I have been looking at various Saber III on E-Bay. I am confused about about several things. I have finally realized that when some one posts the sell of a "16 channel" Saber III, it just means that they don't really have a clue about the radio.
But what about the folks that say they have a 255 Channel Saber III? Is that actually possible? I guess the actually question is, how many channels to each zone?
How about when there is posting about a UHF Saber III, but there is no specific information, except model number. Look at the information at batlabs, if I see a model number like H44TUK3170CN, do I assume that the radio actually has a range from 403-512MHz and I can control the radio for that range via RSS software or am I misunderstadning the info on the model section in the batlabs models?
Last but not least... The Converta-Com... There are a couple of postings that says that there is an amp built into the converta-com NTN5487C. Is that true or would I have to add an amp, and if so, what would be a decent amp. I am looking at doing both a UHF version, as well as a VHF radio.
Any info would be greatly appreciated!
K. Callis
How to make the right choice on E-Bay?
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RadioSouth
- Batboard $upporter
- Posts: 2884
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:00 pm
And there are MANY military and gov't. Sabers these days on EBay. The UHF radios are mainly 403-433 and the VHF's are often 136-150.8 or
157-174. I've seen a few of the sellers who know darn well what the bandsplit is of the radio they're peddling but give you that 136-174 or 403-520 crapola which no Saber can cover without module changeouts. Good time to stay away from Sabers unless the sellers will provide you with module #'s that you can look up on BatLabs for specific bandsplit. (Watch the dance that question will start with some of these guys).
157-174. I've seen a few of the sellers who know darn well what the bandsplit is of the radio they're peddling but give you that 136-174 or 403-520 crapola which no Saber can cover without module changeouts. Good time to stay away from Sabers unless the sellers will provide you with module #'s that you can look up on BatLabs for specific bandsplit. (Watch the dance that question will start with some of these guys).
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jnglmassiv
- Batboard $upporter
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2002 4:00 pm
Don't forget this one:
LQQQK!!! SABER III!!!
In Saber II housing
I also like the people who have a looong history of Moto sales who suddenly can't test a Saber for non-DOA power-up. Sometimes, they even have batts and chargers in other auctions!
Ebay can net you some great deals or some truly rotten ones. The important thing to remember is that any sale is a gamble.
LQQQK!!! SABER III!!!
In Saber II housing
I also like the people who have a looong history of Moto sales who suddenly can't test a Saber for non-DOA power-up. Sometimes, they even have batts and chargers in other auctions!
Ebay can net you some great deals or some truly rotten ones. The important thing to remember is that any sale is a gamble.
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Tom in D.C.
- Posts: 3859
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: Progreso soup can with CRT
Last question...
There is no RF amplifier in a Motorola 5487 Saber SVA. Also, a 5487 is not
band-specific, and will work with either a VHF or UHF Saber. If you want
to raise the RF output you connect an amplifier to the antenna port,
otherwise the Saber in the 5487 acts exactly as it would if you were holding it by
itself.
eBay is loaded with clucks who are dumb and dumber selling Sabers.
The really stupid ones take their "specs" from Motorola brochures, which
is why they say the radio will cover, for instance, 403 to 512 mHz, and if
you ask them to clarify the bandsplit some will even insist that the split
IS 403 to 512, which makes them the kings of the stupid sellers.
You can gain a pretty good overall understanding of the Motorola Saber
world by reading the Model Specific Information on Sabers at
http://www.batlabs.com.
One last thing is to remember our standard warning on this board:
"Can't test" means "It doesn't work."
band-specific, and will work with either a VHF or UHF Saber. If you want
to raise the RF output you connect an amplifier to the antenna port,
otherwise the Saber in the 5487 acts exactly as it would if you were holding it by
itself.
eBay is loaded with clucks who are dumb and dumber selling Sabers.
The really stupid ones take their "specs" from Motorola brochures, which
is why they say the radio will cover, for instance, 403 to 512 mHz, and if
you ask them to clarify the bandsplit some will even insist that the split
IS 403 to 512, which makes them the kings of the stupid sellers.
You can gain a pretty good overall understanding of the Motorola Saber
world by reading the Model Specific Information on Sabers at
http://www.batlabs.com.
One last thing is to remember our standard warning on this board:
"Can't test" means "It doesn't work."
Tom in D.C.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
There are no 'regular' Sabers that have 16 channels, those are Systems models only, all standard Sabers are 12 channels and no more, if the channel selector rotates past the last numbered channel, it's been opened and played with...STAY AWAY FROM IT!
As Tom stated, the NTN5487 does not have an amplifier for the RF output, whatever the HT does, that's what you have.
There is an audio amplifier in the SVA, and it will drive a speaker very well to hear in just about any environment, except maybe a cement truck on a rough gravel road with the windows open and the stereo playing HA HA.
And NO Saber of any model or band will be usable throughout the entire band split, that's simply a lie and an impossibility as well, not to mention the seller/s are stupid as the day is long, trying to goad unsuspecting buyers to pay good money for a radio that's usually in the WRONG band split, also as stated previously.
Ebay does a horrible job weeding out bad sellers, they are there to turn a quick dollar no matter who they screw, or how many.
You MUST be careful when you read the sales listings, because even DOA does not mean dead, it means it's been KILLED!
I had one sell me a DOA radio and never mentioned that it was due to water damage, he only told me it was DOA, but when I opened up the package, right on the plastic wrap were the letters WATER DAMAGE!
I gave him a negative feedback for lying to me, as all will get from me.
Too many folks ripping good people off....time to dump Ebay and look elsewhere, or until the bad sellers are denied selling privileges once caught.
Sabers are great radios, but they are NOT wide band radios, they operate in a narrow bandwidth, which is the main reason the HEAR so damn good!
Since 1989 to today, they are still top performing radios for the era, and are relatively easy to service as well.
If you can handle module swaps and realigning this radio, then by all means, buy one, but only if the seller KNOWS what he/she is selling.
Tom said it best...Can't test means DEAD....anybody can test any radio for operational capabilities, that's a lame excuse to sell junk.
Enterprise.....One to beam up!
As Tom stated, the NTN5487 does not have an amplifier for the RF output, whatever the HT does, that's what you have.
There is an audio amplifier in the SVA, and it will drive a speaker very well to hear in just about any environment, except maybe a cement truck on a rough gravel road with the windows open and the stereo playing HA HA.
And NO Saber of any model or band will be usable throughout the entire band split, that's simply a lie and an impossibility as well, not to mention the seller/s are stupid as the day is long, trying to goad unsuspecting buyers to pay good money for a radio that's usually in the WRONG band split, also as stated previously.
Ebay does a horrible job weeding out bad sellers, they are there to turn a quick dollar no matter who they screw, or how many.
You MUST be careful when you read the sales listings, because even DOA does not mean dead, it means it's been KILLED!
I had one sell me a DOA radio and never mentioned that it was due to water damage, he only told me it was DOA, but when I opened up the package, right on the plastic wrap were the letters WATER DAMAGE!
I gave him a negative feedback for lying to me, as all will get from me.
Too many folks ripping good people off....time to dump Ebay and look elsewhere, or until the bad sellers are denied selling privileges once caught.
Sabers are great radios, but they are NOT wide band radios, they operate in a narrow bandwidth, which is the main reason the HEAR so damn good!
Since 1989 to today, they are still top performing radios for the era, and are relatively easy to service as well.
If you can handle module swaps and realigning this radio, then by all means, buy one, but only if the seller KNOWS what he/she is selling.
Tom said it best...Can't test means DEAD....anybody can test any radio for operational capabilities, that's a lame excuse to sell junk.
Enterprise.....One to beam up!
Just a thought, but....
The reason some may say it has 16 Channels in it could be that mebey the system the radio was programmed on only used 16 Channels as that is the standard of which most Motorola Radios use, and possibly there was a mix of different radios in the fleet, of which was the Saber, so only 16 channels are programmed in, but not referring to how many positions the Channel Knob rotator will do.
The reason some may say it has 16 Channels in it could be that mebey the system the radio was programmed on only used 16 Channels as that is the standard of which most Motorola Radios use, and possibly there was a mix of different radios in the fleet, of which was the Saber, so only 16 channels are programmed in, but not referring to how many positions the Channel Knob rotator will do.
The SVA that i had didn't have an audio amp output to drive a speaker, it required an external amplified speaker. I connected a regular speaker to it with a db-25 connector and the audio was low and unusable. I connected an amplified speaker and it was perfect.There is an audio amplifier in the SVA, and it will drive a speaker very well to hear in just about any environment, except maybe a cement truck on a rough gravel road with the windows open and the stereo playing HA HA.
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