OpenSky

"Like ProVoice Open Sky cannot be monitored by any scanner, past or future."

How can the writer predict the future? (ref)

This is a pretty safe statement, seeing as past events and lack of response from manufacturers practically makes the production of a Open Sky scanner highly unlikely. Consider the following;

a. There are only a few Open Sky systems in operation in the US. Scanner manufacturers will not make a scanner - or even investigate implementing the protocols - without a good marketing reason. Few Open Sky systems means little interest, in a great big market.

b. Not all Open Sky implementations have gone well, or even were on budget. Take the case of the state of Pennsylvania - millions of dollars over budget, way past their scheduled implementation and not all counties have bought into the system. I used to live there, and personally knew some of the individuals involved with this fiasco.

c. During the Pa. rollout, it was promised that radios would be provided to enable folks like the press to monitor the system. It never happened, leaving the press (and public) out in the cold.

d. I understand both of the major manufacturers did, at one point, investigate Open Sky and asked MA/Com for the protocol specs. They were both denied. It's been assumed that MA/Com wishes to keep this protocol under wraps as a trade secret for as long as possible. AFAIK no one has been able to reverse engineer the protocol, at least publicly, as was done many years ago with the Motorola trunk.

The conclusion is obvious - no scanner will cover Closed Sky, certainly none in the near future, and unless a major breakthrough occurs, none in the far future either. This topic has been discussed quite completely on the RR forums, and many other places, too.

- KA3JJZ