Saber II and III Questions.

MotoMax300 · Post by **MotoMax300** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:03 pm

Through the grapevine, I am getting a Saber II and III 8k units (VHF)

I am wondering if there is a PDF or online manual for these units online? I would like to read as mucg as I can (have read many posts on here about the units), before messing with them too much. I don't want a doorstop outta one. Both are secure capable but bypassed.

I would be looking into programming them, scan lists etc. As well as converting the II into a III eventually maybe.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:48 pm

I have the operator and RSS manuals in .pdf, got them off MOL when they were available a while ago.

AEC · Post by **AEC** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:54 pm

As the tin man would tell you, get the operation/programming book first, so you have a clear idea as to every function and capability of the radio.

The most features are available for the model III, with the least being the model I, which is a bare bones radio to say the least.

Programming is actually straight forward and quite easy to accomplish without worrying about hosing the radio and making a brick out of it like you can with the Systems models.

Once you are ready to program the radios, and you have the proper RSS, then you can get into the various features and options available for that model and CORE level as well.

Most Sabers on the used market are of the 5D CORE and can not make use of the advanced signalling the 6D and 8D CORE models can use, so do not even attempt to select those options under the F4 radio options menu, they will not work.

Also, the two RAT buttons, marked with single and double 'dots' are of no use with 5D or lesser COREs, they will function with the 6D and 8D COREs though.

If you have more questions, or need more assistance with these radios, please feel free to Email me direct, or via this forum, and either myself or another person will be happy to help guide you through the process.

73!

MotoMax300 · Post by **MotoMax300** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:27 pm

Thank you kb0nly for the manuals and AEC for the info, now, As for 5D and 6D, Can you change cores? I dont understand the 5D/6D Core etc. I have read about cores and all but dont understand if you can edit them etc. What can a 5D do?

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:36 pm

The core version is a chip on the main board, the only way to change the core version is buy a different radio, its not feasible to do anything else.

MotoMax300 · Post by **MotoMax300** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:45 pm

Alright, The II is a 6D, How can I tell if it can be converted to a Saber III?

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:52 pm

You will need to open it up and see what front shield it has, if it has the full keypad membrane and a 8k front then your good to for upgrading it. The quick way to check if its a 2k or 8k front is to count the number of surface mount chips on the board affixed to the back side of the front shield with the display, 4 is a 2k, 5 is a 8k. There is an exception to the rule, sometimes an 8k radio is programmed as a 2k radio, the only way to know for sure it to inspect that front board.

At the very least you will need a new case with full keypad for the conversion. Some time, some patience, and if you not careful a lot of hair pulling.

Now if you just want to swap parts around and have a 5D saber II and a 6D saber III, then that's easy.. Swap the front shields and cases and reprogram both.

MotoMax300 · Post by **MotoMax300** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:19 pm

kb0nly, thats my plan, 5D II and 6D III.... Have a walk through?

Then again, if I can get the parts cheap, two III's would be nice.

a 5D III and 6D III would be fun, but for now, on the fly, a 6D III is wanted .

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:34 pm

If your familiar with programming the Saber this swap is pretty easy.

Here is the basics of this swap...

Read each radio and save the codeplug. Make sure you name the saved codeplug so you will later know which is which, like Saber III, and Saber II.

Swap the fronts and cases.

Load the saved codeplug for the 5D Saber III, go into the radio features and change it by selecting the 6D options instead, now write it to the new 6D Saber III, but when it asks DO NOT use the codeplug tuning values, use the radio tuning values. You don't want to write the tuning data from the other radio chassis to the newly created radio.

Load the saved codeplug for the 6D Saber II, go into the radio features and change it by selecting the 5D options instead, now write it to the new 5D Saber II, but when it asks DO NOT use the codeplug tuning values, use the radio tuning values.

Now you should have a 6D SIII, and a 5D SII.

Make sure you read both radios and save copies of the codeplug after the swap so you have current backups.

MotoMax300 · Post by **MotoMax300** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:38 am

Thank you, I think I can handle that. Does anyone have a picture of the front being changed? Is there any screws or just sanapped on there?

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:49 am

All you have to do is loosen the two bottom nuts, they are captive in the bottom plate so just loosen them don't try to remove them.

Then slide the internals out of the case, and the front shield just has a catch on the bottom edge, use a small flat blade screwdriver to pop the shield off and unplug the two flex's connecting it.