It's FM only. It's modulated in above the L-R, at something like 38 (or is it 57?) kHz. FM's multiplex goes something like this (from DC): L+R, 19kHz pilot, L-R, RDS (at 1187bps).

If the icon flashes, this means that sync has been lost due to corruption of the datastream. There's a lot of error correction in there (10 bits of CRC per 16 bits of data) but sync does get lost sometimes.

It doesn't monitor all frequencies for traffic announcements. EON (enhanced other networks) means that stations feed each other RDS information and your station may signal to your tuner that a partner/local station is now transmitting traffic info and then the switch can happen for the duration of the bulletin.

AF lists do involve monitoring a set of other frequencies to allow auto switch to a stronger transmitter of the same station you're listening to.

Both TA and AF are standard in europe, but seeing how patchy RDS is in the USA I doubt you'll have a lot of use for them there (yet).

An RDS clock signal will bring up the clock (even on a mk1). If the signal is lost the empeg keeps updating it with elapsed time. It doesn't currently correct/set the internal empeg clock, though this may happen in the future.

Hugo