conversion for a saber I to saber II or III and
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radiomedic
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2002 9:11 pm
conversion for a saber I to saber II or III and
403-433 to 440-470 ...or 440-470 saber Ie to saber II or III...what do i need besides a prayer... scott
To convert any Saber from the base model I, to a II or even a III, you need the appropriate front shield, and if changing bands, you will need the proper modules for the band split you are operating in.
The UHF and VHF modules can not be swapped and reprogrammed, and neither can the PAs or Rcvr(U4), as that is totally different from UHF to VHF as well.
If all you have is a model I and you wish to take it to a III, locate a model III case, and front shield with the 8K display, you'll need that to get full Saber III functionality.
Modules can be had if you want to buy several Ebay specials and take your chances, but most on Ebay are the junk govt. split on 403-433.
You can tell these if the radios have USGEID numbers on the cases, that's the US Government Equipment ID, and if the radio is UHF, it's probably a 403-433 band split, and is USELESS, aside from the controller board, frame, control top panel and MAYBE the case as well.
The modules from this band split have almost no value, toss them in the parts bin.
Motorola no longer supports the Saber line, it's been discontinued and any available parts will become harder and harder to locate, and cases are going to be tops on the list.
Sabers are EXCELLENT portables, probably THE best in the analog era, but getting new replacemt parts is all but impossible, it's all used from here on out.
Simply swap your front shield, change out the internal modules for the proper band split, reprogram and align...you should have a radio that hears well, talks well and damn, looks as hot as any radio on the market currently.
It is probably THE MOST identified portable in the industry, the styling of the Saber was a great marketing move, it's just plain sexy in my view.
Very comfortable to hold in the hand, ease of use, buttons large enough to operate with gloves, and a case that does not lose it's coloring from handling.
No chintzy chrome plating to wear/rub off.
Not a bad life for a radio designed in the early 80's and still has a solid following 20+ years later!
Enterprize.....One to beam up!
The UHF and VHF modules can not be swapped and reprogrammed, and neither can the PAs or Rcvr(U4), as that is totally different from UHF to VHF as well.
If all you have is a model I and you wish to take it to a III, locate a model III case, and front shield with the 8K display, you'll need that to get full Saber III functionality.
Modules can be had if you want to buy several Ebay specials and take your chances, but most on Ebay are the junk govt. split on 403-433.
You can tell these if the radios have USGEID numbers on the cases, that's the US Government Equipment ID, and if the radio is UHF, it's probably a 403-433 band split, and is USELESS, aside from the controller board, frame, control top panel and MAYBE the case as well.
The modules from this band split have almost no value, toss them in the parts bin.
Motorola no longer supports the Saber line, it's been discontinued and any available parts will become harder and harder to locate, and cases are going to be tops on the list.
Sabers are EXCELLENT portables, probably THE best in the analog era, but getting new replacemt parts is all but impossible, it's all used from here on out.
Simply swap your front shield, change out the internal modules for the proper band split, reprogram and align...you should have a radio that hears well, talks well and damn, looks as hot as any radio on the market currently.
It is probably THE MOST identified portable in the industry, the styling of the Saber was a great marketing move, it's just plain sexy in my view.
Very comfortable to hold in the hand, ease of use, buttons large enough to operate with gloves, and a case that does not lose it's coloring from handling.
No chintzy chrome plating to wear/rub off.
Not a bad life for a radio designed in the early 80's and still has a solid following 20+ years later!
Enterprize.....One to beam up!
The case holds up good, but the lettering on the buttons sure does wear down! Can't count how many Saber II's i have seen on ebay with the button lettering worn off.
The low split UHF on ebay are good for parts, that's for sure. I got some low split's on ebay that were totally MINT condition, looks like they have hardly seen a day of use. I took one of them and swapped the modules for 440-470, and i took another one and swapped in the VHF guts from a Saber I Secure, making a 8k Saber II VHF.
Watch for the low split UHF II's and III's, they usually go for next to nothing and a lot of them are in really nice condition having seen nothing more then indoor use, at least that's what they look like. Perhaps they spent a lot of their life sitting on a desk.
I might still have another complete set of 440-470 modules, i would have to look and test them if your interested. I just got a Saber I the other day that if i recall correctly was a 440-470 split, i haven't tested it yet, i bought it for the case to put on a beat up VHF.
The low split UHF on ebay are good for parts, that's for sure. I got some low split's on ebay that were totally MINT condition, looks like they have hardly seen a day of use. I took one of them and swapped the modules for 440-470, and i took another one and swapped in the VHF guts from a Saber I Secure, making a 8k Saber II VHF.
Watch for the low split UHF II's and III's, they usually go for next to nothing and a lot of them are in really nice condition having seen nothing more then indoor use, at least that's what they look like. Perhaps they spent a lot of their life sitting on a desk.
I might still have another complete set of 440-470 modules, i would have to look and test them if your interested. I just got a Saber I the other day that if i recall correctly was a 440-470 split, i haven't tested it yet, i bought it for the case to put on a beat up VHF.
Duct tape is like the force, it has a dark side and a light side and it holds the universe together.
"I Reject Your Reality And Substitute My Own!" - Adam Savage
"I Reject Your Reality And Substitute My Own!" - Adam Savage
-
radiomedic
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2002 9:11 pm
modules ? im interested if they are cheap
i have a saber 1 e and it works but deaf on the ham band including on the 449mhz freqs as well as the 440.75 frequency areas- the radio supposedly is a 440-470 mhz range...the 403-433 mhz radio im getting from a friend works on the range and the case is good shape ,the same friend is sending a saber 3 case but its a secure type and the inerds is a vhf model (136-150 mhz) that someone beat to death i believe the front part works but ???? scott
kb0nly wrote:The case holds up good, but the lettering on the buttons sure does wear down! Can't count how many Saber II's i have seen on ebay with the button lettering worn off.
The low split UHF on ebay are good for parts, that's for sure. I got some low split's on ebay that were totally MINT condition, looks like they have hardly seen a day of use. I took one of them and swapped the modules for 440-470, and i took another one and swapped in the VHF guts from a Saber I Secure, making a 8k Saber II VHF.
Watch for the low split UHF II's and III's, they usually go for next to nothing and a lot of them are in really nice condition having seen nothing more then indoor use, at least that's what they look like. Perhaps they spent a lot of their life sitting on a desk.
I might still have another complete set of 440-470 modules, i would have to look and test them if your interested. I just got a Saber I the other day that if i recall correctly was a 440-470 split, i haven't tested it yet, i bought it for the case to put on a beat up VHF.
Saber IE is a Saber I with expanded zone/channel capacity.
24 channels or two zones, no scan, no MPL or autodial/MTI.
Very limited features but it does double the channels of the original model I.
Many have set this radio up as one zone for Rpt and one for T/A.
You do get your choice of MDC...600, or 1200 with emergency.
Here's a hint...if your radio has the toggle switch, you also have emergency, all you do is swap toggles with the one that has the center button and then go into the options [F4] and select your type of emergeny option, you're all set!
There are two fingers to spread directly under the controls top, soread those and AGENTLY lift the old toggle out...pay attention, that little piece probably has a couple of tiny seats and a gasket on it and they will fall off if you yank it out, not to mention snag on the thin plastic escutcheon.
Enterprize.....One to beam up!
24 channels or two zones, no scan, no MPL or autodial/MTI.
Very limited features but it does double the channels of the original model I.
Many have set this radio up as one zone for Rpt and one for T/A.
You do get your choice of MDC...600, or 1200 with emergency.
Here's a hint...if your radio has the toggle switch, you also have emergency, all you do is swap toggles with the one that has the center button and then go into the options [F4] and select your type of emergeny option, you're all set!
There are two fingers to spread directly under the controls top, soread those and AGENTLY lift the old toggle out...pay attention, that little piece probably has a couple of tiny seats and a gasket on it and they will fall off if you yank it out, not to mention snag on the thin plastic escutcheon.
Enterprize.....One to beam up!
I can not say enough, about how wonderful sabers are.. VERY easy to repair.....very easy to "upgrade"...and just overall wonderful radios......
I still prefer an astro saber over an XTS.......
oh so sexy sabers.....
I DARE you to drop your XTS from a 3rd story window and see if it survives.......
I dropped my saber from a 3rd story window(my dumb A** set it on a window sill...then knocked it over while reaching for it)
well..after running down some steps.. turned it on.......no joy...
took the case off......
the front mic/spkr flex had "unplugged itself"....just pushed it back in.....and poof.....back to life......
do THAT to your xts.....
I still prefer an astro saber over an XTS.......
oh so sexy sabers.....
I DARE you to drop your XTS from a 3rd story window and see if it survives.......
I dropped my saber from a 3rd story window(my dumb A** set it on a window sill...then knocked it over while reaching for it)
well..after running down some steps.. turned it on.......no joy...
took the case off......
the front mic/spkr flex had "unplugged itself"....just pushed it back in.....and poof.....back to life......
do THAT to your xts.....
120 channels or MODES
and.. I wanna say 16 PL tones....
swap the housing and add a display.. easy as that.....
same with the astro sabers......
if you have an AS1, drop on a display, and a new case....blow in an AS3 codeplug/srec and you're ready to go.....
I have an Saber 1E, that I programmed as a saber 2, that I use in the convertacom with a display mic,it now has ALL the features of a saber 2, same idea......but without buying a new case...
and.. I wanna say 16 PL tones....
swap the housing and add a display.. easy as that.....
same with the astro sabers......
if you have an AS1, drop on a display, and a new case....blow in an AS3 codeplug/srec and you're ready to go.....
I have an Saber 1E, that I programmed as a saber 2, that I use in the convertacom with a display mic,it now has ALL the features of a saber 2, same idea......but without buying a new case...
I can only get 8 or 9 selectable PL's in my Saber II 8k. Do you have to free up memory from somewhere else to get more?
The RSS manual doesn't really say anything about selectable PL i think, i will have to go look through it again.
The RSS manual doesn't really say anything about selectable PL i think, i will have to go look through it again.
Duct tape is like the force, it has a dark side and a light side and it holds the universe together.
"I Reject Your Reality And Substitute My Own!" - Adam Savage
"I Reject Your Reality And Substitute My Own!" - Adam Savage
ummm..get an astro saber? lol
there was something that I enabled on my saber 3 that limited the number of "Unique PL's" as motorola called it, I THOUGHT it was secure operation, but I cannot remember.....
it MIGHT be something about the RSS ASSUMING it's 2K and not letting you put in more channels.(I have no experience with a saber II).... otherwise.. I'd just "upgrade it" to a saber III,but leave it in the saberII case and see what happens....
there was something that I enabled on my saber 3 that limited the number of "Unique PL's" as motorola called it, I THOUGHT it was secure operation, but I cannot remember.....
it MIGHT be something about the RSS ASSUMING it's 2K and not letting you put in more channels.(I have no experience with a saber II).... otherwise.. I'd just "upgrade it" to a saber III,but leave it in the saberII case and see what happens....
How did you get 120 modes ina Saber IE??kb3jkp wrote:120 channels or MODES
and.. I wanna say 16 PL tones....
swap the housing and add a display.. easy as that.....
same with the astro sabers......
if you have an AS1, drop on a display, and a new case....blow in an AS3 codeplug/srec and you're ready to go.....
I have an Saber 1E, that I programmed as a saber 2, that I use in the convertacom with a display mic,it now has ALL the features of a saber 2, same idea......but without buying a new case...
The CORE can't support more than 24 modes or two zones from the factory....
Also, the Saber IE I had also had no display driver as the Model I's never featured a display to begin with.
The display mic will only show a string of ****** instead of a zone/alphanumeric, just like a model I would if used with the SVA and display mic.
If you got the display mic to read out the zone/alpha, then you don't have a IE, but a early model II with either the 48 channels or the later 72.
All model Is had just enough CORE memory for 12 channels and if I recall, 9 PL/DPL codes, a very limited feature set also.
No scan, MPL, DTMF, just 12 channels, with MDC and emergency if you have the button toggle.
But to get emergency on any Saber, all you need is the switch and the proper toggle dropped in, then enable the option under F4 radio options, and enable MDC-1200 with your ANI number and you're all set.
120 Channel capacity is the a model III, and the 255 mode radios are Systems models only.
MPL choices are 9 with both the model II and III in both 'flavors' of Saber radios.
Enterprise.....One to beam up!
kb3jkp wrote:120 channels or MODES
and.. I wanna say 16 PL tones....
swap the housing and add a display.. easy as that.....
same with the astro sabers......
if you have an AS1, drop on a display, and a new case....blow in an AS3 codeplug/srec and you're ready to go.....
I have an Saber 1E, that I programmed as a saber 2, that I use in the convertacom with a display mic,it now has ALL the features of a saber 2, same idea......but without buying a new case...
I didnt, I'm talking about converting a saber 1->3AEC wrote: How did you get 120 modes ina Saber IE??
The CORE can't support more than 24 modes or two zones from the factory....
NEGATIVE, if you take a SABER 1E, which HAS a display, but NO keypad, you can program it as a saber 2, or even 3, and you WILL have a display when you pop in the the SVA with a display mic...Also, the Saber IE I had also had no display driver as the Model I's never featured a display to begin with.
The display mic will only show a string of ****** instead of a zone/alphanumeric, just like a model I would if used with the SVA and display mic.
again, it IS a 1E, but with a saber2/3 codeplug blown in, the most number of channels I've had programmed was about 20, but it DID work..... I can guarantee that...If you got the display mic to read out the zone/alpha, then you don't have a IE, but a early model II with either the 48 channels or the later 72.
yup.. I'm aware of that, again, it was a 1E, with a 2 or 3(I tried both, and both worked) codeplug blown in...All model Is had just enough CORE memory for 12 channels and if I recall, 9 PL/DPL codes, a very limited feature set also.
No scan, MPL, DTMF, just 12 channels, with MDC and emergency if you have the button toggle.
But to get emergency on any Saber, all you need is the switch and the proper toggle dropped in, then enable the option under F4 radio options, and enable MDC-1200 with your ANI number and you're all set.
I didnt know the exact numbers of PL or MPL, but now I know..120 Channel capacity is the a model III, and the 255 mode radios are Systems models only.
MPL choices are 9 with both the model II and III in both 'flavors' of Saber radios.
Enterprise.....One to beam up!