Motorola Saber Question

[williamray507]

I have bought and programmed several Sabers but I got one the other day that has me scratching my head as to the problem its showing. First off I programmed in some local 2M repeaters and the various VHF DOT frequencies, the radio will work fine with everything except in the 151.* range (RED, Purple, and a few others) it will not transmit nor receive on those but so far everything above and below that works. So my question is has anyone see this issue before and do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Bill (K3AVN)

[Tom in D.C.]

Bill,

I've programmed tons of standard Sabers and have never run into this problem. How about if you write a completely new
codeplug, not modifyng one you took from the radio when you got it, then loading it in to see if that overcomes the problem.
Make sure the model you select from the setup table covers 151 mHz.

[williamray507]

I did try to create a new codeplug and it still does the same thing. It will work fine on everything else and it does not matter what channel I program to the 151.* range, it just doesn't seem to like that range. But as I was saying above or below works just fine. I even read another Saber II with the same model number and wrote it to the other one but it still doesn't work on the 151.* range.

Thanks,
Bill

[HLA]

I've never seen that and I use red dot for alot of testing

[williamray507]

Yea me too...

[AEC]

Several Sabers allow you to program up to the 151 range, but no further, this was done in the synthesizer, and is masked. There are ranges that allow 136-162, 148-174 and the 136-150.8.
Your model does not support 151.XXX. The VCO works for all frequancies in highband, or UHF, but the synthesizer sets the band limits.

I am not sure how you can program above and below the 151.XXX channels and not able to use that particular section of the VHF band.
You might want to check your filter/detector/switch near the antenna port, above the P.A module, this also is frequency selective, or actually, band selective.
There is another filter, to the left of the F.D.S and is the low pass filter, you might want to check this against the band limits you are attempting to program.

Check your codeplug data, and then run the service menu and look at your actual settings.
VCO modulation, Squelch, power.
Also, run a current draw test to see where your power output is, matched to your current draw. Saber P.A modules do not like to run at excessive output levels as there is just the stamped fram against an aluminum module for heatsinking.

[kd5ual]

check the synthesizer module number
NLD8201x = 136-150.8
NLD8210x is used for all other VHF splits
these module numbers and others are on the rbtip saber page
as are comments about this problem and why some people put
a 146-174 codeplug in a 136-150.8 radio $$$$$


73 kd5ual

[williamray507]

Ok so I took the radio apart again here are all the model numbers of all the modules

Saber 2 Radio
Secure - NTN5835B
Synthesizer - NLD8201B
PA - NLD8121A
FDS - NFD6131A
2 Pole Filter - NFD6111A
Receiver - NLD8180A
Display Board - NTN7063A

And I still don't understand why it will work fine above 151.xxx but not on it.

[williamray507]

And here is the model numbers from a radio that works.

Saber 2 Radio (All Works)
Secure - NTN5835B
Synthesizer - NLD8210B
PA - NLD8773A
FDS - NFD6132C
2 Pole Filter - NFD6112A
Receiver - NLD8180A
Display Board - NTN7063B

[williamray507]

The other question I have is why is there no 136 - 150 range in the Moto RSS?

[FireCpt809]

What you have is a low split saber. I can tell by the numbers off of the modules.

The Synthesizer is for a 136-150.8 radio
The PA is also.. as is the FDS and the 2 pole.
The reciever is 136-174 but they all use the same one

There is a 136-150 range in the RSS, you have to select it in the codeplug. It wont do the 151.000 because your programming it as a 146-162 and the modules wont let it happen.

[Will]

Does this apply to the System Saber 148- going down to 145? I can get to 147 and it works, RSS will not let me go lower.

[FireCpt809]

Sabers and systems sabers all use the same modules. In general sabers dont like going +or- more than 1 or 2 Mhz either way before the VCO unlocks.

[williamray507]

What you have is a low split saber. I can tell by the numbers off of the modules.

The Synthesizer is for a 136-150.8 radio
The PA is also.. as is the FDS and the 2 pole.
The reciever is 136-174 but they all use the same one

There is a 136-150 range in the RSS, you have to select it in the codeplug. It wont do the 151.000 because your programming it as a 146-162 and the modules wont let it happen.

Ok but why will it allow me to program above 151.xxx? I have the following programmed in:


01 Red 151.625 (210.7 M2) Does Not Work
02 Blue 154.570 (210.7 M2) Works
03 Green 154.600 (210.7 M2) Works
04 Purple 151.995 (210.7 M2) Does Not Work

And the 154.xxx works fine. I do understand that the radio is the 136-150 range but I don't understand why the 154.xxx works.

Also I was unable to find a 136 to 150 range when creating a new codeplug. The model number on the case is H43QXJ7139CN.
When creating a new codeplug for that model i have the following for the frequency range:
136-163
139-168
148-174
157-174
146-162

[dbusse]

Bill, having played with a lot of Sabers, I have seen this exact behavior, and it is because of the low split synthesizer module. You can try to tell the RSS that it's mid-split, but it won't lock in the 151 band. You'll find a few other windows that it won't lock in the mid 150's, yet it locks in segments before and after.

No quick fix. I may have a spare NLD8210 synthesizer if you are in a bind.

Dan

[williamray507]

Bill, having played with a lot of Sabers, I have seen this exact behavior, and it is because of the low split synthesizer module. You can try to tell the RSS that it's mid-split, but it won't lock in the 151 band. You'll find a few other windows that it won't lock in the mid 150's, yet it locks in segments before and after.

No quick fix. I may have a spare NLD8210 synthesizer if you are in a bind.

Dan

Dan,

Thanks for the offer, let me know how much you would have to have for it shipped to 27284. And for now I guess im going to have to dig up an older Saber RSS and see if I can find the 130 - 150 band split in it.

Bill

[dbusse]

On travel, back Wed. I'll dig thru my junk then...