Astro Saber 1 Question

[muggsy09]

I'm new to the world of the Astro Saber radio family, I am thinking of buying an Astro Saber 1 with the Flashcode of 180004-000000-6
and the H37 system package, it also has

806/G806- IMBE / APCO-25 Digital Operation
H868/W298- Conventional Multikey and Analog Conventional MDC OTAR
H37/G50- Smartnet Operation

for options. Will this unit do regular conventional operation, and can I flash it to do MODAT?

Thanks

Muggsy

[RESCUE161]

Yes, it will do conventional channels as it sits.

You can blow in another CP with MODAT and it will work. MODAT is fun for about 2 minutes though.

I would leave the CP alone if it's unhacked.

If you do chose to hack it, please keep the original CP somewhere safe.

[muggsy09]

Thanks

[wireless.friendly]

Hi all!

I can purchase AS I, but this one having flash code 000001-002000-5 (radio manufactured in 96 year):

- H35/G48 Conventional Operation
- Q241 ASTRO Ready (Analog Operation ONLY)

But I want to run in ASTRO Digital 9600 bps network with IMBE.

Questions:

1. What probability that this one has 1 MEG flash installed?

2. If this one has 1 MEG flash: any way to upgrade flash (reprogram) to ASTRO Digital 9600 bps with IMBIE compatibility?

3. If this one has only 512 KB flash: any way to replace flash chip with 1 MEG flash chip? Or replace vocoder board as a whole (just I never seen how done electronics in Astro Sabers)?

[Romario]

Questions:

1. What probability that this one has 1 MEG flash installed?

You have a 50/50 chance here. The 1-meg vocons were incorporated into the Digital Saber/Spectra products in 1996, so it could go either way.

2. If this one has 1 MEG flash: any way to upgrade flash (reprogram) to ASTRO Digital 9600 bps with IMBIE compatibility?

Yes. You will need host version R06.xx.xx and DSP version N/I (depending on voocn version) x08.xx.xx. Technically anything higher than DSP version 6 will do IMBE, but DSP version 8 is current.

3. If this one has only 512 KB flash: any way to replace flash chip with 1 MEG flash chip?

Negative. The 512K vocon in saber/spectra contains 3 256K FLASH ROM's. Two contain the HOST firmware (512K) and the other 256K ROM holds the DSP firmware. There is no way to get a 1-meg ROM for the HOST firmware onto the board. The CPU also looks for specific address ranges when loading the firmware into RAM. A 1-meg TSOP-32 ROM would not have the same ranges.

Or replace vocoder board as a whole (just I never seen how done electronics in Astro Sabers)?

This is your best avenue to make the saber do ASTRO25 trunking. Simply replace the 512K vocon with a 1-meg version, and send it into Motorola for flashport upgrade. I doubt they'll do it for you, as they'll be very interested in why you need that option. It's not standard in the Saber/Spectra product. They'll probably also see if you have legitimate access to any systems near you. Then again, maybe I'm being paranoid.

Keep in mind ASTRO25 host firmware is very, very, very rare. Even if you find an IMBE-flashed 1-meg vocon on eBay, and a 9600bps s-record/codeplug to jam in there, it still won't work as the host firmware needs to be R06.xx.xx.

If you legitimately need to have access to an ASTRO25 trunk, I would do one of two things:

1. Buy an ASTRO25-capable digital scanner;
2. Get an XTS5000 with the ASTRO25 option instead.

Also keep in mind that you cannot passively monitor an ASTRO25 trunk. Your radio, whether it is an ASTRO Saber/XTS3000, or an XTS5000, will automatically affiliate with the controller. You cannot "listen only".

[Pj]

For the 9600 systems (if your legit) you need two system keys.. The normal system key and the P25 WACN...the 2nd for which hasn't been hacked to my knowledge.

Either way as said, you cannot passively monitor a true P25 system.

I haven't seen a P25 Astro Saber or Spectra, but the Astro Spectra Plus was the spectra that allowed P25 9600 trunking. I know you could get the XTS3k with the P25 for sure. Just never seen a saber, but I am sure its out there.

Be prepared to spend over 1K for the flash upgrade though.

[Josh]

For the 9600 systems (if your legit) you need two system keys.. The normal system key and the P25 WACN...the 2nd for which hasn't been hacked to my knowledge.

Either way as said, you cannot passively monitor a true P25 system.

I haven't seen a P25 Astro Saber or Spectra, but the Astro Spectra Plus was the spectra that allowed P25 9600 trunking. I know you could get the XTS3k with the P25 for sure. Just never seen a saber, but I am sure its out there.

Be prepared to spend over 1K for the flash upgrade though.

Actually, the Michigan State Police have an abundance of Astro Saber radios they use for patrol portables, and they deck 'em out with the big antennas and batteries, it's a monstrosity! Of course, any new purchases are XTS5000s.

-Josh

[Tom in D.C.]

Just to set the record straight about Astro mode on an AS radio,
there are no prohibiitons on its use on the amateur bands or on
the MURS channels. (It's comparable to digital modes already in
use, such as packet messaging, etc.) There are even a few IMBE amateur repeaters currently in use in the USA.

[Josh]

I can't speak for MURS with certainty, but am pretty sure the emissions designator for IMBE isn't in the list of approved ones by the FCC. I use it, b/c I don't care, I set it up as narrow-band as prescribed by the FCC on the lower 3 channels as well as on the upper two and roll with it anyhow.

As far as ham goes, it's not encrypted and is an accepted modulation standard, so it's good to go... yes, there are Astro ham repeaters out there.

-Josh