Astro question

[motofreak008]

I hope I don't offend anyone and I don't mean to, but I notice the Astro Sabers or just Astro radios are the talk of many discussions. Why does everyone love them so much.
Personally, I prefer the HT1250 as a portable, and the CDM1550 for a mobile. What is so different between the HT1250 and Astro Saber and the CDM1550 and Spectra models? Do you suggest I invest in a Saber or Spectra?
Again, I do not want to get anybody mad at me, I have just noticed this and wondered what is so great about them.

[DES-AJ]

I prefer XTS's... your HT1250 is a sweet little radio but it's analog only... Our Astro Sabers, XTS's, Astro Spectras and XTL's are Digital as well as "Anal-gue".

I think that explains it all, also encrypted digital communications are possible if you have a KVL (Key Variable Loader) and the right board in your digital radio.

HTH

[Pj]

The ASTRO line of radios are Motorola's high tier radios. These are digital format capable, encyption capable, trunking and the such. Basically all the bells and whistles (if ordered that way). These include the ASTRO Saber, ASTRO Spectra, ASTRO Spectra Plus, XTS, XTL line of radios.

The CDM, HT1250 and the such radios are part of their "Professional" line of radios that are geared towards the commerical, industrial and light public safety use. They will not do digital modulation and do not offer factory encyption (aftermarket is available).

To many people, the Professional line feels like a "toy" compared to the ASTRO line. Just different tools for different jobs.

[txshooter]

.....To many people, the Professional line feels like a "toy" compared to the ASTRO line. Just different tools for different jobs.

Have you ever had a Astro Saber or XTS Radio in your Hand? PJ is right....the professional series radios feel like a kids walkie talkie compared to something like the Astro Saber or XTS series radio. Hey, not knocking the radios. They are great for the job they are designed to do....

In my opinion they should never be used for Public Saftey or Critical Applications.

Drop a HT1250 from waist height......drop a Astro Saber from the same height...... The Astro Saber will fair much better.....

Hey depends on what you are using them for? The HT1250 may suit your purposes wonderfully.

[MRFLASHPORT]

txshooter,

Once you go Astro, You never go back to having an analog radio only!
just ain't the same.

[fogster]

Why does everyone love them so much.

Part of it, for me, was necessity--everyone else went digital, so, if I didn't get an ASTRO rig, I'd be out in the cold.

I think Pj hit the nail on the head, though, in that the ASTRO ones are Motorola's flagship models, not only solid as a rock (ASTRO Saber especially), but they sport many more features. (Of course, some, like the RSSI that the HT1250/1550 have, are conspicuously absent...)

also encrypted digital communications are possible if you have a KVL (Key Variable Loader) and the right board in your digital radio.

Just to nitpick, ASTRO gear isn't the only stuff that does encryption. (I'm not sure if that's what you meant to suggest.)

Do you suggest I invest in a Saber or Spectra?

I've never worked with an HT1250 (or mobile equipment, so I'll steer clear of that), but I'm not sure one's better than the other, as much as them being different. The HT1250 seems to sport some more 'high-tech' options, a much nicer display, and a more compact figure. You've really got to hold a Saber to truly appreciate it--it's rock-solid. It's a personal thing, but I hate the menu system on it. I don't have the facts to back it up, but it's been claimed that the Saber has a really sensitive receiver and pure, high-powered output. Of course, the Saber supports encryption, whereas the HT1250 doesn't. (If you were referring to the ASTRO Saber, not a normal Saber, disregard my comments about the menu system, and add in praises about things like displaying MDC PTT-IDs and supporting digital.)

[DES-AJ]

txshooter,

Once you go Astro, You never go back to having an analog radio only!
just ain't the same.

Hear, hear!

Your right about the "Pro series" we have GP338's/GP338 Plus's (Like an HT1250/EX600) here and the things work well but just little things like the radio falls out of the belt cradle on the GP338+ all the time and the radios just don't take a beating at all... you drop it and your lucky if the display/case plastic isn't smashed, thats one reason my lower tier "Pro Series" radios are kenwoods, they take more of a beating than a "Pro series" Motorola.

My XTS3000R fell out of my car while it was on a lift a few weeks back and landed heavily on the concrete floor of a car workshop, at the time I picked it up I thought ahhh great.. But I was amazed couldn't find any dings or scratches as a result of the drop... Took me a week later to come across a small ding above the purple side button and an even smaller ding at the bottom of the radio. Just amazing how little damage, you drop a Pro series that far and your be lucky if the radio turns back on.

And if I wanna be picky I can just change the case with a spare new one.

*Edit*

also encrypted digital communications are possible if you have a KVL (Key Variable Loader) and the right board in your digital radio.

Just to nitpick, ASTRO gear isn't the only stuff that does encryption. (I'm not sure if that's what you meant to suggest.)

Nah wasn't saying they are the only radios to do encryption, just Astro secure DES-OFB does it well! Voice inversion rolling a 16th of a second or so is fairly secure to the average eves dropper, and securenet is fairly secure but it sounds like crap... I'm sure theirs other encryption methods out there...

[Dan562]

The Astro Saber and the Astro Mobile are basically the same units internal electronics, just different housings. And the Astro radio will practically cover the entire UHF band using Analogue, Astro Digital and Astro-Digital Secure. You definitely know you've got a well packaged and Quality product when your using it. It's a first class radio but the radio is not inexpensive either.

There's another way to view the product. You can purchase a Rolls-Royce and a Volkswagen Beetle, then drive a thousand miles to the same destination. Which one do you think you'll have a better and more comfortable ride in? That's the difference between Analogue and Astro Digital signaling.

[motofreak008]

I guess digital is better, but what does it require? On the HT1250s all you need are two radios, is that all that digital takes, or does it require more equipment? I have considered getting a Saber portable just to see the difference. Just finding the money is the hard part. Are Saber portables part of the Astro line? Is there a way by looking at the radio to tell if it is Astro or not?

[bellersley]

In my opinion they should never be used for Public Saftey or Critical Applications.

Drop a HT1250 from waist height......drop a Astro Saber from the same height...... The Astro Saber will fair much better.....

I used to think the same until I got my GP380 (Euro HT1250). I've never had a problem with it and it's gone through hell. Just recently it fell 20 feet directly on it's corner onto concrete. Aside fro a scuff mark, no problems to report. That said, I don't think I'd want to make a habit of dropping it.

There is a definate difference though. I also have an Astro Saber and have had an XTS3000. The HT1250 series feel like a consumer grade ham radio whereas the XTS and Saber series feel like a real radio.

[fogster]

I guess digital is better, but what does it require?

While I absolutely love ASTRO equipment, I should point out that:
a.) Not everyone loves the audio quality of it. (It's a limitation of the digital mode, not the radio itself.)
b.) You lose the obvious 'interoperability' advantage of FM.

If I were setting up a radio system, I'm not sure if I'd end up going with a digital one or not. For what I use mine for, though, some of the systems are digital, so I don't have much of a choice.

On the HT1250s all you need are two radios, is that all that digital takes, or does it require more equipment?

Two ASTRO radios are all it takes. I've never dealt with digital repeaters, but I seem to recall that there are sometimes issues with them correctly passing the digital signal through, hence people getting special 'digital repeaters.' I could be completely wrong about that part, so don't quote me on that.

I have considered getting a Saber portable just to see the difference. Just finding the money is the hard part.

You might be surprised. I've got two ASTRO radios, both of which cost me around $250. (Of course, I also missed out on lots of other auctions that ended up going for more.) I've toyed with the HT1250 now and then, and they're usually in that range, if not more. A 'normal' (non-ASTRO) Saber is way less.

Are Saber portables part of the Astro line? Is there a way by looking at the radio to tell if it is Astro or not?

There are two Sabers--the 'normal' Saber and the ASTRO Saber. The easy way to tell is that ASTRO-line products have say "ASTRO" on the front in a sort of teal blue color. (Caveat emptor: an "ASTRO" radio is not necessarily capable of actually doing ASTRO digital. It's a "Flash option." I own two ASTRO Sabers; only one speaks digital.) On Sabers, a couple quick ways to tell:
- For Saber 1s (no keypad/display), the ASTRO products are a little taller; the channel knob has 16 positions, not 12; and there's a concentric "A/B" switch under the channel knob.
- For Saber 2s and 3s (keypad/display), all of the above, plus, the buttons on the ASTRO radios are teal blue, whereas non-ASTRO radios have red buttons. (The LCD on the ASTRO radios is way better also, but you might not be able to tell that without looking up close.)

Even the non-ASTRO Saber is a nice radio, but I found that it got 'boring' quickly, when compared with other radios. I suspect that, coming from an HT1250, you might start to feel the same things. (Of course, it is just a radio, and a great one at that. I'm just saying that, if you're weird like me and enjoy the radios themselves more than the actual use of them, the Saber's only fun for so long.)

(Edit: holy smokes, sorry this was so long!)

[motofreak008]

That clears a lot up for me. I am like you fogster, I enjoy the radios even while not in use.