Edmonton traffic chopper... finally?

[electricsheep]

From a "somewhat reliable source..."

Corus Entertainment Takes to the Skies with a Bird’s Eye View of Edmonton Traffic!

On April 12, 2006 the CHED 1 traffic helicopter will complete its first official traffic report from above. The CHED 1 Robinson R44 news copter will be reporting every ten minutes during morning and afternoon drive time on 630 CHED, CISN 103.9, COOL 880 and 92.5 JOE FM. This will help Edmonton travelers better navigate the busy city by providing instant, accurate information about our street conditions.

Now, the hunt is on for the air to ground freqs... A prize for the first person with accurate data...

 

[Mick]

Hello. I checked Canada's Spectrum Management Web site and located these licensed frqs. for Corus Entertainment in Edmonton:
http://tinyurl.com/havcm
http://tinyurl.com/fjvp2
http://tinyurl.com/g8rub

If the new chopper frqs. are not on those Corus frqs., I wonder if they would at least be in the 450-451 MHz range like the rest of their channels?

 

[electricsheep]

Good God this traffic chopper thing is the worst pile of dog doo I have heard Corus stoop to yet. This morning on a couple of their "hits" the "traffic reporter" spent more time reading her advertising messages than giving traffic updates. What a freakin waste of time. Turns out the service for the stations is provided by Canadian Traffic Network which (according to industry references) is an outsource provider for airborne traffic reports with "an integrated advertising message." Integrated? More like dominating.

This is right up there with CHED radio's sensationalistic bent of late. First of all they sent a reporter snooping through attics in rural towns and recovering "forensic evidence" to try and exonerate someone in a murder investigation! (I am serious, someone has been watching too much CSI) and then next they put a bunch of raw meat in a ditch and reported on it as part of a murder investigation story (I am freaking serious!). Way too much CSI at night for that Byron Christopher geek.

And then they wonder why broadcast radio is dying when they are operating on these levels.

 

[mciupa]

I know you guys may not give a flying fark what goes on in Toronto , but we had a similar discussion a few months ago regarding the Corus chopper.
See link:http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30713

Now just because we use LTR out here ..... may mean squat out there :lol:
... just thought I'd throw out this curve to you. Might mean diddly though.

 

[electricsheep]

I think the key here is that they are NOT using any frequencies assigned to Corus, because it's not Corus who is running this gig. The choppers are an advertising gimmick run by Global Traffic Networks (of which Canadian Traffic Networks is a division), and therefore the frequencies being used don't seem to be affiliated with the "clients." It seems in Calgary they are also on an LTR network, so I am thinking they choppers GTN is leasing and distributing around the country for this are equipped with LTR radios. I am unsure what LTR trunks we have in Edmonton, and will have to do some checking.

Any other trunk detectives out there in Edmonton that want to try and track down what system GTN is using?

I will have to dust off my almost total ignorance of LTR now... damn.

I know you guys may not give a flying fark what goes on in Toronto , but we had a similar discussion a few months ago regarding the Corus chopper.
See link:http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30713

Now just because we use LTR out here ..... may mean squat out there :lol:
... just thought I'd throw out this curve to you. Might mean diddly though.

 

[VE6RHS]

Traffic Radio

I haven't had a chance to check the gear more closely, but here's a picture!

I'll try to get some more info and post it later.

Enjoy!

 

[Jay911]

If they're anything like their sister station(s) in Calgary, they're going to use a trunk radio. CORUS Calgary uses a type II trunk provided by a local 'business band' dealer. It actually sounds rather bad on the radio when they're doing updates, because they'll drift in and out of coverage, and have the volume set too loud - they keep the trunk radio keyed before and after the traffic reporters' spiel, and it's intermixed with the studio's intro and outtro.

 

[SCPD]

If they're anything like their sister station(s) in Calgary, they're going to use a trunk radio. CORUS Calgary uses a type II trunk provided by a local 'business band' dealer. It actually sounds rather bad on the radio when they're doing updates, because they'll drift in and out of coverage, and have the volume set too loud - they keep the trunk radio keyed before and after the traffic reporters' spiel, and it's intermixed with the studio's intro and outtro.

It looks like CORUS is using E-D Electronics Trunk Radio system using multipul talkgroups.
Sounds better on the scanner than on the car radio, AM and FM

 

[electricsheep]

It looks like CORUS is using E-D Electronics Trunk Radio system using multipul talkgroups.
Sounds better on the scanner than on the car radio, AM and FM

That's funny. I wasw just thinking who they would use today, and I thought of ED Electronics and immediately dismissed the idea... I would have guessed Westcan.

 

[SCPD]

I haven't had a chance to check the gear more closely, but here's a picture!

I'll try to get some more info and post it later.

Enjoy!

Ray, I noticed you listed you have a BC396T. I suggest you do not update too the latest firmware. I found it affected the scanners sensitivity, It's noticiable.

Doug

 

[SCPD]

ED Electronics

Is this the same as the old Whyte system? I do not have any information on the ED system. Is this a LTR system?

 

[electricsheep]

Is this the same as the old Whyte system? I do not have any information on the ED system. Is this a LTR system?

Nope, it's an old Motorola type I trunk. Pretty much all delivery drivers/trucking companies and a taxi company. The old Whyte system is still there, but last time I checked it, I didn't hear anything at all on it. Check the database, I just submitted data on the ED system if nobody else has.

 

[SCPD]

Is this the same as the old Whyte system? I do not have any information on the ED system. Is this a LTR system?

WCI (old Whyte system) is still up and running with many users.

 

[VE6RHS]

I managed to pull the model number off the Motorola GTX.

It's: M11URD6CB1AN

Motorola gurus may correct me, but I believe that translates to:

806-870MHz
20/25kHz channel spacing
Trunked Twin Type
Privacy Plus

I hope this helps!

 

[electricsheep]

Motorola gurus may correct me...

Uh Ray, You are one of THE radio gurus in these parts...

 

[SCPD]

I managed to pull the model number off the Motorola GTX.

It's: M11URD6CB1AN

Motorola gurus may correct me, but I believe that translates to:

806-870MHz
20/25kHz channel spacing
Trunked Twin Type
Privacy Plus

I hope this helps!

Ray, do you know if these radio are capable of Voice inversion? I noticed today on the Shine FM talkgroup the station was trying to communicate with the traffic reporter using voice inversion. The traffic reported just gave up attempting to talk with whoever at Shine FM and continued doing reports on schedule.

I also heard on the CISN talkgroup this morning, the reporter claimed the chopper went out of radio range over highway 21 just east of Looma, yet I have heard cabs on this same system much further east. I wonder if the antenna is mounted inside the chopper?

 

[Jay911]

I'm no expert in aircraft installations, but I did notice something looking at a couple of helicopters one time with their antennae mounted on the bottom of the fuselage. It took a few seconds before I realized why they were in the RIGHT spot in that case..

Not to put down the radio installers who worked on the Edmonton CORUS bird, but I suppose it's possible they could have mounted it high...

 

[BlueatHeart]

Uh Ray, You are one of THE radio gurus in these parts...

He's a guru among the radio club too