M/A-COM OpenSky in PA

[dmg1969]

Has anyone else in here been affected by the agency (agencies) they like to monitor switching to OpenSky? I have. I live in Cumberland County and the police switched over a while ago. They had a patch between the new and old systems fin the beginning, which was great. You could hear units from FAR away like they were parked outside of your house. But alas...they took away the patch and all police activity fell silent. I can still monitor fire and EMS, but police was the majority of my listening. Subsequently, I sold three of my 4 scanners and my large, attic-mounted ground plane antenna. I am still hopeful that one day there will be a scanner capable of scanning OpenSky. Until then, I will have to be content to listen to fire and EMS.

Dave in Enola, PA

 

[rs96]

Won't the Pro-96 pick it up?????

 

[rdale]

No scanner is capable, and it's doubtful one ever will be due to the very limited number of OpenSky systems.

 

[Audiodave1]

Yea, it is sad. Here in the Philly area the only changes are Pendot, PEMA and some DOJ monitoring going quite.


To respond to the other post, no scanner will monitor Opensky.

Dave

 

[scanjunkie]

There's nothing really "Open" about Open Sky...they should call it Closed Sky!!

 

[dmg1969]

Witzie...no scanner is capable of tracking OpenSky. It is a fully digital and IP based radio system.

I spoke the news directors of several local TV stations to ask how they will keep track of breaking news stories involving the police in Cumberland County. The news outlets are being permitted to buy pre-programmed, receive only radios through the county. I also spoke with someone from county control whether they may make these radios available for purchase by the general public (they are EXPENSIVE). He said that there are no plans to do that, but that M/A-COM has been shopping around the various scanner manufacturers trying to find one interested in making a scanner capable of scanning OpenSky. I don't know how factual that is. I e-mailed M/A-COM, but don't recall receiving a response from them. It is possible, because more and more PA departments are going to start using OpenSky. Not to mention that NY state just signed on to OpenSky for their statewide system...just like PA.

Dave in Enola, PA

 

[ctrabs74]

WPXI/Channel 11 in Pittsburgh ran a story on the Open Sky system, pointing out the inability for PSP to communicate with the Carnegie Borough PD in Allegheny County during a traffic stop. In that incident, a state trooper was killed. It pointed out the lack of interop capability that the PSP has/will have with the Open Sky system.

Video from WPXI web site:
http://www.wpxi.com/video/9247516/index.html?rss=burg&psp=news

 

[whatnext]

Interoperability or Single source ??

The PSP / Local PD "interop" problem is really not an issue.. all that is needed is the M/A com audio bridge and you could cross patch a cb radio to a trunked super dupper system. It s lack of "outside" the bat coupe knowledge that leads to deaths.. Believe it or not, Motorola is not the ONLY P25 system on the market.

 

[ECHO3]

When PA signed the initial contract with Tyco (MA/Com), the latter agreed to make receive only, registered units available. The language is not clear regarding who can obtain such a unit, but I suspect priority would be given to the news ,media non-PSP communication centers and other PS entities. Availability to the general public remains a big question.

 

[Dorpmuller]

No scanner is capable, and it's doubtful one ever will be due to the very limited number of OpenSky systems.

Even if there was, it'd probably be so darned expensive that no one would buy it.

How much of the state-on the local/county level-is supposed to change over? Will every single local PD on Outer Podunk switch or will it be optional?

I'm in Union County and cops are VHF up here.

Rich

 

[dmg1969]

Rich, I'm not sure how many counties are supposed to switch. As far as Cumberland County goes, ALL police departments within the county made the switch. If the county 911 center goes with it, all PD's would have to in order to communicate.

I know that Lancaster County also bought on to OpenSky and I'm pretty sure York County will be switching also.

I'm going to try again to communicate with someone from M/A-COM and see if I can find out more information on what PA counties are signing on and the possibility of a scanner becoming available. I'll post again when I receive a response.

Dave G.

 

[N_Jay]

. . . . . . . . If the county 911 center goes with it, all PD's would have to in order to communicate. . . .

Dispatch centers can easily handle traffic from multiple radio systems.

 

[dmg1969]

N_Jay...that may very well be, but I can't imagine that they would want to be running TWO different radio systems at the same time. That was the whole idea...to replace the old low band system that was in use since the 1950's. That being said, they are still using low band for at least one municipality (Shippensburg Boro) because of trouble with dead spots. I'm not sure if the OpenSky people ever got it figured out yet or not.

Dave

 

[N_Jay]

N_Jay...that may very well be, but I can't imagine that they would want to be running TWO different radio systems at the same time. That was the whole idea...to replace the old low band system that was in use since the 1950's. That being said, they are still using low band for at least one municipality (Shippensburg Boro) because of trouble with dead spots. I'm not sure if the OpenSky people ever got it figured out yet or not.

Dave

Maybe so, but it is easy for a county to ave one radio system and the state to have a different system and have one dispatch center handle both.

This is no different than Fire, Police and EMS being on different systems in the same jurisdiction.

It is just not a big deal to design around these issues. (as long as you don't ignore he issue)

 

[HM1529]

but I suspect priority would be given to the news ,media non-PSP communication centers and other PS entities.

Every county comm center was given at least one OpenSky base station as part of the statewide radio project. I have seen the base radio in Montco's EOC. I do not think this includes secondary PSAP's in counties (i.e. self dispatched PD's).

 

[dmg1969]

There was a story on the local television news last evening about State Police in Lancaster County going online with the new radio system. They did not refer to OpenSky, but that's what it was. The trooper they interviewed was talking about how it was static free and how he could be in Philly and talk to someone in Erie.

I did send an e-mail to a contact at Tyco who had answered past questions abut OpenSky for me. I asked about the Cumberland County Control director's statement to me that M/A-COM was shopping around trying to find a scanner manufacturer willing to produce an OpenSky scanner. I also asked that, if this is never done, the possibility of citizens purchasing receive-only radios. No reply yet. I will post it when I receive one.

Dave

 

[ctrabs74]

I Want My Psp!!!

There was a story on the local television news last evening about State Police in Lancaster County going online with the new radio system. They did not refer to OpenSky, but that's what it was. The trooper they interviewed was talking about how it was static free and how he could be in Philly and talk to someone in Erie.

That probably explains why I didn't hear a lot of traffic on G Channel (PSP Embreeville in Chester County) last night. It was either that or I wasn't paying attention that much, but even so, I'd usually hear a few calls go out. Lancaster and Chester Counties are both under Troop J, which is based in Lancaster (actually one of the Lampter townships; can't recall if it's East or West).

Suffice to say, I'm not a particularly happy camper...

 

[ctrabs74]

I know that Lancaster County also bought on to OpenSky and I'm pretty sure York County will be switching also.

Dave -

York County is going with MA/COM, but they're getting a P-25 system as opposed to Open Sky. I was under the impression that it would be monitorable, but don't quote me on that just yet...

 

[brey1234]

I find it interesting that their "test" is 5 years late and is being tried out in an area that primarily is flat.
There is a way to track this---See how many times you hear the Troop go back to VHF. That would indicate the success/failure of Open Sky. Report your results here.

 

[ctrabs74]

I may have jumped the gun just a little bit...

Heard Embreeville clearly on VHF tonight around 22:00. Sounds like it's only the Lancaster station that's gone to the dark side. At least I hope that's the case.

I guess I'll chalk it up to bad timing on my part...