may be older than some of the readers of this post.

Luckily, it has rarely, if ever, been used.

FredGraham · May 10th, 2019, 12:42

Thank you Gents, at least now I know a wheel isn't falling off or similar. Still slightly confused though, how does a radio station accidently broadcast a National Emergency Signal. I assume we're not about to be nuked!!!

S60D5-185 · May 10th, 2019, 14:32

Well, if we were, I don't think it's worth worrying about, your already history.

SwissXC90 · May 10th, 2019, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by FredGraham

Thank you Gents, at least now I know a wheel isn't falling off or similar. Still slightly confused though, how does a radio station accidently broadcast a National Emergency Signal. I assume we're not about to be nuked!!!

Or:

How does the radio possibly inadvertently decode an ALARM signal when one is actually not present?

Answer:
Bit-Errors can creep into the error-prone unidirectional broadcast system, that may potentially not be error-corrected in the receiver.
If the bit-error falls in the decoding of the service type data identifier, then the service may be inadvertently marked as ALARM.

Or maybe the guys at the radio station just clicked the wrong button by accident....

May 9th, 2019, 12:50	#1
FredGraham Member Last Online: Jun 23rd, 2022 10:44 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Hemel Hempstead	HELP! Info Required Hi All, Driving my daughter to college this morning, radio/DVD switched off. All of a sudden a short blast of Drake from the radio and the display shows the word ALARM. Stayed on briefly and then disappeared, just the once. No dashboard messages displayed. Has anyone experienced similar or the same and are able to tell me what it meant. My "on call service required" message comes up on the dash but that is something I need to get upgrades for, could it be linked? Any help appreciated.

May 9th, 2019, 22:29	#2
AndyJudge Premier Member Last Online: Feb 18th, 2024 17:40 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Hebburn	Nothing to worry about, the Alarm signal is when a radio station accidentally broadcasts the National Emergency signal. With mine it's happened twice & it was Classic FM that the radio switched to in order to received the emergency broadcast (It wasn't) It's covered somewhere in the depths of the handbook & IIRC was discussed on here not long ago. __________________ Current 2015 XC60 D5 AWD - Caspian Blue Previous 2012 XC60 D5 AWD - Seashell Metallic Previous 2005 S60 D5 Geartronic - Gunmetal Previous 2001 C70 T5 GT Auto Convertible - Saffron Previous 1999 S40 XS - Silver

May 9th, 2019, 22:31	#3
AndyJudge Premier Member Last Online: Feb 18th, 2024 17:40 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Hebburn	Found the Thread https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...t=alarm+signal __________________ Current 2015 XC60 D5 AWD - Caspian Blue Previous 2012 XC60 D5 AWD - Seashell Metallic Previous 2005 S60 D5 Geartronic - Gunmetal Previous 2001 C70 T5 GT Auto Convertible - Saffron Previous 1999 S40 XS - Silver

May 10th, 2019, 14:32	#6
S60D5-185 Me ? Surely Not! Last Online: Apr 5th, 2024 16:23 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 2007 Volvo XC90 D5 Geartronic. South of Hadrians Wall.	Well, if we were, I don't think it's worth worrying about, your already history. __________________ “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” – Mark Twain 😊 2007 Volvo XC90 D5 SE Geartronic

May 10th, 2019, 12:42	#5
FredGraham Member Last Online: Jun 23rd, 2022 10:44 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Hemel Hempstead	Thank you Gents, at least now I know a wheel isn't falling off or similar. Still slightly confused though, how does a radio station accidently broadcast a National Emergency Signal. I assume we're not about to be nuked!!!

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