How do you adjust an Astro Saber display contrast?

[hamptonbeach]

I have an Astro Saber with an extremely light contrast on the display.

I've tried putting it into the service mode and using the same key combo as my Astro Spectra, but some other unknown menu appears instead.

What's the trick ??

[The Pager Geek]

There is a variable pot that needs to be adjusted on the display module. You'll need to take apart the radio, and adjust the pot with a small flat head screw-driver or tuning tool.

tpg

[hamptonbeach]

There is a variable pot that needs to be adjusted on the display module. You'll need to take apart the radio, and adjust the pot with a small flat head screw-driver or tuning tool.

tpg

Are you joking? That is so dumb! How can I adjust the pot while viewing the display? From what you describe, I can't. So I have to take it apart and re-take it apart until I get it where I like it?
I think I'll live with it .....

[Pj]

Its actually not all that bad. Just a little 1/4 turn in either direction should do it for ya.

[hamptonbeach]

OK - I'm going to do it, but I've never taken apart an ASIII.
It looks like it slides out of the bottom of the chassis, but what holds it in?

Do I need to remove the knobs from the top?

[RESCUE161]

NO,
Just loosen the spanner nut on the bottom and then pull the "guts" out. You use the antenna as a pull-refference.

Do NOT take out the phillips-head screws on the bottom as they only hold the battery plate in place.

[tvsjr]

As Rescue said, loosen the spanner nuts. They're captured, you don't want to take them out.

Using the antenna to pull on isn't a great idea, but it's what you have to do. Be gentle.

No knobs have to come off. Remove battery, remove accessories (speaker mic, etc.), and slide the guts out.

[HumHead]

Also, make sure that you are not pushing on the PTT, or any of the other side buttons, as you pull the radio out of the case. The little studs on the back of the buttons can do a heck of a number on the switch "popples" if they are dragged accross them under pressure as the radio is removed from the case.

[hamptonbeach]

OK guys - I guess I aint as dumb as I look.

Loosed the screws, pulled out the case (by the antenna), found the little trim pot, turned it 1/4 turn, reversed the process and the display looks much better looking at it head on.
I even turned the pot the correct way the 1st time

Thanks for your help.

Tom
N1AML

[Tom in D.C.]

Tom,

Welcome to the world of Saber nuts, now that you've done your first "case yank."

Believe it or not, Motorola actually shows in a photograph how to pull the chassis out of the case using the antenna as a handle! Yep, it sounds dumb, but it's the recommended procedure.

[Pj]

See? Not as painful as it seems.

Now the XTS/Pro series, I am never good at snap cases. I always seem to snap something off...

[tvsjr]

I can deal with removing XTS cases... it's getting that *$@#%($#& gasket back in place and properly seated that always raises my blood pressure.

[The Pager Geek]

Be gentle... love the XTS... talk softly to the XTS... become one with the XTS and you can make it do anything you want.

tpg

[tvsjr]

Sorry, I lack the magic XTS juju that some possess. I can get the gasket on the second or third try usually... almost never the first.

[wb4bsd]

my local motorola repair shop uses a little armoral on the rubber gasket to get it to slide back in easily when reassembling the jedi series and xts. The lub dries up after a few hours or less and you dont get it pinched when snapping the case back together.

Now, getting the electronics out of the front shield, thats a pain, but i did that last night too so i could put the electronics in my brandnew black case. The yellow was just getting to me for some reason.