Has WGST totally abandoned reporting traffic from the sky now? Before he passed, Keith Kalland almost always did his reports from the chopper. Most recently Margo Johnson also did most of her reports from the air. I notice that Art "Mad Man" Mehring was starting to do his reports from the sky while Margo was out on maternity leave, however, recently all the reports on WGST are from in studio. I've also noticed that the chopper reports on Fox5 are now gone, and the anchors now read the traffic info. What's going on at Total Traffic?
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
WGST Traffic
- Thread starter jimbo722
- Start date
My understanding is Clear Channel/Total Traffic is phasing out chopper reports for costs/"liability insurance" in all markets. I understand technology is great, but it simply does not work when the traffic network here is not "all together". They must have a ton of scanner listeners.. 
I don't think helicopters solve all traffic reporting issues, but i think they are significant traffic advantages.
I don't think helicopters solve all traffic reporting issues, but i think they are significant traffic advantages.
> Scott Slade made a passing reference to this recently. He
> commented to "Captain Herb," that "we (WSB) are the only
> ones flying. He said it was reminiscent of the
> 1960's, when WSB's "Skycopter" was the only traffic chopper
> in the air over Atlanta.
>
Edge770 brings up s good point. I wonder, with today's technology (traffic cams at the D.O.T., cell phones, etc), are choppers that value added anymore, or do they just add credibility to the reports?
Speaking of commuters calling in incidents on their cell phones, sounds like WGST has also abandoned the *640 free call from Verizon phones, and is just giving out a land line number to report any trouble. What's up w/that?
> commented to "Captain Herb," that "we (WSB) are the only
> ones flying. He said it was reminiscent of the
> 1960's, when WSB's "Skycopter" was the only traffic chopper
> in the air over Atlanta.
>
Edge770 brings up s good point. I wonder, with today's technology (traffic cams at the D.O.T., cell phones, etc), are choppers that value added anymore, or do they just add credibility to the reports?
Speaking of commuters calling in incidents on their cell phones, sounds like WGST has also abandoned the *640 free call from Verizon phones, and is just giving out a land line number to report any trouble. What's up w/that?
There are several concerns i have with the abadoning of choppers
Atlanta geography. lack of DOT coverage in outlying areas
digital fire/police radios that make it harder/impossible to hear public safety communications
not all listeners are reliable unfortunately
I think if your going to be total traffic, it's going to require more than just a funny traffic junkie in a booth telling you how bad things are in Canton, Cumming and god help us Cornelia.. or Conyers... (you get the picture)..
Atlanta geography. lack of DOT coverage in outlying areas
digital fire/police radios that make it harder/impossible to hear public safety communications
not all listeners are reliable unfortunately
I think if your going to be total traffic, it's going to require more than just a funny traffic junkie in a booth telling you how bad things are in Canton, Cumming and god help us Cornelia.. or Conyers... (you get the picture)..
M
MisterDaisy
Guest
> There are several concerns i have with the abadoning of
> choppers
> Atlanta geography. lack of DOT coverage in outlying areas
> digital fire/police radios that make it harder/impossible to
> hear public safety communications
> not all listeners are reliable unfortunately
>
> I think if your going to be total traffic, it's going to
> require more than just a funny traffic junkie in a booth
> telling you how bad things are in Canton, Cumming and god
> help us Cornelia.. or Conyers... (you get the picture)..
>
The only funny traffic junkie in Atlanta, in my opinion, is Art Mehring. For my commute, I've noticed his reports are accurate enough for my purposes (though, I live and commute within the area where the DOT equipment functions reasonably well). I find myself tuning in just to listen to the entertainment and brighten the drive home.
> choppers
> Atlanta geography. lack of DOT coverage in outlying areas
> digital fire/police radios that make it harder/impossible to
> hear public safety communications
> not all listeners are reliable unfortunately
>
> I think if your going to be total traffic, it's going to
> require more than just a funny traffic junkie in a booth
> telling you how bad things are in Canton, Cumming and god
> help us Cornelia.. or Conyers... (you get the picture)..
>
The only funny traffic junkie in Atlanta, in my opinion, is Art Mehring. For my commute, I've noticed his reports are accurate enough for my purposes (though, I live and commute within the area where the DOT equipment functions reasonably well). I find myself tuning in just to listen to the entertainment and brighten the drive home.
I don't know what it is but lately I've been getting all my traffic info from WGKA. They're accurate, dependable (God, I sound like a promo!) and they seem to "get it"...at least in the morning. Afternoons they go downhill. Chris Monroe even reports on "air traffic" for the business (or pleasure) commuter. For my money, I'll stick with them. Their announcers don't sound like washed-up hicks or people who talk WAAAAYYYYY too fast and you can't understand a dang thing! And if anybody from GKA is lucky enough to read this...fix the afternoons and you may have a real radio station. Your really close...for my taste anyway.
>
> Speaking of commuters calling in incidents on their cell
> phones, sounds like WGST has also abandoned the *640 free
> call from Verizon phones, and is just giving out a land line
> number to report any trouble. What's up w/that?
>
The Titanic stopped taking free cell phone calls as well.
> Speaking of commuters calling in incidents on their cell
> phones, sounds like WGST has also abandoned the *640 free
> call from Verizon phones, and is just giving out a land line
> number to report any trouble. What's up w/that?
>
The Titanic stopped taking free cell phone calls as well.
J
jsradio
Guest
> Has WGST totally abandoned reporting traffic from the sky
> now? Before he passed, Keith Kalland almost always did his
> reports from the chopper. Most recently Margo Johnson also
> did most of her reports from the air. I notice that Art "Mad
> Man" Mehring was starting to do his reports from the sky
> while Margo was out on maternity leave, however, recently
> all the reports on WGST are from in studio. I've also
> noticed that the chopper reports on Fox5 are now gone, and
> the anchors now read the traffic info. What's going on at
> Total Traffic?
>
I'm glad people have noticed something that has been going on since January. My guess is the chopper became too expensive once TT stopped supplying reports for Fox 5.
> now? Before he passed, Keith Kalland almost always did his
> reports from the chopper. Most recently Margo Johnson also
> did most of her reports from the air. I notice that Art "Mad
> Man" Mehring was starting to do his reports from the sky
> while Margo was out on maternity leave, however, recently
> all the reports on WGST are from in studio. I've also
> noticed that the chopper reports on Fox5 are now gone, and
> the anchors now read the traffic info. What's going on at
> Total Traffic?
>
I'm glad people have noticed something that has been going on since January. My guess is the chopper became too expensive once TT stopped supplying reports for Fox 5.
- Status