Batboard

Hello everyone. My employer (the county Sheriff) aquired about twenty Systems Saber radios from the ATF several years ago. These are VHF 16 channel with a display and keypad. They work very well on the frequencies that were programmed into them. We have, however, changed some frequencies, narrowbanded some, eliminated some and started using some new ones. Out contact at the ATF has since retired so their programming services are no longer available to us. Two questions come to mind right away: 1. Can anybody other than the ATF, Customs, FBI, Secret Service or NSA program these? 2. Are these narrowband capable?

I have talked to a few Motorola service shops that we regularly deal with and they have no software and very little knowledge about these radios.

These are really nice radios and we have all the cool microphones and ear pieces to go with them. Even if they don't narrowband, we could issue them to the Hams for RACES use. Any thoughts?

I believe the systems saber does NOT do narrowband. With this belief in mind your dept. should not even be using these anymore. Any operation of other than narrowband in the public safety VHF band is prohibited and a violation of FCC rules. You have been in violation for 1 year

Jason

It was a common radio years back. Basically a analog Saber with more channels (yours is probably capable of 255 channels) and trunking capability but a PIA to program. Haven't seen any narrowbandable versions either.

they are very good radios. as mentioned they cant be used for public safety anymore. Yes they can be for ham use.. But all ATF radios I have worked on have been high split radios that are in the 157-174 range. The modules would have to be changed for them to work in the 144-146 range. Systems sabers use the same modules as regular sabers and can be swapped out.

Its a pity these have to discarded. They are in real good shape and we could have used them in our jail if they had a narrowband option.

BTW our waiver does not expire until May of 2015. The purchase order has been signed and our new system is still in engineering. No violations here.

You could put marine VHF channels in them and use them out on the lake, I assume you have a patrol boat? Kinda important to keep an eye on the muskie fishing spots :)